Howdy, y’all. I’m putting a question out there to see if I’m the only one: would anyone else be interested in an AK-556 model with a 20" barrel?
I know light and compact are the modern ‘in’ things, and there’s obviously tons of utility and benefits to be had there, but I’ve always been a fanboy of the full-length 20" AR rifle shooting 55-grainers. 3200 FPS will always be accurate and effective, there’s tons of M193 stock readily available, and of course PSA already makes barrels with the right twist rates. Long-barreled AK variants aren’t unheard of, (just look at the 23" RPK or the 21" M76) but I haven’t ever seen one in the 5.56x45’s native length.
On the negative side of things, I don’t think the long-stroke gas system would see exactly the same operating benefits as rifle-length ARs, and another four inches of barrel would add some weight to the already-hefty front end. As ever, cons with the pros.
So, anyone else find the idea attractive? Or, am I just a little too old-fashioned for my own good?
hey there! so you’re thinking kinda like a RPK setup almost but in 5.56? I think it would be interesting, and maybe something that die hard AK fanboys are into… that said, unfortunately the AK world has bene pretty dead since they banned cheap russian made ammo from importing… I dont know if you’d drum up enough folks whod want one to justify actually producing one. now you could possibly make one yourself o ut of an AK kit, thats if you can find an AK barrel in 20" long chambered in 5.56… that would be the hardest thing there with the kit build. I think its an interesting idea.. but im more of a fan of shooting 7.62x39 out of a ar platform than the other way around.
I’d definitely be interested, my last one was a Daewoo, the guy talking about the cheap Russian ammo is out of sync, as an AR platform AK uses 5.56x45 ammo not the cheap Russian ammo of the past.
BTW I won’t own an AR, even if it was given to me.
I do have few 20+ inch ARs. I like rifles if I am going to be shooting such a platform but just personal choice. But yeah don’t think I have ever seen too many AK long barrel rifles. I thought the Polish 556SR had a longer barrel but looked it up and no just 16.3. Looks longer though.
The AR platform is just so modular these days think people tend to pass on the AK platform so market is smaller. Seem to be expensive also in comparison. Maybe the manufacturing just so different more expensive to build.
Not a huge AK fan so might be one out there, but I would never pass up on a RPK 
i get the ar platform ak using 5.56, that just sounds like it would be weird like the 5.45 guns.. im not a big fan of those at all. i really hate that round to be honest. … Im not sure if psa makes an AK in 5.56, as i’ve never looked, but if theres great enough demand they will.
im curious though, why wouldnt you own an AR even if it was given to you?
you may be onto something there about the prices… that said, i remember when AK’s were cheap, and the AR’s were the expensive ones.
Yes sir, I remember when SKS was less than 100 dollar bill and for little less than another 100 bucks get 1000 round case of 7.62x39 rounds. AKs where not much more but I never had a taste for them, they were the “commie rifle”! 
well that was a little before my time collecting, but the sks was sub 200 ish when i got into it.. and aks were 400 ish_+ give or take.. but yea,… the ammo was almost as expensive as the gun when bought in the 1000’s of rounds lol
PSA does already make AKs in 5.56x45, three different models in fact. The AK-101 and AK-102, clones of Kalashnikov Concern’s export rifles from the 90s, and the in-house AK-556 that takes standard AR magazines. Personally, I think the last one makes the most sense, just for the sake of magazine availability.
Since the 5.56 cartridge was originally intended for the 20" barrel of the M16, unlike 5.45 which was always meant for 16.5" AKs, I just thought it could be cool to have a sub-model with the old-school barrel.
I grew up in the Vietnam war era, too many stories of the pos m16 now ar rifle. Any rifle that needs
a forward assist, is junk. I have not researched it, but are there any other rifles issued to “soldiers”
that have a forward assist? Norinco made a model 84S, I believe AK platform used 556x45 ammo.
I had one way back when, bought new for $400.00. Selling that was a mistake.
good to konw. i had thought they might, knowing they make a lot of different ak’s. i see you r point aobut it possibly being cool with a sub model with the old school barrel.
yeah i’ve read about the original deployment and the jammo matic that the AR’s were back then. luckily now a days theyve been ironed out to the extent that having a forward assist is largely for looks now a days, cause i cannot remember the last time ive ever needed to use one. They were junk when first deployed for sure… but in the 50+ 60+ years since, its became quite a reliable platform that we’v found to be quite effectual. Having one back in the day for 400.00 would have been awesome.. yeah it woulda been worth a pretty penny today.
We have come a long way from the M16A1. Long way. M16 and M4 have served this nation well for decades. Proven weapons in literally decades of constant warfare. Even Germans adopted the AR platform these days, along with many other nations making their own. Just works and simple and can take massive abuse.
nevermind
Yeah all good sir, just different opinions. 1988 Army we had M16A2 probably in my opinion one of the finest M16 based rifles ever made. It was light weight we could carry dozen magazines and just super accurate even for NYC boys. Compare to the AK47 is mostly the opposite of the M16 as in it jams, poor made versions in China and USSR was trash made by people who didn’t give 2 shizz about quality. The whole myth that the AK47 was so much better than the M16 platform is nonsense. AK47 and later models the AK47 were obsolete, moving to the AK74 which was 1974 replacement replacing a 1947 design. The Soviets replaced it in the 1970s because it was a problem. That is real history not myth. The USSR also went to the the smaller more usable 5mm rounds. Or .22 caliber. The US Army/Marines replaced the M14 which was a WWII era battle rifle just with selective fire. But still heavy, limited ammo on troops and just not practical. M16 Armalite changed the worlds military rifles and even the USSR went to a 5mm round and got rid of AK47 decades and decades ago.
It is not a surprise that all of my AR rifles besides one has A2 stock.
The M-16 was and is not a POS. Soldier’s were not cleaning them properly. And the first ones didn’t have chromed chambers and the ammo was dirty causing fouling issues. Thus, cleaning was an issue. Forward assist does more than what one would think. When you pull the charging handle, you are supposed to let it fly - to chamber round and lock the bolt into battery. If you ride it, the bolt will not fully chamber the around and lock the bolt.
So, forward assist.
Also, you can sneak a peek to see if there’s a round in the chamber, then bump forward assist to put bolt into battery.
I, along with many of the members on this forum carried the M-16 A1 & A2 as well as the predecessor to the M-4. Gun manufactured by Colt is well made and solid as a rock. I personally never heard one not even one Army Soldier, or Range officer say a bad word about the M-16. You heard - Learn how to operate and maintain it, keep it clean, and point it down range.
I own two AR’s : bottom one 16" mid length gas system, top pic 20" rifle. I’m not trying to sell you on the platform, just telling you first hand that they are weapons of war, and millions of American Troops have have carried them into harm’s way for over 6 decades and continue to do so as we speak.
P.S. :
The only AR that I’ve had to use the forward assist was on a 7.62x39 build. I’d fire a round, then it would not fully chamber. Bump that little fun button and it’s chambered. Did that like 15 times in a row and then no more BANG when I pulled the trigger. I learned the hard way that I needed an enhanced firing pin if I’m using surplus ammo. Other than that, never had to use the forward assist either
Yeah I think a AK556 with long barrel would be interesting but just not a money maker. Maybe a few strange people like me would try it but no much more.