AK 5.56 NATO Barrel Twist
- Thread starter Turk
- Start date
Turk, Maybe I don't get around, but I never saw an AK type rifle in 5.56. They're usually 7.62mm. Anyways, If I remember right, the 5.56 M-16 I used to carry in the military was 1 in 7". Does that sound right? Man, it's been a long time. 
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"Charlton Heston is my President"
Danny45
NRA, NAHC, Buckmasters
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"Charlton Heston is my President"
Danny45
NRA, NAHC, Buckmasters
Chad Young
New member
Several variations in aliber exist for AK-series guns. The most common is 7.62x39. The other two are .223 (5.56x45) and 5.45x39. The mags for all are not interchangeable.
Some rifles based on the RPK action are also available in 7.62x51 (.308) caliber.
Some rifles based on the RPK action are also available in 7.62x51 (.308) caliber.
Some even based on the AKM come in .308 NATO....
As for .223 AKs, there are some in the AK-100 series, there are the Galils, Valmet, Daewoo, etc.
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The Alcove
I twist the facts until they tell the truth. -Some intellectual sadist
The Bill of Rights is a document of brilliance, a document of wisdom, and it is the ultimate law, spoken or not, for the very concept of a society that holds liberty above the desire for ever greater power. -Me
As for .223 AKs, there are some in the AK-100 series, there are the Galils, Valmet, Daewoo, etc.
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The Alcove
I twist the facts until they tell the truth. -Some intellectual sadist
The Bill of Rights is a document of brilliance, a document of wisdom, and it is the ultimate law, spoken or not, for the very concept of a society that holds liberty above the desire for ever greater power. -Me
Danny,
As you can see from some of the other posts there are AK (type) chambered for 5.56 NATO. I think most were made for the export market to the states (semi-auto).
The 16 I carried in Vietnam had a twist of 1 in 12". The AK-47's (slective fire) that were in Vietnam were chambered in 7.62x39mm Russian.
Everyone thanks for the info.
Turk
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Danny45:
Turk, Maybe I don't get around, but I never saw an AK type rifle in 5.56. They're usually 7.62mm. Anyways, If I remember right, the 5.56 M-16 I used to carry in the military was 1 in 7". Does that sound right? Man, it's been a long time.
[/quote]
As you can see from some of the other posts there are AK (type) chambered for 5.56 NATO. I think most were made for the export market to the states (semi-auto).
The 16 I carried in Vietnam had a twist of 1 in 12". The AK-47's (slective fire) that were in Vietnam were chambered in 7.62x39mm Russian.
Everyone thanks for the info.
Turk
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Danny45:
Turk, Maybe I don't get around, but I never saw an AK type rifle in 5.56. They're usually 7.62mm. Anyways, If I remember right, the 5.56 M-16 I used to carry in the military was 1 in 7". Does that sound right? Man, it's been a long time.
[/quote]
Madison,
Your right the military did change the twist. I thought the orginal 16's were a 1/11'' twist (may be wrong) and from what I remember is in very cold climate accuracy was not good enough.
Concerning the keyholing a few years back I was on another thread and Vietnam Vet made the statement he had missed a couple of NVA soldiers due to bullet deflection of the M-193 ball ammo not shooting in bambo. I new better so I did a test using a SP1 (1/12 twist) firing the 193 bullet firing through bush and it was really surprising how many rounds keyholed. This guy thought the 7.62x39 Russian was a better round in combat not my opinon.
I'll have to post this test some time.
By the way my results were if you think you can hide in the bush from a 5.56 NATO round. "your lose" deflection was all most null.
Turk
Your right the military did change the twist. I thought the orginal 16's were a 1/11'' twist (may be wrong) and from what I remember is in very cold climate accuracy was not good enough.
Concerning the keyholing a few years back I was on another thread and Vietnam Vet made the statement he had missed a couple of NVA soldiers due to bullet deflection of the M-193 ball ammo not shooting in bambo. I new better so I did a test using a SP1 (1/12 twist) firing the 193 bullet firing through bush and it was really surprising how many rounds keyholed. This guy thought the 7.62x39 Russian was a better round in combat not my opinon.
I'll have to post this test some time.
By the way my results were if you think you can hide in the bush from a 5.56 NATO round. "your lose" deflection was all most null.
Turk
Chad Young
New member
Early M16s and ARs had a 1 in 12" twist which was great for bullets up to 55 grains (the old M193 was 55 grains). With the A2 variation, the 1 in 7" was used. It was found that 1 in 9" would stabilise the 62 grain SS109/M855 62 grain round fine, but not the corresponding tracers. Thus, they went to 1 in 7" so both would be stabilized. Currently, commercial AR-15s can be had with twist rates from 1 in 5" to 1 in 12", with 1 in 9" being the most common.
As for what is the twist rate on a particular AK variant, it is my understanding that most will be 1 in 12" while very recent guns may be 1 in 7". I advise having your gunsmith determine this for you using a borescope.
One other way to see if you have a 1 in 12" twist is to fire a 62-grain bullet at 100 yards. If the bullets keyhole and hit all over the place, you probably have a 1 in 12" twist rate.
Hope this helps!
As for what is the twist rate on a particular AK variant, it is my understanding that most will be 1 in 12" while very recent guns may be 1 in 7". I advise having your gunsmith determine this for you using a borescope.
One other way to see if you have a 1 in 12" twist is to fire a 62-grain bullet at 100 yards. If the bullets keyhole and hit all over the place, you probably have a 1 in 12" twist rate.
Hope this helps!