AK-74

The AK 74 (Designed 1974) is an adaptation of the 7.62mm AKM assault rifle and features several important design improvements. These modifications were primarily the result of converting the rifle to the intermediate-caliber 5.45x39mm cartridge, in fact, some early models are reported to have been converted AKMs, with the barrel re-sleeved to 5.45x39mm. The result is a more accurate and reliable rifle than the AKM. The AK-74 and AKM share an approximate 50% parts commonality (interchangeable are most often pins, springs and screws). There are many variants. The weapons are used by the former Warsaw Pact countries, and they are still in service with numerous armed forces, both regular and irregular. The model and its variants remain the most popular and widely used rifles in the world because of its reliability under harsh conditions, low production costs.