ak47 in the middle east

[phantomak47]

Are the ak47s we see on tv in the middle east, using 7.62-39 or are they ak74s using the different cartridge?

 

[Ryan1021]

I asked this question to a Marine who got back from Iraq, and he said most almost everyone is 7.62x39.

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

Yes, 7.62x39mm. That ammunition is available by the truckload anywhere in the world, almost. 5.45mm and the rifles to shoot it with are scarce.

This from a Marine that was in Iraq (me)

 

[phantomak47]

what about the news reports that a good number of troops were ditching their m4s for aks? any truth to that and why besides the reliability factor. thanks

 

[c_yeager]

what about the news reports that a good number of troops were ditching their m4s for aks? any truth to that and why besides the reliability factor. thanks

none whatsoever. I think this comes from seeing a lot of vehicle crews with AKs. At least at the start of the war there werent enough M4s to go around and an AK beats the pants off an M9 (9mm pistol). I assure you that anyone with an M4 is going to keep it.

 

[Destructo6]

what about the news reports that a good number of troops were ditching their m4s for aks? any truth to that and why besides the reliability factor. thanks

Losing or ditching your issued weapons is very very bad. Court Marshall bad.

An augment weapon, picked up from the battlefield, may be tolerated, but not misplacing your gun.

 

[MrMurphy]

Most AKs in the world are 7.62X39mm, the 5.45's mostly only got issued (and still are) to Russia and a few of the local satellite countries. There are some in Afghanistan (captured), but most AKs are original AKMs in 7.62.


Any AK with a steel magazine is a 7.62, one with a plastic mag and no big muzzle brake is still 7.62. If it has a plastic mag and a large (obvious) muzzle brake, it's a 5.45mm AK74.