AK-74

[JustinJ]

Lighter recoil? C'mon guys, that's like saying .22 LR has a lighter recoil than .22 WMR. Unless you're 120lbs. soaking wet, I see no significant benefit to getting the smaller caliber but YMMV.

I don't care if you're a 260 lbs linebacker...ligher recoil will always equate to faster follow up shots.

 

[Bojangles7]

Follow up shots with a 7.62? Maybe on paper, but otherwise it's probably not necessary unless you're a horrible shot.

 

[benEzra]

I don't care if you're a 260 lbs linebacker...ligher recoil will always equate to faster follow up shots.

^^ This.

The recoil impulse of 7.62x39mm will lift the muzzle further off target than the recoil impulse of 5.45x39mm. To fire the second shot, you have to put the muzzle back on target, and it takes longer to do that with 7.62 than 5.45. This is true even if you can bench press 400+ pounds. Now, a 260 lb shooter will recover from 7.62x39mm recoil faster than a 120 lb shooter will, but both of them will be faster with 5.45. And regardless of who is shooting, 100 rounds of 5.45x39mm weighs the same as ~59 rounds of 7.62x39mm.

Follow up shots with a 7.62? Maybe on paper, but otherwise it's probably not necessary unless you're a horrible shot.

7.62x39mm, like 5.45x39mm and 5.56x45mm, is an intermediate round, not a full power rifle round. It was designed to exactly split the difference between the 7.62x54mm rifle round used in the Mosin-Nagant and the 7.62x25mm pistol round used in the Tokarev pistol and PPSh subgun. x39 is not in the same class as 7.62x51mm, AKA 7.62mm NATO or .308 Winchester.

Shooting typical Russian ammunition, 7.62x39mm is no more effective than 5.45 or 5.56, and some load choices (e.g. M43 ball) are considerably *less* effective than the most common 5.45/5.56 loads. Shooting heavy softpoints at deer, 7.62x39mm has an edge over 5.45/5.56, but it's a lot more even outside of a hunting context.

There's also the fact that unless you are Chuck Norris, if you are shooting under stress or at a moving target, you can miss and have to make a followup shot.

 

[leadcounsel]

The design of the 5.45 round is both a penetrator and a tumbler.

I love both calibers and have plenty of ammo and guns for both. So I'm good.

You can get a bone stock Saiga made from a Russian factory for about $300 and a crate of ammo for $200. You don't NEED to pimp out your AK74. I works just fine in the rifle configuration. I see no reason to NOT have one of the best designed guns in the world (AK74) and piles of ammo for a few hundred dollars.

 

[jodavk]

I too enjoy both AK rounds, but I find myself going the 5.45 most of the time becuase it's significantly cheaper to shoot. The only drawback is punching holes in paper. I need to bring a spotting scope to see those little 5.45 holes! My experience with both is purely plinking junk and targets.

 

[nathan]

7.62 or 5.45 or 5.56, whichever amongst the the three you dont wanna get shot at. Its either going to the morgue or going to lala land , i mean being in vegetative state . Or just makes your day a very bad day.

 

[aubie515]

I'm a fan of 5.45 due to the lighter weight of the rifle, mags, ammo...the recoil is very mild and of course it goes without saying how inexpensive ammo is for this caliber. Of course there will be those "the sky is falling" and we will never get this ammo and we are all doomed if we shoot 5.45. I'm not concerned....buy what you like and can afford.

I agree with those that say recoil is important...it has nothing to do with how tough you are...light recoil is important to me.

 

[amd6547]

I am liking the 5.45 a lot. I already owned a 7.62x39 AK, but bought a 5.45 for the cheap ammo.
To add to the light recoil comments...
No, the 7.62x39 is no recoil thumper, but the 5.45, equipped with the AK74 muzzle brake is a revelation...it shoots like a 22 rimfire. I can actually feel the muzzle being held down in rapid fire.

 

[nathan]

Dont tell that to an AR fan, they will say the 5.56 recoils lighter than the Russian 5.45. And it shoots farther and more accurate.

 

[Ignition Override]

My question was meant to ask whether the really affordable 5.45 is only produced in Russia. "Ammo seek" was consulted before the incomplete question.
It would be interesting to see how much Remington etc would expect us to pay.

The single, Only reason I considered my SKS, Mini 30 and Mini 14 was because of Wolf, Monarch etc ammo, back in '08. Similar or lower Russian or "Yugo" ammo prices will continue to be the only reason many of us would both buy and use any AK clone.

 

[JustinJ]

Follow up shots with a 7.62? Maybe on paper, but otherwise it's probably not necessary unless you're a horrible shot.

By that logic why not just carry a .308? Since you are unable to miss it won't matter that you can only carry half as much ammo either.

The single, Only reason I considered my SKS, Mini 30 and Mini 14 was because of Wolf, Monarch etc ammo, back in '08. Similar or lower Russian or "Yugo" ammo prices will continue to be the only reason many of us would both buy and use any AK clone

You do realize that Wolf makes 5.45 and it sells for the same price, and sometimes less, than 7.62?

 

[Rob G]

Similar or lower Russian or "Yugo" ammo prices will continue to be the only reason many of us would both buy and use any AK clone.

Don't forget the big grin you get on your face the first time you shoot an AK. The darn things are just more fun than you can legally have in a lot of places.

 

[nathan]

The grin of a good guy as opposed to how the AK is associated with the enemy. Lol

 

[ODCMP]

I am not a fan of the ARs, won't ague about the recoil issue.
But can prove the 223 is more accurate and will shoot farther due mostly to the variety of ammo choices available and slightly higher case capacity.

 

[Bojangles7]

By that logic why not just carry a .308? Since you are unable to miss it won't matter that you can only carry half as much ammo either.

Jeesh, I guess the sarcasm was missed in my post, thought the wink would help a little with that.

 

[Rob G]

But can prove the 223 is more accurate and will shoot farther due mostly to the variety of ammo choices available and slightly higher case capacity.

Absolutely that's the way it is. It certainly explains why my Winchester 94 in .32 Winchester has way better range and accuracy than my friend's AR-15 in 5.56x45/.223. After all the case capacity of the round I'm shooting is about 30% larger.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

The deal breaker for me was the price of the ammo. When stocking a bit for the "whatever", I got a reliable, accurate, and relatively inexpensive rifle (compare an AK74 variant to any quality AR-15 variant), and throw in one or two cases of 5.45 ammo (2160 or 4320 rounds respectively), and the AK74 wins the economic war. It is a backup weapon to my bolt guns, and I will probably never have to buy more ammo for it.

[/IMG]

 

[harmon rabb]

Dont tell that to an AR fan, they will say the 5.56 recoils lighter than the Russian 5.45. And it shoots farther and more accurate.

I own both. The '74 without a doubt has less recoil. The AR is very soft shooting too, but if you shoot them back to back, the '74 is definitely even softer.

The biggest difference is that the '74 muzzle brake really works, and whatever flash hider is on my AR blows in comparison. In rapid fire, the muzzle of my '74 doesn't rise. The AR pops up some. I think I can put more rounds on target with the '74 than the AR in a given period of time.

 

[benEzra]

SharpsDressedMan, what model AK is that?

 

[Jenrick]

I quiet like the Ak 74 for it's lighter recoil compared to the AK47. Also 5.45 ammo is noticeably cheaper when ordering in bulk, purchasing in small lots locally it's is still about .02 or so a round more expensive for 5.45 then 7.62x39. Then again I also want to pickup and AK47 just to own one, but I don't see myself going to it as a serious social purposes weapon. If I need something heavy duty I've got an AR-10 and other options. Else my AR or AK74 will fit the niche for light weight, light ammo weight, and solid external and terminal ballistics.

-Jenrick