AR vs AK vs SKS
- Thread starter Angio333
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TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
With the possibility, though I personally think it's remote, of another ban coming I'd get one of the ones that would come under that, so either of the mag feds.
And stock up on magazines.
And stock up on magazines.
Still 2 Many Choices!?
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Hands down the AR!
Domestic made ammo is cheaper for the AR, and since it is a domestic firearm, less worry about ammo import bans cutting off your shooting stock. Plus the AR is more accurate, and more easily configured to whatever you might want it for. I got an AR first, then an AK , then another AR in that order, and you too will probably end up with both an AK and an AR, or all three
!
Domestic made ammo is cheaper for the AR, and since it is a domestic firearm, less worry about ammo import bans cutting off your shooting stock. Plus the AR is more accurate, and more easily configured to whatever you might want it for. I got an AR first, then an AK , then another AR in that order, and you too will probably end up with both an AK and an AR, or all three
!No_Brakes23
Member
With that much to spend, get the AR. Don't get me wrong, I love the AK, and if you only had $300-$600, I would suggest that. The SKS is a good rifle, but I think it is better as a curio/milsurp for folks in free states.
When I bought my Yugo M59 in California, it didn't see a whole lot of range time because very few ranges allow the steel cased ammo, and the brass stuff isn't cheap. I shot more rounds at Jacumba, (BLM shooting area,) than all the range trips put together.
But any of the three would be a decent SHTF rifle, the SKS being the cheapest and most reliable, and the AR having the most modularity and accuracy.
When I bought my Yugo M59 in California, it didn't see a whole lot of range time because very few ranges allow the steel cased ammo, and the brass stuff isn't cheap. I shot more rounds at Jacumba, (BLM shooting area,) than all the range trips put together.
But any of the three would be a decent SHTF rifle, the SKS being the cheapest and most reliable, and the AR having the most modularity and accuracy.
id go for a really nice ak a lot of mags and ammo maybe a scope
you can get a decent ar for that price but certainly nothing speacil
the sks just cant compare to the other two in my opinion...i own one and love it but when the hordes come storming i will turn to my ak
why not consider getting a fal?
you can get a decent ar for that price but certainly nothing speacil
the sks just cant compare to the other two in my opinion...i own one and love it but when the hordes come storming i will turn to my ak
why not consider getting a fal?
1911 guy
Member
Go with the AR.
You can get a lot of AR for your money if you do it smart. Buy the lower you want from a reputable manufacturer (stock configuration and trigger group) then add the upper of your choice. You'll be able to get exactly what you want, spread the cost out since it's two purchases and also avoid the tax on a completed firearm.
You can get a lot of AR for your money if you do it smart. Buy the lower you want from a reputable manufacturer (stock configuration and trigger group) then add the upper of your choice. You'll be able to get exactly what you want, spread the cost out since it's two purchases and also avoid the tax on a completed firearm.
countryrebel
Member
Ar's are nice but for $750 your going to be pretty much tapped out on money to equip it, mag's and ammo.Maybe an ak for half that price or less with plenty left over for ammo and other things.I have both so I can tell you from your money standpoint I would lean toward the ak IMHO.
madmike
Member
Cheaper isn't better.
The AK excels in durability for peasants too stupid to clean and maintain it.
The AR excels at everything else.
Decide which works best for you, and buy it based on what it does, not on the price.
I'd take 1 AR over 2 AKs, but that's me.
You can build an AR from $550 up with good parts by shopping around, and a bit cheaper slightly used.
The SKS isn't in the same league, though it is cheap and reliable.
Ultimately, of course, you should have all three.
I can already see the mods cringing, because this thread IS going to turn into "The AX is a piece of crap!" "No, it's not!" in about 5 posts.
The AK excels in durability for peasants too stupid to clean and maintain it.
The AR excels at everything else.
Decide which works best for you, and buy it based on what it does, not on the price.
I'd take 1 AR over 2 AKs, but that's me.
You can build an AR from $550 up with good parts by shopping around, and a bit cheaper slightly used.
The SKS isn't in the same league, though it is cheap and reliable.
Ultimately, of course, you should have all three.
I can already see the mods cringing, because this thread IS going to turn into "The AX is a piece of crap!" "No, it's not!" in about 5 posts.
Mikee Loxxer
Member
I chose SKS because you did not elaborate on which AK would be in the running. Any SKS you get will be well built and not a cheaply and carelessly assembled parts gun. The SKS is very well built and reliable. Some AK’s are great but many are not.
The AR would be ta great choice is but is not really the same animal as a Simonov or a Kalashnikov. It is more of a riflemans rifle than the other two which are 100 yard bullet spitters. It is also in a very different price range.
The AR would be ta great choice is but is not really the same animal as a Simonov or a Kalashnikov. It is more of a riflemans rifle than the other two which are 100 yard bullet spitters. It is also in a very different price range.
romma
Member
AR all the way for me...
The Deer Hunter
Member
plinking ant SHTF, an AK would probably be the cheapest way out, although an AR would also be fitting.
Like others were saying an SKS will most likely still be legal if another "assault" weapons ban were inacted. They got a fixed mag, no people killing pistol grip, theres wood on it(because 9 times out of 10 plastic kills more people), theres no bayo lug because its attatched.
Like others were saying an SKS will most likely still be legal if another "assault" weapons ban were inacted. They got a fixed mag, no people killing pistol grip, theres wood on it(because 9 times out of 10 plastic kills more people), theres no bayo lug because its attatched.
I prefer the AR, but I answered AK because you've got to take into consideration ammo and magazine costs. $750 will get you any of the above, sure, but if this is likely to be all the money you've got for a while, that rifle will be useless without ammo and mags.
$750 will get you a $350 - $400 AK, a half dozen mags, and 1k rounds of ammo with no problem. That's the route I'd go. I don't like the AK and would prefer an SKS with a detachable mag, but those detachable mags are much more expensive so...
$750 will get you a $350 - $400 AK, a half dozen mags, and 1k rounds of ammo with no problem. That's the route I'd go. I don't like the AK and would prefer an SKS with a detachable mag, but those detachable mags are much more expensive so...
Kaylee
Member
Another vote for the AR. I've had (have actually) representative samples of both on hand, and if my life depending on picking up a rifle, it'd be my AR every single time. I don't doubt that you can get approximately equal performance from an AK in the same price range as the AR, especially if you use the scope rail on the side with a telescopic sight or a red dot.
That said, for reasons of versatility (maybe a ODCMP match?), common ammunition (at least when we're not fighting a war and a goodly amount of the stuff is sent overseas, ergonomics, and last but least more of a"good guy" image if for some reason you have to carry it around in Katrina-like situation. To those not a part of the gun culture "carrying an AK" translates pretty immediately to "must be a bad guy."
As to the money issue, you can get a few $10 mags mail order, and more ammunition as you can afford it.
That said, for reasons of versatility (maybe a ODCMP match?), common ammunition (at least when we're not fighting a war and a goodly amount of the stuff is sent overseas, ergonomics, and last but least more of a"good guy" image if for some reason you have to carry it around in Katrina-like situation. To those not a part of the gun culture "carrying an AK" translates pretty immediately to "must be a bad guy."
As to the money issue, you can get a few $10 mags mail order, and more ammunition as you can afford it.
dasmi
Member
How about two AKs?
Two is one, one is none, and all that jazz.
Or, how about three or four SKS's?
Two is one, one is none, and all that jazz.
Or, how about three or four SKS's?
Matt Dillon
Member
I think if I were you, I'd think about getting an SKS AND an AK - both use the same round, and this round is good out to 2-300 meters - both reliable and a lot of fun!
Hokkmike
Member
AK - style - A
AR - style - B
AK - reliability - A
AR - reliability - B
AK - accuracy - C
AR - accuracy - A
AK - price - A
AR - price - B
AK - overall quality - C
AR - overall quality - B+
AK - 7.62 X 39 good
AR - 223/5.56 almost good
Let's see, what else is there???
AR - style - B
AK - reliability - A
AR - reliability - B
AK - accuracy - C
AR - accuracy - A
AK - price - A
AR - price - B
AK - overall quality - C
AR - overall quality - B+
AK - 7.62 X 39 good
AR - 223/5.56 almost good
Let's see, what else is there???
JMusic
member
I voted SKS, though I own all three. Hands down the AR is the best shooter and has the longest range. When I first started collecting my own Mil Surps I started with an M1 carbine Rockola. Loved the gun but the ranges were like a 22 rifle. Traded it for a Government A2 from Colt. My SKS though for 69 bucks is hard to beat. Decent accuracey and has better penetration than the A2. The AK's I have a hard time warming to for some reason. Firepower wise it is probably the best gun within 175 yards, past that the A2 is in a class by itself.
SeNNebogen
Member
Or you could just split the difference and get a Sig 556. I'm quite happy with an AK myself.
texas bulldog
Member
i'll go ahead and stick my neck out there for the minority position that you get an SKS. i will not debate the obvious merits of the AR or [quality] AK. madmike was right to say the SKS isn't in the same league [in some ways].
essentially my reasoning is that you could probably pick up an SKS for $150. with the extra $600, you could buy about 4,000 rounds of ammunition, which will be highly useful in your SHTF scenario and will give you plenty of plinking supply. or you could go with 3,000 rounds, and spend the extra $150 or so on a replacement stock and a rear peep sight [aside: my one complaint with the SKS was the sight picture. the TechSight aperture sight i recently installed made a world of difference].
the SKS is also even more durable and reliable than most AKs, IMHO. and while the AR is a clearly superior weapon, $750 might not get you enough of what you want and will leave nothing left for ammo/accesories.
no detachable mag on the SKS, which could be seen as a positive or negative. i actually find stripper clips to be just as easy or even easier to load than detachable, but i've practiced plenty. the drawback, of course, is that you can't cram 30 rounds in there without some $$ spent on modifications.
anyway...these were my reasons for picking up the SKS. in fact, it was my first ever firearm. i still think i'll build an AR in the future, and maybe i need to get on it soon considering the political climate. but i am still comfortable with the choice to get the SKS first. you just can't beat the price.
essentially my reasoning is that you could probably pick up an SKS for $150. with the extra $600, you could buy about 4,000 rounds of ammunition, which will be highly useful in your SHTF scenario and will give you plenty of plinking supply. or you could go with 3,000 rounds, and spend the extra $150 or so on a replacement stock and a rear peep sight [aside: my one complaint with the SKS was the sight picture. the TechSight aperture sight i recently installed made a world of difference].
the SKS is also even more durable and reliable than most AKs, IMHO. and while the AR is a clearly superior weapon, $750 might not get you enough of what you want and will leave nothing left for ammo/accesories.
no detachable mag on the SKS, which could be seen as a positive or negative. i actually find stripper clips to be just as easy or even easier to load than detachable, but i've practiced plenty. the drawback, of course, is that you can't cram 30 rounds in there without some $$ spent on modifications.
anyway...these were my reasons for picking up the SKS. in fact, it was my first ever firearm. i still think i'll build an AR in the future, and maybe i need to get on it soon considering the political climate. but i am still comfortable with the choice to get the SKS first. you just can't beat the price.
DMK
Member
I have SKSes, an AK and a few ARs. Tons of mags and ammo for each. Lots of rounds through each. All are easy to work on. No problems at all with any of them. Lots of fun.
I greatly prefer the ARs. They are much more accurate, have better sights, are easy to shoot, and the modularity makes them highly customizable.
Save your pennies, buy a good quality complete lower. Same some more pennies, buy a good quality complete upper. Assemble. Even better, build one completely from parts.
Buy lots of USGI mags and ammo.
You can't go wrong with any of them, but ARs are much easier to shoot accurately.
I greatly prefer the ARs. They are much more accurate, have better sights, are easy to shoot, and the modularity makes them highly customizable.
Save your pennies, buy a good quality complete lower. Same some more pennies, buy a good quality complete upper. Assemble. Even better, build one completely from parts.
Buy lots of USGI mags and ammo.
You can't go wrong with any of them, but ARs are much easier to shoot accurately.
jklinstein
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- Mar 28, 2006
- Messages
- 75
For plinking I can't see spending $750 on a rifle. For that get an $150 SKS, add a Tech-Sight (~$50), and spend the rest on ammunition.
For target shooting you'd probably be most pleased with an AR. You can get a kit and assemble the lower yourself, and stay under $750.
For SHTF I'd recommend an AK. What might be adequate cover from .223 will often become only concealment to 7.62x39. It's also questionable whether you'll want to spend much time cleaning your AR in a SHTF situation.
But if I had to get only one rifle for everything it would have be a FAL (7.62x51 = .308). You get long range, moderate accuracy (better than AK, less than AR, at least to me), in a powerful .30 cal rifle.
For target shooting you'd probably be most pleased with an AR. You can get a kit and assemble the lower yourself, and stay under $750.
For SHTF I'd recommend an AK. What might be adequate cover from .223 will often become only concealment to 7.62x39. It's also questionable whether you'll want to spend much time cleaning your AR in a SHTF situation.
But if I had to get only one rifle for everything it would have be a FAL (7.62x51 = .308). You get long range, moderate accuracy (better than AK, less than AR, at least to me), in a powerful .30 cal rifle.
Bazooka Joe71
Member
Angio, I vote AR...Look for a good deal on one, or build it, and buy an SKS with the money you saved
Drysdale,
First place I checked: Sportsman's guide
1000 rds Wolf .223 $165
1000rds Wolf 7.62 x 39 $169
Not alot cheaper, but you said you've never seen it so I thought you might like to
Obviously brass is going to be more than steel, but thats comparing apples to oranges.
Drysdale,
First place I checked: Sportsman's guide
1000 rds Wolf .223 $165
1000rds Wolf 7.62 x 39 $169
Not alot cheaper, but you said you've never seen it so I thought you might like to
Obviously brass is going to be more than steel, but thats comparing apples to oranges.
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