AK Guide
The AK platform is probably the most widely produced rifle pattern of the 20th Century. Due in large part to the cold war, the Soviet Union exported its signature rifle design to numerous countries, resulting in the AK being the most common rifle platform in the Middle East and Africa. With so may variants and designs, it may seem a bit intimidating to try to identify and understand the difference between the AK variants. This simplified guide should shed light onto some of the more common AK variants
AK47 (TYPE I, II, III)
The original AK design. Type 1s had a stamped receiver. Type 2&3 had milled receviers
AKM
The most mass produced and common AK. Built on an improved stamp receiver. This gun was produced in licence in Romania, Bulgaria and Egypt as the MD63/65 and MAADI respectively. Out of licence it was famously copied in China as the Type 56 and in Yugoslavia by Zastava
AK74
Build for the newly designed 5.45 cartridge, the AK74 replaced the AKM in Russia as the standard issue army rifle
AK 100/200 Series
Based off of the AK74 design, the 100/200 series of AKs are the most recent additions. The rifles are built in various calibres, mainly 7.62, 5.45 and 5.56. The new series also featured more erganomic and tactical furnishings.