What to look for in AK-47 purchased for hard use?

[mountainclmbr]

I was reading the reports on the 4-day Contractor Shooting School in the Stratigies and Tactics forum and was surprised at the difference in reliability between AR-15 and AK-47. It seems that most of the AR's had problems with jamming and broken parts and AK problems were few. As I would like to take a course like this, but don't want to take my M1A match grade, what should I look for in an AK. What is the price difference I should expect between variants that are not historically collectable, but purchased for hard use?

 

[HorseSoldier]

What kind of ARs were they shooting?

I see issue M4A1s run through military SFAUC classes with little or no problems (failure rate is much lower than M9 pistols, which break constantly, and problems are almost always magazine based). I'd be surprised if a civilian shooting school was putting more wear and tear on the weapons than we put on M4s on the flat range (assuming students are bringing their own and not using weapons provided by the school).

As for the question -- I'd think any of the better AK manufacturers would be fine for the application you're talking about. Probably a Romanian would be fine as well as long as you determine it runs right before starting the class.

For real CQB training/work, I'd think that having one of the Krebs improved AK safety levers would be nice (maybe there are other options as well? a left side thumb safely like the Galil or Tantal would be even better). It takes a whole lot of work with the standard AK safety to even approach the speed of an AR, unless you just run the weapon hot the whole time, which I would not be comfortable with if I were range cadre (or a student) at a school.

 

[Eightball]

Get a chrome barrel, and you're set. That, and that it can take hi-caps, and that the stock fits you--the stock on my WASR needs about 2 or three inches on it before I can do any real shooting with it, for now it's just a blaster. Don't think I've ever cleaned it, and there's definitely those oddball guys saying they've had theirs for X number of years and only cleaned it with a hose, or whatnot.

Chrome barrel for the corrosive ammo problem, and just about any other features you think would be nifty, IMO. I like wood, you may like the synthetic folders--it's hard to find an AK that ISN'T good for hard use.

 

[1911JMB]

A WASR 10 is all you need, especially if you don't need a tack driver.

 

[Bwana John]

Im thinkin the best AK's today are ones that still are built around a Com-Bloc receiver, on Com-Bloc machines, in a old Com-bloc country, not one that has been reasembled in the US with Commie parts around a US made stamping.
The old Chinese AK's that have been floating around have seemed to be the "best" made Ive seen.
You might want to look into a AK with a forged, machined receiver instead of a stamping it you are really looking for one that will stand up to "hard use" (Im pretty sure most 13 years olds in 3rd World equatorial countries with stamped selectfire AK's are using them "harded" than any of us is willing to.)

 

[Bones11b]

My Arsenal has a milled receiver, chrome lined barrel and thumb safety switch. I have a m7-sf which you can still find at gun shows (saw one last week at a show in fort lauderdale).

 

[1 old 0311]

You don't need a chrome barrel. Corrosive ammo has not been availably in 7.62x39 for years. Get a WASR for $300. K-var, among others sell a pad for stock extension. I am 6 ft. and it fits me fine. www.classicarms.us can hook you up.

 

[AndyC]

If it doesn't rattle when you shake it, pass

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I'd be surprised if a civilian shooting school was putting more wear and tear on the weapons than we put on M4s on the flat range (assuming students are bringing their own and not using weapons provided by the school).

The class in question was 5,000 rounds in 5 days according to the person who posted. There wasn't really enough information in the thread to tell one way or another; but part of the problem appeared to be well-used rental guns combined with mutt ARs.

The endurance test for an M4 slated for military use is to randomly pull one from production and fire 6,000rds at a faster pace than that, so no telling what the problem was.

 

[BADUNAME13]

5 days dude, The last post was titled Final exercise.

And there were no 'Mutt AR's'