md7
Member
One factor that many American shooters overlook regarding the stock length of an AK is that were used to shooting from the traditional American rifleman's stance. (assuming you're right handed,) turned about 30-40 degrees away from the target, left hip pointing down range, so that when you bring up the rifle it's butt nestles in a deep pocket formed by your right shoulder as you reach around to bring your hand forward to the trigger. That position calls for a 14" or so length of pull to push the receiver of the gun forward so you can get your face behind it and to give you a nice long stretch of stock comb to rest your face on.
This is great for target shooting, both informally and in competition. And it's the way most of us were trained to take shots while hunting. It's the most stable way to shoot off-hand. But if you hold an AK that way your face is going to crash onto the back of the receiver's dust cover.
However, if you look at soldiers in dynamic situations, moving around with their guns up, clearing houses, working through active hostile situations, that's not how they shoot. Much more "squared-up." Shoulders face the target. Gun butt is rested on the pectoral muscle, more in your center, rather than deep in the shoulder pocket (because there isn't a deep shoulder pocket when you face the target). Shoulders hunched up, head dropped down/forward, knees bent a little. This is the position that lets you move the gun fast between moving targets, close up. Less stable, but more flexible/dynamic.
If you shoot that way, 14" of stock is a hindrance. Now the gun's way out there. Now an AK fits well. BUT, so does an AR-15/M-4 with it's adjustable stock, which is the primary reason they have those. Accommodating a squared-up dynamic stance (esp. with another inch in there for body armor) means the M-4 is flexible enough to do either job.
So, no Russians aren't hobbits, and no they didn't build 60 million carbines that aren't the right size for adult humans to shoot well. They just aren't set up for shooting the way you probably were taught to do it.
To Sam's point.... I shoot an AR squared up, feet shoulder width, right foot slightly back, knees bent, and leaning forward on the balls of my feet. Not the most comfortable shooting position, but helps you move.
I'm 6'1" and usually use the the third slot back with a standard M4 type stock or 2 slots back with a padded sopmod type stock. An AK stock's length would probably fit this type of shooting well.