5.56MM For AK clones?

[Eric Pinnell]

Does anyone know if the 5.56mm rounds would fit into an AK clone's
magazines? If so, did anyone ever make a 5.56mm conversion kit for
the AK?

--
Eric Pinnell

Qui desiderat pacem, preparaet bellum
(Let Him Who Desires Peace, Prepare for War)
Vegitius, 3rd Century BC

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Please find out about rec.guns at http://doubletap.cs.umd.edu/rec.guns

[Rich Gajda]

Eric:

I have never heard of a 5.56 conversion kit for an AK clone. However, there
are at least two "5.56" versions of AK clones.

One is the Romanian ROMAK2 which fires the 5.56x39 Russian round that was
the Soviet response to the success of the NATO 5.56 round in Viet Nam. This
looks like a 7.63x39 round with a smaller neck and .223 bullet. The second
is the Norinco BWK-92 which was designed for the NATO 5.56 (.223) round.
This one is a sporter version of the AK and looks like a MAK-90.

Each of these two use magazines unique to each model. Although the
magazines look like AK magazines, they will only work with the intended
rounds. The 7.62x39 rounds will not work with either magazine and neither
of the 5.56 rounds will work with a 7.62 AK magazine.

The ROMAK2 (semi-auto clone of the Russian AK-74) is still available new
although it can no longer be imported so prices have risen (about $350 new)
and they are getting scarce. The BWK-92 is no longer imported, prices have
risen (used for about $400) and it is only available used (if you can find
one). There is a newer version of the ROMAK2 (5.56x39 Russian) that only
takes a new magazine that holds only 10 rounds. The older high capacity
5.56 magazines will not fit into the new model. A 7.62x39 updated version
of the WUM-1 (the 7.62 version of the ROMAK2) that only takes a new 10 round
magazine is much more common. The newer Romanians (both 7.62x39 and 5.56
x39) are advertised in Shotgun News and Gun List for $229.99 each.

Hope this helps,
Rich

Eric Pinnell wrote in message <7iq3tt$etb$1...@xring.cs.umd.edu>...
> ...

[J.A.FREEMAN]

How do you fire 5.56 bullets in a 7.62 barrel? You can't do it.
There were 5.56x45mm(.223 Remington) AK's imported from China. They use
there own type mag that is not interchangeable with 7.62 mags.

[Eric Pinnell]

Rich Gajda wrote:

# Eric:
#
# I have never heard of a 5.56 conversion kit for an AK clone. However, there
# are at least two "5.56" versions of AK clones.
#
# One is the Romanian ROMAK2 which fires the 5.56x39 Russian round that was
# the Soviet response to the success of the NATO 5.56 round in Viet Nam.

You mean 5.45x39mm, right?

# This
# looks like a 7.63x39 round with a smaller neck and .223 bullet. The second
# is the Norinco BWK-92 which was designed for the NATO 5.56 (.223) round.
# This one is a sporter version of the AK and looks like a MAK-90.
#
# Each of these two use magazines unique to each model. Although the
# magazines look like AK magazines, they will only work with the intended
# rounds. The 7.62x39 rounds will not work with either magazine and neither
# of the 5.56 rounds will work with a 7.62 AK magazine.
#
# The ROMAK2 (semi-auto clone of the Russian AK-74) is still available new
# although it can no longer be imported so prices have risen (about $350 new)
# and they are getting scarce. The BWK-92 is no longer imported, prices have
# risen (used for about $400) and it is only available used (if you can find
# one). There is a newer version of the ROMAK2 (5.56x39 Russian) that only
# takes a new magazine that holds only 10 rounds. The older high capacity
# 5.56 magazines will not fit into the new model. A 7.62x39 updated version
# of the WUM-1 (the 7.62 version of the ROMAK2) that only takes a new 10 round
# magazine is much more common. The newer Romanians (both 7.62x39 and 5.56
# x39) are advertised in Shotgun News and Gun List for $229.99 each.
#
# Hope this helps,
# Rich

Thanks.

--
Eric Pinnell

Qui desiderat pacem, preparaet bellum
(Let Him Who Desires Peace, Prepare for War)
Vegitius, 3rd Century BC

----------------------------------------------------------------------

[MagusOpus]

#From: "J.A.FREEMAN" <J.A.F...@worldnet.att.net>

#Date: 30 May 1999

#
#How do you fire 5.56 bullets in a 7.62 barrel? You can't do it.

# Yes you can, not accurately, but it can be done. We were taught that in Army
basic training.

" We are the people our parents warned us about "

--------- Jimmy Buffett

[Rich Gajda]

Oops! J.A.FREEMAN was kind enough to correct me (off group) on an error in
my earlier post. The ROMAK2 is not chambered for 5.56x39 -- no such
cartridge. The correct ROMAK2 round (and Soviet cartridge that was
supposedly in response to our 5.56 NATO round) is actually 5.45x39 and uses
a .221 bullet. (I knew better -- that will teach me to post to the group
too late in the evening.)

To J.A.FREEMAN: Thank you for the correction,
Rich

Rich Gajda wrote in message <7iqdo6$659$1...@autumn.news.rcn.net>...
#Eric:
#
#I have never heard of a 5.56 conversion kit for an AK clone. However,
there
#are at least two "5.56" versions of AK clones.

[troll]

the proper nomenclature for the russian small caliber round is 5.45x39 NOT
5.56x39.
there were a number of aks imported earlier that were in 5.56mm or .223 cal
but now are hard to find and command somewhat of a premium. best to check
gun shows or friendly dealers. they may come up with one.
hopes this helps.

[Florgy]

There were two models of 5.56x45(.223 rem) rifles made in china. Poly-tech and
Norinco model 84S. The magazines for these rifles are shaped differently than
standard AK type magazines.
The russian ak74 is chambered for the 5.45x39 round. These rifles were
produced in most of the com-bloc countries. East Germany, bulgaria, and
romania produced these rifles for their forces. the E. German and bulgarian
rifles are the most similar to the russian model. Romanian versions had just a
few slight differences in the front sight base and other minor parts.
The recent romanian imports (romak2) are not compatible with the 5.56 round.
I have found that east german ak74 bakelite magazines work well in my chinese
5.56 rifles.
But because of the minor size difference between the 5.56 and 5.45 rounds they
will function properly with 20 rounds or less in the magazine.

[Dave Williams]

Rich Gajda wrote:

# Eric:
#
# I have never heard of a 5.56 conversion kit for an AK clone. However, there
# are at least two "5.56" versions of AK clones.
#
# One is the Romanian ROMAK2 which fires the 5.56x39 Russian round that was

# the Soviet response to the success of the NATO 5.56 round in Viet Nam. This

# looks like a 7.63x39 round with a smaller neck and .223 bullet.

NOT! The ROMAK2 is 5.45x39mm which is in no way compatible with .223 (5.56mm)
in any way.

Dave

[asm...@my-deja.com]

In article <7iqdo6$659$1...@autumn.news.rcn.net>,

"Rich Gajda" <rga...@ptd.net> wrote:
# Eric:
#
# I have never heard of a 5.56 conversion kit for an AK clone.
However, there
# are at least two "5.56" versions of AK clones.
#
# One is the Romanian ROMAK2 which fires the 5.56x39 Russian round that
was
# the Soviet response to the success of the NATO 5.56 round in Viet
Nam.

The USSR round is 5.45x39.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

[the_s...@my-deja.com]

Oh, my, my!

No one has yet mentioned the Galil and the Valmet. Both were semiauto
versions of their respective countries' 5.56 x 45 mm NATO AK clones.

Reportedly because of a slightly better receiver and a charging handle
extended upwards for true ambidextrous top-of-the-receiver operation,
the Galil is supposed to be the best AK clone ever produced.

Never handled/fired one, so I can't say.

Because the 5.56mm has far less case taper, the 7.62 mags don't work
well. Too much "banana."

Anyone know why the Valmet I've borrowed rips the cases apart in mid-
body when shooting reloads? USGI brass only, less than max loads.
These are not case head separations--the case seems to break on
extraction, sometimes staying in the chamber and making for a neat-
looking demonstration of the field-expedient broken case extractor.