How accurate is your AK platform?

[Collector0311]

Owner of a one year old Zastava PAP-M70.
Slapped on a TxWpnsSys railed top cover and an EOTech.

First time out with the EOTech mounted, and it took me about 20rds to get my groups centered at 50yds. What impressed me was that every shot in my five shot strings were touching.
So I'd crank on the knobs a bit and move my groups down and left and down and left and then back up and right (I was bracket sighting so I overshot)

Once I finally got the group in place I ran the paper out to 100yds and was even more surprised to put down 2in groups at that distance. (I'm wondering now if this rifle can outperform my shooting?!)

Kinda shocking to me as this is my first AK pattern rifle and I was honestly expecting "minute of man" groups. Now I'm not so hesitant to take this rifle hogging...

What's more, is that out of the box this rifle had problems feeding JHP's but has since decided it doesn't mind them so much. Every other mag was FMJ or JHP for 200rds and not a hiccup. (I did have a hang fire with my Tula, first one ever)

Anyway, long story short I wanted to zero my rifle at the range with my new sight and was extremely impressed. Should I have been?
How well does yours perform?
(I know, I know, pics or it didn't happen. Spaced on those but I'll put some up next time I go out.)

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I have a Romanian WASR that'll do 4 MOA with pretty much anything you feed it. My brother's WASR does about the same. Both of these rifles are earlier Century builds bought during the AWB "just in case" it wasn't allowed to go quietly into that good night, and are typically regarded as bottom of the barrel builds. AKs probably don't get a whole lot rougher or less accurate than ours. My uncle's MAK-90 will do 2.5 to 3 MOA. I've seen plenty of range reports published in gun rags with sub-3 MOA AKs. If a Kalashnikov is put together right, it has all the accuracy needed to reliably put rounds COM at 300+ yards, and that is a fact.

 

[WardenWolf]

A high-end AK can do 1.5-2.5 MOA, depending on the individual rifle and the caliber. Certain rare exceptions are the Beryl Archer, which can do 1 MOA with 5.45x39, and some versions of the VEPR.

 

[Jackal]

Often times the AK's reputation for inaccuracy can be linked you the generally low quality of ammo people use in these rifles. I suspect that there are many tack driving sub moa rifles that will open groups up to 2-4moa when running Tula/Wolf/etc. Run some hand loaded ammo (or even new Hornady stuff), built with quality components through many AK's and watch group sizes shrink at a rate that would send many AR fanboys into convulsions (I'm an AK and AR fanboy). Its amazing how many times folks have been called dishonest or even liars when they testify that their AK is accurate.

 

[JustinJ]

My Russian 74 does under 1.5" with 7N6 surplus ammo. Likes it better than the hornaday 5.45 actually. And to clarify, I define a group as five rounds fired consecutively at 100 yards.

 

[dvdcrr]

Mine will pepper the kill zone on one of those anatomically correct deer targets at 200 meters with open sights . Wolf ammo. Tried to scope it with kvar 04s , low rings and redfield 2x7 but ran out of elevation adj. Back to the drawing board on optics for me (could use a friendly suggestion if you have one.) Tried many ak optic setups before sometimes i run into some same old problems. So nothing too special accuracy wise with open sights for me probly 3.5 moa or so

 

[Grizzdude]

I have a Maadi RPM that is pretty accurate. This summer I would take it out in the mornings and attempt a first round hit on a steel plate the size of a sheet of paper at 350 yards. I would get about 4-5 first round hits out of 7 try's/days. Actually hit a slightly bigger plate at 600 yards but didn't know it until I saw the mark on the steel.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I have an odd variant of the AK, the Polytech "Hunter" and it is quite accurate. I've not mounted an optic and shot for groups with it, so I guess I'll have to try that. I'm guessing I've shot 3MOA at 100yrds, prone with a sling, with the aperture sights it has on it, using the Wolf WPA ammo.

 

[Collector0311]

Sounds like my experience may not be as uncommon as I had thought. I'm glad to hear this weapon can be more accurate than I had thought possible.
To clarify, I was at a range with waist high rests and sat on a bar stool. Rested the AK on a sand bag rest and went to town.

 

[ECVMatt]

I have really tried to like the AK platform and got an Arsenal and a Saiga to try out. Try, try as I may, about a 4" group at a 100 yards was the best I could get. I really do love the design of the rifle, but just can't get behind a 4" group. For comparison, my standard AR A2 with do about 1.5" groups at 100 yards. I will admit up front that I am an accuracy freak and mostly shoot bolt action rifles for that reason.

AK's are super durable, reasonable accurate, and a great design, but not made for marksmen. If that is what you are looking for, then you are in luck!

 

[OilyPablo]

My Saiga conversion is somewhat repeatable. If I could tear the sights off it and completely replace them I believe it could be somewhat accurate. I saw something interesting in the Brownell's catalog. I need to find those sights.

 

[inkinskin]

I have a romanian Wasr 1063 with a UTG quadrail and use a Vortex SPARC red dot on the quad rail. Works very well. Gives me 2-3 MOA with Cheap Tula ammo.

 

[tuj]

thou shalt not ask about ak accuracy.

[seriously tho, the ammo I think and the shooting technique (front rest and rear bag for best groups) should be considered more than the rifle itself. I have seen my own AR open up to 3MOA when fed bulk and shot with a poor technique. But it is sub-MOA with high-quality ammo suited for its twist rate and barrel length]

 

[itsa pain]

it is funny when AR guys say they would never fire steel case ammo or even cheap brass ammo and buy match ammo at $1 a round and say their AR is accurate which is true. but they say an AK is like a shotgun but the AK is never fed good reloads with good bullets. after that if the AK does not shoot well then you can say it is inaccurate. the AK 74's are pretty accurate with junk ammo

 

[Calhoun]

I have a Romy G rifle built on a NoDak Spud receiver. It is very accurate. With irons it can shoot 1.5-2 inch groups all day long if I do my part.

 

[nathan]

My Chicom Polytech GSAD early import with the spike bayonet shoots 1.5 -2 inch grps using Ulyanovsk HP at 100 yds using sandbag rest.

My Mak 90 also gives 2-3 inch grp at 100 yrds with Yugo FMJ brasscased.

My Romanian SAR1 stays 3-4 inch grps with Barnaul FMJ.

My Lancaster built AK 74 with bulgarian barrel gives 3 inch grps with Russian surplus 53 gr FMJ.


These were all done on good days with no wind and me the shooter feeling really good. But i doubt i could dublicate these with my older eyes now. The fact remains the AK is as good as its designed. Just practice and practice and practice.
AKs are meant to be assault rifles for close range work.

 

[rule303]

I think the Yugo PAP's are probably one of most accurate AK's on the market right now. All new parts, original non-chromed barrel, and a thicker receiver than most stamped guns.

 

[leadcounsel]

Open sites, seated without bench rest, surplus ammo, stock $450 WASR, consistently rings the gong at 200 meters. Not sure of the exact size of the gong. But at 200 meters you can barely see it with the naked eye. So probably 10". Good enough.

 

[gaweidert]

My SAR-1 was as good as any Brown Bess out there. 50 yard targets looked like I was using 00 buck and a shotgun. I also had a Bulgarian SSR-85C-2 and it was much better. Quite frankly I prefer the SKS to the AK. Much better brush gun. More accurate and I can better manage recoil as it is more ergonomic.

 

[Jackal]

gaweidert, at the end of these statements

I prefer the SKS to the AK. Much better brush gun. More accurate and I can better manage recoil as it is more ergonomic.

you need to add the words "for me". I personally find the AK to be more comfortable and I have always shot them better than any of the SKS's Ive had (2 Russian's, 2 Chinese, 3 Yugo's).

 

[itsa pain]

My SAR-1 was as good as any Brown Bess out there. 50 yard targets looked like I was using 00 buck and a shotgun. I also had a Bulgarian SSR-85C-2 and it was much better. Quite frankly I prefer the SKS to the AK. Much better brush gun. More accurate and I can better manage recoil as it is more ergonomic.

manage the recoil?

 

[AK103K]

SAR1 using "slightly canted" iron sights, Wolf 154 grain SP's. The bottom three were fired from a rest to confirm zero, the upper group from a cross legged sitting possition at a steady cadence. The "head" on that target is 6" across, if you cant read the rule.



The only AK's Ive owned or shot that wouldnt shoot like that, were the US assembled guns. All the guns assembled (or at least barreled) in the country of origin, have all shot in the 3-4 MOA range, with ammo they liked.

 

[Gordon]

I once bought a defunct gunstore's stock (1995)which included a dozen AKs I tested most and sold the Chinese ones , the Maadis and a couple early WASRs and kept the Mitchel arms M70s and FEG M85s. These were pre ban guns and I sold them right before the 1999 California registration for a good profit! I ended up moving two Mitchel Yugos M76s to Oregon and registering two Mitchell Yugo M70 underfolders and two FEG M85s. I fitted the M85s with Ultimak rails and Aimpoint Comp M2s with low rings. These have 4MOA red dots and keep all the bullets inside the dot out to 300 yards. I went thru a couple courses and striuggled to do the 200 yard head shots with them-not 100% as is an M-4 with an ACOG, but apples to oranges. The Yugos sand bagged are not as accurate as the FEGs which do less than 2moa with good ammo. The Yugos do 6in groups with South African brass case ball at 200 yards with my sons 34 YO eyes, and I can do slightly better than that with the FEG irons with my 66 YO eyes FWIW.

 

[bushmaster1313]

This AK platform is spot on

 

[d2wing]

Owed several including 2 SKS's 10 MOA was par even with scopes and red dots.
My current AK type is a Saiga that I shot a 4 moa group with. However I think with a little effort it may do better.