8 Best AK Pistols: 7.62, 5.56, & 9mm [Ultimate Guide]

I get it; the AK crowd has always been pushed into the corner in the States. But that's changing because more and more people are realizing that these firearms have serious merit -- and that includes AK pistols!

If you want one for fun, home defense, building a short-barreled rifle (SBR), or just expanding your collection, let us help you choose the best AK pistol for you. We've done all the legwork, so you don't have to.

Read on to see our favorites and pick your own!

AK Pistol Comparison Chart

How We Tested the Best AK Pistols

For this article, we gathered a bunch of AK pistols we've personally shot, reviewed, and owned here at Pew Pew Tactical. The entire Pew Pew Tactical team, as well as freelance writers, contributed to this review to offer different opinions based on ergonomics, size, and experience.

For guns we have reviews on, we've linked those so you can read more. Every review rifle undergoes 500 rounds of practice ammo and heavier match-grade ammo at 50 and 100 yards with an optic (either scope or red dot). We try to test with a couple of magazines when we're able to assess compatibility, and we use a Lyman Digital Trigger Gauge to measure the average trigger pull for all guns.

Best AK Pistols

1. Palmetto State Armory AK-P - Best Overall

Best Overall

PSA AK-P

$899

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$899 at Palmetto State Armory

Specs

• Caliber: 7.62x39
• Barrel Length: 10.5"
• Overall Length: N/A
• Weight: N/A
• Capacity: 30+1

Looking for an AK pistol that's chambered for 7.62x39, affordable, and just a little bit modern? The Palmetto State Armory AK-P MOE is what you want!

The AK-P comes with a 10.5-inch barrel, which is a real sweet spot for the 7.62x39 cartridge. The loss of velocity is a mere 200 feet per second compared to a carbine-length barrel.

PSA tops the barrel with a Krinkov-style muzzle brake, and the receiver is equipped with a Picatinny rail for easy optics attachment.

Want to co-witness? The rail easily accommodates this so long as you pair it with a low-mounted red dot and the stock AK iron sights.

The handguard features sweet, sweet M-LOK for attaching accessories.

Rounding out the notable features are the M4 stock adapter and SBA3 brace. This provides easy stabilization on this hefty pistol. PSA throws on a Magpul AK grip and ships it with a 30-round Magpul PMAG (where legal) for good measure.  

The AK-P MOE gives shooters an awesome weapon for home defense or plinking. It's a modern option for those looking for the AK pistol experience without the 1947 features.

Check out our full review of the AK-P for more details!

2. Arsenal SAM7K-44 - Best Premium

Best Premium

Arsenal SAM7K-44

$2146

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$2146 at Palmetto State Armory

GrabAGun (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 7.62x39
• Barrel Length: 10.5"
• Overall Length: 18"
• Weight: 5.9 lbs
• Capacity: 30+1

The Arsenal SAM7K-44 pistol is a high-end piece of equipment that's easily changed into an SBR if that's your thing.

It's a fun-size version of the SAM7SF we know and love.

When it comes to AK variants, it's tough to beat Arsenal. The company makes outstanding firearms.

The SAM7K uses an 8.5-inch barrel, the same length as an AKSU-74, and comes chambered for 7.62x39mm.

The old 7.62 Russian is a sweet round for short barrels, partially because it does an excellent job maintaining velocity with a reduced-length runway.

The SAM7K-44 pistol features a receiver that is both milled and forged. Instead of machining from bar stock, Arsenal uses hot-die hammer forging to produce a stronger receiver.

The SAM7K features an ambidextrous safety, a rear sight pushed back onto the dust cover for a longer sight radius, and a Krinkov-style muzzle device to reduce muzzle flash.

You can attach Sig-style stocks using the vertical Picatinny rail on the rear of the receiver. Of course, a triangle folding stock works perfectly for the AK appearance, too.

The SAM7K-44 ain't a cheap gun. But, if have the dough to build an SBR, it's the best route to take.

Sig Sauer Stocks

$146

at Optics Planet

Prices accurate at time of writing

$146 at Optics Planet

3. Zastava Arms ZPAP85 - Best 5.56 NATO

Best 5.56 NATO

Zastava Arms ZPAP85

$968

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$968 at GrabAGun

Kygunco (see price)

BattleHawk Armory (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 5.56 NATO
• Barrel Length: 10.5"
• Overall Length: N/A
• Weight: N/A
• Capacity: 30+1

If you have a pile of 5.56 NATO ammo lying around for your AR-15, it can be hard to get into a new caliber. Good news, you don't have to!

The Zastava Arms ZPAP85 has you covered with an AK pistol design that accepts most AK magazines made for 5.56 NATO. 

It’s a Serbian-made design using a thick 1.5 mm RPK receiver and bolt-hold-open built into the safety. The Serbians do it differently, but they make solid AK pistols and there are plenty of Zastava upgrades out there.

This is an old-school AK pistol without all the fancy do-dads. Zastava’s ZPAP85 uses a hinged Krinkov-style top cover and Krinkov-style sights.

The 10-inch barrel is super portable but it definitely holds back 5.56 NATO's power and performance. This zippy cartridge works great from a 20-inch barrel, but trimming it in half will hurt its range and velocity significantly.

At least the massive muzzle flash is fun!

Another potential drawback is weight. This thing is quite hefty, although that does knock down some of the pistol's felt recoil.

Bottom line: the ZPAP85 is a fun banger if you just want to plink and share ammo with your main rifle.

4. Palmetto State Armory AK-V - Best 9mm

Best 9mm

PSA AK-V

$849

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$849 at Palmetto State Armory

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel Length: 10.5"
• Overall Length: N/A
• Weight: N/A
• Capacity: 35+1

I know that listing two AKs from the same manufacturer may seem a little unimaginative, but hear me out because these are two very different guns and the Palmetto State Armory AK-V is worth a look.

The big difference is the magazine -- and what's inside that mag.

Palmetto State Armory designed this AK pistol around the 9mm cartridge and CZ Scorpion magazines. That means you have lots of options when you want to add mags.

PSA makes its own, but you can also grab CZ, Magpul, and Manticore magazines. They’re cheap, and they feature a curved design that really completes the AK look.

PSA AK-V/CZ Scorpion 35-Round Magazine

$16

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$16 at Palmetto State Armory

Another handy feature is the Picatinny rail. You can pop a brace on for fun, and PSA includes the triangle side-folding brace that also lends itself to that Krinkov AK SMG look.

Also included are an AK MOE handguard, a Magpul pistol grip, and a railed dust cover for attaching optics.

The tanker-style muzzle brake is unnecessary for a 9mm round, but it sure pulls the package together visually.

The Palmetto State Armory AK-V is definitely the most modular and affordable pistol-caliber AK.

Check out our full AK-V review here.

What's your take on the AK-V? Rate it below!

5. Charles Daly PAK-9 - Most Compact

Most Compact

Charles Daly PAK-9

$511

at BattleHawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$511 at BattleHawk Armory

Kygunco (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel Length: 6.3"
• Overall Length: 14.25"
• Weight: 4 lbs
• Capacity: 33+1

The Charles Daly PAK-9 is the smallest pistol-caliber AK pistol here, making it a great choice for a backpack gun or range-day plinker.

This Romanian AK pistol features interchangeable magazine blocks, so you can use Glock and Beretta interchangeably.

The simple blowback operation is as reliable as a hammer if you feed it magazines it likes. Quality mags are key, and I will say the KCI Glock drum will not serve you well with the PAK-9.

Lights, lasers, and other fun stuff attach easily, and the top of the dust cover has an optic rail for tossing on a red dot.

The gun comes with a simple set of sights with an open-type rear sight you'd more commonly see on a traditional pistol.

This 6-pound pistol handles surprisingly well, and you can shoot with reasonable accuracy.

This is a fairly affordable way to get an AK pistol in a pistol caliber that potentially takes magazines you already have. Sure, it looks silly. But it shoots well, is ultra-compact, and doesn't break the bank. That's a tough combo to beat.

6. Century Arms Draco NAK-9 - Best Budget

Best Budget

Century Arms Draco NAK9

$453

at BattleHawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$453 at BattleHawk Armory

Kygunco (see price)

Primary Arms (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel Length: 11.14"
• Overall Length: 19.1"
• Weight: 6.4 lbs
• Capacity: 33+1

How about another tiny 9mm contender for the best AK pistol? Check out the Century Arms Draco NAK-9.

And yes...it takes Glock mags. Aftermarket magazines gave us iffy results, but actual Glock mags ran flawlessly.

Though it has a lackluster trigger, it's tons of fun to shoot.

We shot it all day from the hip. Even with the iron sights, it shot accurately enough. It definitely made us want to add a budget red dot and a pistol brace.

Don't miss our full review of the NAK-9!

7. Kalashnikov USA KP-9 - Best Vityaz Clone

Best Vityaz Clone

KUSA KP-9

$1025

at BattleHawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$1025 at BattleHawk Armory

GrabAGun (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel Length: 9.25"
• Overall Length: N/A
• Weight: 6 lbs
• Capacity: 30+1

No list would be complete without the closest thing you'll get to the Russian special forces PP-19 Vityaz.

The Kalashnikov USA KP-9 is more of a direct clone of the Vityaz, whereas the Palmetto State Armory AK-V is more of a tribute.

And it might be the most fun we've had shooting a pistol caliber in an AK platform! It was nice to finally lock the bolt back and have an easier time going between safe and fire.

Yes, we also upgraded ours a little with Zenitco furniture and K-USA's selector.

One downer is the use of proprietary magazines. We tried a PUF version but the KUSA ones still worked the best.

There's a lot more to say about this super-fun pistol, so check out our full review to learn all about it.

How to Pick the Best AK Pistol

In terms of fun, you can't go wrong with any of these! Ultimately, your budget will guide you to some extent.

Aside from money, your biggest consideration should be cartridge selection. Do you want to stick with the original 7.62x39? Would you rather branch out into 5.56 NATO or 9mm to streamline your personal ammunition purchasing?

If you're already shooting one of those cartridges, there's no need to make things more complicated than they have to be.

You should also consider how you might want to modify, upgrade, or accessorize your AK pistol down the line. If you have an affinity for adding braces, lights, optics, and other aftermarket goodies, look for an AK pistol with a mounting system to make that happen.

Why Trust Pew Pew Tactical

Pew Pew Tactical author Travis Pike helmed this article. Travis spent a lifetime shooting as a kid and later joined the United States Marine Corps, where he spent five years as an infantryman. In the middle of his Marine Corps career, he began writing and never stopped. He has thousands of articles to his name with a variety of publications, including Pew Pew Tactical.

Editing this article is Scott Murdock. Scott is a Marine Corps veteran who competed and qualified as a rifle and pistol expert while in service. In addition to shooting, Scott has written for a variety of publications, testing, researching, and evaluating guns and gear. He brings that knowledge and skillset to this article, editing and fact-checking for accuracy.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Final Thoughts

AK pistols are not a fad or a gimmick. They're functional and fun! This is definitely an area of the firearm industry worth exploring.

Though some are more practical than others, these Kalashnikov-inspired pistols continue to rise in popularity for good reason.

Who else is into AK pistols? Let us know which ones you rock and roll with -- and why. Dipping your toes in the AK arena? Check out our Complete Buyer’s Guide to the AK-47.

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