AR-15 vs SKS Poll

[Shrinkmd]

If you could only have one SHTF rifle, with enough ammo to last, and a reasonable amount of cleaning supplies, would you rather have a nice, shiny new AR-15 or an unissued new SKS, probably a Yugo since they're on the market right now. This assumes it may be the last rifle you ever own!

Please consider durability, reliability, accuracy, firepower (fixed 10 rnd SKS vs the AR), weight, etc. Leave out the pricetag for now.

 

[cslinger]

I do believe the SKS is the more robust rifle but that is really it's only benefit over a good AR15.

For any kind of civillian TSHTF that most of us would ever experience the AR15 would be just about perfect. Light, handy, very accurate, forgiving to the shooter, large capacity, cheap light ammo etc.

Even if you are talking about a TEOTWAWKI fantasy then should you survive your first firefight you will have other guns to choose from should your AR break later etc.

The fact is though any half decent rifle should be just fine for any real SD scenario. Heck even with looters running rampent or mobs a scoped '06 would probably be more then enough. Sure I would feel better with 30 rounds on tap but me thinks a lever gun or bolty would do fine too.

Just my two cents.

 

[No_Brakes23]

Well I live in Cali, so Lockyer and Feinstein already decided that one for me.

If I lived elsewhere, I would buy an AR. User-friendliness and higher capacity trump the otherwise excellent Simonov. Besides, my Yugo looks kinda goofy with a 3 point sling on it.

me thinks a lever gun or bolty would do fine too.

Yeah. They will definitely be better than nothing, and dead looters don't care that you only have 7 rounds of .30-30 or 4 rounds of '06 left versus 9 rounds of x39 or 20-some rounds of 5.56.

 

[browningguy]

Since cost doesn't matter in this poll I picked AR. I really have a KelTec SU16 (and an AR in .50 Beowulf), but I also have an SKS, and for most people money does matter. 5 mint, or 8 shooter grade SKS's for the price of a mid range AR. Or make it 2 Mint SKS's and 5,000 rounds of ammo to practice, that's a tradeoff to think about.

 

[MaceWindu]

The only thing that polls are good for is fishin....

MaceWindu

 

[Warner]

I voted SKS.

I'd take almost anything over an AR and it's questionable caliber, even a bolt gun.

W

 

[Lonestar.45]

I haven't had much experience with AR's, and don't own one, but I know I'd be happy with my SKS(s) in just about any SHTF situation.

 

[Mulliga]

I've owned both. AR is lighter, smaller, uses common ammo (at least here in the US), common mags, fairly common parts, etc. SKS will be tougher but the 10 round fixed mag is a serious problem if we're really talking about an end of the world situation IMHO. Think about it this way - no one who can use an AK uses an SKS.

 

[jefnvk]

AR, no doubt.

Much more realistically, I would probably go for the 870.

 

[beerslurpy]

That is the oddest choice I've ever seen. Most people choose between the AKs and the ARs. The SKS might be seen as an alternative to a Garand or a lever gun.

I think whatever rifle you practice with regularly should be your SHTF gun. You want to free as much of your mind as possible for dealing with the problems at hand, rather than expending effort to familiarize yourself with a new gun.

I personally favor the AK because it has tons of extra reliability, which I think will be the commodity in shortest supply during SHTF. A well built AR with tested reliable ammo and mags would be just as good.

Contrary to popular belief, not all AK mags are compatible with all AKs. My Bulgarian cant take romanian and polish mags, but fits russian bulgarian and chinese very well. So using your gun a lot to ensure that all the parts are reliable together is important no matter what gun you settle on.

 

[Shrinkmd]

Clarification

In weird NJ, we are allowed to have post ban AR-15, and we can have SKS with non detachable magazine (yugo grenade launcher and bayonet are fine) but we can't have any type of AK, far as I know. If I'm wrong someone please tell me! That is why it is AR vs SKS...

 

[beerslurpy]

I thought NJ did everything by way of "substantially similar" which means as long as the gun doesnt have the "evil features" it is OK. There was a case about the XM15 and whether it was an AR15. I think CA had a similar case about whether the Saiga was an AK since it wasnt on the evil guns list.

I'm not an expert on NJ firearms law though.

 

[vanfunk]

Nothin' wrong with an SKS, but I'd take my AR. For me, the AR is a simple platform, easy to work on and repair, easy to maintain and keep clean (yes, there, I said it - easy to clean!), durable and accurate.

vanfunk

 

[TrafficMan]

I think CA had a similar case about whether the Saiga was an AK since it wasnt on the evil guns list.

yes. there was a time that the Saiga was legal in CA, primarily because it lacked a pistol grip....however our brilliant law makers outlawed everything associated with a Kalashnikov action. I remember I was thinking about getting a SAIGA, but I was poor and it was outlawed before I actually had the funds to do so. Ho-Hum.

SKS for me.

 

[1911JMB]

How about neither. I'd take a Fal.

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

The AR-15 for me

Why? If you have to ask you been under a rock...

 

[Onslaught]

I voted for the AR over the SKS, and in my house the AR is the SHTF rifle.

HOWEVER, (even though you didn't ask) if you don't like the platform, or the caliber, or the look etc. of the AR then I would rather have an AK over an SKS for that same purpose.

I'm just not personally fond of the SKS, but it's just a personal thing. If you like 'em, buy 4, they're cheap

 

[No_Brakes23]

there was a time that the Saiga was legal in CA, primarily because it lacked a pistol grip....however our brilliant law makers outlawed everything associated with a Kalashnikov action. I remember I was thinking about getting a SAIGA, but I was poor and it was outlawed before I actually had the funds to do so.

Same here. My dad got one when they were legal, and after he put a pad on it to extend the LOP, it started shooting like a dream. Totally changed my opinion of AKs. Made me extra sad that I didn't scrounge up the money to buy one.

Here in Cali the choice is not AR versus SKS, it is SKS versus SU-16CA versus Garand versus BigMoneyM1A.

 

[beerslurpy]

Yeah, I have nothing but love for the SU16CA. I might even go so far as to recommend it for NJ use as well, due to the reliability of the design.

 

[Daemon688]

I really don't think these two rifles should be in the same category for comparison. It would be more appropriate to have an AK clone of some sort.

 

[Stauble]

i voted sks
in a real SHTF senerio i dont visualize myself takin out time to clean the gun, and most would agree that a dirty AR will most likely jam, wile and SKS can take much more abuse and neglect.
i like the bayonet, and possibily of launcing grenades (assuming i can get hold of the adapter, cartridge, and grendae )

 

[jefnvk]

most would agree that a dirty AR will most likely jam

Cleaned my AR action for the first time since I got it about 6 months ago the other day, never had any issues. Only upkeep in that time was a boresnake after every range trip.

 

[cslinger]

Now all things considered I am more of an oprod AK/550/M14 kind of guy but as far as a modern AR15 goes most will function just fine with a modicum of care. There are many many reports of AKs jamming when poorly taken care of over in that hellhole of a sandy environment. That type of sand is hell on any man made machine be it firearm, helicopter, tank, AK, M1 Garand or AR.

Chris

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

Stauble,

Your chosen SHTF, rifle only needs to get you through,'First Contact", with an opposing force(b/g), once he is no longer a threat you got what the GI's call a good ol','Battlefield Pick Up". My AR-15 has fired 650 rounds out of a case of 1000 laquered cased Wolf ammo,with no cleaning just to prove to myself the reliablity of the design. Wolf ammo mind you, arguably the dirtiest, nastiest, smelliest ammo on the market, and I only had two ammo related failures...YMMV, but don't try to use the red herring of AR's,"Jamming", if not kept ,"surgically clean"...

Do you even own an AR? I ask because annecdotal and second hand evidence, from suspect sources(error-net), will not cut it against real world results an experience...

PS-What kind of SHTF do you see where you have to carry and fire more than 650 rounds without time to clean your weapon ....

 

[Gunnutz13]

I gotta M1 Garand & a M4 AR15...

either one will do the job...nuff said...