Progression from AR to AK

[ChrisVV]

Not looking for a Ar vs AK thread. I am just wondering if anyone has gone the same route and why?

I had been an AR guy then progressed to the Sig556 and I am now an AK guy.

Here is my new Yugo Underfolder




The reason I did this was I became uneasy with the reliability of the AR from first hand experiences of a friends rifle that seemed to be an inherent design flaw of the AR platform.

I would get in on the AR vs AK threads on forums and preach the benefits of the AR but I always had this little voice in the back of my mind questioning the reliability of the AR.

So I got out of my AR and into a new Sig556 for the gas piston...

then I came to the realization that it was a glorified AK that took AR mags.

So I sold the 556 and bought an AK and my first actual case of ammo. I could never afford to buy a case of .223

After a rough beginning that Century took care of I am in the market for my third AK.

This was never really an option with the AR platform because of the price tag they bring. After going the AR route and ending up where I am, I believe I may have originally bought into the hype surrounding the AR.

I now have a rifle that I completely trust. It is so simple. It shares ammo with another popular rifle, the SKS.

It is an accurate as I am and destroys what ever I point it at.

Best of all I can actually afford to feed it with 7.62 being much cheaper right now.

Anyone else go this route?

 

[JWarren]

I went the opposite route.

For my uses, I found that the increased accuracy of the AR platform was more benefit than the supposed increased reliability of the AK.

I keep my firearms clean enough that I don't worry about it and have 100% confidence in the AR's that I have.

-- John

 

[H2O MAN]

AK

I recently dumped the AR platform for the last time in favor of the 7.62 x 39 AK platform

 

[Onmilo]

That isn't progression but regression in my book.
You went from a modern design to an archaic design.
Whatever makes one happy is the path to trod upon.

 

[variablebinary]

progressed?

 

[H2O MAN]

I think my next AK will be something like this . . .

 

[ChrisVV]

progression
Noun
1. the act of progressing; advancement
2. the act or an instance of moving from one thing in a sequence to the next
3. Maths a sequence of numbers in which each term differs from the succeeding term by a fixed ratio

 

[yosarian]

Funny I went in the exact opposite route.I found the ergonomics of the ar far superior.The cleaning routine of the ar is not as bad as alot of people make it out to be.I always felt like I had to muscle the ak on target whereas the ar seems to point more naturally.

 

[elmerfudd]

I like both designs myself, but from a collectors standpoint, the AK is far more interesting. I mean, it's a rifle that's been around for 60 years and has been used in almost every role, from sniper rifle to light machine gun to subgun. You have variants ranging from Krinkovs to Tantals to RPK's to Galils to PSL's as well as something like eight different calibers that they were built in. There are half a dozen or more completely different folding stocks that were actually fielded.

With the M16 you had the M16, M16A1, A2, A3 and A4 as well as the CAR15, M4 and M203. What's more, many of the differences between the various M16 models were minor.

 

[Pilot]

I find the accuracy of my AK-74 clones a Romanian and a Polish Tantal to be close in accucarcy to my AR's. The 5.45 round seems to be a bit more accurate than the 7.62 and it doesn't flex the receiver nearly as much. Recoil is nill.

 

[buzz_knox]

I like both platforms, and have trained with both. I started with the AR, went to the AK, and have since returned to the AR.

 

[Click Click Boom]

Take a look at a VZ58.

 

[MIL-DOT]

I'm with you on this one,Chris. As for those saying you RE-gressed rather than progressed from a modern design to an archaic design, i'll dredge up an old quote that i think applies here: " Simplicity is the hallmark of genius".

 

[Deer Hunter]

My on AK is a .223 Saiga taht I converted myself. It's my go-to 5.56x45mm rifle. I recently built an AR-15. Since pretty much all my ammo is the kind that makes hardcore AR-owners cringe, I wanted to try and make my gun as reliable as possible (without breaking my budget).

300 rounds of Wolf and Monarch steel cased later, it seems that the AR is quite the rifle. It'll take what I feed it. I still only have one mag, but that'll change by the end of the summer.

My progression has been AK to...AK.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I have a couple AR's and just got my first Saiga. I like the AK design, it's nice and simple, but it wouldn't be my choice in a real live firefight vs. an AR. Also, the cost of quality AK mags is the same or higher than for AR mags, unless you have some magic surplus source that I don't. If you need US-made AK mags for 922(r) compliance, your mag cost doubles or triples.

For now, 7.62x39mm is significantly cheaper - I say stock up, because I doubt it always will be. If com bloc imports get cut off, 7.62x39mm will cost about 50% more than .223, based on current US-made commercial prices, and the amount of metal in each round.

I do like the AK's for collecting and curiousity value, and obviously they'd be good to have around for TEOTWAWKI.

 

[dewage83]

I would get in on the AR vs AK threads on forums and preach the benefits of the AR but I always had this little voice in the back of my mind questioning the reliability of the AR.

I had the same doubt, then I bought expensive ammo... sooo I went down to the gun shop by my house and they had an Arsenal in .223 (CT's awb forbids the use of 7.62 in an ak- so stupid:banghead And let me tell you I'm impressed. I like the rugged feel of it but like has been said the ergonomics of the AR is far superior. I will buy the Arsenal and then will be able to truly have this debate. Until then I will keep expensive ammo for the AR and not worry about reliability...


BTW that krink is my DREAM gun. But it would have to be chambered in 7.62 soo we'll see what or IF theres a way to go around the chambering requirements if I pay the tax stamp. (but I believe I would have to register it as an assault rifle. So that might not work.)

 

[ronwill]

I own both and enjoy shooting both. The AK may be a little more reliable but other than that they both have their benefits.

 

[Rifleman 173]

I have both because I like having options available to me. To me firearms are tools that I use for different reasons. Because there are different reasons I need different tools so hence the ARs and AKs in my life. I understand that there is no such thing as the perfect rifle. About the closest thing to a perfect rifle for most of my purposes is the 6.5 Grendel. That 6.5 Grendel just researches out to be the over all best of all the rifles out there for most of my needs. I may eventually, given enough time, end up going to the 6.5 Grendel for a primary shoulder-mounted firearm. What bothers me is the cost factors associated with it right now and the limitations on it as far as supplies and such. But time will tell for me. My next purchase will probably be another AK type rifle with a folding stock to add to my arsenal in 7.62 X 39. I also plan to have all of my ARs and AKs with scopes mounted on them to enhance over all accuracy. I am not planning on making them into sniper rifles but figure that a simple 4X scope, like prior British tests show, will help in many shooting incidents. So having both is a pretty good idea to my way of thinking.

 

[nalioth]

I spent many years in Uncle Sams Army in the company of my M-16.

Since I retired, I have owned many AR-15s, but usually end up selling them ( I can't stand them, but they are 'oh so familiar' ).

It's a love-hate thing with ARs and me, but I don't have any issues with the good ol' Kalashnikov. . . .

 

[TIMC]

I own several AR's and 1 AK. I like both platforms and have no intentions of going exclusive with either one. Each one had their specific use and place in my collection. I have never felt uneasy about the reliability with any of my AR's and like the AK they have all been perfect if I keep them maintained and use decent ammunition. Granted the AK is more forgiving about poor maintenance because of it's design but I can not get the accuracy out of it that I do with my AR's.

 

[doc2rn]

I did because it was cheaper to shoot.
Not because I prefer one over the other, but my M4 clone has seen alot of safe time this yr due to expense.

 

[jrfoxx]

I have a WASR-10 and a Bushmaster M4. I bought the WASR first, but only due to the price, becasue at the time I was an underpayed Sailor, so $300 was a lot more affordable than $900. I like both equally, and both have been 100% relaible for me so far (I admit the M4 only has a few hundred rounds thru it so far as I only got it this Christams, whereas the WASR I got about 5 years ago, and has had LOTS of rounds thru it). IMHO, they both have thier plusses and minuses neither is really "better" than the other, as they were designed for 2 similar, but distinctly different tasks/reasons, with differering design goals in mind.

If I were forced to shoose between them, I honestly couldnt say which way I'd go right now. IF my M4 proves to be as reliable as my WASR under the normal conditions I am likey to put it thru, then I would probly actually pick it, as it's a bit lighter, shorter,and just feel handier, and there are lots more options/upgrades for an AR compared to an AK as far as changing uppers/barrel lenghts/calibers, etc

Tough call though, as I love both of them.

Here they are (hope just having the pics close to each other doesnt cause them fight, or burst into flames as they start thier own AR VS AK battle )

Bushmaster M4A3 "Patrolman's Carbine"


WASR-10 GP w/refinished stock, metal, and a CAA/TDI "Ergo" grip.

 

[northwestneighbor]

I love my commie weapons. Not sure how much more dependable it is, but my Century Yugo has yet to jam and I only feed it the cheapest. I know if I look around I can pick up an AR for $500-700 but at that price point, I have this nagging suspicion that I'll just have a jammomatic coyote sniper rifle. If I have the time to save up before they all get banned, I'll probably pick out a quality AR and do it justice. Otherwise, I really won't mind if an AK and an SKS are my only military-style rifles.

 

[Soybomb]

So you had an AR but sold it because your friends AR has problems. You sold your AR and got an AK with issues and then decide the AK is the better choice?

You say you can't afford an AR but are looking to buy your 3rd AK?

As long as you're happy with what you've got thats all that matters, but I'm not sure I see your progession as the logical one

 

[Tarvis]

I started out with a mini-14, and got into the AR platform about 3 months ago so I don't have a whole lot of rounds down the pipe, but I have been fairly impressed so far. I was expecting to shoot 15 rounds and clear a jam from what everyone says in the forums, but it didn't seem to be the case. I built a M4gery for a buddy of mine that was having problems, which were traced to the hand loads I sold him (full length resize die not screwed down far enough) and possibly a funky magazine. Other than a screw up at the factory and a hammer spring installed backwards, there have been no problems. I think when it comes to diagnosing and explaining problems with the AR, AR enthusiasts will say it's mags and ammo, while AR non-enthusiasts will say they are unreliable, dirty, finicky etc. I have watched videos on youtube where an AR will jam like crazy while the guy next to him empties a mag in his AK. I've also seen a guy shoot wolf/bear ammo through his AK and have 5 failures per magazine. Both of these scenarios seem to be far from the majority of everyone's experiences.

That being said, I'm planning on getting a wasr-10 to add to the collection, mostly because I don't have an AK; the perfect excuse to buy one. Until then, I can't really comment on the AK other than repeating what I've heard.

Funny story: The guy next to me at my first appleseed made some comment to the affect of "Lots of AR's, gonna be lots of jams," he was shooting a mini-14. The only problems I had on my AR was a backwards hammer spring that caused the trigger pin to walk out and cause the hammer to get stuck on the disconnecter. I wiggled the trigger to get it to reset and it still fired. A guy that only shot on the second day (missing most of the intro instruction) shot rifleman with an AK, then had an accidental discharge 6 feet in front of him when he clicked off the safety.

In the end I will not sell any of my rifles (unless I'm building them to sell for a profit) and will most likely shoot all of them semi-regularly. YMMV.