AK47 for Appleseed?

[Wishoot]

I realize that it's not necessarily ideal, but would it be out of line to use an AK47 (with a sporter stock, in other words, an unconverted Saiga) for an Appleseed shoot?

The only 22 I have is a Henry Lever and I really don't feel like investing in a new .22.

 

[alemonkey]

It will work. Not ideal, but no one is going tell you that you shouldn't shoot it. Does it have sling swivel studs?

 

[CraigC]

You're gonna spend more money on ammo to feed the AK than it would cost to buy a cheap .22 rifle. The sights are far from ideal and with the cheap ammo you would want to use, accuracy will probably be an issue.

 

[Greybeard]

If ya gonna run the AK, as others have said, the normal sights may leave you somewhat handicapped. And I would expect some issues with 30-round mags possibly being too long in the prone position (which is 50% of the rounds - and that last row counts double).

A friend took his AK (with 1x red dot) to two clininics last year. No patch, but he had a lot of fun and learned a lot. FWIW, I just took delivery today on 1000 rounds of Wolf 154g soft point from ammoman.com. $249 delivered.

Ya might also take the Henry .22. Anything that holds 10 rounds and that has appeture sights will get you running. Altho about $10 a brick more than the other bulk stuff, I really like the accuracy I get out of what one of the Appleseed Instructors suggested: CCI Standard Veloicity. Dicks often stocks it in our area.

 

[nevermas]

http://www.tech-sights.com/ak.htm

tech sights are available for the AK series rifles, you might find them useful during an Appleseed event.

 

[chris in va]

I used my Saiga conversion for Appleseed. Not ideal.

Mags got in the way for prone shooting, sights are abysmal for accurate hits and 450 rounds of x39 adds up.

I'd recommend a 10/22 with TechSights. If you still want to use the AK, at the very least get a centerline scope mount and red dot.

Can't use the Henry lever action, won't work for mag change drills.

 

[451 Detonics]

You can use the lever gun, just get the tube loaders and they are fast enough with practice.

 

[Wishoot]

This is a tough one. I really want to go to one of the Appleseed shoots soon, but I'm not in a position to buy yet another gun. I may just have to ask a friend if I could borrow one of their .22's.

 

[merlinfire]

If you're gonna use the AK, remember this:

A lot of the exercises call for a mag change. So bring an extra mag. Its not required but I would think it gives the appears of being more "fair" if you use lower cap mags, because I remember even on my .22 with the 25rd mag, I lost count once or twice and put too much ammo in while shooting

 

[Wishoot]

If you're gonna use the AK, remember this:

A lot of the exercises call for a mag change. So bring an extra mag. Its not required but I would think it gives the appears of being more "fair" if you use lower cap mags, because I remember even on my .22 with the 25rd mag, I lost count once or twice and put too much ammo in while shooting

Good point. At this time, my Saiga is unconverted and having hi-cap mags is a big no-no.

 

[Usagi]

You're gonna spend more money on ammo to feed the AK than it would cost to buy a cheap .22 rifle. The sights are far from ideal and with the cheap ammo you would want to use, accuracy will probably be an issue.

This is the most correct answer in the thread. I would add that the AK might not be the ideal platform for the accuracy-based shooting taught at Appleseed. A Marlin 795 outfitted with a sling and tech sights would be ideal.

 

[LKB3rd]

The fundamentals that Appleseed teaches can be learned using an AK, but you'll probably find it a challenge to use those sights for the smallest targets, and I'd do a prone test run and make sure that the magazines don't mess you up.

 

[minutemen1776]

I was stationed next to an AK shooter when I went to Appleseed. He did fairly well using 20-round mags, but he just missed making Rifleman. What stuck in my mind, though, was that one of our instructors remarked that he'd never seen anyone make Rifleman using an AKM-type rifle.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Either of your two rifles will be fine. I've been to two Appleseeds and am going to a third one soon. Each one I've brought something different. You do not need to but new rifle. Also, could shoot one on day 1 and the other on day 2. The goal is to learn the basic marksmanship skills. Don't worry about the test so much. Some of the local ranges where it is held may have rental 22 rifles you can use.

 

[henschman]

You can use the Henry... like with any tube feed, the instructors should let you load an extra round, and then instead of the mag change, just break position, eject the extra round, and continue. You would greatly benefit from a rear aperture sight on it.

I would bring the AK too, even if you don't shoot the whole event with it. If for no other reason than to get a good zero with it (remember to bring a hammer and drift for that front sight and a front sight tool, if you have one), and to see how you do on the AQT with it. If it is your main center fire right now, you should be familiar with how to shoot it "Rifleman style."

The ideal rifle for the course is a mag fed semi auto with click-adjustable aperture sights and a GI web sling, but like the website says, you can bring any safe rifle and we will show you how to be a better shooter with it.

 

[philpost]

I used my AK the first day, and it was a mixed bag; it's good to get familiar with the rifle, especially with target acquisition and mag changes under time pressure, but the .22 I used on the second day let me focus on posture and aim better. On the other hand, the .22 was a loaner and at the time felt unfamiliar to me, so that wasn't ideal either. I ordered 500 rounds of Wolf and a 3-pack of Hungarian 20-round tanker magazines that helped with prone. What made some instructors a little wary is that the bolt doesn't lock open after the last cartridge, so getting the flag in quickly between firing sessions was important.

 

[Wishoot]

Good information guys. I may just have to open my wallet and buy something like a Marlin 795 when they go on sale.

I'm not a big fan of semi auto .22's because every one I've owned has been disappointing. But something inexpensive and sort of reliable would be OK.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Good information guys. I may just have to open my wallet and buy something like a Marlin 795 when they go on sale.

I'm not a big fan of semi auto .22's because every one I've owned has been disappointing. But something inexpensive and sort of reliable would be OK.

For your first one, just bring what you own. You can always take another appleseed down the road. Again, who cares about getting the patch. The real goal is to learn to shoot better. You can easily do that with what you own.

 

[Usagi]

Wishoot

Good information guys. I may just have to open my wallet and buy something like a Marlin 795 when they go on sale.

I'm not a big fan of semi auto .22's because every one I've owned has been disappointing. But something inexpensive and sort of reliable would be OK.

Be aware, as others here have said, that "opening your wallet" and getting a 705, will not cost too much more than just the ammo for the AK.

 

[AdotOdot4]

You could always get on appleseedinfo.org and get in contact with the shoot boss and see if there is a semi 22 you could borrow.

If they offer a full distance portion on Sunday, you could bring the AK and try it out then.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

There are a couple of companies that make .22lr conversions for the AK (to save on ammo costs) but I don't know how accurate they are and the cost of one would put you close to the cost of a basic 10/22.

 

[henschman]

I may just have to open my wallet and buy something like a Marlin 795 when they go on sale.

here you go!

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/PDFs/2011-MFCRebate-Form.pdf

You should be able to find a 795 in the neighborhood of $130 at one of the big box sporting goods stores, so that rebate puts you right at $105. Add some 1.25" swivels, a GI web sling, tech sights/scope, an extra mag, and a bulk pack of .22 LR, and you should be lookin at just a little over 2 bills.

 

[Wishoot]

here you go!

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/PDFs/2011-MFCRebate-Form.pdf

You should be able to find a 795 in the neighborhood of $130 at one of the big box sporting goods stores, so that rebate puts you right at $105. Add some 1.25" swivels, a GI web sling, tech sights/scope, an extra mag, and a bulk pack of .22 LR, and you should be lookin at just a little over 2 bills.

Just missed out on an amazing deal on a 795 at Dunham's. $99 after rebates.

Crap.