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[Video+Review] PSA AK-74: Best US Made 5.45 AK?

PSA AK74 Shooting Right Side
Palmetto State Armory takes on the AK-74 with its own version of the 5.45x39mm platform. How does this budget-friendly model handle? Come see.
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    AK-74s, not to be confused with the AK-47, are some of the coolest small arms in existence.

    And Palmetto State Armory is stepping into the 74 fray with the debut of the PSA AK-74.

    PSA AK74 Desert
    The PSA AK-74…not to be confused with an AK-47.

    Introduced at SHOT Show 2020 in January, PSA’s release of an affordable, American-made AK-74 had me hyped. (Especially after the success of their third generation AKM.)

    But one question lingered…

    $999
    at Palmetto State Armory

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Available Coupons

    Would PSA’s entry into the world of American-made AK-74s be as solid as their previous 7.62×39 AKM workhorses? Or would first-generation bugs kill my vibe?

    Let’s dig deeper into the PSA AK-74, find out what sets it apart from the AK-47, and ultimately help you decide if you need to add one of these to your gun safe.

    For an even more detailed look at the PSA AK-74, check out my video review below.

    Need more Pew Pew Tactical in your life? Follow Pew Pew Tactical’s YouTube channel to get the scoop on all of our latest and greatest videos.

    Table of Contents

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    What’s Up With 5.45x39mm?

    For the unfamiliar, the original AK-74 was an updated AK platform built around the 5.45x39mm cartridge.

    Essentially, the Soviets followed the lead of other military units shifting towards smaller, lightweight, high-velocity cartridges.

    Lighter cartridges like the 5.45 were generally found to increase squad lethality while allowing individual soldiers to carry more ammunition pound-for-pound.

    PSA AK74 545x39mm
    The mighty 5.45x39mm. You’ll notice it’s a longer but thinner round.

    Ballistically, 5.45 is an interesting design.

    The original 5.45 cartridge, designated 7n6, was issued to Soviet riflemen in the mid-to-late 1970s.

    It included both a pocket of air just behind the penetrator inside the nose of the bullet, as well as a lead plug that gets crimped into the back. This throws the round’s center of gravity rearward.

    In turn, the 7n6 projectile has a tendency to deform and yaw when it strikes solid targets.

    Subsequently, the round causes nastier tissue damage as it cartwheels through your body.

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    Seeing large-scale use during the Soviet-Afghan war in the late ’70s, the Afghan Mujahideen allegedly dubbed the round “the poison bullet” due to its tendency to create wound patterns they weren’t accustomed to treating.

    A Little AK-74 History

    The AK-74 would see several more iterations before the AK-74M was adopted by the Russian military in 1991.

    With the Soviet Union dissolving in December of that year, it would go on to become the standard issue rifle for much of the Russian Federation that followed.

    AK-74M Russian Shooting
    Nice shooting, comrade. (Photo: Виталий Кузьмин)

    There have been a handful of domestic attempts at reproducing the younger Kalashnikov platform stateside. Still, they’ve been pretty mixed in terms of results.

    Some small builders offered guns so over gassed they’d beat themselves apart.

    AK-47 Exploding
    It’s an AK-47 but you get the idea.

    Let’s also not forget fabled stories of Century Arms AK-74s that may have been built on Bulgarian 5.56 AK barrels, which induced keyholing at 10-yards.

    There are also multiple tales of garage-built AKs exploding.

    $999
    at Palmetto State Armory

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Available Coupons

    The list goes on, but suffice to say that the AK-74 and its 5.45 cartridge never quite caught on stateside beyond dedicated enthusiasts and small builders.

    For the record, I’m in no way representing PSA’s AK-74 as an exact 1:1 clone of a Russian AK-74.

    It’s not.

    Spiderman Twins
    Are you…me?

    (Especially if you want to get really in the weeds with rivets and all that.)

    That didn’t keep me from being stoked about the chance to play with PSA’s creation, though…

    PSA AK-74: Stats & Specs

    Before we talk about range results, let’s cover some of the basic features and specs of the PSA AK-74.

    Sporting a standard 16-inch PSA AK barrel, the rifle comes with a 1:8 twist. While nothing out of the ordinary, it certainly does the job.

    PSA AK74 Muzzle Brake
    It’s a standard barrel but that muzzle brake, tho.

    At the end of the barrel, you’ll notice the iconic AK-74 muzzle brake attached with 24mm threads.

    It’s one of the coolest features and definitely pulls its weight.

    Forward of the barrel threads, the rifle has a closed initial chamber with three holes drilled at the top and side of the brake.

    PSA AK74 Closeup of Muzzle Brake
    A brake that makes for flatter shooting? Yes, please.

    What does this do, you ask?

    Mitigates muzzle climb while shooting.

    Just ahead of that rest two huge ports that throw remaining burning gasses off to the side.

    PSA AK74 Shooting Right Side
    Pretty chill recoil.

    The end result is a gun that shoots pretty flat. (This coming from someone who shoots an AR with a pretty aggressive brake.)

    The 74 brake offers the added bonus of not rocking anyone perpendicular to you while firing.

    Moving down the gun, we have the trigger. AK triggers feel much different than AR triggers to me. They feature less take-up before an immediate break.

    1 PSA AK74 Trigger
    The trigger is….different but not bad.

    The stock trigger on this AK, however, is pretty nice once you get a feel for how it…feels.

    Once you’re used to it, you find a very small wall in front of that break to ride.

    While we’re near the trigger, it’s worth mentioning the selector. The selector lever features a small ridge just above the trigger guard that can easily be manipulated with your trigger finger.

    PSA AK74 Manipulating
    No selector slapping necessary.

    This is incredibly refreshing on a stock AK. Usually, you have to take your entire hand off the trigger and pistol grip to kind of slap at it.

    Other Notable Features

    As with most AKs, the cleaning rod sits in a divot underneath the front sight. It’s secured to the barrel and slips into a hole in the handguard retaining cap.

    As mentioned, the handguards themselves come in black polymer. They offer a nice flat finish with no detectable play in either half.

    One thing that’s pretty common to all AKs that you definitely want to know…

    The metal handguard retaining caps get insanely hot once you’re really running mags through the gun.

    PSA AK74 Shooting Left Side
    You’re going to want some gloves.

    Even wearing my PIG gloves, indexing my support hand incorrectly meant immediate searing flesh pain.

    Beware if you don’t routinely shoot with gloves or aren’t super comfy around AKs.

    Editor's Choice Shooting Glove
    $38
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    Prices accurate at time of writing

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    Sight-wise, you’re in standard AK territory again. The rear sight slides up to 1,000 yards if you feel victorious.

    I was pretty stoked to ring 300-yard steel with irons consistently from prone.

    Despite the irons, we tossed a Midwest Industries optics mount on the dovetail rail on the side of the receiver. This gave me a Picatinny rail of sorts resting over the dust cover area.

    On top of the mount, we added an older EOTech 512.

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    I didn’t get the chance to check compatibility with any magazines outside of Magpul AK-74 PMAGs. The PMAGs worked just fine, though.

    I will say the PMAGs can be slightly finicky.

    Finding that sweet spot you need to get the magazine lip to successfully catch and allow the mag to rock into place takes a few tries.

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    A Folding Stock — Rad

    The stock provides the same flat, black polymer material as the handguards and pistol grip.

    What’s cool is that it’s a full stock that folds off to the side. The PSA accomplishes this via a small button on the receiver’s side, locking into a small latch just above the magazine well.

    PSA AK74 Stock
    You can’t go wrong with classic black.

    This is more for storage than anything else.

    You can always throw on an aftermarket side-folding AR-style buffer tube or something like a Zenitco PT3 stock if you need a little bit more adjustability out of your length-of-pull.

    For me, however, I have no real issues with standard AK stocks.

    PSA AK74 Folded
    Is it short, is it long? Why not both.

    Taking the PSA to the Range

    We had the opportunity to link up with PSA at Pro Gun Club just outside Las Vegas to get some hands-on time with the AK-74. Unlike most of 2020, it wasn’t a letdown.

    PSA AK74 Shooting Through Barricade
    I see you…

    I had no idea what variation of the AK-74 PSA was bringing out — as they’ve got several. Ultimately, I was happy to see that it was the black polymer furniture-clad AK-74M style variant waiting in the rifle case for me.

    As a small arms nerd, I love fiddling with stuff that’s similar to a rifle issued to a given country’s military.

    First impressions?

    PSA AK74 Shooting Car
    We call this the hero shot.

    Stellar.

    I burned through close to 700 rounds of steel-cased 5.45 with no issues whatsoever!

    The range stretched all the way out to 300-yards and I had a blast putting consistent shots on steel. I even bounced between different target ranges with the EOTech.

    $399
    at Palmetto State Armory

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Available Coupons

    It’s wild just how little recoil a properly controlled AK-74 generates.

    I know I’ve mentioned that a few times, but you really have to try it if you’re only used to AKMs or other 7.62×39 guns.

    It’s the small things…

    PSA AK74 Shooting on Side
    Who doesn’t want to roll on the ground with an AK?

    While we didn’t do any super official groups considering we were running iffy 5.45 through it, we did paper the gun at 50-yards from prone.

    I was happy considering the lack of magnification — probably in the ballpark of 2 or 3 MOA. I’m sure there’s some reasonable room for improvement.

    PSA AK74 Targets
    The results of some prone shooting at 50-yards with irons only.

    Running an AK with an Optic

    Using an optic meant the EOTech rode a little higher up. As a result, you won’t get a traditional cheek weld.

    But that’s the nature of running optics on AKs — even with the lower profile Midwest Industries mount.

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    Prices accurate at time of writing

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    Available Coupons

    I generally tend to lightly index my chin off of a portion of the stock. Honestly, with how light the recoil of 5.45 is, it shouldn’t throw you off too much — especially with something like a holosight.

    Personally, I found myself swooping my support arm out to the left a bit more than usual. Doing this keeps the rifle tensioned by maintaining that arc instead of the more straight arm lockout I use when firing my AR.

    PSA AK74 Optic
    Getting that optic ready.

    That winds up being a good way to get an aggressive C-clamp on those handguards, which in turn makes recoil mitigation a breeze.

    The experience was just about as cool as I’d hoped it’d be!

    Why Buy the PSA?

    While I had a blast, what’s that mean for you?

    Being a self-aware dork, I’ll spell it out to you like this.

    PSA AK74 Shooting Behind
    Fun doesn’t even begin to cover it.

    My interest in PSA’s AK-74 obviously comes from both a dumb love for history and small arms in addition to a general affinity for AK platforms broadly.

    Again, this isn’t a carbon clone of an actual AK-74. I’m sure those deeper down the rabbit hole than I would happily point out those exact differences.

    $999
    at Palmetto State Armory

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Available Coupons

    For other AK nerds like me, the PSA stands as the easiest way to acquire a reasonably good approximation of the AK-74 platform — without breaking the bank in the process.

    Beyond just the cool aesthetics and form factor, this thing appears to run quite well.

    Caveat: there’s always a chance that a first-generation PSA product might see some issues with hard use.

    PSA AK74 Ammo Pile
    What would this get you on the streets?

    That said, we’ll let folks like the AK Operators Union really get into the nitty-gritty with 1,000-round torture tests and the like.

    For now, my experience was rad. Running an AK that’s just as controllable as an AR-15 was awesome!

    By the Numbers

    Reliability: 4/5

    While I had no issues on the range with the PSA AK-74, first-generation builds are known to have some kinks. Some quirks might show themselves during higher round count shooting.

    Ergonomics: 4/5

    The AK-74 feels good, with little recoil. That said, popping on the EOTech meant I had to adapt my shooting stance. It’s not a dealbreaker, and certainly doesn’t cause issues if you stick with iron sights.

    Accuracy: 4/5

    I shot out to 300-yards with irons and an EOTech optic. I consistently rang steel at these distances. Some iffy 5.45 ammo will impact shots though and can throw off groups.

    Customization: 5/5

    AKs have a well established and massive accessory market, so there’s no lack of options. From what I encountered on the PSA, most extras — everything from American-made tactical stuff to Russian-produced accessories — should fit.

    Value: 5/5

    PSA does not clone the AK-74 in fine detail, but it’s a close enough approximation and at an affordable price. Those who can’t throw cash at the real deal, will be satisfied with what the PSA AK-74 offers.

    $999
    at Palmetto State Armory

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Available Coupons

    Overall: 4/5

    Affordability paired with a classic design makes the PSA AK-74 worth owning. If you want to step into the 74 world but don’t want to spend too much to enter, you can’t go wrong with the PSA model.

    Conclusion

    PSA’s AK-74 isn’t a direct clone of the original AK-74. But it offers a close-enough design and, more importantly, an affordable price. Chambered in 5.45x39mm, the PSA is perfect for budget-minded AK fans who love the nostalgia of a Kalashnikov design.

    $999
    at Palmetto State Armory

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Prices accurate at time of writing

    Available Coupons

    If all of that sounds cool to you – I’d definitely check into the PSA AK-74. You likely won’t regret it.

    Ready to throw down cash for the PSA AK-74, or are you holding out for another AK variant? Let us know in the comments below. For more AK madness, check out our Complete AK-47 Buyer’s Guide.

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    16 Leave a Reply

    • Josh

      Great video you looked like you had a blast making it. I youtube between garandthumb and a few others. Most everyone has spoken rather highly of this clone. I think you did a great job on the review for the amount of ammo you put through it.

      March 11, 2022 6:07 am
    • Bevo

      Why do the accuracy test with iron sights when you were also using an EOTech?

      February 28, 2021 6:31 pm
      • Josh

        I would assume due to the fact some ak's have had canted irons, so to get the most out of what the gun is offering. Instead of just going off of the site to counter aiming issues with the gun itself, especially for those who can't afford a 4-600 dollar optic.

        March 11, 2022 6:08 am
    • Hack_teh_Planet

      What chest rig is he running in the video?

      December 7, 2020 10:48 pm
    • doesky2

      Pretty rough sledding at AKfiles for this rifle. Quite a few people regretting jumping on version #1 of this gun. Significant issues with deformation of bolt and trunion get whacked up. Caution is the order of the day.

      December 4, 2020 1:22 pm
      • Josh

        Ya I think Garandthumb had issues with that as well. He did say PSA has some of the best customer service sent it off, and they corrected the issue pretty quickly.

        March 11, 2022 6:09 am
    • D

      Comparison to a century that doesn't keyhole? In same ballpark or is it getting close to quality arsenal and veper?

      December 4, 2020 1:08 am
      • David, PPT Editor

        We do not recommend any AK made by Century, they have too long of a history of catastrophic failure.

        December 4, 2020 8:19 pm
        • Josh

          Truth

          March 11, 2022 6:13 am
      • Josh

        From the research I've done since no one replied to you, way better then century, about the quality of arsenal/veper even though those are more detailed weapons, no where near rifle dynamics. So for the price of the gun, its a pretty good deal if they worked out the kinks.

        March 11, 2022 6:11 am
    • Scott Hendrycks

      An Aimpoint, MRO or even a Holosun on low mounts are much better for cheek weld on an AK than an Eotech.

      December 3, 2020 6:22 pm
    • Mike McAfee

      Nice weapon but concerned on cartridge availability

      December 3, 2020 5:56 pm
      • Josh

        Lucky gunner red army standard at .65 cent a round right now. Cheaper then some 5.56 I've been seeing.

        March 11, 2022 6:20 am
    • Ty

      I would love to get one but unfortunately I live in a country outside of the US called California.

      December 3, 2020 5:34 pm
      • Josh

        I think they might have a CA compliant one. It has a weird grip, and small magazine. I hear in your state if you go to places like compton, and stuff you can buy ak's pretty easy, possibly with no serial number lol

        March 11, 2022 6:21 am
    • Jacob Hawkins

      Amen! Wish they'd produce more of these! And more 5.45... Great article guys!

      December 3, 2020 5:04 pm
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