Any AK-74 owners?

Searching for a more accurate battle rifle. My AK47 is fun and reliable, but I'd like it to do more (like hunt varmints). ARs (and ammo) are too expensive.

I see that the Bulgies are pretty reasonable and surplus (corrosive) ammo is dirt cheap.

Any 74 owners out there? How do you like it? How does it stand up as far as reliability and accuracy?

Thanks in advance.

 

Re: Any AK *74* owners?

TGI sold out of "truck guns" today. The Bulgarian 74's are GREAT! The Polish Tantal is also a great rifle and I the smoothest 74 I have ever shot. IF you are looking for a 74 be absolutely sure to get one with a chrome lined barrel due to the high volume of corrosive ammo on the market.

I would also consider an AK in .223. It has similar properties to 5.45.

Here are a few rifles I would trust:

ARSENAL INC

ARSENAL INC

Interarms Polish Tantal Rifle

AK 74 Side Folder Rifle for Sale


I can't swear that this has a chrome barrel
AK 74 Rifle for sale

I love my 74's in 5.45 and .223. The recoil is as mild as kittens, the accuracy is better than 7.62x39 (flatter shooting round), and the break is very good for reducing recoil and muzzle climb helping with rapid follow up shots.

If interested in a .223 rifle you can get a Siaga rifle under $400 and convert it pretty cheaply. I really love the 5.45 round, but I am also gun shy in concerns of ammo availability.

 

Re: Any AK *74* owners?

Thanks guys.
Here's a deal I found: AK-74 Sporter Rifle - 5.45x39 #AKAGUN74
Don't think the barrel is chrome lined. Not too worried about that. I've shot corrosive before, and it's not much of a big deal if you follow the correct cleaning regimen.

YES. My thoughts exactly. I was watching one of the shooting shows last night and they were doing an AR special. Kinda made me drool for the accuracy. So I crunched some numbers and for me to trade out my AK battery and buy a standard (*not piston*) AR battery including ammo would cost me exactly DOUBLE! .223 is freakin' outrageous nowadays and I dare not put lacquer coated stuff through an AR (that isn't even cheap).

Arsenal Inc. and Atlantic put out good stuff, no doubt. A bit pricey though.
Also feel that the side scope rail is a must. Polish doesn't have that.

Speaking of which - Is there such a thing as a "standard" 74. So for example, I know that with a 47 just about all of the easily removed stuff - magazines, main spring, hammer, safety, trigger, carrier, bolt could be swapped between, bulgy, Romanian, hungarian etc. Correct?

I know Saiga likes to do things a bit differently, but is that true of 74 Polish, bulgarian, etc.?

 

Re: Any AK *74* owners?

Here's mine. It's a Bulgarian ((10)) AKS-74 built on the DCI NDS-25F receiver by the guys at HDI in Henderson, NV. It was built from the parts kits containing the Bulgarian barrels several years ago. Oh, I disguised it in the OD furniture because, as I'm sure you're all aware, black rifles are evil. The mags are the Arsenal (Bulgarian ((10)) marked) OD's that K-VAR gets every so often. One must coordinate you know.

My only complaint is that friggen 70's era Russian crap is dirtier'n a Vegas crack head street walker! And just as cheap too... The buildup inside the flash suppressor practically requires a hammer and chisel to remove.

Shoots like a dream. Two full tins of the Russian surplus through it with not a single hiccup. Low humidity up here in Montana so even the corrosive primers don't really cause any rust issues. Those of you in humid climates probably know all about corrosive ammo and what you have to do.

Accuracy is easily MoM (minute-of-man) at 200yds. I've never bothered to sit at a bench and put any holes through paper with it though. I prefer the ring of steel anyway.



Here it is with my Romy-G AK-47 wearing Plum furniture. I know having the Romanian plum mag in it is sacrilege but hey, it came with it and I had it in for this pic.

 

I have a Romanian in 5.45 built on an Ohio ordnance receiver, I like it ok but they did not drill the hole for the trigger strate and the hook does grab but only the edge of the hammer. Saiga now offers a 5.45x39.5 search for RAA Saiga on the web.


As I was typing this two calls came over the scanner about a group of people playing tennis in the nude and that there is a severe thunder storm moving into my area, I do not know which one is the worst threat.

 

Re: Any AK *74* owners?

74's are fairly standard and most parts will interchange between countries. That being said the only 3 here in any numbers are Bulgarian, Romanian, and Polish. The Russian Saiga's are coming in, but there aren't near as many as the first 3, yet. Hell, the majority of a 47's(AKM) parts will interchange with a 74's. The Bolt will not interchange because of different sized stems, which rules out the bolt carrier. Most of the rest should be good to go. The Saiga's have the small stemmed bolts IIRC in all calibers.

If you can find an RAA Saiga in 5.45 I would snap that up and convert it to pistol grip. Chrome barrel and pretty cheap if you can't find a truck gun for sale.

 

I have a good "varmit" rifle in a SKS-M. It'ss chambered for the 7.62x39. Uses regular and easily located and bought AK mags. Tack drivin' son of a gun at ranges from zero to 150 yards.
It was made by Century Arms in Va. Beach, VA.
IF anyone in the local area of Hampton Roads is interested in the SKS-M, will be glad to sell it to them. Have a .308 coming and the SKS is excess for now.
Doc

 

What are the group sizes at 100 yds or 100 meters? No one ever mentions this. I've seen AK's that go 8" groups at that range. Is the 74' any better?

As far as laquered rounds, just clean the chamber with MEK or mineral oil and that should take care of the problem.

jim

 

Today at a measured 100yds I was ringing a steel fish plate (railroad spike plate) off hand free standing on a consistent basis. With a Bulgarian 74 i built. 8" AK groups at 100yds... some one has a sewer pipe, or flat can't shoot.

 

oh yeah with a pretty hefty cross wind.

 

I have a question:
The 5.56mm is a .223 cailber...
So, is the 5.45 (214.5) similar to the old .218 "Bee" round?
Wasn't that at one time a "wildcat" cartridge?
Just curious!

 

Nah ... That's been my experience with my Romanian (47). And from what I hear, they're all pretty much sewer pipes.

Last week I shot two 2.5", two 4.5" and one 5.5" groups using a red dot and bipod. As the barrel heated up things got bad. That was with that fine 70's Yugo stuff too.

That's basically my reason for starting the thread. Wondering if I should trade for a 74...

Not yet though. Going to try a scope and maybe some US ammo.

 

I had a Romy in .223 and that thing couldn't hit an antifreeze jug at 10yards...no ****. My Russian Siaga...will keep up damn well with AR-15 Carbines at 100yards. Most of the kit guns I have built up have shot far better than what you have experienced. When EL and I test shot the AK the forum built for Monkey Man, it was grouping about 2" IIRC at 100 yards.

 

Well now here's a new twist on the 5.45 x 39 ....
from Smith & Wesson !?!?!?!


Smith & Wesson M&P15R 5.45x39 Rifle

 

The 5.45 is not the Bee.

Bee:


5.45x39


You can see the drastic differences.

I haven't heard bad things about the S&W 5.45 uppers, but then you are right back in bed with the AR system and getting away from the advantages of the AK system.

 

I love my AK-47 it is my favorite out of all my weapons. Its very important to have at bare minimum 1000 rounds per weapon. I definetly have that covered,preparation in these critical times is very important. I prefer the 7.62x39 it has excellent stoping power...

 

Yeah. Agreed.
Maybe this is a safe place to say this without starting a flame war, but I think the general idea of porting gas into the action is stupid.
The whole idea gives me the willies.