AK Muzzle Velocity Test (AK, Draco, Mini Draco)

[MilitaryArms]

[Mamluke]

Curious what muzzle velocity an AK74 in 5.45x39 would compare to, probably an AR, not a 7.62 AK!

............. thanks for sharing.

.............

[ZX-10R]

Great stuff as usual. Thanks for sharing.

[zfields]

I expected a lot more loss on the draco and mini draco to be honest.

[Fern]

That what I was thinking^^^

[timdps]

As the video shows, the 7.62 round does not lose much velocity due to reduced barrel length. Cutting the barrel more than half (16" to 7") loses less than 400 fps (17%), which is probably why we see short barreled AKs in military/police use in Eastern Europe.

[Quiet]

Short barrel 7.62x39mm > short barrel 5.56x45mm
One of the reasons why I went with an AK pistol over an AR pistol.

[Dion]

Thank you for that! I've been very intrigued by the Mini Draco and actually have considered buying one in the future. It is still called a "pistol" so I couldn't see myself using it past the 100 - 150 yard range as was specified, anyhow.

[wash]

An interesting comparison is my 16" 6.8 SPC AR. I had the opportunity to get chronograph results from an Ohler and saw 2,500 fps with an extreme spread of 20 fps with SSA 115 grain OTM.

That's more velocity and certainly a higher B.C. than a 123 grain 7.62.

And that's ammo that is not as hot as my SPC II barrel can handle.

Comparing $1.00 a shot ammo to $0.25 a shot ammo isn't really fair but it shows another point between 7.62*39 and 5.56*45.

[h0use]

Good video

[nrakid88]

Wow, I am a little shocked. First off, great video. Didn't the 7" pws Diablo in 7.62x39 claim 2000 fps? I am guessing that they used handloads with a faster burning powder.

There isn't much difference in length from a AK-47 to Draco ( like four inches?)

As the video shows, the 7.62 round does not lose much velocity due to reduced barrel length. Cutting the barrel more than half (16" to 7") loses less than 400 fps (17%), which is probably why we see short barreled AKs in military/police use in Eastern Europe.

True, for half the barrel, you get 17 percent less VELOCITY... but energy means sqauring velocity....

16" = 1445 ft/lbs

11.5" = 1176 ft/lbs (19 percent reduction)

7"= 986 ft/lbs (32 percent reduction)

That being said, I still believe the 7.62x39 round does relatively well for a short barrel.


For comparison, an m16 gets 1200 ft/lbs at the muzzle, and a 16" barrel gets a little under 1100 ft/lbs

[Jpach]

Wow, I am a little shocked. First off, great video. Didn't the 7" pws Diablo in 7.62x39 claim 2000 fps? I am guessing that they used handloads with a faster burning powder.

There isn't much difference in length from a AK-47 to Draco ( like four inches?)




True, for half the barrel, you get 17 percent less VELOCITY... but energy means sqauring velocity....

16" = 1445 ft/lbs

11.5" = 1176 ft/lbs (19 percent reduction)

7"= 986 ft/lbs (32 percent reduction)

That being said, I still believe the 7.62x39 round does relatively well for a short barrel.


For comparison, an m16 gets 1200 ft/lbs at the muzzle, and a 16" barrel gets a little under 1100 ft/lbs

The diablo has an SS barrel and is nitrided, both which increase velocity.

I highly doubt any reputable manufacturer would ever use special handloads to make a claim of a measly ~~60 more FPS over other available 7" 7.62x39s.

[nrakid88]

The diablo has an SS barrel and is nitrided, both which increase velocity.

I highly doubt any reputable manufacturer would ever use special handloads to make a claim of a measly ~~60 more FPS over other available 7" 7.62x39s.

Have you ever done business? Never trust what someone who's selling something is telling you, my friend.

[Jpach]

Have you ever done business? Never trust what someone who's selling something is telling you, my friend.

60 FPS more than a draco isn't much of a selling point, my fri3nd.

[nrakid88]

60 FPS more than a draco isn't much of a selling point, my fri3nd.

It is when you consider the PWS Diablo was 7", and the Draco is 11.5".

Unless if your name is Jpach and you have a refried egg for a brain.