Editing AK-74 (section)

===Magazines===
The original steel-reinforced 30-round AK-74 detachable box magazine was similar to that of the AKM, except for minor dimensional changes required by the 5.45×39mm cartridge.
These magazines discolour over time from yellowish to [[Rust (color)|rust-coloured]] shades, and are often mistakenly identified as being made of [[Bakelite]] (a [[phenolic resin]]), but were actually fabricated from two-parts of AG-4S molding compound (a [[glass-filled polymer|glass-reinforced]] phenol-formaldehyde binder impregnated composite), assembled using an [[epoxy resin]] adhesive.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.arsenalinc.com/usa/imgs/articles/BulgarianAK.pdf |title=Kalashnikovs 3 of the best |first=Peter G. |last=Kokalis |magazine=[[Shotgun News]] |volume=59 |issue=12 |date=May 2005 |access-date=10 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923173907/http://www.arsenalinc.com/usa/imgs/articles/BulgarianAK.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/09/18/guest-post-brief-history-kalashnikov-magazine-part-2-synthetic-magazines/ |title=A Brief History of the Kalashnikov Magazine Part 2: Synthetic Magazines |date=18 September 2016 |website=The Firearm Blog |access-date=2020-01-28|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404072910/https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/09/18/guest-post-brief-history-kalashnikov-magazine-part-2-synthetic-magazines/|archive-date=April 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Elastic characteristics of AG-4S glass-reinforced plastic under short-time and long-time loads |doi=10.1007/BF00867112 |volume=2 |journal=Polymer Mechanics |pages=188–190 |last=Grezin |first=V. M. |issue=2 |date=March 1966 |bibcode=1966PoMec...2..188G |s2cid=135895271}}</ref><ref name="Kokalis_49">Kokalis, p. 49.</ref> Noted for their durability, these magazines did however compromise the rifle's camouflage and lacked the small horizontal reinforcing ribs running down both sides of the magazine body near the front that were added on all later AK-74 magazine generations.<ref name="Kokalis_49"/> A second generation steel-reinforced dark-brown (color shades vary from [[maroon]] to [[Plum (color)|plum]] to near black) 30-round magazine was introduced in the early 1980s, fabricated from [[Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene|ABS]] plastic. The third generation steel-reinforced 30-round AK-74 magazine is similar to the second generation, but is darker colored and has a matte nonreflective surface finish. With the introduction of the AK-74M the fourth generation of steel-reinforced matte true black nonreflective surface finished 30-round AK-74 magazines was introduced. All AK-74 magazines have a raised horizontal rib on each side of the rear lug to prevent their use in a 7.62×39mm AK. The magazines can be quickly recharged from [[stripper clip]]s. The empty weight of a 30-round AK-74 [[Magazine (firearms)|box magazine]] is {{convert|230|g|abbr=on}}. The 45-round plastic box magazine of the [[RPK-74]] [[light machine gun]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.comcast.net/~shooter2_indy/ak74_mag_guide.html |title=A Guide to 5.45mm Kalashnikov Magazine Types |date=2007 |website=The Shooter Gallery |access-date=16 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106124453/http://home.comcast.net/~shooter2_indy/ak74_mag_guide.html |archive-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> is also interchangeable with that of the AK-74. The empty weight of a 45-round RPK-74 box magazine is {{convert|300|g|abbr=on}}. Further 60-round and later 50-round quad-stack 5.45×39mm [[casket magazine]]s were developed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://russianoptics.net/AK74_50rd.html |title=AK74 Quad Stack 50 round magazine |website=RussianOptics.net |access-date=2015-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529044338/http://russianoptics.net/AK74_50rd.html |archive-date=2015-05-29 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The transition to mainly plastic magazines and the relatively small sized, light weight, high velocity 5.45×39mm cartridge yielded a significant weight reduction and allows a soldier to carry considerably more rounds for the same weight compared with the previous Soviet AK-47 and AKM and later 7.62×39mm chambered AK platform assault rifles.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#efefef;" | Rifle
! style="background:#efefef;" | Cartridge
! style="background:#efefef;" | Cartridge weight
! style="background:#efefef;" | Weight of empty magazine
! style="background:#efefef;" | Weight of loaded magazine
! style="background:#efefef;" | Max. {{convert|10.12|kg|lbs|abbr=on}} ammunition load*
|-
| [[AK-47]] <small>(1949)</small>
| [[7.62×39mm]]
| 16.3 g (252 gr)
| slab-sided steel<br />{{convert|430|g|lbs|abbr=on}}
| 30-rounds<br />{{convert|916|g|lbs|abbr=on}}<ref name="Dockery 2007 102">{{cite book |last=Dockery |first=Kevin |title=Future Weapons |year=2007 |page=102 |location=New York City |publisher=[[Berkley Caliber]] |isbn=978-0-425-21750-4}}</ref>
| 11 magazines for 330 rounds<br />{{convert|10.08|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[AKM]] <small>(1959)</small>
| 7.62×39mm
| 16.3 g (252 gr)
| ribbed stamped-steel<br />{{convert|330|g|lbs|abbr=on}}
| 30-rounds<br />{{convert|819|g|lbs|abbr=on}}<ref name="scribd2">{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/38483061/Ak-47-Technical-Description-Manual |title=AK 47 Technical Description Manual |website=Scribd.com |date=2010-09-30 |access-date=2012-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328103151/http://www.scribd.com/doc/38483061/Ak-47-Technical-Description-Manual |archive-date=2012-03-28 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Dockery, Kevin 2007 p. 102">Dockery (2007), p. 102.</ref>
| 12 magazines for 360 rounds<br />{{convert|9.83|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[AK-103]] <small>(1994)</small>
| 7.62×39mm
| 16.3 g (252 gr)
| steel-reinforced plastic<br />{{convert|250|g|lbs|abbr=on}}
| 30-rounds<br />{{convert|739|g|lbs|abbr=on}}<ref name="scribd2"/><ref name="Dockery, Kevin 2007 p. 102"/>
| 13 magazines for 390 rounds<br />{{convert|9.61|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}
|-
|| AK-74 <small>(1974)</small>
| [[5.45×39mm]]
| 10.7 g (165 gr)
| steel-reinforced plastic<br />{{convert|230|g|lbs|abbr=on}}
| 30-rounds<br />{{convert|551|g|lbs|abbr=on}}<ref name="Dockery, Kevin 2007 p. 102"/><ref name="izhmash1">{{cite web |url=http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/akm.shtml |title=AKM (AK-47) Kalashnikov modernized assault rifle, caliber 7.62mm |website=[[Izhmash]] |date=2001-09-02 |access-date=2012-08-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092719/http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/akm.shtml |archive-date=2014-10-06}}</ref>
| 18 magazines for 540 rounds<br />{{convert|9.92|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}
|}
<small>Note: All, 7.62×39mm AK magazines are backwards compatible with older AK variants.<br />Note *: 10.12&nbsp;kg (22.3&nbsp;lb) is the maximum amount of ammo that the average soldier can comfortably carry. It also allows for best comparison of the three most common 7.62×39mm AK platform magazines and the 5.45×39mm AK-74 magazine.</small>