Why do Russian Soldiers Use AK-12, but the Spetsnaz Hate It and Use AK-74 

I don't understand the need for a "newer" rifle, when you can take a reliable existing rifle and modernize it with Zenit parts. Overall way cheaper

Reminds me of the fact that When AK74 was adopted, Spetsnaz continued using AKMs for some time.

To be such an unpopular weapon, it sure is a sexy thing.

The burst mode was a ridiculous addition. I also never understood why the gas tube was permanently welded to the rifle. This is a nightmare for cleaning the rifle, especially if using corrosive ammunition.

For instance, Finland just choose to modernize their old RK62 to RK62M. It was cheap and practical solution.

I remember examining an AK-12 at the "Army 2021" expo in Moscow a few month before the events in Ukraine unfolded. The instructor seemed to hate it; claimed the whole thing was wobbly (the stock and handguard especially) and that the picatinny mounts on the receiver cover were more of a gimmick as they weren't stable enough to reliably mount decent optics without having to readjust them after removing the cover to clean the weapon, for instance. The picatinny rails on the handguard were useless for mounting anything besides flashlights. When the gun first came out, the military hated it and called it "an attempt to turn the good old Kalashnikov into an "M-series" (slang for Western assault rifles)". I think politics were largely to blame as the Izhmash plant (now the Kalashnikov concern) faced bankruptcy in the early 2010s, and the government basically kept them afloat until they got their business model in order by ordering batches of AK-12s. To be fair though, most of the concerns voiced by soldiers were addressed in the AK-12 rifles that were produced after 2023, but I still think the MoD should go with another rifle in the future (ideally an AEK-971/Kord derivative, or the AKV-521 if they insist on sticking with the Kalashnikov pattern).

The ak 12 is not a failure, it is good for what it was designed for. It was designed to give the standard soldier an ability to mount attachments easily and cheaper, especially thermo or night sight and suppressors, ak 12 is much lighter and cheaper than ak km. Also ak 12 is still evolving and it is stupid not to agree that it is modernised and standardised old school ak and this is why it’s good. Speznaz usually prefer something more customisable, but they usually don’t use their weapon for a long period of time because old school ak in furniture are heavy, but usual grunt will gladly take ak12 and forget all of the f@ckery with attachments on old school aks. So this video is based on more of a video game logic and he does not know how and why certain weapon choices are made. For government ak 12 is a major win in terms of supplies of attachments needed, because everything is standardised and they do not need to ask the soldiers what mount they use, and grunts do not complain all good for them)

AK74M/AK200 just makes more sense overall.

The current 3rd iteration of the AK-12 and AK-15 are pretty decent and most of the kinks have been ironed out and burst is gone from the fire control. The flimsy and shaky stock is gone and a solid folding stock with adjustable length of pull is fitted to 3rd generation rifles. Parts breakage and cracking is apparently fixed too. The major reason that special forces prefer to use the AK-74M and other 100 series rifles is that there is an abundance of after market parts for them. The AK-12 can also only use the suppressor that is designed for it as it fits on the muzzle break or the mount depending on which model. There are very few of them in circulation too. The 100 series rifles do not have this issue and there is a large choice of option to suppress them which is one of the main reasons they are preferred. The fixed gas tube is not really an issue as you can clean it fitted by opening the end of it. The handguard is still a small problem as it is not as solid as something like a Zenit Co B19 or B30 handguard but really it is only a small issue. It is fine for mounting a light or even a laser. You wont get the as solid zero hold on the laser but with most of the after market handguards you cant mount a GP-25 or GP-30

All new issued rifles have growing pains when they’re first introduced.

What russian specnaz are you specifically talking about? There are at least 6 different departments that have them and some of them have different branches of specnaz, with specific tasks. And the army also has its own branch of specnaz...

Your comment about many of the AK12's "innovations" being based on video game logic is funny and accurate. There's also a large historical precedent for it, particularly in American arms development. We've tested out crazy ideas like "what if every soldier carried a high-tech grenade launcher that was integrated into their rifle?" or "What if we increase hit probability by using burst-firing hypervelocity flechette rifles?", among many other ideas that were seen as stupid by anyone with actual combat experience. I think it's rather likely that this sort of weird experimentation was a motivating factor for Project Abakan, and later Project Ratnik in the wake of the AN94's failure.

great video man, i have a question about the bayonets so the AK-74M has a standard bayonet thread or mount like those in m16s and the ak-12s has a clip on bayonet mount? like those in british rifles?

I heard that the older vision of the AK-12 was a lot different, but the government kept removing features until it became a normal AK with rails. But if that's the case, why don't they take the Zenitco alpha rails? It's already there, and it is high quality.

The left right Ak selector switch is really cool

very interesting. thank you for the vid

1:57 oh god no-one on the internet knows that ak 12 is evolving and 2 round burst is removed for almost 2 years

Yeah, I read a Russian soldier's opinion of the AK-12 on Telegram. He said his weapon of choice was a modernized AK-105 with zenitco handguard and red dot.

Great insights.

there's so much features the ak 12 could've taken concept and design from already proven from working platform altho the reason to make more ak 12 and not modernize remaining ak 74 was due to both keeping the military industry alive and getting newer rifles they could've made it more well thought out. the dust cover could've been based on the krinkov ( even zenitco had a dust cover mount similar in concept) and the hand guard could've been torx screw mounted for extra stability, and the stock could've been any ar15 buffer tube stock that is common even in Russia.

If you see the word Special Forces in the title, it's safe to say that the video was made by amateurs. In the video they talk about military special forces, OMON, military swimmers, Alpha, special forces of the Airborne Forces, FSB, SOBR? They all use different equipment for different tasks and to generalise them is to sign one's own incompetence.

your video's are excellent. Very informative and your english is great.

wasnt it the same thing with the AKM and the AK74?

Another reason why AK74 or AKM is preferred because there are vast quantities of after market parts, some cheap, some premium but definitely better quality than the standard mil-spec. SOF units typically can buy or use their own if required. But AK12 is new and the barrel change means it is very difficult to get after market suppressors too.

Mikhail Kalashnikov is probably fuming rn looking at the ak 12

This is what zlobin's prototype was ditched for...

most or all of these problems have been fixed with the most recent iteration of the AK12

I think that the '74 is a fine rifle as it is. The '12 modifications come off as an attempt to turn the Kalashnikov into an AR-15. I suspect this to be obnoxiously heavy. The closest I will get to a '74 is my Arsenal clone (it is a re-manufactured Saiga). The mount on the side of the receiver for optics is very strong. I would not want a shorter barrel with 5.45x39. If I need the weapon to be shorter, I can fire it with the stock folded. The folding stock is short (a great size) and the mechanism to lock it open/closed is excellent. The only thing that is I would change with mine is a tuned trigger. It's an easy drop in modification. A wish would be to replace the brake with a suppressor by direct mount to the existing threads. The optics can be solved with an EoTech+-magnifier using the aforementioned receiver mount or an aftermarket part. I like AR-15 and AKs. They are both excellent weapons. You really must be familiar with both systems.

What about the AN 94 and the newer AEK 545? Also they are developing new 6mm cartridges

Is it as bad as the SA-80 early version?

How does it compare to the QBZ191 ??

The idea of improving service rifles with a small third-party parts manufacturer with low supply capacity is only useful on a small scale of use, such as for special forces. Rifles for conventional units are mass-produced and specifications must be standardized. Cost reduction is also required.

This is why I think the ak200 series was so much better. All of the positives without any of the negatives. Between the ak74m and the ak12

The AK12 has almost a west European or northern European rifle design.Having a front sight post like Finnish/Valmet RK62(or Israeli Galil)and rear peep sight towards the end of receiver cover.And also the side foldable stock has a western appearance.But also that new Chinese assault rifle,QBZ 191,has a US or western European appearance.

Can you do a comparison with the extinct VDV gear?

To be fair, a free floating handguard isn't inherently bad for military use. Many militaries have shown that if you do it right it's there's pretty much no point in not having it. The Block II, URGI, MCX family, 716i, the KS1, and modern 416's that use free floated rails just to name a few have been exceptional rifles. But like you said the flexing is an issue. Any laser mounted to that will have no hope of holding a zero.

I mean military weapons can have a free floating barrel, but you can't do it cheap.

the muzzle device is non removable but is designed to be used with a fast detach supressor/flashhider wich is exactly what the special forces want ( Alfa arms muzzlebreaks plus fast detach supressors have been lob the standart recomendet muzzle device by the special operations trainingcenter RYC for example ). with the ton of tubning options now avaviable for the rifle , the possibilitys have already exceedet the traditional ak platform. more and more spec ops guys start to preffer the ak 12 and its specific advantages , most of wich interstingley dont get covered in the western world. most complains are towards the firdt version , tough even this version could be fixed by an experienced user with a few parts. as of rigght now there is not much speaking for the ak 12 quite the countuary special forces instructors really start to like the rifle. of course people like to use what they are used too , and this counts for all . for example people complain about the diopter sights and call them inferior towards traditional ak sights ( special forces and regulars ) something wich confuses most in the west. It has more to do with familiarity. also calling the ak 12 a fail is defently incorect , the ak 12 had some intial issiues liek almost all new rifles when they are i!introduced including bouth the original ak and M16 rifles ( though they were much faster resolved then bouth of those ). The rifle is produced in imense quanititys , effectively reequiping the entire army at a fast pace ( more then half production volume of kalaschnikov concern is ak 12 ).

AK-74M is good, it works perfectly. Old things are more reliable cause they stood the test of time. No one should ever think that new stuff is always better.

From what I understand too the ak-12 is super hard to suppress and from what I know of Russian special forces is that they love suppressed rifle. To the point where they carried ak-ms into combat with a 74 just so they could have a suppressed rifle in Afghanistan.

on M1 they finally throw out that ridiculous 2 burst lmao

This feels like someone made it in mansion not in field.

Also wish for video about AEK-971 soon

Well. If they wanted to make a burst fire selector, they could've just brought back the AN-94 and handed it to the Spetsnaz, FSB and other specops

I thought that the author understood something, but it was a mistake The first version of the AK-12 was terrible and no one hides it, but in the new version most of the errors have been corrected. It is a soldier's personal preference and matter of habit whether to use an AK-74 or an AK-12. There are many positive comments about the AK-12 and there are negative ones, but this does not mean that the AK-12 is a bad machine gun. A huge plus of the AK-12 is the built-in picatinny rails, thereby eliminating the need for various adapters. I am surprised that the author did not say that a diopter sight was installed in place of the open sight, because most people perceived the AK-12 negatively precisely because of the new sight. The AK-12 is a general-arms assault rifle, that is, an assault rifle for all types of troops in the army. No one hides that the AK-74M is no longer suitable for the realities of the modern battlefield, and the AK-12 should correct this, and again no one hides that the AK-12 is an AK-74 in a new configuration

All those 'problems' are workable fixes, I don't see any show stoppers. Every new firearm is a work-in-process and will have 'bugs' they need to work out. The next version of the AK-12 will be better.

Maybe they should try doing a featureless stock for the ak12

AK-12 is just such a sexy gun :>... however i got myself an AKM

They should have done what the Soviets intended to do, plastic top cover and a rail over the top, that could've been done pinning the rail on the trunnions, other than that the Galil ACE reciprocating dust cover would be better than the old one too.

most army do that when a new rifle is distributed the special force reject it for years

funny thing is their many elite scouts still using this

I also hate this new "Diopter Sights", the old one where better to get a quick aim.....

The Ak-12 was more or less the cheaper options as zennit parts are more expensive and the Ak74 is pretty worn, with worn barrels, peened bolts and worn out springs being an issue to replacement. Mass producing a new rifle makes sense, it's just they went with the Ak-12 as it was a lot cheaper than trying to mass issue Aek-971's or AN-94's or the like. Even the Ak-100 series.

Despite all this i love the AK-12. I currently own one and its my most accurate AK. Still everything said in this video is true. Great video

How did they manage to fuck up the AK?

70s-80s: army uses new ak74 while spetsnaz uses akm 2020s: army uses new ak12 while spetsnaz uses ak74

*Back then* Soviet Army Soldier: Wow, we got those brand new AK-74’s I really love them! Soviet Spetsnaz Soldier: I hate it, prefer old AKM’s or AKMS’. *Now* Russian Army Soldier: Wow, we got those brand new AK-12’s I really love them! Russian Spetsnaz Operator: I hate it, prefer old AK-74M’s.

In the 2000's when the US Army wanted a more 'modern' rifle, we explored new guns entirely and the closest to adoption, the XM8, was deemed not worth it...but then we just got SOPMOD Block upgrades (block 1, block 2, etc...) that were basically just furniture/rail upgrades and completely succeeded in modernization. They were first used by spec ops, proven to be grunt proof, and then applied to standard rifles. Russia already got EXACTLY the same option, up to the point of years of proven use by spec ops with Zenitco's kits, and they are clearly superior to the AK12 (just like an M4 SOPMOD was superior to an XM8 for example). Should have just got Zenitco kits for everyone, no need for decades of separate R n D

Off topic: i can imagine that if AN-94 had somewhat simpler constructuon even with hyperburst, it would be the best rifle on the battlefield and russians would be using it from day it was released.

hi i used an ak 12 and i disagree with the statement of dew to the fire selector going to far you are weaponless, that's not true it still fires fine but i must say even when it isn't malfunctioning it feels weird.

To those who want the quicker answer, AK-12 has bad quality, but it is standard issue so the army is forced into using it, AK-74 is good quality, but isn't standard issue, so only special forces such as Spetsnaz can get their hands on it

I believe that the main reason for hatered is that ak12 is simply heavier, this is some really big disatvantage for spetsnaz.

Short answer: because the army gets what’s new and the grunts tested out in the fields. Special forces already know how the older models work and they don’t want to be bothered with the guess work of a new model. Same happened with the AK74 , special forces hated it and kept using AKMs while the Soviet army and the paratroopers were all given AK74s in Afghanistan

Maybe they hate it because the 12 looks like a western gun lol and the AK74 is the stronk motherland symbol

What happened to "Nyet,rifle is fine"?

what can I say really. People who recently joined the army calmly fight with the AK12, and those who served for several years with the AK74 prefer it. A year ago, I, together with a friend who is 4 years younger than me, met the AK12, I didn’t like it much, but on the contrary, he liked the AK12 more than the AK74 and M4.

You didnt eave mention the dumb short handguard, some people like to hold rifles near the end of the barrel witch is more accurate. The gun would be pretty good looking if it had a normal hand guard.

Unpopular opinion but I think the outdated AKs like the AK47s or AKM are the best because they’re more powerful and durable, other than the 74s and AK 100 variants.

Their Zlobin protoype was by far a better upgrade than their curremt AK-12

He really said free floating handguards are not for the military

name of the song at end of the video?

In scifi elite troops gets newest tech. In reality they keep older weapons :D

The AK-200 would have been the ideal AK-12 and retain more commonality with the AK-74M (which is really the surrogate AK-100). The 2-shot burst is useless, and the only real change that the AK-200M (yes, they could do more) is improve the fire selector, and perhaps put the charging handle on the left side (a la AKV-521) to ensure extra protection, but beyond that, and perhaps the foregrip there is no real need to innovate the AK-200-design since it already has the right rails.

Do you address the 2023 revised version of this? It which all seems to be fixed. Many modernisations of rifles are painful. The modenisation of the AK5 to the AK5C didn't go over impressively well either. Also the Russians are slowly transitioning to the AK22 now. The AK12 is just a stepping stone in this.

Kinda like spetnaz units in the afghan war. They didnt like the 74, and prefered AKMs, most likely due to blending in , but probably what theyve trained and familiarized with

I wonder if the new AK-22 is an AK-12M1 with 6.02x41

doesnt the AK-12M1 remove the 2 round burst?

Said it before, but the AK74M could have been modernized through a upgrade package. Like something like the Polish Beryl rifle.

Most of the "improvements" on the AK12 were Good Idea Fairy things that were poorly executed. For example, free floaring handguards with mount options (Picatinny rail, MLok, etc.) are excellent for mounting accessories, especially ones youbwant to retain zero (like, say, IR frequency laser modules for use with night vision goggles), but only if they are *rigid* . If you can't get them rigid, you might as well have retained the older system with them mounted to the barrel group - your zero shift will still be about the same, but at least rhey wont break. The 2 round burst *sounds* like a good idea, but rhe reason they work for the AN94 and the HK G11 was those rifles fire the burst rate at an insanely high cyclic rate with an action that reciprocstes within a chassis, so both rounds exit before the recoil from the first shot is transmitted to the soldier. Even then, the value of "hyperfire" is debateable. With the AK12's rate of fire, it's not debateable - it's just a stupid idea to add a burst mechanism, that complicates rhe mechansim withiutnoffering any advantage. And in the case of the AK12, as you point out, the additional swing of the selector lever required to get to semiautomatic is bad. The non-removeable gas tube with the gap you cannot get into to clean is absolutely unacceptable in a combat rifle, *particularly* one where most of rhe ammunition stocks for the military is still corrosive primed - that's a failure point that will deadline rifles very quickly, and likelt cause the entire rifle to have to be replaced when corrosion gets unsafe. I understand why they wanted a QD muzzle device - to enable easy transition to suppressors and such, in keeping with the idea that they will become more commonly used in the near term. However, wither do it well (as other designers, including on the AN94, have done, as well as various Western suppressor companies) or just stick with the proven AK74 muzzle mount system - it's slower than a good bayonet mount, sure, bht its also way better overall than a poor bayonet mount system. All in all, id have to say rhe AK12 was (as we say in American baseball) "a swing and a miss", much like the US M14, rhe initial batches of US M16s in Vietnam, the UK L85, or the first generation AK rifles (the original stamped ones before the milled receivers or stamped AKM). (Not anywhere near as bad as the Indian INSAS rifle, but that is faint praise indeed. 😂 ) Now, not everything is horrible about rhe AK12. Provided it holds zero (especially after repeated disassembly of the dust cover for cleaning), the rear sight looks like a definate improvement. From what I understand, the new muzzle device is better than the AK74 muzzle device. But other than that, the AK74M is superior. [Edit to add - using the collapseable "M4 style" stock ia an improvement, too. But that is probably the *easiest* AK12 upgrade to backfit to existing AK74 rifles.]

Free-floated handguards in general are overrated for general-issue military rifles. Most soldiers even in well-trained infantry units (think US Marine marksmanship standards) don't shoot with enough accuracy to justify the small gains from free-floating and it makes the BUIS less accurate on some rifles (fortunately not for Kalashnikovs, but that's kind of irrelevant considering the disadvantages).

The Russians had it right the first time! They must not be familiar with that old saying, if it ain't broke,don't fix it! Some people can't resist trying to reinvent the wheel!

Thats just the times we life in overengeneer stuff that works until it deosnt look at cars all the electrik stuff everything

As a tarkov guy i can agree with spetsnaz. Ak 12 is trash, espessially that dioptr sight which is useless when you shooting at moving targets. Dioptr is good for long ranges, but for long ranges you need a scope and not this shit. Standart ак 74 ironsights are perfect for close combat.

Don't the spetznaz use AN-94 or AEK-971? Are you sure they are issued AK-12?

All they needed to do was to add picatinny rail to the AK 74 so it could fit mordern optics the didn't need to create a whole new rifle

Its same situation all over again when Russia adopted the AK-74. The Spetsnaz in Afghanistan traded their guns with their Colleges from the Army for a AKM

The AK12 is meant to be cheap. Less than $200 last I heard a year ago.

Old Maker (MK) is gone, and that affects testing and refinement.

The ak12 looks good on paper to keep up with the modularity of the ar platform but in doing so the ak loses what makes it great, its simplicity and easy maintenance, how ever after market zentico parts have been used for years by russuan special forces and perhaps some of those parts should be prioritized especially for optics mounting weapon lights, lazers, ect.

I Used the the ak12 in its modern configuration and its not so bad as it stated.

Ak12 shouldn't exist, their is already better option than it i.e. modernized AK74M and the whole family Ak10x the final and one of the greatest homologation of AK, created by Mikhail Kalashnikov. The whole AK10x is eventually modernized like AK74M and is offered as AK20x. If they wanted to go for a new design they could have gone for AEK family, MA dragnov derivative or limited service A-91/ADS system. All three of them bring something new to the table. Even their own civilian offering AKV521 is much better.

Good topic, you don't hear much about the AK12, and the first version has been ready since 2011 The movement of the fire selector can be a serious problem I still see the magazine insertion as a serious problem, it's a typical Kalashnikov difficulty to insert the magazine into the weapon compared to any western weapon If the muzzle break is not removable, how do you put a silencer on the gun? I'm watching videos from the Ukrainian front, I haven't seen AK12s on many soldiers, the Russian army is still using the AK74, the Ukrainians are also using the AK74 and all kinds of western weapons that they got either from the USA or the EU

Old is gold

The bayonet barrel mount reminds me of nerf guns😂

I don't get why the handguard is being made such a big deal out of. It is probably the easiest part on an AK to replace besides the magazine and top cover. Rifle furniture in general are parts that are highly subjective and a matter of taste and personal ergonomics. If russian arms procurement or command, whoever is in charge of equipment over there, felt the need to, they could change all the handguards in maybe a week.

What is the opinion of the Russian soldiers about the last version?

i dont thimk that sgould be fixes, i think that is for esier manufacture and massproduction.

Simple answer, Kalashinkov didnt listen to the feed back Alpha group have given, and theu felt like there was no point in switching it since their Ak74s are kitted out with zentico accessories. Thats the reason. If kalahinkov did listen to Alpha group feedback then theyll be fine using ut however theres no point to them an Ak that still takes and uses the 5.45x45 and alpha grpup has zenitco rails and adjustable stocks on their 74 its pohtless to go or downgrade in a sense to the Ak12. For those who dont know what alpha group is, Alpha group is the Russian tier 1 special operarions unit on par with Delta. And Spetsnaz is an umbrella term for their special operarions unit. If yoy are Spetsnaz yoy are most likely part of a counter terrorism unit, if yoy are Spetsnaz but with Alpha group yoy are a special opersrions unit in the Russian military. Also about the stuff going on un Ukraine and those faliure missions that wasnt Spetsnaz that was a Paramilitary that has the same training and such as Spetsnaz but they have known to have multiple mission faliures never had a good track record histort wise. All in all, reason as to why Alpha group doesnt use the Ak12 is because its a downgrade and pointless

Because the ak-12 actually suck in comparison to the older counterparts. Conscripts usually get the microscopical end of the stick in russia

Since the 7.62x39 is outdated is like saying 300 blackouts outdated. Yeah when they both have pretty much the same ballistic patterns and the main purpose of them both on the modern combat field is suppression and brushed deflection. As the 545 and 556 can not do well with.