AK's undeserved reputation

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TrickyDick

TrickyDick

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I read threads, talk to people and hear silly rhetoric dismissing the AK platforms accuracy. "AK's aren't accurate <removed>" "They're just guns to beat on." "Hunting with an AK? HAHAHA."

Can anyone who actually owns an AK, and uses it properly back me up here and tell these silly neighsayers that the AK platform does everything it was designed for and then some.

I would pick up an AK over an AR any day of the week.
 
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I have both an AR and an AK and I pick my ak every time when I have a hard pressed choice, it's as accurate as I'll ever need it to be, and it just flat out feels more rugged to me
 
Although I trained with and carried an M16A2 in the sand box, I still prefer shooting my AK. It's plenty accurate out to 300 yds, and any farther than that I'd prefer a bolt action anyway.
 
AK-74 all day long. Not accurate, ha! That's funny. Whenever I hear that I know that whoever said it has obviously never really played around with a good 74.

It's completely minute of small pumpkin at 125 yards without even really trying. And I'm talking a whole 30 round mag, fast like. The muzzle brake on the 74 is amazing for keeping it down and on target.

I LOVE mine. And I'd also take my 74 over my AR anyday. It's my "go to" for sure.

P.S. I do like my AR too and mine is very accurate, but the 74 just does it better for me. The difference between the two of them for accuracy out to 125 or so is really minimal.
 
some shoot ar's and wear boots. some shoot ak's and prefer sandals.

to each his own.

i prefer the ar because i like to be able to hit small objects even if they are far away.
 
ARs are definitely more accurate, but my Arsenal AK is more than accurate enough for combat use within a couple hundred yards, which is what these rifles were designed for. They are not target rifles.
 
haven't we had enough ak vs. ar threads?

they both do just fine at what they're intended for and each has an edge in different areas which lends the choice up to the user.
 
I always carried a M249, not an M16A2... (Thank God) But your reference to "boots" and "Sandals" is just plain silly. The AR is by far Overrated, it's a rifle that found its way into the military through politics, not because it was the "Best". The AK was tested in the harshest conditions and earned its place. AR's are the spoiled children of firearms; Praise them, clean them constantly, and baby them; they'll perform great.

The forward assist says it all, I mean, what rifle NEEDS a Forward assist?
 
I've owned a few and they are good enough rifles. Of course You can hunt with them. One can hunt with a musket too.

For a brush gun it's on par with the lever 30-30 but out in open areas it certaily wouldn't be my pick for a hunting rifle. Stock sights are crude and the system isn't uber accurate. I feel it's a 100-150yrd gun.
 
Both, both, a million times both. Did I mention I really like both. Pros and cons aside you really should not have one without the other.
 
They shouldnt really even be compared to eachother, its like comparing a 1911 and a glock
 
AKs are good for zonking members of the Sus genus.

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Wife likes the genuine AKS-56-2 for makin' inedible bacon.:cool:

That being said, in this house, AKs are mostly toys since a properly configured AR is superior for pretty much every use.
 
I would agree that the AK's accuracy is often underestimated. Is a typical AK as accurate as a typical AR? Of course not, but any decent rifleman should be able to keep all shots on a pie plate at 100 yards with crappy surplus ammo out of either platform. Now, I'll admit to being a poor shot with an AK, as the stock to sight relationship just isn't right for my long lanky neck. AR ergos just flat work better for me, but YMMV, and I still have a ton of respect for the AK platform.

OTH, I'd say the AR's reliability potential is also underestimated. If you had as many poor quality magazines floating around for AKs as ARs, you'd probably see a lot more AK crap outs than you do. As for the legend of the AR jamming because it "craps where it eats", I fired (and cleaned) filthy surplus ammo out of ARs, SKSs and AKs and honestly they were all just about equally turded up inside. Most of the crap in the action spews right out of the case into the works on any of these platforms anyway.

AKs, like Glocks and anything else assembled by imperfect beings, can fail. In one of the more bizarre experiences I've had at a range outing with my extended family, 5 us of were on the line firing an AR, an SKS, two AK-74s and a Marlin Model 60. Suddenly, within about 2 seconds the range fell silent. All 5 guns experienced a crap out at nearly the exact same moment, and all took more than a few seconds to remedy (and interestinly, one of the AK jams eventually resulted in the only true, honest to goodness Accidental Discharge I've ever seen). How many times do you think that has ever happened? :eek:
 
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why do i never see threads by "ar fanboys" justifying their preference?

are ak's accurate enough for you?,,,,,,,, obviously.
are ak's accurate enough for me?,,,,,,,,,,lol,,,, no.
 
I think the problem here is definition.

It's completely minute of small pumpkin at 125 yards
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That is good enough for a battle implement, but around the guys I shoot with it's pitiful and would not be considered accurate at all. And I'm not talking the benchrest shooters, just normal everyday serious shooters and hunters.

Now minute of walnut at 125 yards, that's pretty decent.
 
FlyinBryan said:
why do i never see threads by "ar fanboys" justifying their preference?
Click to expand...

I chalk it up to the frequency with which the incredibly virulent "AKs are Unstoppable Killing Machines" meme intersects with people who define themselves by their possessions.


See also, "Lifestyle Brand"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifestyle_brand

A lifestyle brand aims to sell product by convincing potential customers that this identity will be reinforced or supplemented if they publicly associate themselves with the brand.
Click to expand...
 
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I'm a die hard AR guy but I think the AK is one of the best of all time combat rifles. They get poor reputation for accuracy because of three reasons. Poor quality rifles, cheap ammo and iron sights that aren't terribly accurate. A good AK is plenty accurate for its intended purpose. They are very reliable and the round works well within its range.
 
I actually went out and purchased an AK and AR in 556,545 and 762x39. took a buddy who is a die hard AR guy to the range. Weshot both sets of rifles using identical ammo and you could not tell the difference in the groups that either of us shot. We shot both platforms side by side in the same caliber. He was stunned that he shot the AK as well as his beloved AR at 100yds. At 200yds he was better with the AR's then the AK's but I shot just as well as he did using my AK's but that was more shooter familiarity at that point. We used iron sights so that took optics out of the equation. The problem I have with most AR guys is they want to compare the accuracy of the 556 to the 762x39 at longer ranges, which is just plain silly. Pick any rifle platform and the 556 will be more accurate at long range.
 
Pick any rifle platform and the 556 will be more accurate at long range.
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its not the round. its the rifle.

a 7.62x39 ar will be more accurate than an ak. that is just the way it is.
 
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