All three are Century Arms AK pistols chambered in 7.62×39mm, but they differ in barrel length and overall size. The full-size Draco has a 12.25-inch barrel and is 21.5 inches overall — the most practical for accurate shooting and the lowest muzzle blast. The Mini Draco has a 7.75-inch barrel and is 17.5 inches overall — a popular middle-ground variant. The Micro Draco has a 6.25-inch barrel and is 14.5 inches overall — the most compact but with the most severe muzzle blast and fireball. All three accept standard AK magazines and weigh between 4.85 and 5.65 pounds. For the complete comparison, see our Draco buying guide.

For shooters who want an AK pistol they can actually afford to shoot regularly, yes. The NAK9 is chambered in 9mm Luger — ammunition costs roughly one-third of 7.62×39mm. It uses Glock 17 and Glock 19 magazines, which are cheap, reliable, and widely available. The 11.14-inch barrel produces less muzzle blast than the short-barreled 7.62×39mm Dracos. It ships with a Picatinny rail on the hinged dust cover for an optic. For pure AK aesthetics in the more practical 9mm chambering, the NAK9 is the best value in the Draco lineup. The trade-off is that you give up the iconic 7.62×39mm AK round.

AK pistols are legal at the federal level and in most US states. California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Hawaii, and Washington D.C. have various restrictions ranging from outright bans on AK-pattern firearms to feature-based assault weapons laws to magazine capacity limits. Some states also restrict imported firearms specifically. Florida and most other states have no AK pistol restrictions for adult buyers with a clean record. Always verify current state and local laws before purchasing. See our ammo and magazine laws guide for state-by-state details.

Adding a shoulder stock to any AK pistol converts it from a pistol to a short-barreled rifle (SBR), which requires NFA registration via ATF Form 1 before installing the stock. The $200 tax stamp was eliminated as of January 1, 2026 under H.R. 1, but the registration requirement still applies — installing a stock on a Draco without prior NFA registration is a federal felony. Pistol braces are subject to ongoing ATF rulemaking and court activity; their legal status has changed multiple times and may change again. Always verify current ATF guidance before installing any brace or stock-like accessory. For the full pistol vs SBR breakdown, see our AR pistol vs SBR comparison — the same principles apply to AK pistols.

7.62×39mm Draco variants (full-size, Mini, Micro) accept standard AK-pattern magazines — Magpul PMAG AK, US Palm, Romanian military surplus, Croatian and Bulgarian surplus, and other AK-compatible magazines all work. Capacity options range from 10-round (for restricted states) to 30-round standard to 75-round drum magazines. The Draco NAK9 is the exception — it uses Glock 17 and Glock 19 magazines from the factory and ships with one 33-round Glock-pattern magazine. The Draco 9S uses Romanian AK-style 9mm magazines rather than Glock pattern. Always verify your specific Draco variant's magazine compatibility before purchasing magazines. See our full firearm magazines selection.