I feel a variation coming on

[lasbrisas]

Can you get a straight pull AK74 in 5.45x39 here or is the only smaller calibre option the .223

[snayperskaya]

Can you get a straight pull AK74 in 5.45x39 here or is the only smaller calibre option the .223

Never heard of a 5.45 in the UK and I know of only one supplier in the UK that can get 5.45x39 ammo.The problem with the 5.45 is very few countries other than Russian adopted it, I know North Korea has and India produced their own variant of the AK-74 ( In Goa two years ago most of the security forces at Dabolim airport had 74s, this year they had H&K MP5s and not a 74 in sight), and as a result 5.45 surplus ammo is harder to find compared to 7.62x39.All 5.56/.223 AKs produced at Izhmash are for export (Ak-101 and 102) and the 7.62x39 AK-103 and 104 are used by some OMON and Spetsnaz units, along with the 5.45x39 AK-105.

[Blu]

Can you get a straight pull AK74 in 5.45x39 here or is the only smaller calibre option the .223

Why not take a look at the 6.5 Grendel? It's a nice little cartridge with very little recoil and it will reach out and touch further than the .223/5.56, and the 5.45. I write this from experience as I own one.

Blu

[lasbrisas]

Can you get a straight pull AK74 in 5.45x39 here or is the only smaller calibre option the .223

Never heard of a 5.45 in the UK and I know of only one supplier in the UK that can get 5.45x39 ammo.The problem with the 5.45 is very few countries other than Russian adopted it, I know North Korea has and India produced their own variant of the AK-74 ( In Goa two years ago most of the security forces at Dabolim airport had 74s, this year they had H&K MP5s and not a 74 in sight), and as a result 5.45 surplus ammo is harder to find compared to 7.62x39.All 5.56/.223 AKs produced at Izhmash are for export (Ak-101 and 102) and the 7.62x39 AK-103 and 104 are used by some OMON and Spetsnaz units, along with the 5.45x39 AK-105.

OK thanks for the info, just wondered really, quite fancy the AK102 the short paratrooper type version. Fired one in Vegas recently on full auto, my god was it loud and flames from the muzzle aswell.

[snayperskaya]

Can you get a straight pull AK74 in 5.45x39 here or is the only smaller calibre option the .223

Why not take a look at the 6.5 Grendel? It's a nice little cartridge with very little recoil and it will reach out and touch further than the .223/5.56, and the 5.45. I write this from experience as I own one.

Blu

The only AK variants (excluding Saiga and Vepr shotguns) available here in the UK are x39 and .223 Saigas and x39 Romarm AKM/S and the odd thumbhole stocked Saiga .308 (every one I have seen has had the slant-back receiver like a Vepr).Any other calibre would require a custom barrel etc.

[Blu]

snayperskaya, first off I notice that you say "here in the UK" so fair one. The reason I asked about an AK in 6.5 Grendel was I remember a while back reading something about Krebs making one. I did a search and found the original post. As you can see from the date of the post that was back in 2010. personally I think the 6.5 Grendel would make a great AK round. Anyhow here's the link to a fella that had one. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_4_64/132831_.html

Blu

[snayperskaya]

Blu, I read the thread and it looks a nice bit of kit, whats the availability of 6.5 in the States?.Are you on arfcom?.

[Blu]

snayperskaya,

whats the availability of 6.5 in the States?

Well as far as ammo goes there is no problem, I have an AR in 6.5 Grendel and never had a problem with buying the reloading components. As for the rifle itself, well to be honest I've never really looked but they are probably out there.

Are you on arfcom?

Yep I've been known to log on to AR15.com ocassionally

Blu

[Blu]

snayperskaya, I just had a nosy around the net and TBH I'm not finding much on the development of a 6.5 AK. However I do remember reading an article back in July that Wolf, who is one of the makers of 6.5 Grendel ammo, is in talks with Izhmash and Molot to produce 6.5mm Grendel chambered Vepr and Saiga rifles. The 6.5mm Grendel uses the same case head dimensions as its ancestor the 7.62x39mm, so it should be easy to chamber an Ak-47-derivative in it.

I've even fire formed AK cases to Grendel and used them without any problems after a wee bit neck turning. However since Bill Alexander has dropped the patent or trademark or whatever, Hornady and a the other big boys are now producing 6.5 Grendel ammo and reloading components. Reloading the Grendel used to be quite pricey because only Lapua was licensed to make the brass for it and later Wolf, but now that the brass for it has become more available and cheaper, well apart for the price difference in bullets it's as cheap to reload for as my AR's in 5.56mm.

I think an AK in 6.5 Grendel would be awesome,(hey I'd buy one) the simplicity and reliability of an AK mated to a round that will reach out and touch, and it will. With my AR in 6.5 I've shot at and hit the US equivalent of fig11 targets at 1000 yards. I do think though that the rifle will need a half decent barrel, it'd be pointless shooting what is a very accurate round down a crap barrel. I'm not saying today's barrels are crap, but I think you know what I mean.

The last AK I had was a Chinese Norinco 84S in 5.56. It wasn't one of the commercial MAC things, it was an accurate enough wee rifle but boy did it chew up brass real bad and it ejected cases forward instead of back and to the side. I bought it years ago for $150 and hardly used the thing, sold it last year for just over $2000. If it hadn't been a brass chewer I might have kept it.

Blu

[snayperskaya]

I saw a thread that had an article about Aspar Arms in Armenia producing an AK variant in .300 BLK, that would be interesting though i dare say they would never make it here as i couldn't see them being made as a straight pull for the UK market.Same with those Vepr-KMs that are made using 1960s dated trunnions etc, essentially a real Soviet AKM reproduced for the civilian market.One thing i did find on a Russian gunshop site was brand new Izhmash Tigr-03s (essentially a Dragunov with traditional fixed wood stock and full length barrel with flash-hider) in 7.62x54r for £871!!!, i nearly cried as we pay over £2000 for them!!!.Izhmash also offer them in .30-06 which would be a nice variation on a theme but again i doubt if we will see one in the UK.