Why is an AR15 better than an AK?

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I have a Romanian SAR1 (which I am very fond of) and several handguns (yep -fond of those too). I have been told several times that an AR15 (colt, bushmaster, etc) are far superior to my Romanian SAR1. I would not mind purchasing an AR15, but first one would have to tell me specifics as to why it is superior. Looking for advice.

Thanks in advance,
synpase
 
In general AR's have better sites, and are more accurate when reaching out. They are more adaptable to Ginger Bread, if you're into that.

In other categories the SAR comes out ahead.

"Far Superior" -- That statement needs to be qualified.
 
Well, this is going to turn into the proverbial "AR vs AK" thread REALLY fast.

Better, Superior, etc. are all relative to what you use as your criteria to determine superiority.
 
The AK.xx is a fine rifle, rugged and dependable. But, unless you are built like a mutant dwarf with about 18" arms, the stock will not fit you so well. The sights are too close together and there is no bolt hold open. So your best accuracy work will not likely be done with an AK.xx. All those areas are much better executed on a std 20" AR15.xx
 
The only way I find an AR is superior is that you can easily change the configuration of the rifle from a short entry type weapon to a 24" barreled "sniper" rifle using the same lower.

The AK gets the nod in reliability and durability.

Good Shooting
Red
 
I've compared my two Russian SKS rifles and my Russian Saiga to my Mini 14 at a 100-500yd rifle range. My Mini 14 was more accurate and had more hits on paper at 300-500yds. All of my Russian 7.62x39 rifles had trouble hitting anything past 300yds.

The 5.56mm round is just a better target round.

I personally think the AK47 is the best military rifle under 200yds. If I went into combat for ranges further than that, I'd rather have an AK74.


Compare an AK74 to the AR15 and you won't see much of a difference in accuracy or range.
 
I don't now nor have I ever owned an AK....

I have had an AR15 for about 10 years now...

My AR15 is my favorite rifle, and I wouldn't part with it for 10 AK's...

But would I ever tell you that an AR is FAR SUPERIOR than an AK?

Absolutely not!

I wonder if the people who told you the same have any more experience with an AK than I do :rolleyes:

I do have a buddy with a US Arsenal(?) AK, and it sure is fun to shoot... He enjoys shooting my AR too, and even sold his Mini 14 to buy a 20" HBAR... but would he sell his AK for an M4? Nope!

About the only thing I can note for sure is that I can hit a 300 yard sillouette 8 times out of 10 with my 14.5" barrelled AR, while none of us have been able to do that with an AK. Well that, plus I'm left handed, which leaves the AK safety a bit awkeward as well.

I know I'm babbling, but I've been offline for a couple months now, and I just missed you guys :)
 
I own both. They both rock. For me it boils down to ergonomics. The AR just fits me perfectly.
 
To me, there are a number of catagories in which the AR excels. First is accuracy. The rifle itself is very accurate (right out of the box), and the sights are far superior making practical accuracy easier to realize. If you demand even more accuracy, this is very easliy attained with very little work required. Since I am a civilian sport shooter, accuracy is very important to me. Second is ergonomics. The AK safety is not handy or easy to use. The mag release likewise. I suppose in a military situation, in very cold weather (which I will never be in) the controls might prove their merit. Although I still don't think that having to remove your firing hand from the grip to disengage the safety is a good thing even under those condtions. Third is the caliber. I personally feel the 5.56 round is the better round, and I feel that the AVERAGE ammo quality in 5.56 is superior, mainly bullet construction. As a civilian, I can readily buy everything from match ammo to varmint bullets, to frangible ammo in all kinds of bullet weights. The trajectory of the 7.62x39 round basically sucks. Finally, the AR15/M16 is a weapons system. As was mentioned, it can be adapted into almost an infinite number of configurations very easily. Within seconds, you can go from a 24" heavy barreled varmint rifle to a 10" upper with a suppressor and everything in between. You can add optics easily and take them off just as easily. With a flat top reciever, and a rail system such as the KAC RAS, you can hang just about anything you can imagine on the rifle, and just as easily remove it all in seconds. Not to mention the addition of a KAC RAS gives you a full floated barrel. This last point brings up the point of the AR/M16 weapon evolving to meet state of the art requirements. Neither rifle is anything new. The M16/AR15 has been around for over 30 years. The AK over 50. The AR has evolved, the AK hasn't.
 
I wouldn't say the AR is "better," just "different." I own both, and like both very much. The AR is more accurate, it allows you to carry more ammo, the stock sights are better, and there's a much better selection of after-market sights. On the other hand, the AK costs half as much (or even less), will function more reliably under adverse conditions, shoots cheaper ammo, and has a heck of a lot fewer moving parts that could potentially screw up. For someone who owns neither, and like most of us is on a budget, I think the AK is a "must have." The AR is an excellent addition, but it's not quite a "must have."
 
The AR has evolved, the AK hasn't.
Click to expand...

I know what you are saying, but the AK47 evolved into the AK74. Mechanically the gun is pretty much the same, but the range and accuracy of the AK47 was increased by changing to the 5.45x39 round.

I've noticed a drastic lack of experience with the AK74 and SAR II rifles here at THR. If anyone compared the AK74 to the AR side by side, there wouldn't be as much of debate about accuracy.

Besides, most AR15 rifles are more accurate than the standard issue M16A2.
 
I don't know anything about the AK74. It seems like we never see a thread discussing what improvements were made.
I for one, would like to know more about it.
 
can you win with a ak in a highpower rifle competition.
I did not but had fun and took third overall out of around 30 guys with a sar-1 three years ago. it was out to 300 yard match. wolf ammo with a ak74 rear adjustible sight.
we still get alot of fun out of that match as it was the only ak there also.

can you build a ar15 for under $500 yes but not a match rifle.
my ar's rock but the ak47 is my favorite close rifle.
 
I have always liked the AK-47, been shooting mine for a long time, red dot sights helped drastically in accuracy.
Not long ago, I'd purchased a bushy A2 shorty, it hard to put in a few words, but it is winning me over, my AK is feeling neglected. :D

I taking both rifles out to the ranch and spent a whole week shooting both at various targets, ran 1000+ rounds in each rifle with out cleaning.

No function or cycling problems out of both of them, the AR not only felt better and quicker follow up shot, it was just plum accurate, just using the A2 iron sight, the red dot sight helped the AK alot, but that being said, the AR still out shot the AK, plus the handguards didnt get hot on the AR.

A semi auto AK, isnt worth as much as a full auto AK in a combat situation, it more of a spray and pray method.

The AR, is more of a riflemen rifles, it can just out shoot your average semi auto, it make up for what lacking in most situations.

If you knew me, you would know thaat I have always been fond of AK's, but, that kinda dumb founded me has to how come the AR is winning me over.

Im going to keep my AK, but the AR is now my new MBR.

TG
 
The AR is far superior to an AK if you own the former and dislike the latter.

And vice versa.

Both will kill you really dead. :D
 
I don't find my SAR2's accuracy THAT much better than my SAR1's (although my SAR1 shoots better than the 3 other 7.62x39 AKs I've had already). It is a little tighter average group at 100 yards but it's still no MOA rifle... Of course if I was shooting at 250+ yards maybe it makes a bigger difference since it's a faster round with a better trajectory. I haven't shot either past 175-200ish, and then not back to back or at a paper target to get a group to compare... I need to get a receiver mounted rear "peep" AR-style sight for my AKs, I have a feeling that would drastically improve accuracy. Been eyeing that new sight from Krebs but I just don't have $50 to throw out per rifle for a lousy rear sight...

But I love my little "AK74", my SAR2, such a sweet shooter, has even less recoil/muzzle flip than the .223 weapons I've fired, and I don't yet have the supposedly great functioning AK74 muzzle brake on it yet either....
 
I think swingset pretty much hit it on the head. :)

If you take the time to learn to use what you have, both will do you fine. At realistic ranges both have acceptable combat accuracy, and both have acceptable combat power.
 
Bad things about the AK:

It has vestigial sights, shoots a round that's ballistically inferior to both 5.56x45 and 7.62x51, has a stock length of pull that's only suitable for Siberian midgets in winter clothes, and can't be scoped worth a crap without building outriggers on the rifle. Even if you could scope it easily, it would be like putting a 200 MPH speedometer on a Pinto. The ergonomics are horrible, the safety lever is arguably the clumsiest solution ever put on a fighting rifle, and the trigger is mediocre and can't be tuned well thanks to the archaic cable spring. Even if you could tune the trigger well, an AK will only yield "combat accuracy", i.e. minute-of-Western-Imperialist at 200 yards. Quick magazine changes are difficult due to the paddle-only release, and the rifle lacks a bolt hold-open anyway.

Good things about the AK:

It is sturdy as a truck, tolerates lots of dirt and abuse, and can be gunsmithed by a peasant blacksmith. The magazines are dirt cheap and just as tough as the rifle. A tolerable AK clone is inexpensive.

Bad things about the AR-15:

The direct-impingement gas system blows all kinds of crap straight into the bolt and receiver. The A1 and A2 configurations are difficult to scope well, due to the fact that the scope sits on the carry handle and therefore six inches above the centerline of the bore. The greatest weakness of the AR system is its reliance on flimsy magazines, which are probably the single biggest cause of AR problems. The spring tube makes the use of a proper folding stock impossible. The bolt assembly has a bunch of small parts in it, and the firing pin is held in by a decidedly flimsy cotter pin that can render the whole thing inert if it breaks. The receiver is lightweight aluminum and will not stand up to much abuse before things bend or break.

Good things about the AR:

It has excellent sights, great ergonomics, and plenty of mounting options for optics and other doodads. It has a proper bolt hold-open and a fast magazine release button. It's the most modular design out there, and can be readily converted from a CQB carbine to a 24" varminter simply by swapping out the upper receiver. Due to its modular nature, the AR can be tailored to a specific mission or a specific shooter's requirements much more readily than any other rifle design. Recoil is virtually nonexistent, and a rifleman armed with an AR can carry a *lot* of spare ammunition. Lastly, the AR is capable of some outstanding accuracy.
 
When I shoot my AR at 100 yards, using the iron sights (A2), I some times wonder if I hit the target, when I walk down to the target, I am ALWAYS amazed to find a small group right on the bullseye, or close, and I say wow I didnt think I shot that well this time!!!

When I shoot my SAR-1 I wonder did I hit the target, I walk down and look and I am amazed that I missed the bull by 6" and half my shots arnt even on the target, the rest are all over.

AR-15 amazing accuracy, I always shoot better than I thought.

AK-47, terrible accuracy, I always shoot worse than I thought.

I like and will keep both though.

JMHE, YMMV
 
I owned 1 AK and have shot a bunch more. They were all reliable. So was the M-16A1 Uncle Sugar issued me and so were all the AR15's I've owned. The stories about AK's functioning after having the bore and receiver packed with a mixture of acraglass and volcanic ash are amusing but have little bearing on what any of us here at THR are likely to do with a rifle.
The dirty little secret is that few, if any of us will do anything with our rifles but take them to the range and shoot them from time to time. We aren't going to be crawling through minefields under enemy fire. We aren't going to be fighting a winter war crouched in frozen trenches. We aren't going to be squatting in the jungle. So, the issue of which rifle will function the best after the most neglect and abuse isn't terribly important, IMO. The AR series is reliable enough. It is also, in general, more accurate and more ergonomic than the AK. I don't know about anybody else, but when I go shooting, hitting stuff is fun. Missing stuff, no matter how reliable the rifle is, isn't fun. Semi-auto AK's just don't do it for me. If I want to shoot a semi-auto 7.62X39, I prefer the SKS (which has its own shortcomings).
 
Toughness and reliability are at the forefront in this type of rifle, and a lot of the rest of the world seems to find AK's accurate enough.
 
I dunno, this may be a record for the number of posts a thread on this topic has gone without the words "sucks" or "rules" being used. ;)
 
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