mtnbkr
Member
My brother doesn't own any guns...yet. He's shot my guns some and enjoyed the experience. After looking around, he's decided he wants an AK-47 pattern rifle. Here's the problem: He has limited use of his right hand and arm (stroke induced paralysis). He shoots left handed and cannot hold the forearm with his right hand. When he shoots rifles, he rests the forearm of the rifle on his right forearm (imagine a butler holding a towel over his arm). He's not a bad shot this way. He can hit large soupcan sized targets with my scoped Winchester at 100yds offhand.
Back to him and the AK...
After handling a variety of guns, he's decided that he's most comfortable with the ergonomics of the AK (he's a big boy, but it fits him well) and his ability to handle it safely during loading, unloading, firing, etc. He can't operate bolt rifles because he can't hold the gun safely while manipulating the bolt. Most guns are too long or too heavy as well. The AK is short, light, and he can safely manipulate it (he demonstrated for me at a gunshop this weekend).
He also checked out the SKS (too heavy, too long, stripper clips), the Mosin Nagant (bolt is difficult for him), my Winchester (bolt gun again), and pump shotguns (can barely cycle the pump). He can load an AK mag into the magwell and pull the bolt back to load the gun. I've seen him load magazines for my Beretta, so I know he can handle that. He'd rather have a rifle. He's definately more accurate with them than with handguns.
I know nothing about AKs. I've never shot one. I think he's be better suited by a 22lr or pistol caliber carbine, but none that we've looked at "fit" him well in his opinion. He seems to want this gun for the right reasons, but I want to make sure he's considered all of the possibilities. That said, he wants the AK for the right reasons (fit and ability to operate)
My concerns:
Controllability - Will the gun be tough to control if he's not holding the forearm? His good arm/hand is VERY strong, he might be able to put sufficient force on the gun via the pistol grip, but I don't know...
Places to shoot - There are only two ranges in his town, an indoor pistol range and a National Forest range. If he gets a gun that shoots rifle cartridges, he can only shoot it at the NF range. It's at a higher altitude and too cold to use 3 months out of the year (or more).
Comments? Is there anything like the AK in a pistol caliber?
Chris
Back to him and the AK...
After handling a variety of guns, he's decided that he's most comfortable with the ergonomics of the AK (he's a big boy, but it fits him well) and his ability to handle it safely during loading, unloading, firing, etc. He can't operate bolt rifles because he can't hold the gun safely while manipulating the bolt. Most guns are too long or too heavy as well. The AK is short, light, and he can safely manipulate it (he demonstrated for me at a gunshop this weekend).
He also checked out the SKS (too heavy, too long, stripper clips), the Mosin Nagant (bolt is difficult for him), my Winchester (bolt gun again), and pump shotguns (can barely cycle the pump). He can load an AK mag into the magwell and pull the bolt back to load the gun. I've seen him load magazines for my Beretta, so I know he can handle that. He'd rather have a rifle. He's definately more accurate with them than with handguns.
I know nothing about AKs. I've never shot one. I think he's be better suited by a 22lr or pistol caliber carbine, but none that we've looked at "fit" him well in his opinion. He seems to want this gun for the right reasons, but I want to make sure he's considered all of the possibilities. That said, he wants the AK for the right reasons (fit and ability to operate)
My concerns:
Controllability - Will the gun be tough to control if he's not holding the forearm? His good arm/hand is VERY strong, he might be able to put sufficient force on the gun via the pistol grip, but I don't know...
Places to shoot - There are only two ranges in his town, an indoor pistol range and a National Forest range. If he gets a gun that shoots rifle cartridges, he can only shoot it at the NF range. It's at a higher altitude and too cold to use 3 months out of the year (or more).
Comments? Is there anything like the AK in a pistol caliber?
Chris