AKs

Glenn R. McMannly said:
Unamerican. Communist. The weapon of the enemy. But somehow still respectable:

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I know, I know, but I’m a fan of the Kalashnikov. Rude and crude, but tough as nails and gets the job done.

Anyone else love (or hate) AKs?
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I used to feel this way, and I have a couple of Made in USA "modern sporting rifles". However, a few years ago I found this used Century Arms Romanian/Cugir WASR-10 at a lgs for a great price, so I popped on it. I tore it down, smoothed the internals, changed the trigger pin retainer (shepard's hook spring) to a solid retainer plate, added a new pistol grip and muzzle brake, reworked the safety lever, and refinished the wood. The WASR-10 has performed flawlessly, and is surprisingly accurate out to 200+ meters. 5.56/.223 and 7.62x39 ammo are the most prolific rifle cartridges in the world, so I'm well prepared for any zombie apocalypse or other unforeseen disaster!
 

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As a gun guy, I cycle through the hobby. I haven't done AK's in awhile, but still have a few (mostly SBR's) in the safe.

I actually did purchase a Mini Draco last month, as I wanted something smaller than a 10". But after one range trip, that was defeated when I added a 3 inch KAK blast can. Even outside, the blast from that little 7.75" barrel was ridiculous. I couldn't imagine even attempting to shoot it in an enclosed space.

Here's a few.

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Now an SBR
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No AK's here. Do have an SKS and a AR in the safes. Do not consider them to be anything other than defensive weapons. Others will disagree, but after using a AR for 24 years, they will never be anything but defensive weapon to me. JMHO.
 
SmithNut said:
Get on the stick man... :)
You are missing a lot of fun w/o an FAL... :D

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AK's and AR's are pretty cool, but an FAL is a hoot to shoot, and should be in everyone's safe..
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Had one about 20 years ago. Liked it changed the furniture to wood. Shot not badly in slow fire. But under sustained rapid fire it tended to walk rounds up the target. Got rid of it for a Poly Tech M14S, and have sold that too. For 30 cal I have gone to a M1 Garand.
 
I had no idea these guns were popular. No appeal to me in any way, but our tastes in guns varies considerably. I tried SKS many years ago; much too crude for me but they were fairly accurate with good jacketed bullets and cast bullets. Later tried three Colt ARs. After load development resulting in very good accuracy, I lost interest quickly - now they gather dust.

Enjoy what you shoot, that's more important than most other considerations.
 
rockquarry said:
I had no idea these guns were popular. No appeal to me in any way, but our tastes in guns varies considerably. I tried SKS many years ago; much too crude for me but they were fairly accurate with good jacketed bullets and cast bullets. Later tried three Colt ARs. After load development resulting in very good accuracy, I lost interest quickly - now they gather dust.

Enjoy what you shoot, that's more important than most other considerations.
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You didn't know that the AK47 was popular? You been living under a rock lol? 😆 I'd say worldwide they're more popular AR15s, and they're the second most popular "assult rifle" (air quotes for a reason) in the United States.

There are .223/5.56, 308, 7.62x54r/30-06, 22lr, 9mm, etc AK47s. Aces in their places and the right tool for the job. The 7.62x39 round isn't meant for target shooting or long range shooting. It's a combat round at closer distance. In the role it was designed and meant to be used for, it out shines .223/5.56 IMHO. For practical purposes that any American civilian would need to use a rifle for (self-defense at self-defense distance, barrier penetration, taking down medium 4 legged predators, etc, the 7.62x39 is more than adequate.

If I want a target or long range sniper type of rifle, I would go with an AR or AK round or platform. I'd go with a bolt action in a different caliber altogether.
 
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SmithNut said:
Get on the stick man... :)
You are missing a lot of fun w/o an FAL... :D

424IRh.jpg


AK's and AR's are pretty cool, but an FAL is a hoot to shoot, and should be in everyone's safe..
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Are those DSA Fals? I've heard mixed reviews about them. I just never came across a FAL yet. ARs, AKs, and G3 variants seem to be more plentiful.
 
AJ said:
Had one about 20 years ago. Liked it changed the furniture to wood. Shot not badly in slow fire. But under sustained rapid fire it tended to walk rounds up the target. Got rid of it for a Poly Tech M14S, and have sold that too. For 30 cal I have gone to a M1 Garand.
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According to my FFL buddy who loves FALs, the wandering is usually the result of tight fitting handguards. According to him, they need some free movement in the rear retainer, which doesn't sit well with the OCD folks. I believe the other issue can be the piston tube fitting too tightly between the receiver and the gas assembly.
 
Well Armed said:
You didn't know that the AK47 was popular? You been living under a rock lol? 😆 I'd say worldwide they're more popular AR15s, and they're the second most popular "assult rifle" (air quotes for a reason) in the United States.

There are .223/5.56, 308, 7.62x54r/30-06, 22lr, 9mm, etc AK47s. Aces in their places and the right tool for the job. The 7.62x39 round isn't meant for target shooting or long range shooting. It's a combat round at closer distance. In the role it was designed and meant to be used for, it out shines .223/5.56 IMHO. For practical purposes that any American civilian would need to use a rifle for (self-defense at self-defense distance, barrier penetration, taking down medium 4 legged predators, etc, the 7.62x39 is more than adequate.
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Had I lived under a rock, I'd probably have to come out occasionally and be exposed to these guns. I know many fellow shooters and shoot regularly (twice a week or so) at a large gun club and have for many years. I've never seen an AK47 on the rifle range nor do I know any shooters who own one. That was my sole basis ( and I believe a valid basis) for my comment that I didn't know these guns were popular. I've only seen them on the evening news in faraway places.

I don't recall ever having a need for "barrier penetration" but I may be in a minority on that one, too. Again, enjoy your guns; we all like different stuff.
 
rockquarry said:
Had I lived under a rock, I'd probably have to come out occasionally and be exposed to these guns. I know many fellow shooters and shoot regularly (twice a week or so) at a large gun club and have for many years. I've never seen an AK47 on the rifle range nor do I know any shooters who own one. That was my sole basis ( and I believe a valid basis) for my comment that I didn't know these guns were popular. I've only seen them on the evening news in faraway places.

I don't recall ever having a need for "barrier penetration" but I may be in a minority on that one, too. Again, enjoy your guns; we all like different stuff.
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Where is your range? I am on the mid east coast of Florida. For every 2 AR platforms that I see there is at least one AK or SKS on the line. I do not shoot the weekends but I am willing to bet the ratio is at least one to one, from the brass on the ground and in the scrap barrels.

Only need "barrier penetration" if in the assault, not for home defense. Most anything will penetrate most areas in a house.
 
rockquarry said:
Had I lived under a rock, I'd probably have to come out occasionally and be exposed to these guns. I know many fellow shooters and shoot regularly (twice a week or so) at a large gun club and have for many years. I've never seen an AK47 on the rifle range nor do I know any shooters who own one. That was my sole basis ( and I believe a valid basis) for my comment that I didn't know these guns were popular. I've only seen them on the evening news in faraway places.

I don't recall ever having a need for "barrier penetration" but I may be in a minority on that one, too. Again, enjoy your guns; we all like different stuff.
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I was just giving you a hard time. I've seen them on the news, plenty of social media, talked about with pictures posted regularly on firearm forums, and I see them at the range. Just about each and every of the dozens of gun and pawn shops in my area has AKs on their wall as well.

I reckon I never had the need to put rounds through one hole or make a 300-500+ yard shot or even fire a firearm in self-defense. If I did have to use a rifle in self-defense, I reckon I'd want one that ban bypass barriers that the threat may be behind and still have enough juice left to still do rifle caliber damage.
 
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rockquarry said:
Had I lived under a rock, I'd probably have to come out occasionally and be exposed to these guns. I know many fellow shooters and shoot regularly (twice a week or so) at a large gun club and have for many years. I've never seen an AK47 on the rifle range nor do I know any shooters who own one. That was my sole basis ( and I believe a valid basis) for my comment that I didn't know these guns were popular. I've only seen them on the evening news in faraway places.

I don't recall ever having a need for "barrier penetration" but I may be in a minority on that one, too. Again, enjoy your guns; we all like different stuff.
Click to expand...

You must live in a somewhat insular part of the US or somewhere the AK was banned never to have seen an AK at the range. The Chinese Type 56 clone imports were stupid cheap in the 90s and available at stores like Big 5 in large numbers. This was back in the day of $69.99 Mosins and $109.99 Yugo SKS rifles.
 
LVSteve said:
You must live in a somewhat insular part of the US or somewhere the AK was banned never to have seen an AK at the range. The Chinese Type 56 clone imports were stupid cheap in the 90s and available at stores like Big 5 in large numbers. This was back in the day of $69.99 Mosins and $109.99 Yugo SKS rifles.
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I live in North Texas. Lots of shooters. Maybe the AK 47 shooters come out when I crawl under my rock.
 
I gave my last AK (a heavy Polish underfolder), ammo and mags to a friend's kid on his 18th birthday once it occured to me that the gun and a full chest kit of magazines was a bit much for a guy in his mid-forties to take running up the mountain.
That gift was fifteen years ago, yesterday (as a matter of fact) - one happy kid! I haven't looked back, although I do miss shooting them from time to time.

 
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