AKS-47 vs. AKS-74UN, which one is the better?

Question by Linangus: AKS-47 vs. AKS-74UN (Krinkov or AKSU), which one is the better all around assault rifle ?
I know that the 47 is more powerful and that the Krinkov is shorter, but which, if used by an army, would be more useful overall?

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Answer by John S g
The 74 (5.45 x 39) round, is comparable to the m-16 round (5.56×45), maybe more maybe more accurate than the 5.56. Both are more accurate than the 47 round, but the 47 (7.62×39) will definitely do more damage to what it hits. You can get more accuracy out of the 7.62×39 round out of something like an SKS or Ruger mini-30.

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Reno says

It does not boil down to the caliber. It boils down to troop support.
All things being equal, two groups of warriors, armed with 74,s and 47,s, I would say the 74 is more handy.

This does not mean it is more deadly, it means that warfare does not always rely on the type of gun you have but that it goes bang.

You see the 7.62×39, and the 5.45x 39 are assault rifle calibers similar to the 5.56x 45 the US uses. The reason an assault rifle is classified as an assault rifle, is that it is not a Battle Rifle.
After many wars, the world realized that engagements occured within 200 meters, and often was even as close as 50 meters. Prior to this, the world's armies were producing fine battle rifles that could put high velocity lead on target out to 1000 meters or more.These rifles were sturdy powerful, and heavy, not to mention usually a bolt action.

Durring World War 2, introduced in 1944, some Nazi generals realized the need for a gun that shot farther than a sub-gun in 9mm, but would not recoil like a Mauser, and was fully automatic. The STG44 was born. This was the world's first assault rifle, and was kept a secret from Hitler because he believed in Machine Guns and long range Mausers. Had this weapon entered the war in 1942, the world could very well have been a different place, at least for the Russians. Similarly, had we fought the Germans with bolt actions as opposed to the Garand, life would be different for us.

An assault rifle is light, fast, shoots with little recoil, and kills what it needs to kill within the range engagements most often take place. It is not a full power rifle load, but not a weak sub-gun. Its in the middle, and that is the definition of the assault rifle caliber.
The 5.45,×39 shoots a 60 to 70 grain bullet. The 7.62×39 shoots a 125 to 140 grain bullet. Do the Math. The 5.45 is easier to carry. the rounds are approximarely 30 to 40 percent lighter. Also remember that the lighter round requires less material to manufacture. This is a consideration a government looks at.

A soldier can carry 300 rounds of 5.45×39 for the same weight as one carrying 200 rounds of 7.62×39. The AK47 is more powerful, but its only a club if you run dry.

This is what the United Stated realized in 1959 when they moved from the 7.62×51(the .308) to the 5.56×46(the .223). In this example, One soldier carrying an M14, would carry 5 mags of 20 rounds each(100rounds total), that weighed more than 10 30 round mags of 5.56×45(total 300 rounds).

No doubt the M14 is more powerful, and shoots farther, but the M16 is 6 pounds lighter, and allows for twice the ammo.

So you see, I believe the AK74 would be more handy due to a lighter bullet, and a shorter profile.

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