AKS-74U
- Category
- Personal Defense Weapon
- Barrel
- 210 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.71 kg
- Introduced
- 1979
About
What it is, and why it matters
The AKS-74U is a select-fire personal defense weapon chambered in 5.45x39mm, produced by Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash) since 1979. 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 personal defense weapon offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 8.3-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 2710g (95.6 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 nickname 'Krinkov' is a Western invention with murky origins -- it may derive from a corruption of a Mujahideen term for the weapon. Soviet troops affectionately called it 'Ksyukha' (a diminutive of the name Oksana) or more crudely 'Suchka' (little bitch) due to its small size and fierce muzzle blast.
The AKS-74U was officially designated as a personal defense weapon (PDW) rather than a submachine gun or carbine due to its rifle cartridge. The extremely short barrel reduces muzzle velocity by approximately 18% compared to the standard AK-74, dropping from 900 m/s to 735 m/s. This results in increased muzzle flash and blast, mitigated by the distinctive conical flash hider. The faster rifling twist was necessary to stabilize the 5.45mm bullet at reduced velocities. Early production featured wooden pistol grips and laminated wood handguards; later versions used polymer furniture. Mass production continued until approximately 1993 when it was largely superseded by the AK-105 carbine, though the AKS-74U remains in widespread service across former Soviet states. The weapon gained iconic status through extensive use by Soviet forces in Afghanistan and appearances in media. Compatible with standard AK-74 30-round magazines and 45-round RPK-74 magazines. Not compatible with under-barrel grenade launchers due to shortened barrel.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Kalashnikov Concern
- Category
- Personal Defense Weapon
- Country
- Soviet Union
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 1979 to 1993
- Variant of
- Compact
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 210 mm
- Overall length
- 735 mm
- Height
- 175 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.71 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.01 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
- Steel
- Finish
- Blued
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 735 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 925 J
- Effective range
- 200 m
- Maximum range
- 500 m
- Rate of fire
- 700 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 flash hider
Rotating bolt
Select fire
Side folding stock
Extremely compact- Faster rifling twist
Skeleton stock
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 54 personal defense weapons | 2.71 kg | 2.23 kg | Heavier than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 53 personal defense weapons | 735 mm | 582 mm | Longer than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 55 personal defense weapons | 210 mm | 168 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 57 personal defense weapons | 30 | 30 | Holds more rounds than about 70% |
Answers
Questions about the AKS-74U
How much does the AKS-74U weigh?
The AKS-74U weighs 2.71 kg (5.97 lb) empty and 3.01 kg (6.64 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the AKS-74U?
The AKS-74U is chambered in 5.45x39mm.
How many rounds does the AKS-74U hold?
The AKS-74U holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the AKS-74U?
The AKS-74U is 735 mm (28.9 in) long overall, with a 210 mm (8.27 in) barrel.
Who makes the AKS-74U?
The AKS-74U is made by Kalashnikov Concern (Russia). It was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov.
When was the AKS-74U introduced?
The AKS-74U was introduced in 1979 and discontinued in 1993.
How does the AKS-74U operate?
The AKS-74U 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
- 1979
- Russian Armed Forces
- 1991
- Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV)
- 1979
- Spetsnaz
- 1979
- Afghan National Army
- Afghanistan
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/aks-74u' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "aks-74u", "name": "AKS-74U", "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": "personal-defense-weapon", "name": "Personal Defense Weapon", "description": "Compact firearms designed for non-frontline military personnel" }, "country_of_origin": "SU", "year_introduced": 1979, "barrel_length_mm": 210, "weight_empty_g": 2710, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}