AK-74
In 1970, following the NATO countries, the Soviet Union went on the road to the transfer of small arms ammunition with bullets maloimpulsnye Reduced caliber to facilitate portable boepkomplekta (to 8 stores bullet caliber 5.45 mm gives a weight saving of 1.4 kg), and redundant power intermediate holder. A 5.45 mm caliber cartridges was developed and adopted by the 1974 modification of the AK-74. In these designs by reducing the size was increased thickness of the trunk, which eliminated one of the drawbacks - overheating and failure of the barrel during long continuous shooting without refrigeration. Also installed a new muzzle brake, compensator, which has had a positive impact on the accuracy of shooting. Despite this positive side, many military professionals continue to believe that under the AKM 7.62 mm cartridge, the amount of fighting qualities, was the best line from a Kalashnikov assault rifle. Of the deficiencies 5,45 mm modification is called the propensity of this caliber bullets (typical and 5.56 mm NATO bullets) to rebound, even when dealing with light and fragile obstacles and lower penetration (although such bullets inflict more serious injury).