Blowing up an AK, for fun.

[MachIVshooter]

Do you think the VC did any better?

If we're talking rounds fired vs. soldier killed by gunfire, no. But they played really dirty with horrible booby traps and the like.

 

[C-grunt]

I think I herd it was something like 15,000 rounds expended per VC dead. Damn, thats a lot of bullets per kill.

You also have to realize that those figures are usually total rounds fired per enemy death. So when a Huey flew by doing gun runs with their miniguns, those rounds count as well.

From my experience in the sandbox, actual aimed rifle fire is much better. Still not great but way way less than 15,000:1 ratio. I cant think the Vietnam era guys were to much different.

 

[Breakmyfootoff]

If I was heading into harm's way I'd much rather have the AR and I hope my adversary had the AK. I'd have the advantage at distance and no disadvantage up close. At least that's the way I see it.

Up close, he would have cover, and you would only have concealment. I'll have to look it up again, but I remember reading that 90% of military small arms engagements happen within 100 meters. If our military used AK's and the opposing forces were armed with AR's, the outcome would be the same. It's our soldiers that make the difference, not the rifles.

 

[Sam Cade]

If it ever stops raining I'm going to tomato stake the AK and see how that goes.

 

[C-grunt]

Whats the chamber pressure of a 7.62x39 compared to a 5.56? I wonder if that makes a difference and if a 5.56 AK would have handled this testing the same?

 

[Gig 'em]

That's like saying a Corvette sucks at off-roading and a Jeep isn't any good for racing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDLyw4_dNHc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1sQ87SG16c

Made my day!

 

[AethelstanAegen]

I can't think of any useful suggestions for future tests but just wanted to say thanks Sam for doing these tests. Very interesting and also entertaining!

 

[Sam Cade]

Well, that did it.

Driving the muzzle into the dirt then touching one off finally killed it.


Note the bit of jacket material shaved off and stuck in the corner of the split.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H61CZBXUMKQ

 

[gunnutery]

And you thought the sights were canted before

 

[Dreamcast270mhz]

So hows the receiver? Will it even fire now?

 

[Sam Cade]

Amazingly it DOES still function, though its not stabilizing the bullets anymore and the bolt must be hammered open.

 

[Dreamcast270mhz]

Put up a pic of the whole rifle. Are you going to cannibalize it, sell it or what now?

 

[briansmithwins]

Amazingly it DOES still function, though its not stabilizing the bullets anymore and the bolt must be hammered open.

Any signs that a person shooting the rifle would have been injured during any of this?

As opposed to calling for one's brown trousers.

BSW

 

[Sam Cade]

So hows the receiver?

Perfectly fine. Nothing Ive done has placed much inordinate stress on the receiver. I don't think.

If I had a spare front end and bolt/carrier assemblies I could rivet it on and be good to go.

 

[Sam Cade]

Any signs that a person shooting the rifle would have been injured during any of this?

When the barrel split it immediately started shaving pieces of jacket and sending them off at about a 45 degree angle. Other than that, I don't think so. Nothing blew up, Nothing went backwards.

 

[Aaron Baker]

As a fellow Kentuckian, I am both impressed and highly amused.

Aaron

 

[HorseSoldier]

??? Isn't an infantry engagement just a rifle match played for keeps? What was the AK designed for, terrorists to harass unarmed civilians?

In my experience classic NRA High Power sort of competition is so tangential to an actual fire fight as to be largely irrelevant -- think, say, soccer and hockey. Years of soccer experience will acquaint you with ideas and concepts that are relevant in hockey, but they don't equip you to put on a pair of skates and go at it.

Three gun and IPSC and such are better -- at least there's greater emphasis on physicality and shooting and moving in a compressed time frame -- but it's still a game. As soon as you start working the game's rules to win rather than trying to model reality you start losing training benefit.

 

[fireman 9731]

Great show... Did the gas block scoot back some? In the second picture it looks like a shiny ring in front of it from where it moved.

This is one of the most entertaining threads I have ever seen on here!

 

[Sam Cade]

Great show... Did the gas block scoot back some? In the second picture it looks like a shiny ring in front of it from where it moved.

That is just poor parkerizing. The barrel is turned much smoother in the gas block area.

This is one of the most entertaining threads I have ever seen on here!

Thank ya. I aim to entertain.

 

[Sam Cade]

Put up a pic of the whole rifle. Are you going to cannibalize it, sell it or what now?

I might put it in the For Sale section.

Rare Romanian Krummlauf AK variant. Lightly used, never abused. Less than 100 rounds fired. $500

Seriously though, I will probably just junk the front end.

The furniture, trigger group and receiver are all fine.

 

[Maverick223]

Cool beans, thanks for the additional testing. I find it interesting that the barrel banana'd both before and beyond the FSB. Now you just need to test an AR to compare*.

*I would but don't have one handy, and we want to keep the test fair, so you should perform it.

 

[henschman]

Yep, but if you test an AR, it's got to be a chart topper if you want anybody paying any attention to the results... so either a Colt or BCM. You can always get one of their uppers and put it on a cheap lower.

 

[Maverick223]

Yep, but if you test an AR, it's got to be a chart topper if you want anybody paying any attention to the results... so either a Colt or BCM. You can always get one of their uppers and put it on a cheap lower.

That's a tall order. FWIW, I'd happily "pay attention" to any gun the OP wants to destroy, be it a Mosin or a Peter Hofer Jagdwaffen. Furthermore, I don't believe the lower will be damaged, so the brand/specs. shouldn't matter much...but then again that's what the test is there for.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I might put it in the For Sale section.

I think you'll be able to squeeze by by labeling it LNIB, only a dozen or so rounds fired.

 

[Heretic]

This has got to be the coolest thread I've read so far.