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what's the ak-47 like?

skiironskiiron Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
edited September 2001 in General Discussion
I have an sks. anyone got a ak-47 is it similar shooting chartaristics to the sks rifle?
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Comments

  • concealedG36concealedG36 Member Posts: 3,566 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    You just missed an outstanding Tales of the Gun on the History channel the other night. Told the story of the AK-47 and it's rivals, even interviewd Dr. Mikael Kalashnikov (sp?), the inventor. I think that Evil ATF would be a good person to ask on this board..
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    Very simular. In fact, the SKS is a variation of the AK.
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  • metzmetz Member Posts: 121 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    dheffly is either mistaken (I'm sure)or stupid(instigating). The sks was invented side by side with the 7.62x39 in an effort for the ultimate battle rifle/cartridge combo. They were invented as a unit. The AK came after them by a few years. Similar???? They shoot the same round and were made for die hard performance and superior reliability. They were both very successful in both. Mechanicaly they are not particularly alike at all. Both are fun to shoot, both are only average in accuracy, both are reliable beyond definition. Ones a drop bolt the other is a twist bolt. The sks is heavier and the AK is very light for a combat rifle. You should have an AK and a SKS in your collection.Andy
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    Andy,I didn't mean by "varient" that it was built as a different model of one gun, as in M-16 and AR-15. I meant "varient" as in a gas operated auto-loader using that same ammunition and many of the same design ideas. His question was "is it similar shooting chartaristics to the sks rifle?". With that as the question, I stand by my answer. The SKS and the AK-47 are varients.
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  • jltrentjltrent Member Posts: 9,337 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have both, the AK is smoother and a lot more fun to shoot. Just my opinion. Also as someone else stated is a lot simplier and lighter made. The mags are a lot cheaper and work better in the AK.
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  • metzmetz Member Posts: 121 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    "in fact the sks is a variation of the AK" Absolutely false. The sks was the first weapon designed for the 7.62 ALL others will be variants of it and not the other way around. Looks like stupid wins. I evan gave you an out. Do your homework before you spout "facts" that you have no clue on. The FACTs are that the SKS was the first in a long line of weapons in that chambering. The AK was a complete and differant design employing no mechanical similarity to the sks it is not a variant.Andy
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    Andy,Have you ever field stripped these two weapons. Do you not realize that they both use the same piston type and and style of gas operation. You are right that the SKS was the first produced, and therefore, I should have said that the AK was a variant of the SKS. My mistake in grammer, but they were built with what was then the accepted design of gas operation. Though the parts are not interchangable, and the bolt locking sytem is different. Even the trigger group "style" is simular. You are looking at the guns as individuals instead of as a family of guns. They each have their unique design features, but they are more simular than different. The facts are I don't believe you have any gun design knowledge. You may be an excellent gun history buff, even a good collector. I have both of these guns along with the engineering experiece to see the simularities. I don't mean this as a personal attack, nor do I think you are "stupid". You are forgetting his original question, and you are confusing my answer with a "fact" that they are not sister weapons. I think we are closer to agreeing than you think. You say they were built as a unit. I say they are variants. I think the AK is the superior of the two, and I think Karishnikoff (I don't know how to spell his name) used the SKS as a base to approach his design. I don't think he copied it.However,my wife will agree with you on my being stupid, and I hope you don't take my difference of opinion with you as a personal attack. Sorry if I offended you, but again, I stand by my answer.
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    Andy, I think a better way of explaining what I'm saying is to look at a single action revolver and a double action revolver. I call the double action a variant of the single action. I call a 1911 style semi-auto and different family of pistols. The SKS and the AK are variations of the same design principle. Maybe that's a better explaination of what I am saying.
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  • metzmetz Member Posts: 121 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well, I too own these (in quantity) and they are, as a fellow engineer, not similar and not variants. Springfield '03's have variants. An SKS is an SKS not too many variants. The Ak (I agree, supereior of the two) is an AK and has many variants. To be a variant you have to have a common. There is none with these. With your parameters, the sks could easily be construed a "variant" of the m1 Garand. I find that too far a stretch and ask you to refine your opinion. Your hopefully pridefull and not stupid, but the broadness of your criteria ask for a crushing. They are not related one iota other than the chambering.Andy edit: take them apart and appreciate the designs of each. They are very differant indeed.[This message has been edited by metz (edited 09-16-2001).]
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  • TeamblueTeamblue Member Posts: 782 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The SKS uses a Simonov gas operation system and a tilting bolt system. The AK47 uses a modified Simonov gas operation system and a rotating bolt. Not to cause consternation here, but IMHO the common Simonov heritage makes them related at least one iota.
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  • Evil ATFEvil ATF Member Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'll let other debate the mechanical differences between the two rifles.The AK-47 (and all of it's variants) are MUCH better than the SKS. Anyone who has fired or handled both rifles knows that they operate very differently. In my humble opinion, the SKS is a waste of steel and wood. Get yourself an AK and don't look back. I will say that metz has just about hit the nail on the head. If you can get Josey to pipe in on this one, his advice should settle the argument. Thanks for the plug, G36, but a good example of Josey's knowledge of AK's versus mine would be if Josey and I were in a bar where the barkeep had set down two of the same drink in front of us. After a slurp, I'd be able to tell you what it was and possibly the proof.Josey would be able to tell you what year it was concocted, what the weather was like that day, and whether of not the mill worker handling the press that day had shagged his beloved or not.Just wanted to set it straight.I think I'll go have another glass of Captain Morgan's now...ignore my drunken ramblings.CaCklE!
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    Andy,I'm glad we can argue this point and have different opinions. That's what makes this country great. I respect (though disagree) with your opinion. I don't think think we look and mechanics the same. My degree is BSME, yours must be in a different field. I can even see where a modern double action revolver would be a variant of a percussion black powder revolver. I think your criteria for "simularities" is much more discriminating. It is obvious that neither one of us are going to back off of our respected opinions. Therfore, let's agree to disagree and go it peace. We do agree on the better of the two, so I'll stand with you on that ground and hope someday to shake the hand of someone that will stand up for their beliefs. There is more positive than negative here for me.
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  • skiironskiiron Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well How about this to settle the arguement! I THANK you all a whole bunch. You all have raised my curiousness now so I suppose I'll go purchase me an Ak-47 here in a month or so as soon as I get my sks paid off. Ya say it's lighter than the sks ehh? Well I'll find out. Any ideas on where to buy a good ak-47? http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=2033958 how about you all take a look at this and see what ya think. I'm kinda new to the firearm's industry but I'm one who loves to learn about everything and anything, someone made the comment about the History Channel having something on the AK-47 I'm gonna try to catch it on sometime. Thanks Everyone for your help.
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  • Diesel DummyDiesel Dummy Member Posts: 193 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    www.aimsurplus.com Can't beat the price.
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