AK/AR - Should I buy one now?

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Charlie Martinez

Charlie Martinez

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I have wanted an AK-47 or AR-15 style rifle (probably an AR) for some time and with this new ban threat I'm thinking it's now or never.

My concern is that if the ban passes it will include restrictions, taxes, ammo shortages or some kind of legislation that will prevent even pre-ban owners from shooting these rifles.. I do not want to buy a rifle that is going to end up a useless safe queen or a wall hanger.

My best buddy is ex army and knows how to put AR's together so one of my options is to buy a lower receiver before the ban and gradually put something together. That would at least get me past the hurdle of the lower receiver before the ban. He suggests assembling an AR in 7.62 X 39 but that is another subject matter.

I would appreciate all opinions and advice.
 
The AR will be much less-expensive to buy/build than an AK.

AK's struggle to match accuracy of even the cheapest AR's.

AK triggers are generally horrible compared to quality AR triggers.

X39 AR's are really the bastard of the AR-15 breed. Although somebody will probably be along quickly to defend it. With all the other choices in firearms out there, I wouldn't have an X39 AR myself. For lots of reasons.

If you must have a .30 caliber AR, build a 300 Blackout.
 
I like 30 caliber but it's not a huge concern. My issues with the 300 Blackout is ammo cost. Is this a round that requires reloading for regular shooting?

My buddy has two AR's; practices with the 5.56 (cheap ammo) and keeps the preferred 7.62 X 39 for home defense. He was a tank guy in Vietnam and says he used an SKS whenever he could.
 
300 Blackout is a lot cheaper to shoot if you handload.

How many rounds are you really going to shoot?

Ammoseek lists lots of vendors selling 300 Blackout at about 60 cents per round.

How much does 223 cost?

How much does X39 cost?

Lot of people love the AK. I'm not one of them. I had about a half-dozen of them. Various configurations. Fun at the time. And I learned about the AK. Everything about the AK was crudely executed. The magazines for AK's are good. I'll give them that. Magazine even makes for a fair weapon in its own right if you lose the AK.

As for an X39 AR, you gotta realize that the AR was NOT DESIGNED for the X39 cartridge. Everything about an X39 AR is a modification/improvisation of the original design. Some of them work fine with some ammo and some magazines. I'd ten-times rather have a 300 Blackout than an X39 AR.

If you are one of those guys already sitting on 30 cases of X39 ammo bought ten years ago at $100/per or less, then maybe you want an X39 AR. I'm not one of those guys either.
 
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W.E.G. said:
300 Blackout is a lot cheaper to shoot if you handload.
Click to expand...
Ditto this about the .300 BLK.
In my experience the 7.62x39 is much better suited for hunting deer than the .300 BLK, with the caveat that I usually handload for both. I have had good luck with factory 110 gr black tips in .300 BLK if you can find any, though.
Stick to 10 rd mags for the AR and 7.62x39 should feed fine. Or go the ARAK way as others have.
Even better, build a .350 Legend. Or build all 3.
 
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(big sigh) Throw it on the credit card and buy one of each of the best quality assembled AR and AK variant you can afford, at least a dozen good mags for each and as much ammo as you can afford. And then you've got what you wanted. An outright ban is very unlikely and you live in FLA my lucky friend! But if I was worried, I would not count on assembling a parts gun AR later (unless you get the parts right now). ......... Or ride this one out and wait for the deeply-discounted panic bought weapons to go on sale. The anti-2nd crowd always starts big and will end up with only modest changes to Federal Law...but it could be the serializing of AR-uppers as part of a change.
 
W.E.G. said:
If you are one of those guys already sitting on 30 cases of X39 ammo bought ten years ago at $100/per or less, then maybe you want an X39 AR.
Click to expand...

Although time goes fast anymore, 2019 wasn't ten years ago LOL. Prices and availability went upside down in March 2020. Anyway.. I would recommend going toward AR over AK. Right now AK prices are high and since they aren't modular it's basically you get what you buy. Changing furniture or adding optics is not super easy nor inexpensive if the gun doesn't fit you well. ARs on the other other hand can be easily changed and right now are back to reasonable prices and availability.

As others have noted though they arent going away soon.
 
On the one hand I would say, yeah, if you're gonna buy one or three now would be the time, but I say that just about every election cycle. My thinking is, if you've gotten along ok this long without one, you'll probably do just fine without one, but if you want to start 3-gun or have one of the best defensive firearms available, get an AR now. As far as the AK, great weapon for sure but there is at this point alot less domestic ammo manufacturing support for the x39.
 
The real issue will be high capacity magazines, as in more than a hunting mag of 4 or so. Semiauto rifles have been around a very long time. A good AR needs some 30-round mags to go with it.
 
Neo-Luddite said:
(big sigh) Throw it on the credit card and buy one of each of the best quality assembled AR and AK variant you can afford, at least a dozen good mags for each and as much ammo as you can afford. And then you've got what you wanted. An outright ban is very unlikely and you live in FLA my lucky friend! But if I was worried, I would not count on assembling a parts gun AR later (unless you get the parts right now). ......... Or ride this one out and wait for the deeply-discounted panic bought weapons to go on sale. The anti-2nd crowd always starts big and will end up with only modest changes to Federal Law...but it could be the serializing of AR-uppers as part of a change.
Click to expand...

You just cost me $1000. Odin upper inbound.

There's most likely no ban coming, but AR parts and mags are as cheap and plentiful as they've ever been.

Excellent AR's can be built for $1300. Kiss rifles as low as $550.

Forget about AK's though. They cost more, and are worse in every single way.
 
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