In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
AR -vs- AK
System
Member Posts: 25 admin
This discussion was created from comments split from: AR 15 question.
Comments
Umm… That's an AK variant, not an AR.
(When looking at your original post I couldn't see the text about it being an AK, only when I quoted it did that appear. Glitch in the system/ghost in the machine.
AK, now available in 12 gauge. For a firearm made primarily of old culverts and recycled garbage bags, it works surprisingly well.🤣
The AK was designed to be suitable for poorly trained(or untrained) conscripts or 'walk ins' with only marginal expectations of aimed fire. Meant to be robust and easily maintained without tech support.
The AR is basically the opposite in all ways. Even the design and purpose of the ammo is totally opposite.
Given the choice, I'd rather hit my 'target' with one shot from an AR than miss it 9 out of 10 shots with an AK.
The AK is more reliable account of clearances are not as tight as those on the AR. The AK was designed for combat out to 200 yards and closer. As you know the idea of the AR was to have a light weight weapon and smaller ammo so you could carry more ammo. Originally the Army didn’t want the weapon, it was unreadable, but Robert McNamara insisted and pushed the army to except it. But over the years of improvement on the AR it has gotten heavier. Where the original 55 grain bullet would tumble and cause immense damage to the body, the heavier bullets now don’t tumble and tend to pass through not causing the damage as the lighter bullets did.
It’s a lot easier to clean an AK in total darkness than it is an AR, you don’t have the small parts that can be easily lost in the dark the grass or dirt. I will have to say that I feel the AK is more of a reliable combat weapon than the AR. The AR is more accurate but it’s hard to get a clean shot when 2 or 3 people are spraying your area with automatic fire. I hate to say it, but Milhaud Kalashnikov designed one hell of a good combat rifle.
AR wins hands down, AK is the noise someone makes after AR the pirate stabs him……………
Having been in a war carrying one and shot at with the other, I will never own either. (I actually carried a CAR-15, which was a slightly different beast, but based on the M-16.)
The AK is, however, a better close-range combat rifle than the AR.
As a vet, been around and built AR for years. However in a real shooting war, my choice will be the AK because reliability matters.
If you need to clean up the neighbor’s yard - AR
If you need to hose down your own yard - AK
Brad Steele
I see no reason to choose one over the other, I have both in close proximity and enjoy them along with other styles also. I would also agree with what the pros and cons that have been stated by others here, If forced to choose I'd probably go AR based on the fact that 5.56 is more readily available in my neck of the woods.
Agree. AR by virtue of ammo availability.
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
This, for the time being anyway, being America - there is no reason to limit yourself to either/or. When ammo was cheap the AK was a lot of fun to shoot and a breeze to maintain. About a dozen or so years ago, I got the itch for a semi auto prairie dog exterminator and obviously the AK just wasn't gonna cut it. After a bit of research, I bought a Rock River Varmint and holy smokes it shoots as good as some of my bolt guns. The only drawbacks are greater ammo usage and having to pick up the empties out of the sagebrush.😁 Bob
Those both punch holes in paper real good. If I need a rifle in an emergency, I am going out the door with a bolt action in a one shot one kill caliber.
My mini-14 is neither black nor scary looking…….just sayin'.
We have a Ruger AR 556 that we love.
I miss the surplus 7.62 from years ago, easy to find 1200 round cases about $49 . / 59.00
It made the sks and ak' rifles cheap and fun to shoot
Back then 800.00 was about bottom dolar for AR15
But 59 .0 sks were stacked to the celling apx 300.00 easy got a decent AK
At that time I had a couple+ poor man's AR's or know as a ruger mini 14 or mini 30
After having AK's and finely able to buy a colt AR 15
I soon discovered what a PITA so many small parts and tight tolerances
I have both now but due to a stockpile of small parts, I like the AR15
It will never happen to this old guy, but if i had to run gun ,fight and run more . AK would be my go to gun
Ive got each, if I had to grab one in a rush for all weather all environments, my Polish tat 5.45x39.
Goes bang, no hick ups might even fire open bolt some time.
Accurate, only if you try, but keeping ones head down is a good trait for long term living.
I wish my Galil took AR mags easily. There are some really expensive adapters out there that require fitting.
I view the Galil as the pinnacle of the combat rifles. The Israelis achieved an excellent weapon by improving on the AK.