Where is the love for AK-47's?

[camslam]

Those attributing it to ads and manufacturers, I would have to agree. Good call.

Don't tread on me makes several good points:

AK's get bashed a lot. A lot of old myths and stereotypes about it's function and use. Reality is, if you're a SHOOTER and not a POSEUR - the AK is a combat accurate weapon that is fast and easy to shoot with great reliability and good power. The only people who are not convinced of that, the people who are skeptics or critics are those who have not really spent much trigger time behind one. For practical use, say self-defense -- the AK can do everything an AR can do. Period.

Amen! Given the round it shoots I would say it can do more 300 yards or less than the AR-15, but we've had that argument many times before.
Overall they are excellent rifles or the vast number of armies, dictators, U.S. citizens, etc.. wouldn't bother with them.

The only thing left really is the Saiga which is imported as a sporting rifle and requires some handy skills to convert. Something I'd bet turns off at least 9 out of 10 potential AK buyers. The AK will pretty much be killed off. I'm convinced of it. It will be reduced to FAL status or lower. A few places making them for a niche market. Quite a fall from the days when they were more popular and more available than AR-15's.

I hope the AK isn't going to be killed off by regulations, because they are great guns. I think it is interesting you mentioned the FAL as well, because that is another gun I was looking at getting, but you rarely if ever see anything in gun mags about those as well.

I guess for me, the reason this came up in the first place is because of my recent decision to purchase an AK. I had numerous questions and had never really come across much in the way of discussion on AK's except in gun forums. Thankfully there were people with experience enough to guide me. Even though AK's don't have much in the way of new updates, there are plenty of topics that I found to be relevant and valuable, if not at least interesting.

-Stamped vs Milled reciever.
-Thickness of receiver.
-Which country's AK considered better than others.
-Which manufacturer/assembler does a quality job.
-What type of optics for an AK, how to mount them, and why.
-Benefits of going with a side mount, dust cover mount, or front tube scout squad style. Why choose one over another.
-Accuracy of the guns.
-Quality of assembly, what to look for.
-Magazines: any reason to go with a 10, 20, or 40 rounder? What about the 75 round drums? What are the benefits/disadvantages to going with one of them.
-Magazines: polymer vs all steel. Which country's mags are good and why?
-Which accessories are valuable and why.
-Which ammo to go with and why.
-Tactics when using an AK.

Obviously there are plenty of other questions and subjects when dealing with AK's, but it is likely we won't see them discussed in the gun mags anytime soon.

 

[Neckshot5seven]

<<<<right here

 

[H2O MAN]

Where is the love for AK-47's?

Right here baby!!

Screw the gun rags and their pundits!

 

[SDDL-UP]

I have and love an AK. It's as reliable as a rock, and the 7.62x39, while not "perfect", is preferable to the 5.56 NATO in my opinion.

 

[Z71]

I like my WASR-10 AKM clone just fine. Purchased late last year, was really my first exposure to the AK despite a bit of "foreign weapon indocrination" during National Guard traing back in the 1980's.

Just kind of jaded now I think, as I agree, the gun-rags give it but little attention.

The AK system has it's followers though. Will likely be with us forever, or until everybody has to give 'em up!

Too me, the AK is better than the SKS, handier, and likely a better fighting tool than the M14, FAL, or M1. Kind of over-shadowed in the markets currently by the AR craze. I doubt the AK will kick the AR off the bandwagon.

It's as good as any gun made, I think. Not a glamorous weapon at all, however it's just too cool to be ignored.

I would tend to agree that it see's no publicity, and I would read any artical the gun-rags cared to print. But no articals seem forthcoming!

Maybe it is the lack of advertising money the AK makers/assemblers put into the shooting media? Maybe the system is so popular that the makers feel little need to advertise?

Don't know? They are great guns though.

 

[Howaido]

The AK system has it's followers though.

True. They don't make 70 million of something without it having some followers.

 

[HB]

The AR and 1911 manufacturers are the ones shelling out the dough for coverage on all of their new products and gizmos...Too bad the AK types

That's more likely.... Who makes AK's besides IZH/Saiga? Most AK's in the US are from parts kits with US made receivers, not large companies

HB

 

[RP88]

I really hope people don't phase out the AK. I hope that it doesnt become a niche market either. But, it looks like that is what is gonna happen. A domestic AK can probably be made and sold at an affordable price point, but the problem there is that it'll have to be a price point that is lower than its rivals i.e. AR rifles.

But, if someone could churn out $500ish all-US AKs, that would bring back the appeal.That would still give people the affordable EBR to own in some way, without being dependent on importation

 

[MIL-DOT]

Where's the AK love ?????
In my closet, under my bed, in my safe and in my trunk !!!! Where's YOUR ak love !!!!!

 

[Kino74]

I got nothing but love for my AKs!

One thing I have seen and maybe its just me but when I have an AR15 and any one of my AK47s next to it, people have such a totally differerent towards both guns. The AR15 is seen as cool and admired while I get dirty looks, if i'm lucky, when the AK is seen.

 

[Byte]

I love to caress my AK's too! The pointy parts are annoying though...

Romanian G kit AK-47 in K-Var Plum built on a NDS-3 receiver by Arma Rifle out of Parker, CO. AKS-74 in OD Green K-Var
built on NDS-2SF receiver by HDI in Henderson, NV.


AKS-74 w/ 570rnd loadout! Love the 5.45x39!


Show me your love now!

Byte

 

[FMJMIKE]

I have four AKs and no AR-15s............Feel the AK love now......
Now.....Some AK porn...........

 

[Byte]

That's hawt!

Yeah I don't own any AR's either. Just AK's, my Yugo 24/47 Mauser, and a M44 Mosin. And the 10/22, of course!

Byte

 

[RP88]

is there any way to tell the ATF to piss off and let us re-import whatever we want? I'm assuming no, since they are part of the fed, but figured i'd ask...

 

[nalioth]

is there any way to tell the ATF to piss off and let us re-import whatever we want? I'm assuming no, since they are part of the fed, but figured i'd ask...

One word:

Congresscritters.


Let yours know what you think.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Yeah I don't own any AR's either. Just AK's, my Yugo 24/47 Mauser, and a M44 Mosin. And the 10/22, of course!

I have only AKs for my rifles. I don't feel like cleaning my guns that often and I want something that runs right out of the box.

 

[W.E.G.]

I buy advertisement next month when more inventory

 

[TheDriver]

That dude has exactly one more drill press than I do.

 

[Kind of Blued]

I think that the AR is a much more marketable firearm.

There are so many variations of it that I could easily build up seven or eight with different roles. The AK on the other hand, I'll only ever four or five if you include RPKs.

 

[jpwilly]

Me too...got one...add some love to the AK thread.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

AKs are ugly. Reliable, yes. But ugly. And there's really no way to and tacticool gadgets on one without making it look worse. Not so with the AR.

 

[jpwilly]

^^^ It's not a beauty contest it's a battle rifle...in it's true assault rifle form and in skilled hands a very effective one.

Here's my UGLY tactical AKM, look closely there's three peices of brass in mid air - Moo AHHH AHH AHH!

 

[Deus Machina]

And there's really no way to and tacticool gadgets on one without making it look tacky like an AR.

Fixed.

AK owner here, too. I currently own one rifle, and that's likely to be half my collection for a long time.

Plus, as a tinker, the AK platform just looks so ripe for abuse, since it's so simple. I'm considering an adaptation to change it to more of an SVD action, just as a project. Convertible back, of course.

 

[Leif Runenritzer]

My aunt bought one in July that featured the "Tantal". I forget the title.

 

[Still 2 Many Choices!?]

The all important ,"why" has been answered in greater depth, and by more knowledgeable people than myself, so I'll simply add that there is love for the AK-47/74 alike. Like with any other "niche firearm"(that niche being killing people in most uninformed circles ) its supporters are there reguardless of the gun rags non-coverage of arguably the most dynamic firearm of the last half century.