Wired Article on the AK-47 : is accuracy inversely related to reliability?

[amd6547]

The Sherman was more advanced than the early German panzers the Brits encountered in North Africa....but it was quite obsolete in comparison to the T34, as was proven in Korea.

 

[HorseSoldier]

What I was referring to was how the average solider was equipped. If you compare a German, American and Russian solider our guys had the best gear and weapons by a mile.

Even if limited to that, it's a pretty shaky premise. A lot of our stuff in WW1 was mediocre to its contemporaries, if not substandard (Chauchat 30-06 anyone?).

Our comparative wealth as a nation meant American troops were issued a lot of gear in WW2, but that doesn't mean what they got was the best. As an example, the 1941 model field jacket was not very adequate as a jacket and stood out so badly in northwestern Europe a lot of troops resorted to wearing it inside out, while the Germans were fielding very effective camouflage uniforms on a comparatively massive scale. The refusal of the echelons above reality to issue camouflage uniforms absolutely killed troops in NW Europe and during both Korea and Vietnam. Even today, when our equipment is generally great there are some standout duds -- the botched abortion that is the ACU camouflage pattern jumps to mind.

 

[suburbansurvivalist]

Getting back to accuracy, which AK-47 models/variants are considered most accurate? I'm not interested in the AK vs. AR part of the debate, but would like to know which AKs seem to have better accuracy.

 

[Maverick223]

Getting back to accuracy, which AK-47 models/variants are considered most accurate?

Saiga/Izhmash from my experience, if you are willing to look at other platforms the VZ.58 even more so. Also the 5.45x39.5mm variant of the AK (the AK-74) also seems to have better accuracy.

BTW, welcome to THR, suburbansurvivalist!

 

[Snakum]

Other non-Sov Bloc nations using AK variants include Columbia and South Africa off the top of my head.

Not Colombia ... they were using old Korean era US equipment for years and years, then the G3 from mid 1980s onward (still today last I heard). The regular Colombian Army was using a very nice weapon while I was stuck in the Northern hills chasing their commies with old Vietnam era M16A1s and Galils. For some reason only God knows why, we had a lot of Israeli equipment. LOL.

 

[Maverick223]

For some reason only God knows why, we had a lot of Israeli equipment. LOL.

I harbor no ill-thoughts towards the M16, but I sure wouldn't complain if I was handed a Galil instead.

 

[GunTech]

The Galil would certainly rate as an AK variant, I would think.

Also saw a recent photo of a Swede trooper with an FFV580C, although I thought they had adopted the FNC.

 

[Jaws]

I don't thing accuracy is inversly related to reliability. Every time when this subject comes people compare AK vs AR.
For a general isue rifle is little difference in accuracy between a modern DI and a modern piston gun.
When I say modern piston gun I mean modern rifles designed from the start as piston guns, not DI guns with a simple piston "fix".
There are plenty modern piston guns out there this days, that come from the factory just as accurate or better than the millitary m16 or m4. Maybe a 20K$ DI gun can be more accurate than a 20K$ piston gun, but those are the EXCEPTIONS, not the rule and very few people can shoot acurately enough to get that little extra.