Cheap ammo shootout - AR vs AK

[Shrinkmd]

A new twist to the endless AR vs AK debate.

Let's say you're only shooting Wolf or Brown/Silver bear ammo in either an SKS, Saiga, more traditional AK, or an AR. Assume high quality stock AK (presumably the Saiga) vs your average good quality stock AR (ie, Bushmaster HBAR 20") No target models for either.

Anyway, which do you think will produce better groups at 100 yds? Again, we're only shooting crappy Wolf polymer most likely, so wouldn't that eliminate ammunition quality as a variable?

Since the price of 7.62x39 has crept up to nearly the same as the .223 variety in crappy russian steel case ammo, it is much tougher to say that it is cheaper shooting an AK. Besides the cost of the rifle. And with ammo prices these days, the price of the rifle is starting to look less significant!

 

[tnieto2004]

The AR will shoot better groups ..

 

[elmerfudd]

I'm going to agree with tnieto2004. The AR action is just inherently more accurate than the AK action and assuming you have a decent rifle it will shoot tighter groups. I'd score the Saiga in second place, the SKS in third and other AK's last.

For ultimate accuracy however, nothing beats a bolt action.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

The AR15 still has a flatter trajectory and is more accurate with lousy ammo.

 

[M1key]

you don't state which caliber AK...

I have a Bulgarian 5.45 that will shoot either Silver Bear or Wolf polymer into 1.5" at 100 yards.

...never shot Silver Bear or Wolf polymer out of an AR...

 

[Baron357]

Even with cheap ammo the AR platform will alway be more accurate, it has to do with the design of the gun. The AK is a tank and the AR is a jet...

 

[Tokugawa]

Let's say you have a mixed bag (literally) of crappy reloads of unknown origin, old surplus, dented dirty cases etc. Let us suppose this "ammo" (to be generous) is 5.56 caliber. Let us now suppose that you and a buddy have an AR and a Valmet between you, each in 5.56 cal. Guess what? The Valmet will spit it's way through every round, occaisionally spittin' two or three at a time. The AR will jam every other round without fail. Now guess how I know this? It was a long time ago, with rifles that have long ago gone by the way, but the impression remains clear!

 

[esmith]

It depends on the type of AKs, SKS', and AR's you are shooting. A lot of sks' and aks were made in a haste for multiple war efforts. Im no expert on ARs but im almost postive that they have a better quality control than old milsurps. Granted some AK's and SKS' are capable of good groupings but for an overall average im going with an AR.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

The AR15 is inherently more accurate; but given that most Wolf FMJ is 4-5MOA ammo at best, I don't know that it will make a practical difference.

 

[Shrinkmd]

Maybe I should suggest this to the Box of Truth guys. If Wolf is only good for 4MOA no matter what you shoot it out of, you could buy the cheaper AK.

On the other hand, there is a difference between practice ammo and match/shtf usage. So far most people insist that the AR is inherently more accurate, assuming you feed it better ammo.

 

[Hokkmike]

This poll says a LOT, in my opinion.

 

[Bartkowski]

I voted other, just because something is an AR, doesn't make it more accurate than lets say a some custom job that you for some reason are shooting wolf through. I understand that most AR's are more accurate than an SKS, AK, but I bet quite a few guns have the capability of out shooting an AR, given they are using the same cheap ammo.

Take the other option out from the poll and I agree that the AR-15 is most likely going to be the most accurate.

 

[Kindrox]

Wolf FMJ is 4-5MOA ammo

I don't normally shoot Wolf, but it is cheap so I picked up 1000 rounds of 62 grain .223.

It shot as accurate as the Monarch .223 I brought along, probably 4-5 inch circles at 100 yards for both ammo brands. I am no marksman, I bet the Wolf ammo itself would do much better.

Now I will say that out of a box of 20, about Wolf 4 rounds failed to cycle the action. The AR was brand new but there was no issue with 40 rounds of Monarch.

 

[elmerfudd]

I voted other, just because something is an AR, doesn't make it more accurate than lets say a some custom job that you for some reason are shooting wolf through. I understand that most AR's are more accurate than an SKS, AK, but I bet quite a few guns have the capability of out shooting an AR, given they are using the same cheap ammo.

I voted other for the same reason. AR's may be good, but bolt actions are still king when it comes to accuracy.

 

[bl4ckd0g]

I have yet to see an AR make through an entire mag of Wolf Polymer without a stoppage, so I'll bet my hard earned money on the Saiga or the SKS.

 

[Shrinkmd]

I have yet to see an AR make through an entire mag of Wolf Polymer without a stoppage, so I'll bet my hard earned money on the Saiga or the SKS.

I know this horse has already been beaten to death, but my Bushmaster eats steel cases for breakfast, no problem. Dirty chamber?

 

[seektruth]

My ARs run any Wolf without issue, unless I go blasting and just let 'em sit around without any cleaning. I haven't run enough Barnaul/Bear stuff yet to tell, but so far no issues with it either. I also have a converted Saiga in .223 and it runs Wolf without a hiccup so far. And then there's my Yugo AK, which runs Wolf 7.62x39 without any issues.

Now, my Wasr is a POS. It won't run 5.45 surplus ammo at all.

To answer the original question...AR-15 without a doubt.

 

[the naked prophet]

I doubt anyone is going to be doing much benchrest shooting with any of those rifles using Wolf ammo.

The real question is rather, which rifle will function better with Wolf ammo?

I think there may be a reason that question was not asked...

 

[Shrinkmd]

I think there may be a reason that question was not asked...

No, actually the opposite for me, so far. I have had several pierced primers and one stovepipe with my SKS using wolf poly, but not a problem at all with my AR. I have more confidence in one than the other, at least so far.