BACKGROUND:
When it first appeared, the AK-74 was assumed to be a limited-production version to equip special forces. In reality, the Soviet Union was to mass-produce this rifle to replace their inventory of AKM weapons en masse.
Like its parent AK-47 and AKM weapons, the AK-74 is a magazine-fed, selective-fire, intermediate caliber assault rifle with a rigid piston gas system and rotating bolt locking mechanism. Unlike its predecessors, the weapon fires an 5,45 x 39 mm round instead of the 7,62 x 39 mm. The stamped sheet metal receiver is borrowed from the earlier AKM. The AK-74 has other differences from the AKM, one of them notably being the distinctive muzzle brake. This muzzle brake drastically cuts the already mild recoil and muzzle climb of the AK-74 but has the negative effect of increasing noise and muzzle blast. Current production versions also employ a mounting rail on the left side of the receiver for fixing a telescopic or night vision optics. (Text from Wikipedia)

The primary manufacterer of this weapon is Izhmash and is identified with this proof mark. Examples of this mark and serial number can be seen here.

BACKGROUND:
Below: The standard issue '5N7' 5,45 x 39 mm ammo (note lacquered steel case and slim, long bullet). The AK-74 family of weapons fires a 5,45 x 39 mm round with a muzzle velocity of 900 m/s. Muzzle energy is 1.39 kilojoules, giving an effective range of around 500 m. Cartridge weight is 10.75 g. Projectile weight is 3.42 g. The new cartridge was designed to give greater effective range, less recoil, and a flatter trajectory than the 7,62 x 39 mm.
The 5,45 bullet yaws when striking a soft target such as a human causing it to tumble. This tumbling creates a larger wound in the target than the bullet's diameter. The Afghans who fought the Soviet Union often referred to the 5,45 as "the poison bullet" because of the severity of the wound in proportion to its relative anemic size and energy. Reports from Afghanistan suggested that the new bullet might violate international conventions on rifle ammunition. It was suggested that its radical design would create inhumane wounds.
Design of an entirely new cartridge was possibly a reaction to the effectiveness of the 5,56 x 45 mm round in Vietnam. All military rifle bullets will turn or yaw in soft tissue. Small-caliber high-velocity projectiles like the 5,56 produce significant wounds because they yaw much sooner in soft tissue, greatly increasing their frontal area. (1) The Soviets designed a round that would be similar to the 5,56, but with an increased tendency to yaw. The 5,45 projectile consists of a mild steel core in the rear with a lead plug in front. The copper-plated steel jacket of the bullet incorporates an air space in the nose. This empty space has several functions. It moves the center of gravity rearward, encouraging yaw in soft targets. It also streamlines and lightens the projectile resulting in greater velocity, flatter trajectory, and more reliable feeding from the magazine. Finally, this space often collapses and deforms irregularly in soft targets. Despite its complicated design, the bullet fired by the AK-74 fails to reliably fragment in soft tissue making it less effective in this area than similar Western designs. It has also been shown to yaw no sooner than the 5,56 projectiles.
The development of the AK-74 bullet is often compared to that of the American M16 rifle and its M193 ammunition. This ignores the fact that NATO was in the process of developing the SS109 ammunition at the time and the two were likely developed in parallel with similar criteria. When the SS109 5,56 bullet is compared side-by-side with the 5,45 x 39mm they are similar in many ways. They are both composed of a separate jacket, steel core, and lead component. As with the SS109, the 5,45 was likely designed as a compromise between penetration and soft-tissue damage. The major threat at the time of development was the American soldier who was increasingly utilizing body armor. Not surprisingly, the 5,45 bullet is more effective against Kevlar than the earlier 7,62 bullet. The 5,45 and 5,56 cartridges are considered equal in most aspects with the exception of the Western round having a significantly greater tendency to fragment when fired at close range. (Text from Wikipedia) (1) - Fackler et al. (1984). "Wounding potential of the Russian AK-74 assault rifle", Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 24, 263-6.

Both Barnaul and Tula Cartridge Works were major manufacterers of Soviet small arms ammunition. They still manufacture the majority of Russia's small arms ammunition. To learn more about Soviet small arms ammunition headstamps and color codes, please visit The Russian Ammunition Page

BACKGROUND:
The RPK-74 is a squad automatic weapon or SAW developed by the Kalashnikov Design Bureau of the Soviet Union in 1974. It is a light machine gun that shoots 5.45 x 39 mm M74 ammunition, and is very similar to the AK-74, though with a heavier, longer barrel, a bipod and some differences in the stock and forearm (handguard). (Text from Wikipedia)

The primary manufacterer of this weapon is Vyatskie Polyany Arsenal (Molot) Machine-Building Plant OAO and is identified with this proof mark. Examples of this mark and serial number can be seen here.

BACKGROUND:
Unofficially known as "Ksyukha" (variation of a Russian woman name) or "okurok" (cigarette stub), the AKS-74U (also known as AKSU, AKSU-74 or AK-74SU ) was introduced in the 1970s. It was intended for use by vehicle crews, artillery teams and Special Forces, which needed a small and lightweight weapon. The AKS-74U is basically the shortened version of the AKS-74 assault rifle and combines the small size of a submachine gun and relatively powerful ammunition (5,45 x 39, which is the same as used in the AK-74 rifle). A notable distinguishing feature is its conical flash suppressor. (Text from Wikipedia and Photographs courtesy of Sturm)

The primary manufacterer of this weapon is Tula Arms Plant (Tulsky oruzheiny zavod) and is identified with these proof marks. Examples of this mark and serial number can be seen here.

(Text courtesy of Mark Welter. Please visit his page on 5,45 magazines!)

(Text courtesy of Mark Welter. Please visit his page on 5,45 magazines!)

To learn more about Soviet small arms ammunition headstamps and color codes, please visit The Russian Ammunition Page

BACKGROUND:
The PK / PKM is a general purpose machine gun and Its NATO equivalents are the M240 and M60 machine gun.
The original PK was a fully automatic machine gun development of the Kalashnikov automatic rifle design. Currently available as the PKM, the machine gun fires 7.62 x 54R Eastern Bloc standard ammunition. It is equipped with a simple bipod and is designed as a squad-level support weapon also suitable for installation and vehicle mounting. Its ammunition is not common to the AK-47 and other Soviet weapons carried by infantry units. (Text from Wikipedia)

BACKGROUND:
The 7.62 x 54 mm R (aka 7.62mm Russian) rifle cartridge is a Russian design dating back to 1891. Originally designed for the Mosin-Nagant rifle. It was used during the late Tsarist era and throughout the Soviet period, in machine guns and rifles. It is still in use by the Russian military in sniper rifles (SVD) and some modern machine guns (PKM). It is the oldest cartridge still in use by any military in the world. In general performance, it closely parellels the .30-06 Springfield. (Text from Wikipedia)

To learn more about Soviet small arms ammunition headstamps and color codes, please visit The Russian Ammunition Page

BACKGROUND:
The 56-YuL-428A Rakov machine, manufactured by Vyatskie Polyany Arsenal (Molot) Machine-Building Plant OAO is used for loading machine gun ammunition belts with the 7,62 x 54R rifle cartridge.