CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Not to mention that whatever is wrong with that "cheap AR" can be fixed in minutes with basic tools.
In the context of a fighting rifle, I'm baffled that we even have to have this discussion in 2021. The SKS was deemed obsolete by the people who invented it decades ago. They are long, heavy and purely a relic of the time they come from. Their whole appeal in the US revolved around the fact that they were cheap and used cheap surplus ammo. While the AR platform might not technically be but a few years newer, it has certainly evolved with the times. The platform has become highly modular and the design has been very easy to update as needs and tactics evolve. As a modern day defensive weapon, the SKS can't compete.
The AK, on the other hand, has seen some attempts to modernize it. The platform just isn't very conducive to it. There are basic design hurdles that cannot be overcome. The reciprocating charging handle on the right side, mags that don't drop free and must be physically removed before they are replaced, mediocre sights, an awkward safety and limited attachments are issues that must basically be trained around. If you took two equally skilled 3-gun shooters, one with an AR and one with the most advanced AK, the AR shooter is going to run circles around the AK shooter.
In the context of a fighting rifle, I'm baffled that we even have to have this discussion in 2021. The SKS was deemed obsolete by the people who invented it decades ago. They are long, heavy and purely a relic of the time they come from. Their whole appeal in the US revolved around the fact that they were cheap and used cheap surplus ammo. While the AR platform might not technically be but a few years newer, it has certainly evolved with the times. The platform has become highly modular and the design has been very easy to update as needs and tactics evolve. As a modern day defensive weapon, the SKS can't compete.
The AK, on the other hand, has seen some attempts to modernize it. The platform just isn't very conducive to it. There are basic design hurdles that cannot be overcome. The reciprocating charging handle on the right side, mags that don't drop free and must be physically removed before they are replaced, mediocre sights, an awkward safety and limited attachments are issues that must basically be trained around. If you took two equally skilled 3-gun shooters, one with an AR and one with the most advanced AK, the AR shooter is going to run circles around the AK shooter.