New For 2024: Century Arms BFT74 & BFT556

The traditional route to selling an AK-type rifle in the U.S. has been to import major components from overseas and then assemble a rifle in this country with the appropriate number of American-made parts to satisfy the BATFE. Century Arms claims to have sold more than 1 million semi-automatic AK-type rifles. While many of those rifles were built using imported components, in 2022, Century introduced an AK-pattern rifle made entirely of U.S.-made parts with the 7.62×39 mm BFT47. New for 2024, the company is expanding its BFT line-up with the 5.45×39 mm BFT74 and the 5.56 NATO BFT556. 

Century adds two new rifles to its BFT lineup with the BFT556 (shown) and the BFT74.

The basis of the original BFT rifle is followed with the new models. At the core of the rifle is a “bulged” forged trunnion and a 1.5 mm thick stamped steel receiver, features taken from the AK-derived RPK light machine guns. Barrels are made of chrome-moly 4150 steel with a chrome-lined chamber and bore. Metal components are finished in mil-spec manganese phosphate. Fire control components are Century’s double-hook RAK-1 enhanced trigger system. Other enhancements include an extended safety lever that has a notch to hold the bolt in the rearward position, an extended magazine release and a side optics mount on the receiver. 

Enhanced features on all Century BFT rifles include a “bulged” trunnion, side optics mount and extended magazine release.

While the BFT47’s aesthetics follow the pattern of the AKM, the BFT74 and BFT556 use design features of the AK-74M. These include a 90-degree gas block and an AK-74-style muzzlebrake, which attaches to the barrel via 14 mm x 1 LH threads. The 5.45 x 39 mm BFT74 comes with a Magpul magazine and the 5.56 NATO BFT556 is supplied with an AC-Unity magazine. Both use a US Palm polymer grip and the BFT74 has a premium maple stock set, while the BFT556 has a maple stock with a “Russian Red” finish.   

Century adds 5.56 NATO and 5.45×39 mm chambering options (BFT556 shown) to its BFT line of all-American made rifles.

The Century Arms BFT74 has an MSRP of $950, while the retail price of the BFT556 is $1,050. For more information, visit Century Arms BFT74 and BFT556 web pages.