The AK-47 and AK-74 belong to the category of assault rifles. It is true that these two rifles belong to the same category, but there are many differences between them based on their production history, their specifications, and their features.
The place from which both the rifles came is the same.
That is, the Soviet Union consists of more Soviet states, but the AK-47 is older than the AK-74. That ship was commissioned in 1949. The AK-74 ship was commissioned in 1974. As of right now, both of these rifles are in the service.
AK47 | AK74 |
Developed in 1947. | Introduced in 1974. |
Muzzle velocity of 715 m/s. | Muzzle velocity of 900 m/s. |
Weighs 4.3 kg. | Has different weights, depending on the model. |
Both AK-47 and AK-74 were designed by the same person, but they were produced by two firms – izhmash mechanical works and Izhevsk mechanical works.
The weight of the AK-47 rifle is 4.3 kg, including the magazine. The weight of the AK-74 will depend on the model that you bought.
The cartridge for AK-47 is 7.62x39mm, and the cartridge for Ack-74 is 5.45x39mm. Both rifles are gas operated and have a rotating bolt. With respect to AK-47, the rate of fire with AK-74 is 600 rounds/min.
With respect to AK-74, it is 650 rounds/min (in the cases of AK-74, AK-74M, AKs- 74). AK-74 is a lot more sophisticated, and 650-735 rounds/min.
The muzzle velocity of the AK-47 was 715 m/s (2,346 ft/s), whereas the muzzle velocity of the other models of the AK-74 (excluding the AK-74U) was about 900 m/s (2,953 As for the AK-74U, the average speed is 335 m/s (2,411.4 ft/s).
The AK-47 also features a 30-round magazine that is removable. They are also compatible with 40 round box and 75 round sophisticated drum magazines.
Conclusion
The AK-47 and AK-74 are both famous weapons that have been used in many countries, but there are differences between them. The only thing that is common between the two is that they both belong to the category of assault rifles and developed in the same country.
Meanwhile, the differences between the two are very obvious. AK-47 was first developed in 1947 and produced in 1949, and it is considered as one of the most powerful weapons ever. However, it is not as effective as AK-74 and it has less features than AK-74. On the other hand, the AK-74 is more modern and has more features than AK-47.
Based on this information, we can conclude that the AK-47 was a great weapon but could not match up to the AK-74 when it comes to reliability and features. Also, it has less features than its older version, so you should think twice before buying an old version of the rifle.