AK-74 Question?

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ROMAK IV

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I have become interested in a certain AK-74 Clone at the local gunstore. I personally aren't crazy about anything smaller than 308 for a rifle, but there is a niche in my collection that could be filled by this rifle. I have always tried to stay with the major surplus calibers in order that, chances are, there will always be a supply for the rifles I own. For the most part, I have adhered to this, and when I haven't, I amintain a reasonable supply, altough I have still trie to limit calibers. For the 5.45 x 39, at least NOW, that doesn't seem to be a problem since that caliber is currently quite available and considerably less than even 7.63 x 39. I could but the rifle and say 3000 rounds and still be below $1000.

Which brings me to my real questions. 5.45 x 39 is said to be inherenrlty more accurate than 7.62 x 39. Is this true? Have you been able to compare similiar rifles side by side and confirm this? The other question involves noise and recoil. Recoil isn't normally my concern. If it kicks me good, that's fine, as long as I'm not hurt. I limit sessions with my M-44 for that very reason. However, I have two duaghters. The older one is tall and her hands are as long as mine but not as bulky. She can comfortably handle a 1911. The younger one, however, is relatively small and petite, and quite recoil sensative. A less noisy and lighter recoiling, (than a regular caliber AK) might just fit the bill for her to persue and interest in shooting. It is also quite encouraging when you actually hit the target, so accuracy is somewhat important. The particular rifle I am looking at is an Elk River and medium priced, and seems to be well made, and has an excellent trigger. Thanks aead of time for your comments.
 
Accuracy: If you buy a Romanian 74; like one from AIM, the rifle will be acceptably accurate. But thats about it. You WILL NOT mistake this rifle for a match grade target rifle. I have one, and it heats up quickly. After a few mags, I am unable to hit 8" pie plates at a hundred yards with it.


Recoil: The gun wont have much recoil at all. Barely any more than an AR IMO.

Quality and overall satisfaction: I had to send my Romanian 74 back to AIM twice for repair. Quality is hit and miss with "Romy's" . It was returned fixed properly after the second trip back, about a year ago. I have had no further trouble with it. Ammo and mags are cheap for it, so I stockpile alot for it.
 
The 5.45x39 is a more inherently accurate cartridge.
It's also a much flatter shooting round.

Rifles will vary and higher or lower quality doesn't necessarily mean better or worse accuracy in the AK.

ON AVERAGE an AK in 5.45 will be more consistently accurate then the 7.62.
Just how much more is again highly variable.
 
The 5.45 round has a better trajectory than 7.62x39, but I find that 5.45mm AKs are maybe just a little more accurate than 7.62mm AKs. I think it's the limits of the weapon (specifically the sights, more than "AK slop" in the mechanicals) with both.

As for recoil, an AK-74 with the standard compensator on it is probably as close to an ideal "starter black rifle" for recoil sensitive children as you're going to get.
 
Accuracy wise, my totally stock SAR2 and I shot 'Sharpshooter' at an Appleseed shoot this fall. Guys with $1200 Garands and ARs werent doing the same. Yes its probably the shooter but the statement stands. The instructors told me that they have only ever seen a 5.45 AK make 'Marksman' never a 7.62 AK. I love my SAR and the 5.45 too.
 
The AK-74 has the recoil of a electric typewriter. My WASR-2 is decently accurate. I suspect if I had $1000 for an Arsenal or something, it would be much better. I think the WASR-2s are also built much better than the WASR 7.62x39 rifles.
 
If you can find a Bulgarian kit and a NDS receiver, have one built for you to your specifications. There are many who will do this.
 
I picked up a SAR 2 because it was unbelievably cheap compared to everything else similar and figured there would come a day when I'd regret the hell out of not picking up a brand new rifle with 500 rounds of ammo for $400.The wood on mine's by far the nicest looking I've ever seen on an AK.Maybe somebody in Romania was milking the clock that day,but it's a fine looking gun...until you get to the electropencil grafitti on the side.
It's a sweet shooter:very little recoil and acceptably accurate for the job.It shoots almost identically to the .223 Saiga I have and both of them are a little more accurate than my Arsenal and Robarms AK's in 7.62.That said,I'm not an AKophile and they're all exactly how I got em from the gunstore and I tend to judge them based upon what I want em for rather than what I could but don't use them.I'm not going to compare a $250 .223 Saiga to a 5 times as expensive .223 AR or HK with optics as I don't use the latter for water bottle carnage but they're all fun in their own way!
 
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