# 8 Best AK Pistols: 7.62, 5.56, & 9mm [Ultimate Guide] Whether you are looking for an AK pistol in the classic 7.62x39mm, a modern 5.56 variant, or an affordable-to-shoot 9mm AK pistol, there have never been more options on the market. Join us as we take a look at some of the best AK pistols and discuss which caliber and features are right for you. So if getting an AK pistol for home defense, tactical applications, or just plain old fun sounds like a great idea to you, read on! -- ppt/summary-list -- AK Pistol Comparison Chart --------------------------
**Caliber****Barrel Length****Overall Length****Weight****Capacity****Price**
**[Palmetto State Armory AK-P](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/psa-akp-review/)**7.62x3910.5"N/AN/A30+1$899
**Arsenal SAM7K-44**7.62x3910.5"18"5.9 lbs30+1$2,007
**Zastava Arms ZPAP85**5.56 NATO10.5"N/AN/A30+1$968
**[Palmetto State Armory AK-V](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/palmetto-state-armory-psa-9mm-akv/)**9mm10.5"N/AN/A35+1$849
**Charles Daly PAK-9**9mm6.3"14.25"4 lbs33+1$511
**[Century Arms Draco NAK-9](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/century-arms-draco-nak9-review/)**9mm11.14"19.1"6.4 lbs33+1$453
**[Kalashnikov USA KP-9](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/kalashnikov-usa-kp-9-review/)**9mm9.25"N/A6 lbs30+1$986
How We Tested the Best AK Pistols --------------------------------- For this article, we gathered a bunch of AK pistols we've personally shot, reviewed, and owned here at Pew Pew Tactical. The entire Pew Pew Tactical team, as well as freelance writers, contributed to this review to offer different opinions based on ergonomics, size, and experience. For guns we have reviews on, we've linked those so you can read more. Every review rifle undergoes 500 rounds of practice ammo and heavier match-grade ammo at 50 and 100 yards with an optic (either scope or red dot). We try to test with a couple of magazines when we're able to assess compatibility, and we use a Lyman Digital Trigger Gauge to measure the average trigger pull for all guns. Best AK Pistols --------------- ### 1. Palmetto State Armory AK-P - Best Overall **Best Overall: PSA AK-P** **Pros** - Easy to mount optics - Great value **Cons** - SBA3 brace doesn't fold **Specs** - **Caliber:** 7.62x39 - **Barrel Length:** 10.5" - **Overall Length:** N/A - **Weight:** N/A - **Capacity:** 30+1 Looking for an AK pistol that's chambered for 7.62x39, affordable, and just a little bit modern? The **Palmetto State Armory AK-P MOE** is what you want! The AK-P comes with a 10.5-inch barrel, which is a real sweet spot for the 7.62x39 cartridge. The loss of velocity is a mere 200 feet per second compared to a carbine-length barrel. PSA tops the barrel with a Krinkov-style **[muzzle brake](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-ak47-brakes-compensators/)**, and the receiver is equipped with a Picatinny rail for easy optics attachment. Want to **[co-witness](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/cowitness-sights-guide/)**? The rail easily accommodates this so long as you pair it with a low-mounted red dot and the stock AK iron sights. The handguard features sweet, sweet **[M-LOK](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/keymod-vs-m-lok/)** for attaching accessories. Rounding out the notable features are the M4 stock adapter and SBA3 brace. This provides easy stabilization on this hefty pistol. PSA throws on a **[Magpul AK grip](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/go/psa/magpul-moe-ak-grip-2/)** and ships it with a 30-round Magpul PMAG (where legal) for good measure. The AK-P MOE gives shooters an awesome weapon for home defense or plinking. It's a modern option for those looking for the AK pistol experience without the 1947 features. Check out our **[full review of the AK-P](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/psa-akp-review/)** for more details! ### 2. Arsenal SAM7K-44 - Best Premium **Best Premium: Arsenal SAM7K-44** **Pros** - Excellent build quality, fit, and finish - Easy to convert into an SBR **Cons** - Very Expensive **Specs** - **Caliber:** 7.62x39 - **Barrel Length:** 10.5" - **Overall Length:** 18" - **Weight:** 5.9 lbs - **Capacity:** 30+1 The **Arsenal SAM7K-44** pistol is a high-end piece of equipment that's easily changed into an **[SBR](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/ar15-pistol-sbr/)** if that's your thing. It's a fun-size version of the SAM7SF we know and love. When it comes to AK variants, it's tough to beat Arsenal. The company makes outstanding firearms. The SAM7K uses an 8.5-inch barrel, the same length as an AKSU-74, and comes chambered for 7.62x39mm. The old 7.62 Russian is a sweet round for short barrels, partially because it does an excellent job maintaining velocity with a reduced-length runway. The SAM7K-44 pistol features a receiver that is both milled and forged. Instead of machining from bar stock, Arsenal uses hot-die hammer forging to produce a stronger receiver. The SAM7K features an ambidextrous safety, a rear sight pushed back onto the dust cover for a longer sight radius, and a Krinkov-style muzzle device to reduce muzzle flash. You can attach Sig-style stocks using the vertical Picatinny rail on the rear of the receiver. Of course, a triangle folding stock works perfectly for the AK appearance, too. The SAM7K-44 ain't a cheap gun. But, if have the dough to build an SBR, it's the best route to take. **Sig Sauer Stocks** ### 3. Zastava Arms ZPAP85 - Best 5.56 NATO **Best 5.56 NATO: Zastava Arms ZPAP85** **Pros** - RPK-style receiver - Safety bolt hold-open **Cons** - Heavy - Significantly reduced muzzle velocity **Specs** - **Caliber:** 5.56 NATO - **Barrel Length:** 10.5" - **Overall Length:** N/A - **Weight:** N/A - **Capacity:** 30+1 If you have a pile of 5.56 NATO ammo lying around for your AR-15, it can be hard to get into a new caliber. Good news, you don't have to! The **Zastava Arms ZPAP85** has you covered with an AK pistol design that accepts most **[AK magazines](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-ak-magazines/)** made for 5.56 NATO. It’s a Serbian-made design using a thick 1.5 mm RPK receiver and bolt-hold-open built into the safety. The Serbians do it differently, but they make solid AK pistols and there are plenty of **[Zastava upgrades](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-zastava-zpap-m92-upgrades/)** out there. This is an old-school AK pistol without all the fancy do-dads. Zastava’s ZPAP85 uses a hinged Krinkov-style top cover and Krinkov-style sights. The 10-inch barrel is super portable but it definitely holds back 5.56 NATO's power and performance. This zippy cartridge works great from a 20-inch barrel, but trimming it in half will hurt its range and velocity significantly. At least the massive muzzle flash is fun! Another potential drawback is weight. This thing is quite hefty, although that does knock down some of the pistol's felt recoil. Bottom line: the ZPAP85 is a fun banger if you just want to plink and share ammo with your main rifle. ### 4. Palmetto State Armory AK-V - Best 9mm **Best 9mm: PSA AK-V** **Pros** - Affordable - Magazines are cheap - Optics rail **Cons** - Not quite a Vityaz clone **Specs** - **Caliber:** 9mm - **Barrel Length:** 10.5" - **Overall Length:** N/A - **Weight:** N/A - **Capacity:** 35+1 I know that listing two AKs from the same manufacturer may seem a little unimaginative, but hear me out because these are two very different guns and the **Palmetto State Armory AK-V** is worth a look. The big difference is the magazine -- and what's inside that mag. Palmetto State Armory designed this AK pistol around the 9mm cartridge and CZ Scorpion magazines. That means you have lots of options when you want to add mags. PSA makes its own, but you can also grab CZ, Magpul, and Manticore magazines. They’re cheap, and they feature a curved design that really completes the AK look. **PSA AK-V/CZ Scorpion 35-Round Magazine** Another handy feature is the Picatinny rail. You can **[pop a brace ](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-ar-pistol-braces/)**on for fun, and PSA includes the triangle side-folding brace that also lends itself to that Krinkov AK SMG look. Also included are an AK MOE handguard, a Magpul pistol grip, and a railed dust cover for attaching optics. The tanker-style **[muzzle brake](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-ak47-brakes-compensators/)** is unnecessary for a 9mm round, but it sure pulls the package together visually. The Palmetto State Armory AK-V is definitely the most modular and affordable pistol-caliber AK. Check out our **[full AK-V review here](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/palmetto-state-armory-psa-9mm-akv/)**. What's your take on the AK-V? Rate it below! \[ar\] ### 5. Charles Daly PAK-9 - Most Compact **Most Compact: Charles Daly PAK-9** **Pros** - Compatible with multiple magazine types - Reliable - Optic rail **Cons** - Looks terrible **Specs** - **Caliber:** 9mm - **Barrel Length:** 6.3" - **Overall Length:** 14.25" - **Weight:** 4 lbs - **Capacity:** 33+1 The **Charles Daly PAK-9** is the smallest pistol-caliber AK pistol here, making it a great choice for a backpack gun or range-day plinker. This Romanian AK pistol features interchangeable magazine blocks, so you can use Glock and Beretta interchangeably. The simple blowback operation is as reliable as a hammer if you feed it magazines it likes. Quality mags are key, and I will say the KCI Glock drum will not serve you well with the PAK-9. Lights, lasers, and other fun stuff attach easily, and the top of the dust cover has an optic rail for tossing on a red dot. The gun comes with a simple set of sights with an open-type rear sight you'd more commonly see on a traditional pistol. This 6-pound pistol handles surprisingly well, and you can shoot with reasonable accuracy. This is a fairly affordable way to get an AK pistol in a pistol caliber that potentially takes magazines you already have. Sure, it looks silly. But it shoots well, is ultra-compact, and doesn't break the bank. That's a tough combo to beat. ### 6. Century Arms Draco NAK-9 - Best Budget **Best Budget: Century Arms Draco NAK9** **Pros** - Affordable - Takes Glock magazines - Optic rail **Cons** - Harder to attach a brace **Specs** - **Caliber:** 9mm - **Barrel Length:** 11.14" - **Overall Length:** 19.1" - **Weight:** 6.4 lbs - **Capacity:** 33+1 How about another tiny 9mm contender for the best AK pistol? Check out the **Century Arms Draco NAK-9**. And yes...it takes Glock mags. Aftermarket magazines gave us iffy results, but actual Glock mags ran flawlessly. Though it has a lackluster trigger, it's tons of fun to shoot. We shot it all day from the hip. Even with the iron sights, it shot accurately enough. It definitely made us want to add a **[budget red dot](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-cheap-red-dots-under-100/)** and a pistol brace. Don't miss our **[full review of the NAK-9](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/century-arms-draco-nak9-review/)**! ### 7. Kalashnikov USA KP-9 - Best Vityaz Clone **Best Vityaz Clone: KUSA KP-9** **Pros** - Close to clone-correct - Good build quality - Optic rail **Cons** - Proprietary magazines **Specs** - **Caliber:** 9mm - **Barrel Length:** 9.25" - **Overall Length:** N/A - **Weight:** 6 lbs - **Capacity:** 30+1 No list would be complete without the closest thing you'll get to the Russian special forces PP-19 Vityaz. The **Kalashnikov USA KP-9** is more of a direct clone of the Vityaz, whereas the Palmetto State Armory AK-V is more of a tribute. And it might be the most fun we've had shooting a pistol caliber in an AK platform! It was nice to finally lock the bolt back and have an easier time going between safe and fire. Yes, we also upgraded ours a little with Zenitco furniture and K-USA's selector. One downer is the use of proprietary magazines. We tried a PUF version but the KUSA ones still worked the best. There's a lot more to say about this super-fun pistol, so check out our **[full review](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/kalashnikov-usa-kp-9-review/)** to learn all about it. How to Pick the Best AK Pistol ------------------------------ In terms of fun, you can't go wrong with any of these! Ultimately, your budget will guide you to some extent. Aside from money, your biggest consideration should be cartridge selection. Do you want to stick with the original 7.62x39? Would you rather branch out into 5.56 NATO or 9mm to streamline your personal ammunition purchasing? If you're already shooting one of those cartridges, there's no need to make things more complicated than they have to be. You should also consider how you might want to modify, upgrade, or accessorize your AK pistol down the line. If you have an affinity for adding **[braces](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-ar-pistol-braces/),** lights, optics, and other aftermarket goodies, look for an AK pistol with a mounting system to make that happen. Why Trust Pew Pew Tactical -------------------------- **[Pew Pew Tactical author Travis Pike](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/author/travispike/)** helmed this article. Travis spent a lifetime shooting as a kid and later joined the United States Marine Corps, where he spent five years as an infantryman. In the middle of his Marine Corps career, he began writing and never stopped. He has thousands of articles to his name with a variety of publications, including Pew Pew Tactical. Editing this article is **[Scott Murdock](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/author/scottmurdock/)**. Scott is a Marine Corps veteran who competed and qualified as a rifle and pistol expert while in service. In addition to shooting, Scott has written for a variety of publications, testing, researching, and evaluating guns and gear. He brings that knowledge and skillset to this article, editing and fact-checking for accuracy. Editor-in-Chief **[Jacki Billings](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/author/jackibillings/)** runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and **[editorial standards](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/how-we-rate-reviews/)** for Pew Pew Tactical. Final Thoughts -------------- AK pistols are not a fad or a gimmick. They're functional and fun! This is definitely an area of the firearm industry worth exploring. Though some are more practical than others, these Kalashnikov-inspired pistols continue to rise in popularity for good reason. **Who else is into AK pistols? Let us know which ones you rock and roll with -- and why. Dipping your toes in the AK arena? Check out our [Complete Buyer’s Guide to the AK-47](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-ak-47/).** Latest Updates -------------- **January 2025:** *Removed the Galil ACE Gen 2.*