Why is AK47 Cheaper than AK74?

[tbryanh 11]

It seems that AK47 rifles, mags, and ammo are more readily available in the US than AK74 rifles, mags, and ammo.

 

I am curious why this is so even though Russia apparently does not use the AK47 much anymore and uses the AK74 instead.

 

Is it because countries other than Russia still use the AK47 as their main rifle and have not switched over to the AK74?

[paprotective 362]

Now is not the time (IMO) to buy the AK74 variant.. surplus ammo is thru the roof ($240/tin +shipping)..

 

The AK47 ammo is readily available for $4.99/box or less..

[imarangemaster 315]

In the military market, many, MANY millions more AK47/AKM/AK103 platforms in 7.62x39mm have been made than the 5.45x39mm AK74 platforms.  In the civilian semi auto market, , I would guess 7.62x39s out number the 5.45 platform by a factor of at least 20 or 30 to 1. Other than surplus 7N6 5.45. ammo (which is drying up) the production of 7.62x39 ammo is massive by comparison.

 

It all boils down to supply and demand.  7.62x39 supplies far exceed demand.  The scarcer 5.45 supplies cost more due to relative scarcity.  Basic economics 101- supply and demand.

 

A consideration really is ammo.  If there was a cessation of importation of Russian ammo of both calibers, 7.62x39 is manufactured domestically by US ammo makers, and reloading components and dies are readily available.  5.45 ammo, on the other hand, is not produced domestically.  Hornady, the only domestic company listing 5.45 ammo, uses Russian imported components.  There are NO reloading components for 5.45.

 

Also, the 5.45 won't do anything that the 5,56 will do better,  The 7.62x39 has better intermediate barrier penetration than either 5.45. or 5.56.  It can be loaded sub-sonic for the suppressor crowd, and is an excellent 200 yard deer and hog round.

Edited July 16, 2014 by imarangemaster

[Matthew Hopkins 1,065]

 surplus ammo is thru the roof ($240/tin +shipping)..

 

 

 

 

well yeah, that is no surprise for anyone that the surplus 7n6 is expensive, it's because they put a ban on any further importation. so what is in the country is all there is, and has been point out, it's supply and demand.

 

however, you can still find WOLF  and other brands of 5.45, ATLANTIC has 1200 rounds of WOLF for 325 shipped! that break down to 27 cents a round.

[imarangemaster 315]

My last Siaga I had in Mississippi (that I sold when I moved to CA) I also reloaded cast  for it.  I had a LEE mold that I hard cast wheel weights and loaded 2400 powder.  Cycled perfectly.  With ammo being only 20 cents a round, now, it isn't woth it.  When a panic hits, though, casting is good!

[tbryanh 11]

It seems there is lots of surplus mags for AK47 but very little for AK74. I am wondering if this is because the countries the mags come from are switching from AK47 rifles to AK74 rifles?

[Matthew Hopkins 1,065]

It seems there is lots of surplus mags for AK47 but very little for AK74. I am wondering if this is because the countries the mags come from are switching from AK47 rifles to AK74 rifles?

 

 

most all the 74 mags that came into this country were East Germany, that country no longer exist, now it could be they're isn't any more left

 

I bought so many of those mags because they were 5 bucks a pop, that I was surprised how much I bought.  I can sell like 3 or 4, at todays "market price" and get all my  money back of what I spent on them

Edited July 16, 2014 by Matthew Hopkins