I have always been a little skeptical about the 5.45x39mm. To me, it seemed like it was little more than a shorter, less-powerful version of the 5.56x45mm (which as it is some would call lack-luster). Then I started researching the round and actually took a good look at it and I realized how incredibly efficient it is. The squareness of the charge, the shape of the bullet, the lower felt recoil, the compactness and reduced weight. This odd-ball that I once criticized is becoming a fav. of mine.
@@thepotatoincident3593 I heard stories of Vietnam vets picking up ak’s to fire into dense coverage the enemy troops where using as it got through the foliage a lot better than the M16. Also Australian troops preferred the SLR due to it using 7.62x51 and it cleared foliage better than the AK.
Hickok45, i live in a country where guns restrictions are annoying, and i want to thank you for your channel. There's so much fun in what you do and you are very good in to transmit it to us with your great reviews and jokes and range shootings. Thanks man. Gretings from Chile.
Igual me gustaría poder tener armas así, pero si dejai que compren armas acá en Chile como lo hacen allá la gente qla se va a poner a disparar por la más mínima razón, y a la larga vamos a tener pacos igual de trigger happy como los gringos. Pienso que es mejor vivir lejos de las armas y sin ellas, pero no por eso no me gustan.
Privet moi brat! have you fired the AK-74U? that is one heck of a rifle and will annihilate just about any target out to 500 meters plus! the AK-47/M is not so accurate after about 350 meters...
Kristjen Štjuprić "that is one heck of a rifle and will annihilate just about any target out to 500 meters plus!" I'm afraid not. I'm a big fan of the AK-74U and own two which I built myself. It is a fantastic little rifle, but long range accuracy is not one of its strengths. I have put several thousand rounds of 7n6 surplus through them and have a great deal of experience with the AK-74U. It is accurate out to about 250 meters. At 300 meters and beyond, someone with an AK-74U would be at a serious disadvantage against anyone with a modern full length rifle. Firing from a bench shooting rest the AK-74U shoots 1.2 meter groups at 300 meters. That translates to about 50-55% hit probability. At 500 meters, scoring a hit with an AK-74U is the wildest stroke of luck. Even trying to shoot that far with one is a waste of ammo.
Kristjen Štjuprić The "U" stands for "Ukorochenniy" which means "Shortened". AK-74U (it's actually AKS-74U, "S" stands for "Skladnoy", meaning "Folding", because it has a folding stock) is literally a short barrel version of AK-74, nothing else, so it's less accurate than the regular AK-74.
I served in the Russian army for a long time. We were armed with this weapon. A good weapon. Reliable. I passed through the damp winter in Chechnya into the hot dust of Tajikistan. This weapon is not when it does not fail
@EpiDemic117 Globalism is capitalist imperialism, just like it was 100 years ago during WWI. Now we have 8 people in US having same amount of money, that other 8 billions have. And US is the new British Empire, spreading it's influence across nations, enforcing it's own laws and language and stealing resources and minds.
I love the old "tuna can". I remember when you could buy a Russian SKS with a tuna can of ammo for $95.00! Of course that's also when a brand new Colt AR-15 was $475.00. That was only the late 80's/early 90’s. A brick of .22-LR was about $8.00. Someone please build a time machine!
Bad part about it the .22lr hasn't been that different for that long. I still was able to get deals like that on it up until really around ten years easy, 6-8 on sale. Then everything went ridiculous.
Really do like they manner you demonstrate the weapons you share with your viewers.If you don't know about a the subject you admit that instead of slinging BS as so many others on YOU TUBE tend to do.
Daniel Schmidt Wrong. The AKM is the modernized variant, the AK-47 was very rare and were the original models. AKM's were made for better mass production, as the AK-47 was only made in the few hundreds. The AKM uses stamped steel instead of milled steel, making it 1 kilo lighter. It also has a slanted muzzle instead of a straight one, to reduce recoil. The AKM also has a "rate reducer" that makes sure the rifle fires only when the bolt is fully locked.
@@molot_vepr_3089 There has never-never-never been such model as "AK-47". It was simply named AK, and it was in mass production since late 40-th until 1959, when AK was modernized and became AKM. Both AK and AKM have 7.62*39 caliber. AK-47 is just a western nickname for the AK of first generation and for the AKM. And AK was not produced in hundreds. It was produced in millions, and was a standard issue fo Red Army. The easiest way to distinguish AK from AKM is a stock. AKM has a stock more in-line with the barrel. AK has a stock which looks downward. AK-74 was a modernized version of AKM - caliber was reduced to 5.45 AK-12 - shotgun for civil market
@@n.b.380 This was from a year ago, So my knowledge on the Kalashnikov series was still rather raw. But yes, I've learned not too long ago that there is indeed, no AK-47. First Generation AK's, or as I like to call them, 'Milled Reciever AK's' are indeed not the 'AK-47' but simply the 'AK' I like the identify the AK and AKM by their lower receivers, as the AK has a noticeable rectangular indent near the front of the receiver on either side, while the AKM, made of stamped steel, has a small dimple near the magazine well. But yes, the AK does have a less straighter stock compared to the AKM. Thank you for the insights of my shortcomings, friend!
@@molot_vepr_3089 one more thing to distinguish AK from AKM AK has no compensator, its barrel is ended with perfect clear cut. It looks like a pencil that has never been sharpened AKM has a small compensator (about 1-2 centimeter). It looks like a lip, or like a pencil that has been sharpened. This lip is not symmetrical, it is arranged in that way so it could compensate the movement of AKM while shooting in automatic mode. As AKM usually goes up and to the wright, the compensator is located to the down and left part of the barrel. So, it makes exploding gases push the barrel the opposite side - to down and left direction. Together with a "in-line" stock these improvements make AKMs more stable than initial AK
AKs either have very accurate irons or very inaccurate irons. (IMO and experience) I haven't shot that many, but most of the AKs I've shot, have had irons that were right on. I can only think of one where the sights were an issue.
In Russian army it's shooting exercise 6A. 30*30 cm target, 300 meters range, six training shots, three qualification shots, standing stance. 2 hits for "A", 1 for "B".
Psychofan Vev game'a Aaaaaand, since everyone here has not visited every country, we do not exactly know what every country is doing in their schools, so.........
"I'm not the best rifleman in the world." Hickok...lets face it...you've handled and fired more weapons than most of us have ever owned or even seen and you've done exceptionally well with each! There's something to be said for someone who is really good with one gun....but you are good with every gun you modest devil, you. Life is good!
this was the first video i watch of hickok45 i must say im impressed of what this channel has tought me the history of these beautiful firearms. keep the videos coming sir
There is a reason the Russian Military switched to the 74. Far more stability, better ability to pierce body armor "same reason the 5.56 green tip can go through level 3 body armor" flat out better accuracy, no reason to even compare the 47 against the 74. You're talking world war 2 era technology vs what is know today. Same reliable platform just tweaked. I'm ready to see what the AK-103 brings.
True, but if I want a miniature bullet screaming at 3,000 fps, I'll just go with the lightweight AR15 platform. If I'm lugging around an AK, I want that 30 caliber classic round.
hickok45 the Russian winters will freeze an AR. The design of the AK, loose tolerances, allows for minimal cleaning and won't fail when it gets 20 below. I've even heard of the Russians burying an AK in the snow and it still works. Also, the 74 round is a barrier buster; that's as issued with Russian Army steel jacket ammo.
I heard many times that USSR switched to AK74 simply because of looking at M16. Later they regretted it (especially in Afganistan), but at the time they wanted to have compatible to M16 assult rifle.
Igor Sokolov No. That is incredibly flawed logic. If you think the Russians are that stupid... They would not exist today. The AK 74 has been around since 1974. If the AK 74 was truly a worse rifle, they would've switched back to the AKM. They are NOT complicated, and there is no serious investment. A smaller faster round is just a better overall idea and strategy (Like the American's 5.56)
The AK platform, the finest, most reliable, most stable, easiest to maintain battle rifle ever designed..... give me one of these over the AR ANYDAY!!!!!
Good thing 7.62x54r is still roughly the same price and I have two rifles that shoot it. Have more rounds than I know what to do with. I feel your pain about 5.56 though have a few ARs
Крутой дед! Я стрелял когда служил в армии с ак-74 по автоматическим мишеням короткими очередями, все мишени поразил, + стрелял с скс со ста метров, попадал в мишень, единственное попадали гильзы напарника по стрельбе в лицо, но никогда ни у кого не было проблем с зараяжанием или осечки, хотя на стрельбах на эту тему инструктировали.
I really like both the 47 and 74. I can't decide if the wood or polymer looks better on either one but I do know that the smoke pouring off of the barrel at the end of this video is one beautiful sight.
i love your videos! and i love shooting. i learned to shoot at my time in german army. here in german its nearly impossible to shoot because of the strong weapon law over here . it's good to have your Videos hickok45. Thank you! From germany. PS: Sorry for my bad english.
Метко стреляет. У нас самая дальняя мишень был "пулемёт" на расстоянии примерно 450 м. Как-то попадали. Но, стреляли из положения лёжа. очередью по два патрона.
Hey +hickok45 the ones with the red were 7n6 they tumbles more than a Vietnam era M-16 round and can punch through body armor. It is very good stuff to have on hand.
AK 74 was my gun during Military Servise in one of post Soviet countries in 90s. I also had AGS 17 ( crazy toy). Thnks for uploading this video. Just nostalgic feelings ))).
I can understand the point with the heavier round 7,62 - I had a HK 3 when was in the army (in Denmark) However when the soviet was figthing in Afganistan, the Mudjahedin called the AK 74 round for the "poisent bullet" becuz it did more damage then the AK 47 that they where using.
Like your modesty, hitting a small target 3/4 at 230yds and saying not good....lol. The 74 is really for 50-200yds range fighting anyways, I fired the folding stock/short barrel version when traveling through Pakistan/Afghanistan before the wars, love them.
God its so cool to see him shoot, visibly hit the target but the speed of sound not being able to catch up quick enough to not look delayed and make the ding sound
Jesus christ, you think all the COD players and trolls would be on a FPSrussia video. But no, they had to come to a Hickok45 video to spread their stupid.
I've fired an AK-74 in full auto and it was very impressive. Super controllable and easy to keep on target. Very easy to squeeze off two or three round bursts. I liked it! More than the Uzi, M4, and Thompson subgun. I did like the M249 SAW too even though it's a heavy weapon. Hickok45 = great gun channel.
Love it. So much for the inaccuracy of the AK style rifles. I have a late 1990's Romanian 5.45 AK style rifle. We hit 8"X8" metal plates at 200 and 300 yds quite consistently. Rifle is a total ball to shoot. Good video. Thank you Sir.
I'm really surprised that he seems completely oblivious to the hollow cavity design built into the nose of the 5.45X39 round that makes it so devastating. That's what makes it such a better round than the 5.56.
Excellent point Mr. Tron. The Geneva Convention states that all military rounds must be standard FMJ, no hollow points. The Russians designed the 5.45x39 as a copper jacket round with a steel core, but with an empty cavity in the nose of the round, thus meeting the treaty requirements. The result though is a round that tumbles after only an inch or so penetration in soft tissue, causing some really devastating injuries.
huckleberry602; The original barrel on the M16 in Vietnam had a 1:12 twist (now they tend to be 1:9,1:8 and 1:7) which made the bullet very unstable upon contact causing devastating wounds on the NVA and The Cong. Amweican troops likened it to shooting at the enemy with a chainsaw because the wounds were so devastating.
Not exactly, the requests for imports (form 6s) were all put on hold. There is a huge scare going on right now because of it and all sorts of rumors going on because of that. The 7n6 in now around 22 cents or more a round and very hard to find because of hoarders. God willing they don't ban it though.
No in fact they are banned, the BATF deemed it armor piercing which is totally and utterly bullshit. But yes 7n6 will no longer be imported and the hoarders are selling what they have at a ridiculous price.
Bought AK74 ammo from Century Arms well before any AK74 parts kits were available. Two , 1080 rd cans to a case. $49 shipped back then. Still have 6 cases left. Mine is a No Dak receiver with a Romanian parts kit professionally assembled, then refinished. It's been a solid performer.
The only two ppl I care to hear from when learning about these weapons in mr Hickok and James Yeager the rest is imitation! Thank you for your input on all guns I will always follow you Hickok
After all the shooting videos of yours i have watched, I still find it amassing what you guys in the states can buy. I wonder how different things would be here in Australia if gun ownership was a right and not a privilege..
Impossible since they are not even produced anymore and with the import ban and they never made a semi auto only versiom, burst operation with semi auto select
I know. But what do you hear about AKs? Reliability. I was joking, because that happening doesn't fit the AK's reputation. If I were to choose a weapon I could count on no matter what, though, I'd still go for the Vz. 58.
1. AK is an accurate, powerful, easy-to-use and durable weapon, but like any weapon, even if it's a simple medium sword, care is needed. Lubrication, cleaning the barrel, washing parts and so on. 2. The original AK series created from a secret metal alloy, only in Russia. But, in the same way, there are many AK licensed copies in the world, there are many kinds of them and many countries produce them like Finland, Serbia, Israel "Galil", Ukraine, Germany, India, South Africa, Czech Republic. But those that look more or less like the original one: the Hungarian AK, the Chinese AK, the Polish AK, the Iraqi AK, the Bulgarian AK, the Romanian AK, the American AK. Perhaps some of them can be are little defective. 3. It still depends on the bullet and the type of it, there are many kinds. Maybe some worked "not right", which could be the cause of the malfunction.
+Nene Kamegura Was this "secret metal alloy" retained when they went from milled to cheaper stamped receivers? Sounds like baloney to me. It's a machine, and like all machines it's not going to be perfect and can sometimes malfunction. Stop making excuses and weird theories--it's OK that the AK is just a mass-produced, imperfect machine. I've seen other AKs malfunction on numerous occasions, and there are always excuses being made. Just stop and get a grip. I've seen every well known design malfunction, and it's not always the ammo, the magazine, or the shooter (sometimes it is, but sometimes it's the gun itself).
The biggest difference between the 5.56 and 5.45 is that the 5.45 has a longer bullet. The long bullet can cause it to tumble on impact which allows for some impressive wound cavities. It also allows for greater mushrooming. Other than that they’re pretty similar. I personally like the low recoil of the 74
Polish 🇵🇱 made Tantal 5.45mm. I have had this weapon in the PL Army back in the 1994-1995 during my UN ( UNIFIL) national service. Good weapon, quite accurate. 👍
Hey Hickok. The 7N6 round that is banned from import but still available for the AK-74 has the nastiest internal ballistics compared to both 7.62x39 and 5.56 - I mean completely nasty, and typically exiting either down, left, right, or up making huge exit wounds. This 7N6 ammo alone makes the platform superior. As Mr. GunsnGear what is is preferred rifle and round and what he's learned via his testing of it. He can't even keep it in the block.
Я служил в Советской армии, 1987- 89. У нас на вооружении все время были АКМ. Я сам всегда стрелял на отлично. В учебному подразделении мне даже доверили, перед зачетом по стрелковой подготовке, пристрелку всех 27 автоматов взвода. А служа в войсках, я даже выиграл соревнования по стрельбе группы подразделений (три дивизиона ПВО), выбив 29 из 30 на морозе минус 30. Но, никогда я не имел такой твёрдой руки, в свои тогда ещё 18-19 лет, как этот дедушка! Если американцы имеют хот бы тысячу таких фанатов оружия, то война с ними на их территории нежелательна.
There are so many countries making ak rifles with various furniture and muzzle devices not commonly seen with their corresponding model that I can understand some confusion in guessing which model an ak rifle is at a glance. There are, however, a few distinctions in appearance that you can always use to tell what rifle you're looking at. Between the 47 and 74 models you can look at the magazines fed into the rifles. The 47 fires 7.62x39mm rounds that have tapered cases which get thinner more toward the bottle neck, and the magazines have a more pronounced curve to their shape to accommodate for the tapered cases. The 5.45x39mm rounds fed into 74 models also feature an all around thinner case than their predecessors, represented by the smaller profile of 74 mags when compared to the 47's. 100 series ak rifles are not common in the states, but you can tell them apart by their gas tube, which is connected to the front sight post as apposed to the traditional position between the front sight and forearm furniture. (This excludes the 101 and 103, but the magazine rule above can apply here.) ak12 and various derivatives of it can be identified easily by their rear sight, which sits close to the operator's eye on top of the dust cover. Alternatively, since sights are often modified, the charging handle on 12 models are of the few ak rifles to not have them directly attached to the bolt carrier at the extraction port, instead moving it above the forearm furniture similar to an FN SCAR or Masada ACR.
