AK-47: The Ultimate Resistance Rifle

Originally posted by DarkStormCrow
reply to post by EyesWideShut

 

The AK is more likely to crack than the AR, I have fixed enough to know that this is the case

My statement was more for folks to be careful when buying an AK because there is some garbage out there.
As far as being on the business end of one, I have been on multiple occasions with a purple heart to prove it. So I dont need to be lectured on that.
I will still take an M1A or an M14 over an AK or an AR.
The AK is a KISS weapon and in that it excels, but this mythology that the AK doesnt break and is some kind super weapon is just that mythology.

[edit on 9/23/2009 by DarkStormCrow]

I'm a show me type person , I need actual tangible evidence that this is the case... (because I've honestly never seen it) It has nothing to do with you , I'm the same way when someone says they've been abducted by aliens. I don't take things that don't sound logical (in my experience) at face value. That being said you being a smith and all , maybe you've seen more cracked AK's than I have.

I don't know who is talking about the ak as a super weapon , All I know Is from my "Personal experience" The AK does everything I would want in an Assault Rifle & EVERYTHING breaks eventually , I'm hard on my gear and It has held up. THE M14 was and IS a Great Rifle and I'm still not sure why they got rid of it (Although some DM's in the Corps still use em) And I too would take one over an AK or AR. My CETME runs a close second to my AK though. The 5.56 and 7.62x39 are intermediate cartridges... the 7.62x51 is the only TRUE caliber for a MBR.

Thank you for your service by the way DSC.

Hmm I dunno it is a great choice but I would take a G36KV any day... as for your m16 vs Kalashnikova battle the m16 would lose against pretty much ANY similar, see HK416 vs M16 trials, if you want an M4 style weapon def. go for an HK416 or HK417.

reply to post by hotrodturbo7

spot on

Originally posted by Ridhya
Hmm I dunno it is a great choice but I would take a G36KV any day... as for your m16 vs Kalashnikova battle the m16 would lose against pretty much ANY similar, see HK416 vs M16 trials, if you want an M4 style weapon def. go for an HK416 or HK417.

The Civie version of the HK416 is the MR556 (5.56×45mm) and the Civie version of the HK417 is the MR762 (7.62×51mm). Both should be available from HK by the end of the year. I'd love to fire a couple of boxes of ammo through either of those but with a price tag of $3500-9000 that puts them in a totally different ballpark than the AK47. Prices are steep on AK47s since Obama got voted into office, but they aren't anywhere near *THAT* steep!

Hoooly!! I had no idea, mine was *free* haha, but I will tell you, even at the price of a car it would be worth it... can you put a price on life? They even work after submerged... did not know there is a civilian variety thanks!

Tribute to the AK-47



Great movie.

When it really comes down to it, when I need to use a weapon for survival I will take reliability over losing a little accuracy.

I have several from a Pre-ban Chinese Norinco, Yugo M70, Sagia .223. I love them, they will eat anything. Perfect simplicity.

Edit: Video link not working

[edit on 24-9-2009 by VAPatriot]

[edit on 24-9-2009 by VAPatriot]

[edit on 24-9-2009 by VAPatriot]

reply to post by Thumb


Thanks for that one Thumb. I guess I have to get better!!!

reply to post by sanchoearlyjones


I love gun talk. I just wanted to correct the errors.. since it can matter if someone goes to load a .223 into an AK 74.. I doubt that would be a very fun thing to do with your weapon

I love my AK.. because I can go out and shoot it, and then only have to worry about cleaning the bore right away. With the rest of the gun, it's easy to find replacement parts. So far, mine has performed well.. but thats because I payed the extra 150 for a good one at the time.

My only gripe left with the AK is the sights. The sights are terrible. Although I have heard they can be replaced with better ones.

Fortunately it is easy to change the stock and grip. I bought a package from ATI.. Unfortunately the fore grip did not fit mine,,but the rest of the package is good.

reply to post by Miraj


You bring up a great point with loading the wrong ammo into Your weapon, and that is more than just the wrong caliber, now.

Just like someone brought up the 45-70 as being popular again. One reason it has regained popularity is that the modern firearms can handle increased pressures; around 3 times what intially designed for.

One of the only older weapons that I know of that were designed for super hot loads was the German Mauser. In WW 2 from what I understand they were shooting a 190gr. bullet out at around 2,900fps. I know smoking hot. The ammo manufacturers from what I understand made the ammo the same between the mauser, and their machine guns MG42

There are other hot loads like plus P that'll take a toll on a firearms not designed...... I guess all in all it's very important to know Your weapon

Originally posted by WhiteDevil013


I know its hard not to feel for places in the world plagued by social strife, and genocide, but always remember guns dont pull their own triggers, people kill people. This has been going on in the world probably as long as its been inhabited. At one time clubs, swords, spears, and bow and arrows were just as feared as an AK.

Hacking someone to death with a machete is still very much in vogue in some places.

reply to post by praxis


Interestingly enough the machete attacks occcur where guns are not permitted; You won't here me talk bad about Central America very much, but machete attacks aren't that uncommon

Great thread -- informative and lots of info.

A few questions: What brands and models of AK are the best? What brands and models are the worst?

Not much experience with the AK47.
Mainly because my pal and I own SKS'.


Another friend owns an AK47 and we found that the AK would fire ammunition the SKS' wouldn't.


Brown Bear was the recalcitrant brand, it's reported to have an overly hard primer.
Primer strikes from my SKS look light, but with other brands of ammo they look normal.

I could not fire one round of the Brown Bear.


This is with an SKS in excellent condition and it's one of the ones that cost $50. extra for a better condition weapon.
Advertised as like new and mine looks very new.

My pal opted for the regular price SKS and his looks a little beat up and the wood is darker, but it functions well with the standard 10 round magazine.

His would fire 2-3 out of 10 rounds of Brown Bear.


If you're familiar with SKS' you know they have a floating firing pin and if you don't get all the cosmoline out you may not get a good firing strike.

Both SKS' have been well cleaned and the firing pin rattles inside the bolt like it should.

Both rifles have functioned 100% with other brands of surplus ammo.


The aftermarket 20 round magazine my pal got for his SKS doesnt' function well with any ammo.

I'm sticking with the 10 round stripper clips with mine and so far my pal hasn't tried to use the 20 rounder again.
This, after a couple different days of trying.


The big surprise was that our friends AK47 chewed up and spit out the Brown Bear ammo with no problems.


Chalk one up for the AK.

And yeah, we're thinking about getting one....

[edit on 24/9/2009 by Desert Dawg]

I guess you've never sat behind an M2 browning 50 cal, because that gun will put more blood in your dick then jenna jamison. But in all honesty I've finally decided what weapons I plan on owning by the end of the year, both of them made right here in the god damn USA.
The first one I'll be buying will be to satisfy my love of hitting targets at range, ladies and gentleman the Barret model 95:www.barrettrifles.com... not too many vehicles can repel the hit of a 50 cal, it's a one shot kill round for both vehicles and humans.
The second will be for more close up engagements: www.barrettrifles.com... the rec7 is an "m4" style weapon, basically a small assault rifle but using the 6.8 SPC round.
Dude I've shot everything from an M16A2 to an A4 to the m240B to the M249 to the ak47 and I can tell you you're not going to want to carry the extra weight of the 7.62 rounds for the amount of punch you can get from a 5.56. See the 5.56 round flies faster, and it's lite, when it penetrates your body it won't go straight through in fact it will bounce around your torso like a pin ball machine. Also most ak47s these days are chinese copies which are about as dependable as dog#, and quite frankly 99% of the world wouldn't know the difference until its to goddamn late.

reply to post by bra1nwash


I got to fire a couple of Rounds Through the SASR when our STAY platoon had to chew through the rest of their ammo after RIMPAC. My only question is where are you gonna shoot that thing? I'm in Jersey and there isn't a range in the state that you can use a 50 Cal.

reply to post by EyesWideShut


I know some people in upstate NY and there aren't any cops or anything, my one friend has one we shoot it on his prop, he's got a good 500 acres.

I can't believe no-one has mentioned the Czech VZ-58 as an alternative to the AK-47. In many ways it is a better weapon, and it uses the same round. The weapon was so good that they were the only country to be allowed by the Russians to keep making their own firearms, and to this day it is the Czech military rifle in several forms.

Here in Canada the CZ-858, the non-restricted semi-auto version of the VZ-58, is very well entrenched along with parts and accessories galore. It is an absolute rock of a firearm, and quite reasonable. The Czech 7.62 surplus ammo is also the ONLY surplus you can get in Canada, don't forget we have no access to any surplus NATO stuff like you guys do in the US. No Wolf, no Norinco either. Other than the fact that you have to give your gun a bubble bath the Czech military surplus is still top notch stuff and dirt cheap.

ps. The gun the Vietnamese sniper was using in Full Metal Jacket was in fact a VZ-58, the Czechs sold a lot to SE Asia....

world.guns.ru...

en.wikipedia.org...

www.youtube.com...

I strongly encourage Canadians to look into getting ahold of one of these, along with a bag of assorted springs and parts and a second one when you are ready. Cases of 7.62 are still out there as well. It is the perfect SHTF go to rifle and will bring down a deer to feed the family nooooo problem.

reply to post by bra1nwash


Cool , I wish we had Places like that In Jersey. I either have to go to NY or PA to get decent range time.

reply to post by bra1nwash


Those two are great guns, if you have the money. Which I don't.

The gun is expensive, the ammo is expensive, and I'd be willing to bet the magazines are also expensive.

You should be forewarned, that 6.8mm is not something that's widely produced like the 5.56 or the 7.62.

Most of the AKs in the american market are made in Romania. Well, half of them are.

There still exists an assault weapons ban on imported rifles. Which means they half to make about half of the rifle in the US. My own AK has a lot of it's internals from a military kit from the Romanian military and several of the pieces made here in the US (Barrel, receiver, several other parts as well)

But if I ever get the money, I'm definantly going after that Rec 7. Or an HK416.

reply to post by sanchoearlyjones


All that you say about the AK and its variants are true. Not having an "assault rifle" because I am in the 52.?% unemployed category and over 60 means that I am going to have to use age and treachery to seperate a 19 or 20 something from his weapon. The hard part is going to pick a "victim" with size 10 shoes and and a 36 waist !!! In a previous life time I achieved "proficency" with the Stoner and its variants. When the opportunity arises I will "upgrade". The best weapon is the one in your hand. Use it lethaly !!!

2nd line ... Revolution mid October ... Snow early in November ... Mass graves in December ...

A gun thread without pics is useless! I don't want to just HEAR about your weapons, I want to SEE them.

Here's 2 of my AKs.

The red one is a refinished Romanian WASR 10/63. The Black one is a Russian Saiga 7.62.










[edit on 9/28/2009 by loki41872]