AKS-74u

[VaLiancY]

Hey guys I'm just curious of what was the primary use of the AKS-74u? Did special forces use it as depicted in many military games? Was it used by tank or helicopter crewmen? And how is its reliability in combat?

Thanks in advance guys.

[NicNZ]

The old Krinkov ;)

The 74U was, I believe, the standard crew-members weapon. If I recall correctly, it was issued to Soviet crew members in higher numbers than similar Western weapons were issued to Western crew members.

You are correct -- it is widely portrayed as a special forces weapon. I am unsure whether this is entirely correct. It is my understanding that Spetsnaz use and used a range of weapons as appropriate. That is, of course, entirely sensible.

Because of its compact size, it may have been used by some airborne units, though airborne units had the AKS rifles with folding butt-stocks to fill their needs, I think.

A shorter barrel lower velocity and shorter range. More compact weapons also tend to leap around a bit more when fired in burst or automatic modes.

Im sure youll get more useful (and perhaps more correct!) information from others shortly

[GazB]

It is used by soldiers who can't carry anything heavier, like tank crews, helicopter pilots and gunners/navigators. It is not used by frontal aviation pilots who had full sized AK-74s included with other survival kit in their ejection seat. Military police might also use them and on some missions special forces might use them but they lack accuracy at normal combat ranges if the other guy has a full length assault rifle. It is carried by officers and it is also carried by some special weapon soldiers. Ie RPG gunners, Air defence troops equipped with man portable surface to air missiles. It would be very handy in house to house fighting but lacks a lug to fit an underbarrel 40mm grenade launcher on most models.

The new AK-100 series solves the problems with a longer barrel to improve longer range accuracy.

BTW velocity is not an issue as the 5.45mm round does not need to be travelling at very high speeds to do damage. The 5.56mm NATO round is most effective at very high velocity as when it tumbles if it is travelling fast it will split and break up in the target leaving a large wound. At lower velocities (ie over about 250m from M16 or over about 20m from am M4) the bullet doesn't disintegrate and the bending forces are not high enough to break it. The 5.45mm round on the other hand tumbles on impact at any velocity because of the bullet design.

[VaLiancY]

Thanks a lot guys. Information was really good.

[11 Bravo]

It is used by soldiers who can't carry anything heavier, like tank crews, helicopter pilots and gunners/navigators. It is not used by frontal aviation pilots who had full sized AK-74s included with other survival kit in their ejection seat. Military police might also use them and on some missions special forces might use them but they lack accuracy at normal combat ranges if the other guy has a full length assault rifle. It is carried by officers and it is also carried by some special weapon soldiers. Ie RPG gunners, Air defence troops equipped with man portable surface to air missiles. It would be very handy in house to house fighting but lacks a lug to fit an underbarrel 40mm grenade launcher on most models.
####################################
The new AK-100 series solves the problems with a longer barrel to improve longer range accuracy.

The AK/AKM design has it's failing in accuracy mainly due tot the designed in slopp of the action and the rather severe barrel whip when fired. Making the barrel longer does not cure that ill.

####################################

BTW velocity is not an issue as the 5.45mm round does not need to be travelling at very high speeds to do damage. The 5.56mm NATO round is most effective at very high velocity as when it tumbles if it is travelling fast it will split and break up in the target leaving a large wound. At lower velocities (ie over about 250m from M16 or over about 20m from am M4) the bullet doesn't disintegrate and the bending forces are not high enough to break it. The 5.45mm round on the other hand tumbles on impact at any velocity because of the bullet design.

*******************************************
The 5,45 soviet bullet does not tumble by design.It's long pencil like contour makes this possible from the get go - not intendedas a consequence. The M193 5,56 55grain bullet has by nature of it's
it's velocity as it's most lethal aspect. The bullet does not simply tumble and break up as much as it does make one flip on impact exposing the base of the bullet jacket like a hollow pointed bullet of sorts whcih causes the bullet to expand and cause a greivous wound cavity.
The M855 62.5grain 5,56 bullet was designed for more penetration and long range stability.Hence it loses approximately 350 FPS in comparison to the lighter M193 5,56 bullet and compromises it's lethality.When the M855 bullet is used in the M4 carbines the further lack of velocity and range only compounds the lack of reliable lethality as noticed by troops in afghanistan.
*************************************************

[Jippo]

The 5,45 soviet bullet does not tumble by design.

It does. It is especially designed to do that. It even has small cavity inside the tip of the bullet to aid the process.


-jippo

[REMOV]

The 5,45 soviet bullet does not tumble by design.Every modern military round tumbles - 7.62 mm x 39 M1943 (at distance 250-500 mm), 7.62mm x 51 NATO (at distance 200-400 mm), 5.45 mm x 39 M1974 (at 7-10 mm). The Russian 5.45mm is especially designed to tumble - low placed center of gravity and asymmetrical distribution of the lead core (the empty space in front part of the bullet is not designed to break the jacket, but to helps the core moves to the front). In fact, it tumbles faster than M193/M855 but not beak into parts like American/Belgium round.