MTMilitiaman
Member
Again, not applicable to this discussion, because, if you've paid attention at all to this point, no one is advocating FMJ in any caliber for personal defense. Yes, I've seen a FMJ from an AK penetrate 16 inches of pine with enough remaining energy to be lethal on the other side. Yes, I've shot my AK through cinder blocks and concrete. And none of that matters. That picture that EVCMatt posted was originally took and posted here and on several other forums by me after some testing I did with some old black box Wolf through the Romanian AK I keep next to my bed for home defense. Believe it or not, some of us have done some testing and do take this stuff seriously enough to make the necessary considerations. And the AK is fine when properly loaded. That means not FMJs. Believe it or not, some defensive loads for the AK are more likely to suffer from under penetration--that Vmax round, for example, in everything posted on the Internet, looks to achieve the bare minimum amount of penetration necessary for defensive use. I intentionally avoided that load in favor of something that achieved a little more penetration, while still reliably expanding and fragmenting. Thats why I rock the Military Classic 124 gr JHP load from Wolf. That 14 to 16 inches of penetration is better suited to defensive use than the 10 to 12 inches I've typically seen displayed from the Vmax load, and yes, the uber-penetration of the FMJ.
And I don't see where the confusion lies. To me, it doesn't matter. Whether it is a Marine in Iraq, a SWAT officer in LA, or lil ol me in a rural American city of ~100,000--combat is combat. I've had SAWs and M16s going off around me indoors. It isn't fun. But compared to the headache and ringing ears, having the most effective tool for the job is a big comfort when unknown harm lies on the other side of a door. If bullets are passing each other in opposite directions, it's combat to me, and it doesn't even matter if any of the involved parties have a badge or uniform. All that matters to me is having the most effective tool for the job. Right now, nothing else in my inventory can match the amount of firepower the AK brings to bear in such a compact package, nor can anything else I own, to include my shotgun, offer the hit percentage and accuracy under duress that the AK does. I hit faster and more consistently with it (esp with the reflex sight on it). It has 30 rounds of an effective round that displays an acceptable amount of penetration and deformation for defensive use.
The court scene is a concern to anyone who has to defend themselves with a firearm. An AK will bring more scrutiny down on you. But if your shooting was legal, it was legal, and weapon choice has no bearing here. And at any rate, a good many of us would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. I am willing to assume to OP has considered this and decided that, like me, the risks are worth the reward. I have neighbors around me, and numerous roommates, none of which I'd like to see shot. This is not only an equipment issue (more ammunition selection than caliber or platform), but also a tactics issue. I am not clearing my entire house. I am posting up at a pre-determined tactically advantagous position that allows me to cover both entrances, as well as my room, the kitchen, and the entry way. And all my defensive firearms are equipped with a white light, which I have practiced in the dark with, to aid in target identification. The risk of collateral damage is always present when firing in an urban setting, but I have taken steps to minimize this risk while still acheiving the level of effectiveness I want. I have to assume the OP has again, considered his choices and his tactics, and simply wants to know what the best defensive ammunition available for the AK is. Regardless of whether you want to admit it or not, such defensively applicable ammunition does exist, and the AK is an awesome CQB platform when loaded with such ammunition. It may not be on the Magpul catolog, but it works very well...
That's weird. All the tens of thousands of rounds of 12 gauge I've put through various Rem 870s (including my own), 1100/11-87s, and Benelli M1s have all led me to the singular conclussion that the shotgun is the most overrated defensive weapon available. In fact, the only thing a shotgun does better than a rifle, save for things that don't concern me (like breaching or bean bags), is shoot birds out of the air. For everything else, I'll take a rifle.
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