What should I get, AR-15 or AK-47?

Folding stock eliminates ar I'd go 12 gauge though

At the end of the day, or the month, or the year, or however much time you give yourself for research and opinin', you will probably choose what you want to choose.

They are both excellent systems and you cannot make a wrong choice. They are both reasonably accurate and reasonably reliable regardless of what you may read. Nutnfancy has a good basic overview of the platforms.

Carefully combing through THR will net you hundreds of articles with differing opinions to hellp you make the choice for you bases on the type of fun you want from the gun. I went AR, but AK is on my list after a Carl Gustaf and a MAS.

Have fun shopping.

Personally, I would agree with memphisjim. If there was a possibility of bears, I wouldn't really feel good about flinging 22 caliber pills at one. I think a 12 ga would be your best bet. You can get all kinds of stocks for them. You can get rounds that would drop anything from a tweety bird to an elephant. My 2 cents would be to get a good shotgun and get familiar with it. If you absolutely HAD to have a AR or AK, I would go for the AK. If you get one with a mag wobble issue, all you gotta do is put it on a sling loose enough that it bangs into you as you walk. Problem solved! The noise of the mag wobbling in the magwell will scare eveything off! Kidding aside, I would just feel better having a full mag of 30 cal softpoints.

If bears are on your short list of predators that you may encounter, I would definitely take the 7.62x39 AK over the .223 AR.

The availability of harder hitting, heavier bullets in the 7.62x39 will be beneficial if you ever have to engage bears.

At 100-150 yards the AK is capable of 1-3" accuracy. More than enough for any four legged predators.

go with the ak.

Kingkeoni is exaggerating a bit. The AK is generally a 4-4.5 MOA gun. So at 150 yards that is generally 4-6.5 inch groups. Which is still perfectly fine for shooting a bear or whatnot at those distances. If you just like the AK but want more accuracy, the AK74 is a bit more accurate than the 47. Generally 2-2.5 MOA. The recoil is less so follow up shots can be faster. And for plinking rounds, surplus ammo can be had for $139 per 1080 rounds.

I am not saying an AK isn't capable of 1-3 inch groups at those distances but they won't unless you've had some work done to improve accuracy.

I have printed 1 to 1.5 inch groups with a plain saiga 7.62x39 but it was with much better ammo with Hornady bullets than the 4 MOA variety often seen from Russia with steel cases and not so perfect bullets.

The 308 saigas seem to shoot this well also with better ammo.

However, the 4 MOA AK concept probably has most to do with shooting cheap ammo fast so the barrel warms up and the groups widen fast.

Pump 12ga would be my first choice. Second a .308. Either a Saiga or a DPMS LR308. The DPMS can be found at some Walmarts for <$900. The Saiga would have to be converted to add a folding stock.

I kind of want something that has a folding stock, as it will make a smaller profile.
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I would go with an AK-47 folder. Carry around some 7.62X39mm 154gr. SP's.
Or, yes I would also suggest a .12 ga. shotgun as well.

If bears are a legitimate concern, I too would go with a 12 gauge pump over either rifle.
Between the AK and AR, its going to entirely up to you. Both are great platforms. I went the AR route because after I weighed all the pros and cons the AR seemed to be a better fit. I like how it breaks down for cleaning, I like the ergos, and I like that the smaller round means I can carry more ammo with less fatigue.
Please keep in mind that I live in an area with no bears. .223 is more than enough for anything I might run across. My AR sees the most duty slung across the seat of my jeep when I'm tootling around my uncle's hunting property for repelling coyotes. I don't hunt and I'm just there for the mud My AR is not set up as a hunting rifle.

That said I certainly wouldn't mind an AK in it's place if that was all I had.
You really can't go wrong with either if you get a good one

If you just want a military style rifle get the AR-15. More accurate, better ergos, fun to shoot, and more options to customize. Then get the 12 gauge pump for walks around the ranch.

I would say ar 15 with 458 barrel...that will take care of a bear..little overkill. For anything else but hey its your life....or an ar 10 platform with 308

TheGewehrGuy said:

Hunting, self-defense, predator defense, plinking, target shooting (probably not so much), and in general SHTF situations.

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I would suggest that if you intend to use this as self defense. SHTF and hunting purposes you re-evaluate the importance you place on target shooting. Unless of course you are already an expert marksman... there are plenty... My brother can pick up a gun after not shooting for months and be dead on... I need to train.

Other than that either gun will work. I prefer the AR because a) it has military significance to ME and b) optics and sight solutions are more versatile and if this is going to be the same gun you shoot a coyote at 300-400 yards with AND use to defend you and your family in your home you may want to be able to change up the configuration.

But again, either gun will shoot just fine.

Many Russians hunt Brown or Grizzly bear with a double barrel 12 gage and they are DRT; check youtube. Would probably be your best option for your scenario. Not much fun unless you are into scatter guns an slugs. But at least you are covered depending on ammo choice for everything from birds to whatever?

The 7.62x39 154gr SP is an awesome round IMO but do to rainbow trajectory it is problematic past 150 yards out of my weapons. AK, SKS, AR.

The AR has many things going for it, but a sneaky bear on top of you before you know it with only one quick shot is not something I want to experience unless the one shot can remove important pieces of the charging body?.

AR or AK will handle most stuff if range and shot placement are appropriate for the critter but you start throwing in bears my confidence factor goes way down, unless I can get off several well place shots, and even then a Grizz or Brown I would rather observe from afar and call in arty or air support if all I have is the AK or AR in 223 or 7.62x39. I feel like I am to old to be mauled with malice!

I have both the ar-15(Bushmaster) and the ak(wasr-10) and if I find myself in a situation that calls for putting down an animal as large as a mountain lion or any kind of bear I would go with the ak with a 30 round mag full of 154 gr soft points, with a second mag filled with the same. You can never have too much ammo when your life is on the line. As for the ar, they do make 77gr hollow point ammo but I am unsure of how well that stops large to very large predators.

What do I usually carry on the homestead? Marlin 336 or Mossberg pump shotgun. Both can be had for cheaper than either of your choices and both use more appropriate ammo. .30-30 has about the same punch and ballistics of the ak's 7.62x39 but can be had in heavier bullets for taking bear, moose, or deer. The .30-30 has been killing larger game for more than 100 years if I am remembering right and will continue to do so for 100 years more if they keep making ammo and rifles chambered in it!

If you are talking about brown bears, neither. Get a Remington 870 and load it with slugs for outdoor use.

AK74. Best of both worlds. You get good ammo prices, and good accuracy too

Split the difference. Get a Mini 14.

Keltec KSG. Slugs and 00 buck.

14.5" AR15 in 5.56 or 6.8spc.

If you could find a KSG, that'd be great

Since you can't why not a saiga 12? AK in 12 gauge. Perfect for what you want.

For what you say you are doing, I advocate the Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle. To me, it's the perfect all around rifle. I have ARs and had an AK, but if I could only have one rifle, it would be the Ruger. Their marketing campaign is right on the mark. The size of the gun is perfect too.

11 rounds of .308 with the durability and accuracy of a bolt action. I get 1MOA all day long with surplus .308. I really like this gun.

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