PTR 91 vs. AK 47 - which should I chose?

Which should I choose: AK-47, or PTR-91?

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Double-O-Dave

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Good morning:

I must have been a good guy last year as I received some nice money from work (cash incentive awards for special projects and assignments), as well as Christmas cash from the in-laws, and am thinking about adding to the long gun collection.

I've wanted an AK-47 for some time now, but never got around to purchasing one for a variety of reasons. I know of the AK's legendary reputation for ruggedness and reliability, and its reputation for being more of a "bullet hose" than a target rifle.

I'm wondering if I'd be better served with a .308 caliber semi-auto rather than an AK pattern rifle. I've talked to some knowledgeable shooters, and they suggested the PTR-91 over the AR-10 pattern rifles as I'll primarily be using the rifle for target shooting, and maybe some occassional hunting.

The reviews and reports I've read about the PTR-91 are generally favorable, with the exception of the way it flings and damages the brass shell casings.

So, I would appreciate any advice or suggestions my fellow Forum members might have in this matter - which would you choose, and why?

Thank you for your help.

Regards,

Dave
 
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Not much help for an answer to your question but having owned HK's, Cetmes, FAL's, M1A's, etc. and from what little I know, I think the ptr is a nice copy of the HK.
I don't recall and am just curious, but does the ptr have a fluted chamber like the HK does? It certainly marks the brass.
Having also owned a variety of AK's, I think every red-blooded American should have one.
 
Well, if you really want a AK, nothing else will do. The 91 and its variants are bigger, heavier, much more powerful, and much more expensive to shoot, though that last thing could change somewhat in the future.

I am not a fan of the 91/91-pattern rifles. They are a bit like Glocks, in my view. They work, and do so quite well, but I would walk past a pile of them for an M-1A of the flavor I preferred, whether it be full-length rifle or one of the shorter versions. It is over-simplifying but think, "Glock vs. 1911." :D

As to reloading "91-ed" brass, forget it. Yes, it can be done, but it will not be pretty. I have even heard people say 91s are easier on brass than M-1As. That may be, I don't know, but the cases are sure a mess when a 91 is done with them.

I think your choice has to start with the cartridge. If the 7.62x39 is what you really want, the choice is clear. If you want a 7.62x51, then I would be looking elsewhere.

One final thought - have you considered a Mini-30? It is no AK, and you are limited by the available factory magazines, but they are really handy little rifles in the 7.62x39 caliber - and American-made, if that matters to you.
 
They are so completely different that it's like asking should I get a Honda Civic or a Ford monster truck.

Neither of the two are target rifles. And both will do a steady 3moa. The PTR had a good idea if only they stuck with the original German design. Generally they are ok and function with the exception of those that had the chamber flutes redesigned. The caliber goes further and hits harder but is more expensive to shoot. Their biggest problem are the rollers. They need replacement otherwise your headspace opens up. They also fling brass into the next zip code....if you like to reload prepare to go scavenger hunting

The AK is not the bullet hose people make it out to be. I can keep hitting the center mass of a target at 300 yards with iron sights all day long with boring repetivness. Ammo is cheaper, gun is lighter and easier to handle. The down side is that it's not a bench rifle....if that's how you like to shoot. And the fact that quite a lot of US companies have been making sub par rifles using parts kits. I would consider the AK overall more durable rifle if using surplus parts.

Neither are easy to scope but most AKs come with a side rail but you do need specific rail mounts....which are easily available.

The two biggest things with these legacy rifles (to include FALs) is to know what you're buying. There is a lot of cool looking but useless and ultimately poorly made aftermarket parts

For me personally I don't like to sit at a bench and I do man handle my guns so I'd stick with the AK. My 308 is a FAL
 
Why have you discounted an AR-10 style rifle? The past couple years have really shown the ARs in .308 to come into their own. In my opinion, S&W markets one of the best to be had currently.

I would stay away from the PTR because I am a reloader. Thanks to MagPul AR-10 magazines are cheap and plentiful now. Go for an AR-10.
 
Russian variants of the AKM offer .308 in an AK platform. The Saiga, made in Izhevsk, and the Vepr, made in Vyatskie Polyany, offer a wide range of calibers. The Super Vepr in .308 will dent all brass, but the brass clears and is ejected with authority. I use a Saiga IZ-137, which has the 16.3" barrel and shoots 308s, for walking the woods and would feel quite confident with the standard 8 round factory magazines. I use the Vepr when sitting.

The Vepr is a step up in design and comes with wood furniture. RPK-designed and a much stiffer spring assembly, they cost a bit more. The Saiga is the one to throw in the mud and shoot.

Never had the desire to own a PTR-91 after shooting and handling the Saigas and Veprs. Good luck.
 
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Bud Jr. said:
Russian variants of the AKM offer .308 in an AK platform. The Saiga, made in Izhevsk, and the Vepr, made in Vyatskie Polyany, offer a wide range of calibers. The Super Vepr in .308 will dent all brass, but the brass clears and is ejected with authority. I use a Saiga IZ-137, which has the 16.3" barrel and shoots 308s, for walking the woods and would feel quite confident with the standard 8 round factory magazines. I use the Vepr when sitting.

The Vepr is a step up in design and comes with wood furniture. RPK-designed and a much stiffer spring assembly, they cost a bit more. The Saiga is the one to throw in the mud and shoot.

Never had the desire to own a PTR-91 after shooting and handling the Saigas and Veprs. Good luck.
Click to expand...
I run a Vepr 5.45 that's been debanned. Zero recoil and accurate
 
I went thru a "Black Rifle" phase years back, and have owned, or extensively shot most of these type weapons.

My take on the AK... Functional combat rifle with poor sights. Not very accurate, though accurate enough to do what it was built for. Poor trigger on most. Easy to scope with receiver side mounts. Cheap, available ammo.

The CETME / PTR-91 / HK-91 series....Also very reliable and functional. Better fit and finish than most AK's, better triggers, more accurate, heavier, nicer ergos. Much better sights with the rotating drum peep sight. Scope mounting is easy with the proper claw type mount. Fluted chambers, so they do mark up brass. The roller lock action seldom needs any repair, and checking headspace is easy with a feeler gauge. The PTR-91, belonging to a friend, was just as well made and accurate as my HK-91, and frankly a steal at the $800 / $900 range they are available for. The take cheap surplus aluminum HK mags at about $3.00 each.

AR-10......Varies by manufacturer, but most are reliable and well made, accurate, with good triggers. I have an Armalite AR-10t, and it is a 1/2 inch gun with a sweet trigger.

M1a......Nice balance, well made, very shootable. Nice trigger and sights. Accurate and reliable. I have owned several, and both are under 1 inch rifles with the right ammo. Neither has beat up the brass to the point it effects reloading. Scope mounting requires a good mount, like the ARMS mount I use on mine.

Out of the dozen or so big bore battle rifles I have owned, I have kept the AR-10t, a CETME, and an M1a. Sold my HK-91 for big bucks, as the CETME is just as reliable, and more accurate, a 1 inch gun, believe it or not.

Larry
 
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M29since14 said:
Rangemaster has some good points, particularly about the magazines, but an S&W M&P10 is a lot more bucks.
Click to expand...

And...correct me if I'm wrong, but AR10 mags do not work in the S&W10.
It uses proprietary mags and parts. It will
accept the magpuls though, which are used in the Remington's.
 
I vote for a high end AK. A Krebs' tuned Arsenal goes for $2K, and is well worth the investment. Arsenal SAMs run $1,300+/-, and are also excellent. 7.62x39 ammo is as cheap as it was pre-2013 panic.

If I was to go the .308 route, I would buy a SOCOM 16 a second time. Had one and sold it ... the most accurate rifle I've ever owned.
 
I have Armalite AR10's, R25 Remington, Ak's, HK91, PTR91,cetme's, and I pick the PTR. I have been reloading from the HK variants for many years with no problems. And no, the Armalite mags will not work in anything else.
 
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I've had an HK 91 and did not like the recoil impulse. I don't know how to describe it, but, to me, it feels different. I don't like shooting them.

If I didn't already have a pre ban AK (actually a couple) I'd be looking for a NORINCO or Polytech AK. They're Chicom military AKs without the selector. Some of the best and collectable at the same time.

There's the Zastava M77 .308 AK. It comes with a thumbhole stock but that can be changed out. Although it takes it's own magazines, M14/M1A mags can be modified with a dremel, and a steady hand. They are like $519 at Classic.
 
If you don't already have an ak, I would go with ak. Cheap to shoot and reliable.
 
I vote the AK but you have to do research for the right one for you. You could spend 1000 on one and it may not shoot better than one that is 600.
I do not have any trust in the PTR series. They have been made for many years with varying quality.
 
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