AK-74
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 415 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.30 kg
- Introduced
- 1974
About
What it is, and why it matters
The AK-74 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.45x39mm, produced by Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash) since 1974. This Russian-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 30-round magazine capacity, this assault rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 16.3-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3300g (116.4 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The steel frame provides a solid, premium feel with the durability to withstand decades of regular use and thousands of rounds. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The AK-74's 5.45x39mm cartridge was nicknamed the 'poison bullet' by Afghan Mujahideen due to its tendency to tumble and fragment on impact, creating wounds disproportionate to its small caliber. Western intelligence first encountered the new rifle during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
Early production models featured wooden furniture; later versions transitioned to polymer in distinctive plum or orange colors before standardizing to black by the early 1990s. The AK-74M modernized variant introduced in 1991 became the Russian military standard and formed the basis for the AK-100 series. While front-line Russian units began transitioning to the AK-12 in 2018, the AK-74 remains in widespread service across former Soviet states and continues in licensed production. The 5.45x39mm cartridge is not SAAMI-regulated but follows CIP international standards. The rifle is compatible with the GP-25/GP-30 40mm under-barrel grenade launcher and various optical sights via side-mounting rails on N-suffix variants.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Kalashnikov Concern
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Country
- Soviet Union
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1974
- Variant of
- Different caliber
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 415 mm
- Overall length
- 943 mm
- Height
- 189 mm
- Sight radius
- 376 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.30 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.60 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated long stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Blued
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 900 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1391 J
- Effective range
- 500 m
- Maximum range
- 1000 m
- Rate of fire
- 650 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Chrome lined barrel
Chrome lined chamber
Muzzle brake compensator
Rotating bolt
Select fire
Optics rail compatible
Grenade launcher compatible
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 25 5.45x39mm assault rifles | 3.30 kg | 3.40 kg | Lighter than about 60% |
| Overall lengthAmong 25 5.45x39mm assault rifles | 943 mm | 940 mm | Longer than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 25 5.45x39mm assault rifles | 415 mm | 415 mm | Near the median |
| Magazine capacityAmong 25 5.45x39mm assault rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the AK-74
How much does the AK-74 weigh?
The AK-74 weighs 3.30 kg (7.28 lb) empty and 3.60 kg (7.94 lb) loaded. It is the 9th lightest of 25 5.45x39mm assault rifles in the catalogue.
What caliber is the AK-74?
The AK-74 is chambered in 5.45x39mm.
How many rounds does the AK-74 hold?
The AK-74 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the AK-74?
The AK-74 is 943 mm (37.1 in) long overall, with a 415 mm (16.3 in) barrel.
Who makes the AK-74?
The AK-74 is made by Kalashnikov Concern (Russia). It was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov.
When was the AK-74 introduced?
The AK-74 was introduced in 1974.
How does the AK-74 operate?
The AK-74 uses a gas operated long stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Soviet Armed Forces
- 1974
- Russian Armed Forces
- 1991
- Ukrainian Armed Forces
- 1991
- Belarusian Armed Forces
- 1991
- Bulgarian Armed Forces
- 1980
- Armenian Armed Forces
- 1991
- Georgian Armed Forces
- 1991
- Kazakhstan Armed Forces
- 1991
- Kyrgyzstan Armed Forces
- 1991
- Moldovan Armed Forces
- 1991
Provenance
Confidence in this record
88%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/ak-74' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "ak-74", "name": "AK-74", "manufacturer": { "id": "kalashnikov-concern", "name": "Kalashnikov Concern", "countryCode": "RU", "foundedYear": 1807, "website": "https://kalashnikovgroup.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": "active", "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": true, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:38", "version": "3593fe6aaed7a4f74f79c1f4f9b92bb1f45e039a826875e780967c2ed2b49d04" }, "category": { "id": "assault-rifle", "name": "Assault Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in intermediate cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "SU", "year_introduced": 1974, "barrel_length_mm": 415, "weight_empty_g": 3300, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}