My AR-15 vs. AK-47 post!

[TheOtherOne]

I like them both! Actually, I think I might like shooting the AR-15 a little better. It feels a little more natural while holding it and the recoil is less than my AK. I'm still a better shot with the AK-47 though but that might just be because I've had it for a lot longer and practiced with it a whole lot more.

Anyways what this post is really about is cleaning them. Maybe it's also a practice thing, but I can't stand cleaning the AR-15 versus cleaning the AK-47. It takes so much longer for me to get it all apart and clean all the junk out. I took both rifles out yesterday and shot 120 rounds of Winchester White Box through the AR, and 200 rounds of Wolf through the AK. I thought the Wolf ammo was suppose to be the nasty stuff, but my AR-15 was so much dirtier! I lost count of how many patches I turned totally black cleaning that thing. Other than the red crap in the AK that took a little time to brush out it wasn't bad. I like taking it apart better too. I seem to have to get the manual out with the AR to remember how to get everything off, but with the AK I never even had a manual and it all just comes apart naturally.

Is it just me or is the AR-15 always a pita to clean?

 

[goon]

The AK is a little simpler to clean but the AR-15 still isn't that big of a deal to clean.
Technically though, I have never cleaned an AR, only M-16's.

 

[Redlg155]

Only 200 rds through the AK?

I wouldn't have even bothered cleaning her.

The AK is much simpler to clean. But then that's the beauty of the design. Something to be issued to the conscript and professional soldier alike.

Good Shooting
Red

 

[Texas Gunman]

To me its easier cleaning the AR, it breaks down easier, but my AK isnt all that bad. On the AR, you dont have to cleaned the gas tube, AK usely gunked up pretty bad. AR ammo is cleaner burning ammo, 7.62x39 Wolf ammo is very dirty burning powder.

Usely takes me less than a half hour to clean each rifle.


TG

 

[ny32182]

I too find the AR easier to clean, with the exception of the locking lugs...

It just seems that the AK reciever gets stuff ALL OVER it, plus up in the gas tube.

 

[DMK]

I like shooting the AR better also. It has better ergonomics, a much better trigger and MUCH better sights.

I guess the AK is a bit easier to clean, but I don't find the AR all that much harder. I just use an old toothbrush to get Hoppe's in all the nooks and crannies. Spray on brake cleaner is your friend. I've often wondered if the folks that complain about the AR being hard to clean are trying to do the whole job with just Breakfree CLP. Maybe it's good for the Army, but I have the freedom of choice to use better stuff to clean up all that carbon and junk.

In the AR, I shoot surplus exclusively and pretty much shoot only Barnual or Silver Bear in the AK. I think both rifles get pretty dirty, neither one's better than the other in that regard. I guess that depends a lot on your ammo.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Eh, I wouldn't have cleaned either rifle unless you were storing them long-term or have serious issues with humidity where you live. Both of them can take a LOT more firing than that over an extended period of time if they are being stored in a relatively dry, climate controlled area (like your house).

Also, there is a big difference between white-glove, drill-inspector clean and functionally clean. You can get an AR functionally clean in 5 minutes with a boresnake, an old t-shirt and some CLP, even after several hundred rounds of ammo.

 

[shoobe01]

Appx what Bart said. My PSS is another matter (perfectly clean and with Sweets as well) but for auto-rifles or pistols, most of the time its a wipe down sort of clean. Around 1x a year (or after heavy use, like a class) I really break down and clean the gas pistons and things like that. I found ARs needed to have the detail clean more frequently than most rifles, but then not even after 1-200 rounds without being dropped in the dirt. An AK can probably never be cleaned, especially if you want to proove a point.

OTOH, I try to patch my bore real quick almost every time. If a boresnake is convenient, do that. I have a shop, so the FAL is waiting for a clamping and dewey rod swabbing, but after that's done, it pretty much just gets put away.