Suppressing an AK...yay or nay?

I've been looking on getting into the suppressor game for awhile now. I've got a couple of 5.45 AK's, but I have doubts about how well they'd suppress. I'm thinking about buying a 7.62x39 AK for this purpose. How well do the 5.45 and 7.62 AK's suppress? Is it worth the trouble? Anyone who wants to post pics to sweeten the thread is welcome!

It will work as well as supressing any other caliber that is supersonic, unless you use subsonic loads. It will muffle the bang, but not the crack of the sonic boom.

I thought most 7.62x39 was already subsonic?

It's NBD.
The suppressor doesn't know what rifle it's attached to and the AK system isn't finicky about the operating pressure change when suppressed like some other weapons can be.

The only concern is that you must have a very good gunsmith correct/add the muzzle threads/suppressor attachment depending on suppressor brand chosen.
Very few AKs threads are concentric enough to prevent bullet strikes with the modern suppressors.

Hell no

So should I just use one of the 5.45's I already have then?

I was looking a Gemtech Sandstorm to use both on a .308 AR and the 7.62x39 AK. Looks like a good choice.

Wat?

No. It's supersonic. Anything over 1000fps is.

There are plenty of suppressed AK's out there, however there are several reasons it's not the "best bang for the buck".

1. 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 are supersonic. You won't suppress the sonic crack the bullet makes. However this is true for ANY centerfire rifle, since almost any of them, save purpose built calibers like .300 Whisper/Blackout are all pretty much supersonic.

2. AK Actions are noisy. The bolt and carrier parts rattling around as the AK cycles are rather loud as compared to some other designs. Also, the AK lets a fair amount of "bang" out through the gas piston when it's fired. To a degree, it's like trying to suppress a revolver with it's cylinder gap.

3. AK's often lack precision manufacture. You MUST get your muzzle threads checked for concentricity with the bore. If not, you'll get extremely poor performance and accuracy at best, and baffle strikes or a destroyed suppressor at worst. The level of tolerance for an AK muzzle device that only must pass the bullet a few inches away is much different than a suppressor where the bullet must negotiate all the baffles. If they are not, they'll have to be re-machined to ensure they are concentric with the bore so the suppressor and bullet path line up right. And it's possible, depending on the AK and muzzle device, barrel type, or the FSB (Front Sight Base) on the muzzle, that there's not enough "meat" there for any suitable threading pitch that can be machined in.

A properly suppressed AK will be quieter, but it's going to give you the least reduction as compared to many other common military style semi-auto rifles out there due to it's design and manufacture characteristics.

If you want "Hollywood quiet", your best bet will be some sort of pistol caliber carbine or even a .22LR.

Is it? From Google search.

"Subsonic rounds have a muzzle velocity of approximately 1,080 ft/s (330 m/s), less than the speed of sound ."

"Standard mil-spec 7.62x39 ammunition has a muzzle velocity of 2329 fps with the 123-grain projectile"

"yay"

I'm thhiiiissss close myself. I am going to buy one, but it's mounting on my FAL 1st, AK will be a bonus.

I haven't been particularly impressed with suppressors on the AK. Yeah, it can become hearing safe, but even putting the sonic crack aside as unavoidable, there is a lot of sound coming out the gas system, regardless of how much the muzzle is suppressed.

I've got a Huntertown Arms Kestrel 5.56 on order for use with my 5.45 and 5.56 AKs.

I say go for it...

I'm very impressed with the quality of manufacture on the Huntertown suppressors. Disassembling one felt like it was on roller bearings it was so smooth. The owner and I have have a mutual friend so he stopped by to demo some of his cans. While the baffle stack arrangement isn't anything new, the way it is secured in the unit and the method of attaching the end cap from the inside, so it can never unscrew, is innovative, IMO.

I plan on buying the .308 can when it is ready.

The 308 can is available already my dealer had 4 in stock they all sold before I could claim one. This was about 2 months ago.

You sure they were .308? and not 7.62x39.

I tested the hearing safe 7.62x39 a couple months ago and at that time was told the .308 was still a few months away.

I am not sure I'll shoot him a quick email and ask, it could of been the 7.62 can.

definitley yay

Cool!

Thanks

some more of silencer:

What's that integrally suppressed AK variant that shoots a 9x39?

Awesome!! Does it come apart for cleaning? I've seen pics of the guts of it, but didn't know if it was meant to be opened by the end user.

you mean the Holy Grail

Wow that combloc suppressor is... Wowwwww...

i can take apart mine but the rubber block part is missing, inside plates are damaged and a bit rusty inside i will look after new one

Judging from your username and location, you're in Poland?

that can looks very nice & light. My HVT is something like .8kg

is the part labeled 03 06-83 the rubber part you are talking about? is it a wipe of some kind?



OMG I see a third pin[/squeals like a little girl]

Yep.


Suppressors are not classified as "important weapon parts". Therefore, they are completely legal in all calibers, requiring no registration or permit. Only police and military are allowed to use them. But police dont care about it if someone use it aswell
Gun culture is not popular here, and people who own guns are not so interested in silencers, but i seen few modern german made silencers floating around.


Yeah, semi-automatic weapon are only defined how it shoot. Difference between semi and full auto might be difference only by one part in firing mechanism, or complicated modifications it doesnt matter. But convertions can be made only by licensed gunsmiths or weapon producing companys. Most AK on civilian market are ex-army, just repainted with changed firing mechanism - and there is no any regulations how it should be made, weapon just have to shoot only semi-auto.

Copyright © 1996 - 2013 :: AR15.Com LLC :: All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.