I'm Not Sure, But Maybe I Want An AK

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I just went to look at some slow motion videos. Sideways ejection isn't a problem. I just wasn't sure if maybe the AK happened to ejected at a tight rewards angle, and most people didn't have an issue with it because they shoot right handed.

I looked at brass catchers. Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not hanging one of those off of any gun.
 
WrongHanded said:
Yeah, I know they're not known for great accuracy, and I know there's no cheap supply of ammo coming in right now. But I've been looking at the design, and that's gotten me interested.

If I were to buy, I'd want it chambered in 7.62x39, and decently built. I saw MAC did an initial review of a couple Palmetto State Armory AKs, and they seemed alright. I know nothing about the various brands. All I have now is an interest.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I've got no purpose in mind for it. I just thought it'd be fun to get to know one.
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Listen to your inner voice, you do what that AK, as a matter of fact, get an upgraded version, the AK-103 from Kalashnikov-usa.com KR103 uses the original data pack from Russian and build to specs, Another good option is a Zastava M70. God knows long before they ban importation of those too, remember Chinese Aks and Saigas were very cheap and now they are worth a lot of money, even Wasr10 are getting expensive.

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OP, I’m an AR guy but respect the AK. If that’s what you like, then I’d suggest a WASR, Zastava, or an Arsenal. PSA Gen 3 and above seem to be well liked as a domestic option.

If I were an AK guy, I’d plan on buying no less than 2, a literal duffel bag full of good mags, and as much ammo as I could get. But that’s just my way. I tend to buy in pairs or singles with plans to get a second and/or third later and then focus on being set up for it.

Good luck, OP!
 
AK Hunter said:
... At one point a few years ago the 5.45x39 for the AK74 was cheaper than the 7.62x39, I bought most of this stack for about 9 cents per round.[/ATTACH]
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9 cents a round. Try finding .22 LR at that price today.

I used to buy a few 20rd boxes of Wolf (both Rusia and Ukranian) every time I saw it reasonably priced at the gunshows.
 
I have seen many pictures where U.S. service men were carrying AK's instead of M4's and I wondered why.
Seems the answer was always reliability.
One of the reasons was that the M4 was more accurate but the AK was more reliable.
I don't know, I never had an AK, but I do have an M4 and it seems ok in a non battle inviroment. Am I missing something here?
 
I would take one---as a gift but I would immediately start looking into trading it for something I actually wanted. I have no problem with anyone's desire for one but can't really understand it.
 
At the very least, everyone should have at least one AK, and spend enough time with it, just to know how to work and shoot them. 99% of the bad-mouthing of the AK's comes from a lack of any real experience with one, not from a lack of gun.

And truthfully, the above goes for any gun you're not familiar with, not just the AK's.
 
I've been watching some of the AK Operator Union videos of YouTube recently. Yep accuracy isn't amazing, but he seems to hit those torso sized plates out to 300 yards with iron sights pretty consistently (unless he's editing videos to remove all his misses, which is possible I suppose).

10 years ago I spent most of my shooting time lying or sitting in the dirt out in the prairie, mostly using rifles with iron sights. I guess I kind of miss it, and I've realized that's part of my interest. Since those days, it's been mostly official ranges with paper targets only. An AK seems an appropriate reason to start lying in the dirt with a rifle again. And worrying more about hits and misses than group size.
 
trackskippy said:
99% of the bad-mouthing of the AK's comes from a lack of any real experience with one, not from a lack of gun.
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My dislike for the AK only increased when I actually tried one, and realized in addition to the poor ergonomics and increased weight, it also does not have a last round bolt hold open, AND you can't cycle the action without turning the safety off first... Sure it was fun to shoot, and if it were all you had it would be the best gun in the world... but I still don't understand the hype. My AR-15 is reliable, light, ergonomic, has a bolt hold open, and no funky rock-n-lock for inserting a new mag.
 
Ethan Verity said:
My dislike for the AK only increased when I actually tried one, and realized in addition to the poor ergonomics and increased weight, it also does not have a last round bolt hold open, AND you can't cycle the action without turning the safety off first... Sure it was fun to shoot, and if it were all you had it would be the best gun in the world... but I still don't understand the hype. My AR-15 is reliable, light, ergonomic, has a bolt hold open, and no funky rock-n-lock for inserting a new mag.
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Youre pretty much making my point here. ;)

Youre trying to work an AK like an AR, and that's not going to work, either way.

Just out of curiosity, how are the ergonomics any different than an AR? Weight is basically the same. Both have a pistol grip and similar LOP. Controls can be worked with both with your hand on the firing grip, etc. Both shoot similarly.

The lack of a BHO is only a problem if you arent used to it. Either way, the gun tells you its empty when it is, and a plus with the AK is, its ALWAYS loaded after a mag change. Something you learn to do with the AR's, even with a BHO, because you did learn to run a gun that didn't have a BHO and you've had AR's go empty and not lock open for whatever reason. AR or AK, or anything else for that matter, you always stroke the charging handle after a mag change.

None of this is "hype", its simply education and gaining experience with things you dont have a lot with, so you can be better prepared.

One thing I can say for sure is, all the guns I was told were poorly designed, had bad ergos, or didn't shoot worth a damn, etc, turned out to be fine once I learned to use them as they were meant to be used, and not like something else I was used to.
 
trackskippy said:
Youre trying to work an AK like an AR, and that's not going to work, either way.
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Nope, I was operating it like an AK... hitting an invisible bolt release to chamber a round, or trying to disengage an invisible safety with my thumb would not have made for a very long range session... ;)

I just don't like having to partially remove my shooting hand from the pistol grip to reach/actuate the safety with my fingers, or having to rotate the gun 90 degrees so my left hand can reach the charging handle that's on the right side of the gun. That's what I meant by poor ergonomics.
 
Ethan Verity said:
I just don't like having to partially remove my shooting hand from the pistol grip to reach/actuate the safety with my fingers, or having to rotate the gun 90 degrees so my left hand can reach the charging handle that's on the right side of the gun. That's what I meant by poor ergonomics.
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So you've got preferences that don't line up well with the AK. Same for me with the AR actually.
 
The AK is a fine rifle. And that's coming from a staunch AR guy. You just have to remember that it is a fighting rifle, not a target rifle. The action, sights, and cartridge are not made to shoot great groups on paper. It is made for fighting and it does that very well. Accuracy can vary depending on the rifle and ammo quality and how well you shoot the iron sights. Putting an optic on the gun usually improves how well you shoot it. From my experience they average around 3-4 MOA. Some better, some worse.

Ammo isnt as cheap as it once was but it's still cheaper than 223. With PSA setting up an ammo factory and buying combloc ammo machines for 7.62x39, I expect the ammo will come down a good bit. The ballistics of the 7.62x39 isnt great at ranges past 200-300 yards but hits at further ranges are still doable.

The ergonomics arent as good as an AR... Oh well. Adapt and overcome.

PSA has one of the blem GF3 on sale today for 699. Atlantic Firearms has multiple types of AKs, including the PSAs, for under 900 dollars.
 
I like the AK platform, have had saiga's in x39 and 12 ga, WASR10, akm, Norinco, etc. They are fun, reasonably accurate, and a good contemporary to all of the weapons of their design era. People seem to forget that the ar is a VERY developed platform, and an AK in the 60s was the better gun. A modern AK is very capable, but kinda oversized for what it is. More like a bulldozer than a pickup. That said, I seem to have AK's come and go, currently have my WASR10 up for sale..

The argument that ammo for these is either expensive or hard to get is an absolute lie though. 7.62x39 is the cheapest rifle ammunition available anywhere, and is available almost everywhere worldwide. There are supply chain hiccups going on right now, but x39 is just as available as anything else...
 
adcoch1 said:
I like the AK platform, have had saiga's in x39 and 12 ga, WASR10, akm, Norinco, etc. They are fun, reasonably accurate, and a good contemporary to all of the weapons of their design era. People seem to forget that the ar is a VERY developed platform, and an AK in the 60s was the better gun. A modern AK is very capable, but kinda oversized for what it is. More like a bulldozer than a pickup. That said, I seem to have AK's come and go, currently have my WASR10 up for sale..

The argument that ammo for these is either expensive or hard to get is an absolute lie though. 7.62x39 is the cheapest rifle ammunition available anywhere, and is available almost everywhere worldwide. There are supply chain hiccups going on right now, but x39 is just as available as anything else...
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You touch on a good and seemingly forgotten point that most of the AK's Americans are familiar with are of the M1/M14 era, and not really the current AK's, like the AK100 series and onward. The AK's have continued to progress, just like the AR's. We just dont really have access to them, at least in original form, just bastardized copies at best.
 
With the millions of AK's and SKS's around I see manufacturers making plenty of ammunition for them. Like the Chinese AK's NIB for $300.00 and NIB SKS's for $170.00 the price of ammunition is not going to be cheap any longer but it will be available.
 

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To the AK naysayers - it's not always about buying a single do-it-all accurate rifle. I'll admit I wouldn't have an AK47 be my ONLY rifle, but if I already have some decent AR15's or equivalent - why not?

I know I know. On one hand you have the saying that "only accurate rifles are interesting". But on the other hand, variety is the spice of life. As long as it isn't your go-to rifle for long distance shooting, it has its place. The same can be true of pistol caliber carbines or old western lever-action rifles. They are hardly the best tactical option these days, but can still be fun. Not everything is meant to save your life.

Idahou said:
What about vz. 58 instead? AKish look but with additional features
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This was my choice. Love my Vz.58's.
 
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