The reason I like the HK91/G3's is, they are the most versatile as they come and have what I think are the best "combat" iron sights going. Accuracy wise, they will hold there own with all but the match grade M1A's, and even there they arent all that far off. They are readily scoped or red doted with a claw mount and have a sling system most everyone else tries to copy. Everything has something that isnt great, and the HK's are no different, the charging handle being probably the biggest annoyance for most. They can be modified with a winter knob to make them a little easier.
A couple of things on the AK's. With familiarization and use, 99.9% of the complaints go away.( unless of course, you just want to bitch.
) The stock is not to short, and the safety and mag release can be manipulated with your hand still on the grip. The iron sights are really not all that bad, and I actually prefer them for fast, close shooting. They can be a little tedious for longer range precision shooting, but they will still hit what your shooting at if your up to it.
Two things you will most likely want to do right off when you get your rifle is take five minutes with a jewelers file. The safety and mag release are your victims. The mag release is a stamping, and every AK I've owned, and most of the new guns I've handled, have this problem. The edges are sharp from the stamping process and due to this, tend to "grab" the mag at the contact point, making it hard to release the mag. If you lightly "break" the edges of the release, the problem goes away.
The safety also can be stiff and/or feel hard to sweep off. They all have a little, pointy nub that makes the "arc" in the finish on the receiver. This nub usually rests in some sort of detent in the receiver. This can differ from maker to maker and can be more of an issue with some rifles. If you flatten the nub with a file, and sometimes relieve the detent a little at the bottom, where the nub leaves it, so the nub doesnt hold on to it as tight, the safety should smooth right up. I dont recommend bending the safety, it shouldnt be necessary.
Doing those two little things, all my AK's safeties are easily swept off using the middle finger of my hand on the grip (I dont have big hands) if I want it off in a hurry. I can also release the mag the same way using the same finger, and most all my mags will drop free (especially from standing) if I want to do that type of reload.
The bolt hold open thing is also really a non issue. When the AK stops going bang, you reload. How simple is that? Every time you reload, be it an empty mag, or a tactical type reload, you ALWAYS work the charging handle at the end. That way, the rifle is ALWAYS loaded after a mag change. As for speed of doing a change, no, it will never be as quick as an AR in a race, but its really not all that much slower, and I think to much is really made about the speed thing anyway. If the target is close, thats what your pistol is for, if its farther away, I'd be worrying about getting somewhere there was cover first.
Economist,
I still have a decent supply of 7.62x39 I bought when it was cheap. It has gone up a good bit of late, but then again, so has everything. If your going that route, I'd buy as much as you can afford. Personally, I wouldnt waste my money on Federal or any of the American makers stuff. I like Barnaul (Silver and Brown Bears now) the best, as its always been the most consistent of the Russian stuff. The soft points are my favorite. Wolf works, but its quality can vary and I usually get one or two "fail to fires" per case. The last couple of cases of Wolf 154 grain SP's I bought was very good, both in accuracy and reliability. Using open sights from my old SAR, I was getting about fist size groups from a rest at 200 yards with it. If you find a lot of ammo that shoots good in your gun, buy as much as you can and squirrel it away. Shoot everything else for fun.
