Riley Defense RAK74

The Riley Defense RAK74 is the 5.45x39mm member of the Riley Defense AK family — chambered in the Soviet military cartridge that replaced 7.62x39mm in the AK-74 beginning in 1974, available in polymer furniture with fixed or folding stock and the classic RAK74-C wood furniture configuration. Built in Ohio on Riley Defense’s US-manufactured receiver with the same mil-spec standards as the RAK47, the RAK74 brings the 5.45x39mm cartridge’s distinctive ballistics to an American-made AK platform.

Read our full Riley Defense RAK74 Buying Guide ↓

5.45x39mm: The Soviet Successor to 7.62x39mm

The 5.45x39mm cartridge was developed by the Soviet Union as a direct response to the US adoption of 5.56 NATO — a high-velocity, small-caliber round with a long, heavy bullet designed to tumble on impact for improved terminal performance. The 5.45 fires a 53–60 grain bullet at approximately 2,950 fps from a 16” barrel, producing a very flat trajectory and mild recoil compared to 7.62x39mm. Soviet forces issued the AK-74 in 5.45x39mm from 1974 onward, and the cartridge remains standard for Russian military forces today. For AK enthusiasts who want the Soviet military’s actual service caliber rather than the older 7.62x39, the RAK74 delivers it in an American-made platform.

Folding Stock Configuration: Maximum Compactness

The RAK74 folding stock configuration uses a side-folding stock that reduces the rifle’s overall length for storage, vehicle transport, and compact carry. The folding stock is a key feature of the AK-74 military platform, enabling the rifle to be carried by vehicle crews and paratroopers where a fixed-stock rifle’s length is impractical. For civilian buyers who want the compact storage advantage of a folding-stock AK without NFA considerations, the RAK74 folding stock is a factory-installed feature. The rifle fires with the stock folded for emergency use, though extended shooting is best done with the stock deployed.

RAK74-C: The Wood Furniture Classic

The Riley Defense RAK74-C uses classic wood furniture — walnut or beech stock, handguard, and pistol grip replicating the original AK-74 aesthetic with natural wood. The wood-furnished RAK74-C is the most visually traditional 5.45x39mm AK available in American production, capturing the aesthetic of the original Soviet-era AK-74 in a domestically manufactured package. For buyers who value the traditional AK wood-furniture appearance as much as the platform’s performance, the RAK74-C delivers both.

RAK74 vs. RAK47: Choosing Your Riley Defense Caliber

The Riley Defense RAK74 and RAK47 share the same Ohio-manufactured receiver and construction quality, differing in caliber and the platform characteristics that follow. The RAK47’s 7.62x39mm produces more energy at typical AK distances and has the widest ammunition availability of any AK caliber. The RAK74’s 5.45x39mm produces a flatter trajectory, less recoil, and fires the actual Soviet/Russian military service cartridge. Ammunition availability for 5.45x39mm is more limited than 7.62x39mm in the American market, though steel-case practice ammunition is widely stocked. For buyers who want the AK platform’s Soviet-era service caliber: RAK74. For buyers who want maximum ammunition availability: RAK47.

American Manufacturing: Ohio-Built AK Quality

Like all Riley Defense AK-pattern rifles, the RAK74 is manufactured at Riley Defense’s Ohio facility on a US-made receiver with domestic components meeting mil-spec AK standards. For buyers who specify American manufacturing, the RAK74 provides 5.45x39mm AK performance without the import origin of Russian or Eastern European alternatives. The AK-74 pattern’s standard parts compatibility means the full AK aftermarket — stocks, grips, handguards, and muzzle devices — is accessible for customization.