Answers to the questions we got most.From thousands of reader questions sent to AK-47.us since 2003.
1The Basics
| AK-47 | Spec |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.62×39 mm |
| Action | Gas operated, rotating bolt with two lugs |
| Overall length | 870 mm |
| Barrel length | 415 mm |
| Weight | 4.3 kg empty, about 4.9 kg loaded |
| Magazine | 30 rounds (40 round box and 75 round drum for the RPK) |
| Sights | Tangent leaf to 800 m (1,000 m on the AKM) |
| Cyclic rate | About 600 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | About 715 to 780 m/s |
2Common Questions
What does AK-47 stand for?
Avtomat Kalashnikova, the Kalashnikov automatic rifle, model of 1947. AKM means the modernized version from 1959.
Is my AK stamped or milled?
A stamped receiver is folded sheet steel with rivets and a dimple over the magazine well. A milled receiver is machined from a solid block and has a long flat cut above the magazine well.
What is the difference between an AK-47 and an AK-74?
The AK-74 fires the smaller 5.45×39 cartridge, has a large muzzle brake and a groove along the stock. The magazines do not interchange.
AK or SKS?
The SKS is a 10 round fixed magazine semi-auto carbine in the same 7.62×39 cartridge. It is simpler and cheaper. The AK takes detachable magazines and is shorter and handier.
Will my AK magazines fit a MAK-90 or a Mini-30?
Standard 7.62×39 AK magazines fit most AK pattern rifles, including the MAK-90 and SAR-1. They do not fit a Ruger Mini-30 or an SKS.
When was my AK made?
Most military AKs carry a year or a two digit year code near the serial number or on the trunnion. Factory marks tell you where it was made.
Can I make my AK full auto?
No. Converting a semi-auto AK is a federal felony. Only machine guns registered before May 1986 can be owned by civilians, with federal approval.
Is an AK pistol a pistol?
A pistol is built from the start with no shoulder stock. Adding a stock to a short barrel AK makes it a short barreled rifle, which needs federal registration first.
Why does my AK fail to feed?
Most feeding problems come from worn or cheap magazines, a dirty chamber, or weak ammo. Try a known good military magazine and clean the chamber first.
How much is my AK worth?
Value depends on country, maker, condition, import marks and laws in your state. See the price notes on AK47 Buyers Guide.
3Ask the AK Experts
Have a question about your AK, its markings or its history?
Send it in. Good questions get added to this page.