AK 47 vs M1 Carbine
- Thread starter BubbaRay
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Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Really? I love my Russian SKS, but you can definitely buy an AK cheaper these days.
-Sam
Get the M1 Carbine. If you don't like it and want an AK later, post back here and someone will trade you an AK for it same day...probably somebody from Georgia even and you won't have to drive far. 
P.S. If they have an IBM or Winchester, that would be preferable...anything but Inland.
P.S. If they have an IBM or Winchester, that would be preferable...anything but Inland.
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I own both and only punch paper, so some thoughts from the 100y line.
The m1 carbine has better sights. No two ways around it. If you're in low light the AK leaf may squeak out ahead, but any time the ghost ring isn't blinding you it's getting you on target faster and more accurately.
The m1 carbine has better mag installation. Pushing it up is vastly preferable to finding the hook and rocking it in.
The AK mag release is in a better place. You can drop the mag without pulling off the sights, whereas on the m1 carbine you have to reach around the magazine to find the mag release button.
M1 carbine recoils much less.
Ammo for any AK variant is much, much less than m1 carbine ammo.
The m1 carbine has better sights. No two ways around it. If you're in low light the AK leaf may squeak out ahead, but any time the ghost ring isn't blinding you it's getting you on target faster and more accurately.
The m1 carbine has better mag installation. Pushing it up is vastly preferable to finding the hook and rocking it in.
The AK mag release is in a better place. You can drop the mag without pulling off the sights, whereas on the m1 carbine you have to reach around the magazine to find the mag release button.
M1 carbine recoils much less.
Ammo for any AK variant is much, much less than m1 carbine ammo.
Maverick223
Member
Tkopp, you are absolutely right; I think the Carbines good handling and sights really seal the deal for me...they are much, much better for my eyes.
Shadow Man
Member
Yeah, you can't do much worse than stock AK sights.
I'm curous though; could you feasibly replace the rear sight with a ghost ring? Or maybe move the rear sight to the end of the reciever cover? That would improve things greatly...
I'm curous though; could you feasibly replace the rear sight with a ghost ring? Or maybe move the rear sight to the end of the reciever cover? That would improve things greatly...
Hatterasguy
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I'd say get both, they are both good rifles.
I have an IP M1 Carbine that my grandfather picked up on a beach in the Philippines. Every so often I'll take it out and put a few rounds through it, sweet little rifle to shoot.
I have an IP M1 Carbine that my grandfather picked up on a beach in the Philippines. Every so often I'll take it out and put a few rounds through it, sweet little rifle to shoot.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Mojo sights:
Tech sights:
Or go nuts with the Iron Dot:
-Sam
Shadow Man
Member
Sam1911...many, many thanks sir.
AK103K
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- 7,610
The AK's sights are fine for what you need them for. They arent target sights, but they work.
Forward mounted peeps dont work like a standard peep, and I always found them to be more difficult to shoot with than the issue sights.
If you really want an upgrade, a good, forward mounted red dot on one of the Ultimak rails is the way to go for the AK. You can still use the iron sights through the tube, and the rifle shoulders and shoots very naturally like it does with the iron sights alone. They make Ultimaks for the M1 Carbine too, and I would imagine it too would benefit in the same way. I just never shot a carbine that had one mounted to say for sure.
Forward mounted peeps dont work like a standard peep, and I always found them to be more difficult to shoot with than the issue sights.
If you really want an upgrade, a good, forward mounted red dot on one of the Ultimak rails is the way to go for the AK. You can still use the iron sights through the tube, and the rifle shoulders and shoots very naturally like it does with the iron sights alone. They make Ultimaks for the M1 Carbine too, and I would imagine it too would benefit in the same way. I just never shot a carbine that had one mounted to say for sure.
chuckusaret
member
Are you talking Korean War veteran or are you refering to a veteran of the Korean Army. I have been a member of two of the largest veteran organizations in the world for over 40 years and have never heard anyone bad mouth the M1 Garand, M1 or M2 Carbine for reliability. The M1 Garand and the M1/M2 Carbine was the latest in technology at the time.
Gordon
Member
I agree about an AK 47 being tactically the superior weapon. I started using my dad's old M1 Carbine in the early 1960s. I had one in ROTC. I fired them in basic and Nam (was issued an M-14 the first time) and used one in police work in the 70s, and patrolling ranches and slaughtering live stock. I still have a nice Inland.
The Ak is every bit as accurate, and a good one like a Finnish or German or Hungarian can be much more accurate than any M1 Carbine I've ever seen at 200 yards or more.The AK is much more powerful, feeds far better IMH experience and easier to field maintain by far. There is far more assessory rails ect for the AK available (I'm an Ultimak fan, and have one on my carbine also) and the ammo far more available. So it depends on the AK build.
The Ak is every bit as accurate, and a good one like a Finnish or German or Hungarian can be much more accurate than any M1 Carbine I've ever seen at 200 yards or more.The AK is much more powerful, feeds far better IMH experience and easier to field maintain by far. There is far more assessory rails ect for the AK available (I'm an Ultimak fan, and have one on my carbine also) and the ammo far more available. So it depends on the AK build.
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