Middle East: why AK-47s and not AK-74's?

[Danno 1,228]

AK_47

AK-74

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

simple

AK47s are obsolete and available at bargain basement prices on the black market. They are often sold by "the ton" as if they were scrap metal. There are tons of cheap 7.62x39 ammo available.

It would be like asking in aanother market "Why use an M1 and not an M16/M4"?

[Danno 1,228]

simple

AK47s are obsolete and available at bargain basement prices on the black market. They are often sold by "the ton" as if they were scrap metal. There are tons of cheap 7.62x39 ammo available.

It would be like asking in aanother market "Why use an M1 and not an M16/M4"?

- The M1 and the m16 are worlds apart, not true of the Ak's

-"Obsolete" suggests an item is no longer made or in use, not true of the Ak-47.

-Not sure the pricing would be that big a factor, they come into this country at about the same price.

-Ammo for the 74 is about 50% cheaper.

Edited November 4, 2011 by Danno

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

- The M1 and the m16 are worlds apart, not true of the Ak's

-"Obsolete" suggests an item is no longer made or in use, not true of the Ak-47.

-Not sure the pricing would be that big a factor, they come into this country at about the same price.

-Ammo for the 74 is about 50% cheaper.

They are obsolete as military rifles for major powers which means they are being dumped cheap. The AK 47 (1947) was phased out nearly 40 years ago which puts it in the same class as our M1 rifle which was in use until the 1970s in some US units, particularly National Guard and many of our allied units until the 1980s. You cannot compare commercial grade rifles imported into this country with our import restrictions for commercial sale in our economy with surplus military rifles, USED surplus military rifles, in sub-Saharan Africa

Ak 74 ammos is cheaper here, it is not the case in other areas in "need" of large quantities of guns.

[xebec 195]

Both variants of the Kalashnikov design are still in current production...the most recent are the AK-103 (Rifle length 16" barrel) and the AK-104 (Carbine length 12.5" barrel), chambered for the M43 cartridge (7.62x39).; and the AK-74M (Rifle), and AK-105 (Carbine), chambered in 5.45x39.5. Both are current issue service rifles, and are far from obsolete. While I would agree that the AK-47 ( Milled type I, II, and II) are obsolete, the AKM fights on in virtually every war zone on the planet, and gives up little to the current crop of assault rifles (unless you count attaching do-dads to your rifle....the AKM isn't as "capable" in that arena.

I would argue that the main reason countries outside of the former Soviet bloc have been largely disinterested in the AK-74 has been simple availability of rifles, ammunition, and parts. Many countries around the world have manufactured AKMs or variants... including Iraq, Iran, China (Type 56s were supplied to foreign clients in huge numbers), North Korea, Cuba, Pakistan, Egypt, Venezuela, Finland, Yugoslavia, as well as the Soviet Union and satellites. Many others have adopted AKMs over the past 50 plus years. Even more countries manufacture 7.62x39 ammunition....and there are stockpiles of this stuff dating back a half century. The AK-74 was only manufactured by a handful of countries.... Soviet Union, East Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Venezuela (maybe). Ammunition production is limited to these same countries, for the most part.

Personally, I'll take my 74 variants any day....

Edited November 5, 2011 by xebec