How short can you go with a 7.62 AK and still have a viable

[Rob]

How short can you go with the barrel on an AK in 7.62x39 and still have a viable weapon? I know that most consider 10.5 to be borderline on a 5.56 AR, but is there a generally accepted number for AKs? What kind of velocity could an AK to get with ~7-8 inches of barrel? Is it enough to penetrate soft armor or attain adequate penetration inside of 50-100 yards? Will the action cycle reliably?

I've got no real legitimate reason for a short AK beyond anything as a range blaster, but I am waiting on my stamp to come back on a Draco and I'm tempted to go even shorter. I still want it to be more than a loud .22 in terms of power.



Rob

[continuity]

I'm working around the thought's of a SBR AK in 7.62x39 also. Would be interested in some input on this too.

[MCFLURY]

this might help for comparison


http://xcrforum.com/index.php?topic=6226.0

[Rob]

Wow, that's pretty impressive. Looks like 7.62x39 doesn't lose nearly as much velocity as 5.56 when going to a ridiculously short barrel.


Thanks for the link.




Rob

[Iansstud]

Mine is 7" and it makes a Large Flame!!!!!!!!!

I figure that IF I miss, at least they will be blind and burnt!!!

[gunguy]

My dad used to keep a .38 s&w under his bed, is that what you keep there? looks like a fun toy.

[Dweezil]

12" barrel AMD 65 shooting Wolf Military classic 7.62x39 124gr ball: avg speed: 2263 fps based on a 16 shot string. Extreme spread: 67. Highest speed: 2307, lowest: 2240

The same load out of a 16.5" barrel MAK 90 is right around 2400fps.

You really don't sacrifice much...but the muzzle flash from the AMD 65 is about 2-3 ft long.

[20nickels]

I've always thought the heavier bullets would be the ticket in a shorty AK, but I have no way to prove it. One would think a 150 grainer would be less blasty and hit harder.

[PolsVoice]

you can get REAAALLY short.

[Crosshair]

I have snubbies with longer barrels than that.

[Diomed]

Is it wrong that I want that in a sidefolder?

[Crosshair]

Is it wrong that I want that in a sidefolder?

Yes, the stock will be in front of the muzzle, meaning you'll burn yourself when you deploy the stock.

[YugoRPK]

Yes, the stock will be in front of the muzzle, meaning you'll burn yourself when you deploy the stock.

Except that it wont be in front of the muzzle.

[Crosshair]

Yes, the stock will be in front of the muzzle, meaning you'll burn yourself when you deploy the stock.

Except that it wont be in front of the muzzle.

Yea, you got me. It was a funny thought and I couldn't resist posting it.

An underfolder would though.

[20nickels]

How short can you go with the barrel on an AK in 7.62x39 and still have a viable weapon? I know that most consider 10.5 to be borderline on a 5.56 AR, but is there a generally accepted number for AKs? What kind of velocity could an AK to get with ~7-8 inches of barrel? Is it enough to penetrate soft armor or attain adequate penetration inside of 50-100 yards? Will the action cycle reliably?

I've got no real legitimate reason for a short AK beyond anything as a range blaster, but I am waiting on my stamp to come back on a Draco and I'm tempted to go even shorter. I still want it to be more than a loud .22 in terms of power.



Rob

One builder claims 9.5" is ideal for cycling reliability, but obviously you can go shorter with success. The 7.62X39 is an incredible SBR caliber. I don't remember the chrony #'s, but it didn't lose as much velocity as one would think. Don't forget the PWS comp.

[PolsVoice]

One builder claims 9.5" is ideal for cycling reliability,

uhh... the AK74SU (Krinkov) has a 8.5", the 7.62 variants are similar. Draco pistols are even shorter.

[YugoRPK]

One builder claims 9.5" is ideal for cycling reliability,

uhh... the AK74SU (Krinkov) has a 8.5", the 7.62 variants are similar. Draco pistols are even shorter.

Draco pistol barrels are over 11"

[Twinsen]

One builder claims 9.5" is ideal for cycling reliability,

uhh... the AK74SU (Krinkov) has a 8.5", the 7.62 variants are similar. Draco pistols are even shorter.

And the AK74SU has that pressure modulation thingy on the end of the barrel.

[YugoRPK]

One builder claims 9.5" is ideal for cycling reliability,

uhh... the AK74SU (Krinkov) has a 8.5", the 7.62 variants are similar. Draco pistols are even shorter.

And the AK74SU has that pressure modulation thingy on the end of the barrel.

Thats K-VAR marketing hype. The AKSU fires fine without that thing. Its a great flash suppressor like it was designed to be because it REALLY needs a good flash suppressor with the short barrel. AK gas systems don't need a long pressure dwell time. The piston gets hits hard like with a baseball bat and its on its way. Once its out of the gas chamber the piston doesnt care what happens next. Residual pressure in the barrel once the piston is out of the gas block does nothing.

[PolsVoice]

I thought that this was a draco:

[YugoRPK]

this is a draco...

[silencertalk]

10 inch on an AR is because that is the shortest barrel which will allow for fragmentation of standard bullets out to 40 yards or so. The wounding mechanism of the 5.56mm is fragmentation.

In the AK, you want to use expanding bullets. Perhaps SP lead or polymer tipped.

The AKS-72U has a 210mm barrel length, which is 8.26 inches. I would not go shorter than that.

[nwcafesurfer]

this is a draco...

YougoRPK, what gasblock/ sight is that??
Im building an AMD-65 suppressed & trying to keep the barrel length down

[YugoRPK]

this is a draco...

YougoRPK, what gasblock/ sight is that??
Im building an AMD-65 suppressed & trying to keep the barrel length down

Thats a Romanian AIM gas block. They take the stock off a semi version of the AIM and marketed them here as Draco pistols. Crude machine work but they work well. Hard to find these days on their own. KVAR had them at one point but that was years ago. I can't think of anyone who would carry them these days.