AKS-74
AK-74 variant with a tubular metal side-folding stock, developed for VDV airborne troops and armored vehicle crews.
AKS-74
Community
Data trust
- Reliability
- Unverified
- Sources
- Sources pending review
Identity
- Designation
- AKS-74
- Alias
- Avtomat Kalashnikova Skladnoy obraztsa 1974 goda
- Manufacturer
- Izhmash
- Country
- Russia
- Year
- 1974
- Category
- Assault rifle
- Status
- Historic
Ballistics
- Caliber
- 5.45×39 mm
- Muzzle velocity
- 900 m/s
- Rate of fire
- ~650 rpm
- Effective range
- 500 m
- Maximum range
- 1000 m
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 415 mm
- Overall length
- 700 / 940 mm
- Empty weight
- 3.2 kg
Mechanics
- Operating system
- Gas-operated, long-stroke piston
- Bolt / action
- Rotating bolt
Feed
- System
- Curved double-stack magazine
- Standard capacity
- 30 rounds
Fire modes
Historical profile
Development
The AKS-74 is the side-folding metal stock variant of the AK-74, developed alongside the main rifle in the mid-1970s and adopted by the Soviet Army in 1974.
It rapidly replaced the AKMS in VDV airborne troops and armored units.
Design
The stock is made of triangular stamped sheet metal, folding on the left side of the receiver to avoid interfering with the ejection port.
It retains the 5.45×39 mm caliber and the AK-74's distinctive dual-chamber muzzle brake, which significantly reduces felt recoil.
Operational service
Widely used by Soviet and later Russian forces in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Georgia, Syria and Ukraine. Numerous copies and variants were produced in former Soviet states.
The further-shortened AKS-74U version (206 mm barrel) became standard for vehicle crews, special forces and security units.
Variants
Main users
USSR · Russia · Patto di Varsavia
Key components
- ●Stock — Shoulder rest.
- ●Receiver — Weapon body with internal mechanisms.
- ●Grip — Primary grip.
- ●Magazine — Cartridge feed.
- ●Barrel — Guides the projectile.
