How to tell the difference between ak47 and ak74 through pictures?

[nidm]

Hi,

A simple question. Just buy look at picture(s), can one tell whether an AK is 47 or 74?

Nidm

[PRODRIVE]

front muzzle, front sight base, gas block, lower hand guard, magazine, and stock.
did i forget anything else?

[AK all day]

front muzzle, front sight base, gas block, lower hand guard, magazine, and stock.
did i forget anything else?

Nailed it.

[munkeeboi]

sometimes it's harder to tell between saigas/arsenal models since they both use the 24mm front end. depends on the type of AK47/74 you are looking at, but those are the items you would tend to look at for the differences.

[Tac driver]

If there is a mag in the rifle that's the quickest and easiest way to determine what your looking at.

74 mag = slight curve
47 mag = extreme curve

[NorCalXJ]

Was about to say that the easiest way is to look at the magazine.^

[Taquero07]

lightening cut in the buttstock is another one

[RuggedJay]

Look at pictures and note the differences.

[tron18]

And also a good way to differentiate between the two is if the pics you are looking at have loose rounds around the rifles.

[Chewbaca]

Magazine

[nidm]

can someone post a comparison pictures or a link to it? thanks

btw, looking at the ammo is easiest, and mag is easier. so let's make it a bit more challenge. :-)

[Cheezle56]

don't forget the mag support dimples in the receiver.

[BucDan]

Magazines an the gas block are the easiest to denote the differences.

[Vaktathi]

Here's a quick example with an AK 47, AKM and an AK74

AK 47 (type 2milled receiver, stamped type1's incredibly rare so not going to bother, type 3's are very similar)

No muzzle brake, 45* gas block, perforated gas tube, milled receiver and gigantic lightening cut, banana curve magazine

I didn't note it but the buttstock is angled and the dust cover/receiver top is smooth.

AKM


Slant muzzle brake, 45* angle gas block, banana curve magazine.

Also, I didn't highlight it on here but the stock is much straighter, the older AK47 had a more angled stock, also the receiver top/dust cover is ribbed rather than smooth.

AK74

huge muzzle brake, 90* gas block, much less curved magazine (also universally made from plastics with the exception of Polish Tantal magazine), and the there's the cutout on the buttstock. Also note ribbed dust cover like AKM.

AK74M's will be similar except have black plastic furniture and a folding stock. Some AK74's as above will have plum colored plastic furniture.

There's some other differences, most you can't tell without either taking it apart or having in your hands (i.e. sight ranges)

[munkeeboi]

For Arsenal/some saiga conversions, sometimes you can really only tell by the mag upon first glance, without the mag, it'd be difficult.

pics obviously copied from Atlantic.