It is more popular simply because it is cheap, available, and a cool gun to show off to the friends who don't know much about guns. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to slam anyone who owns an AK. I am just saying that there are a bunch of other guns I would rather have than an AK. I admit an AK would be a fun gun just to go to the range with and chuck a bunch of lead. I, however love accuracy and the engineering behind weapons. My father does 1000 yard shooting and hits everything on a 3x5 card. A 6 foot target at a thousand yards is about half an inch tall to the naked eye. I have a bolt .223 I have set up to extreem accuracy for shootin critters. I chronographed my bullets at 3300 feet per second. I also love to shoot pistols and shotguns. Needless to say between fish and guns my wife wants to kill me as the bank account can't keep up with my hobbies....
The AK-47: "The Gun that Changed the World"
- Thread starter JD7.62
- Start date
The link for the audio is on top of page 2.
The black gun that folds is a Kel-Tec Sub 2000. It is in 9mm and take Glock mags. AWESOME and handy little carbine.
There are many misconceptions about the AK.
First and foremost, the AK-47 is chambered in a medium powered cartridge, not all too much different in energy from the 5.56 round the M-16 fires. AKs are all well made. In my opinion there is not much difference in overall quality, accuracy, and reliability between different AKs made by different factories in different countries whether it is a $300 Romanian or $1,000 Arsenal (Bulgarian). Sure some are "prettier" then others but the ability to be used as designed, not so much of a difference. After owning over two dozen different Kalashnikov rifles, I feel I can make that call.
AK-47s are not as accurate as M-16s for a few different reasons. Tien is correct, AKs are not as "tight" as ARs (M-16s). When the AK is firing, its rather sloppy with parts moving around and even flexing to a point. The sloppyness ensures reliability. It was designed this way. The Soviets idea of a soldier is vastly different from the West's where our emphasis on individual marksmanship can be seen. The Soviets needed a weapon that was simple, reliable, and "accurate enough" that poorly trained individual soldiers who couldnt even read could effectively dump lead towards his enemy. Another contribution to its poor accuracy is it's rudimentary sight system and short sight radius. The sights and crude adjustments unlike Western sights that allow for fine tuning, also the longer the sight radius (the distance between the front sight post and rear aperture) the more accurately the shooter can align the sights. Yet again another hinderance in accuracy is the cartridge itself. The 7.62x39mm round is not a flat shooting round. The flight path is very arching, meaning that at various distance the round is high or low, it doesnt shoot just straight and steadily drop like the flatter shooting 5.56 round. The AK-74 is an AK chambered in the 5.45x39mm round that corrects this issue. Lastly and most importantly is the shooter himself. Around the world the AK is known to be in the hands of conscript soldiers who completely lack any basic marksmanship principals. This is probably the biggest reason that AKs are thought to be inaccurate. The AK-47 is a fully capable platform for the trained shooter and more than deadly from 300-500 meters. The AK-74 with its flatter and more predictable shooting cartridge extends that range out to 700m, right there with the M-16. However, I must say that PRACTICAL accuracy is pretty much the same. Man sized targets are not bulls eyes and putting three holes in a space the size of a quarter is the same putting three holes in a 12x12 section of your target.
I am much like the guy in the interview. There are so many AKs from dozens of different countries, and even more factories that have been made in the last 60 years that I find each and every one different and unique.
The black gun that folds is a Kel-Tec Sub 2000. It is in 9mm and take Glock mags. AWESOME and handy little carbine.
There are many misconceptions about the AK.
First and foremost, the AK-47 is chambered in a medium powered cartridge, not all too much different in energy from the 5.56 round the M-16 fires. AKs are all well made. In my opinion there is not much difference in overall quality, accuracy, and reliability between different AKs made by different factories in different countries whether it is a $300 Romanian or $1,000 Arsenal (Bulgarian). Sure some are "prettier" then others but the ability to be used as designed, not so much of a difference. After owning over two dozen different Kalashnikov rifles, I feel I can make that call.
AK-47s are not as accurate as M-16s for a few different reasons. Tien is correct, AKs are not as "tight" as ARs (M-16s). When the AK is firing, its rather sloppy with parts moving around and even flexing to a point. The sloppyness ensures reliability. It was designed this way. The Soviets idea of a soldier is vastly different from the West's where our emphasis on individual marksmanship can be seen. The Soviets needed a weapon that was simple, reliable, and "accurate enough" that poorly trained individual soldiers who couldnt even read could effectively dump lead towards his enemy. Another contribution to its poor accuracy is it's rudimentary sight system and short sight radius. The sights and crude adjustments unlike Western sights that allow for fine tuning, also the longer the sight radius (the distance between the front sight post and rear aperture) the more accurately the shooter can align the sights. Yet again another hinderance in accuracy is the cartridge itself. The 7.62x39mm round is not a flat shooting round. The flight path is very arching, meaning that at various distance the round is high or low, it doesnt shoot just straight and steadily drop like the flatter shooting 5.56 round. The AK-74 is an AK chambered in the 5.45x39mm round that corrects this issue. Lastly and most importantly is the shooter himself. Around the world the AK is known to be in the hands of conscript soldiers who completely lack any basic marksmanship principals. This is probably the biggest reason that AKs are thought to be inaccurate. The AK-47 is a fully capable platform for the trained shooter and more than deadly from 300-500 meters. The AK-74 with its flatter and more predictable shooting cartridge extends that range out to 700m, right there with the M-16. However, I must say that PRACTICAL accuracy is pretty much the same. Man sized targets are not bulls eyes and putting three holes in a space the size of a quarter is the same putting three holes in a 12x12 section of your target.
I am much like the guy in the interview. There are so many AKs from dozens of different countries, and even more factories that have been made in the last 60 years that I find each and every one different and unique.
i love my ak, as well as my ar.
comparing the two is like apples and oranges. two completely different rifles, diff operating systems, diff cartridges.
comparing the two is like apples and oranges. two completely different rifles, diff operating systems, diff cartridges.
yeah I heard the interview as well. Love em'. Best guns I've ever owned.
One other interesting thing. People who analyze foreign policy track the going rate of an AK in war torn regions to determine how likely a hot conflict is. When the average price spikes...it's time to lock and load.
One other interesting thing. People who analyze foreign policy track the going rate of an AK in war torn regions to determine how likely a hot conflict is. When the average price spikes...it's time to lock and load.
@JD7.62: You are correct about the AK and definately know your stuff. I agree that the AK was designed to handle any conditions which is a bonus. In fact, that was a flaw of the M16. The M16 was notorious for jamming up in Vietnam. I love to make my guns as accurate as possible, hence my preference for the AR. However, you make a great point as far as the application of the AK for untrained soldiers needing to hit a torso sized target rather than a quarter. I would love to get an HK (PTR) 91 or an FN sometime soon. However my list is large and I don't even have the cash for the ammo I need as it is...
Very nice collection. I'm a huge fan of all things russian when it comes to guns, whether its an AK, SKS, or Mosin. I've shot ARs and just not been as comfortable with them, I dunno why.
So you would recommend the Sub2000? I've always thought about getting one since their cheap, take a variety of mags, and carbines are fun. But I was always worried that its ability to take mags from different manufacturers might cause feed problems with some of them.
So you would recommend the Sub2000? I've always thought about getting one since their cheap, take a variety of mags, and carbines are fun. But I was always worried that its ability to take mags from different manufacturers might cause feed problems with some of them.
Thalan;4549476; said:
I would HIGHLY recommend the Sub2k. The gun does not take different mags, instead there are different models that take different mags. For example there is one that takes Glock 9mm mags, one that takes Beretta 92 mags and so forth. A Berretta Sub2k will not accept Glock mags and vice versa. Of course I suggest the Glock 9mm version. One because there are easy to get hi-capacity QUALITY mags for Glocks like the Glock 18 mag. Plus, if I remember correctly, 9mm out of a 16" barrel has more energy then a .357 magnum does at the muzzle! Mine is incredibly reliable, two stove pipes out of about 500 rounds and I blame that on the anemic cheap 9mm ammo I was using. The rifle is accurate as well, first day out, with a 33rd g18 mag, at 25 meters I had one hole about an inch and a half in diameter! I was impressed! She fits perfectly in my lap top bag with four G18 mags WITH the computer in it too!
EOD;4549506; said:
Too late...
Nevermind. I just don't really feel like debating about the AK because it just really isn't that interesting. It's a great weapon and has definitely served its purpose in many wars. Check this out you gun nuts. I have more videos but I'm hesitant to post because they show people who may not want to be featured firing weapons that we "attained". Please do not rip these videos and spread them anywhere.
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