Most people would think the rifle is an AK-47, which is perfectly reasonable. Sure looks like one, after all.
It is, however, an AK-74. The main difference is that the ak-47 is chambered for a .30 caliber round, while the AK-74 uses a Russian copy of the 5.56 mm round US and NATO forces use.
How can you tell the difference? By the orange magazine. The Russians deliberately designed the new AK-74 magazines to be visually different in order to avoid mistakes when grabbing reloads.
Neat little touch that.
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Interesting, but I don’t think that’s entirely accurate as far as that being the reason for the color choice. See here, http://www.classicfirearms.com/russ30rdbakelite and here http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=MAK47I30
The surest way to tell the difference between a 5.45 magazine and a 7.62 magazine is the difference in the curvature between them. The 5.45 magazines have a less pronounced curve than the 7.62 magazines. If you place them side by side it is very noticeable.
Thanks. I did not know that.
“visually different” makes you rifle more noticeable. None the less good to know the difference for sure. Thank you.
the quickest visual difference between the two rifles is the lightening cuts on the stock. That was on purpose so that day or night you could see or feel whether you just picked up an AK47 or an AK74.
Here’s an example:
http://images46.fotki.com/v274/photos/5/47955/8570103/AK74_lft-vi.jpg