AK vs AR

[Hoser]

This Sunday, 26 November, will be the Bi-Annual AK vs AR match in Pueblo.

Plan on shooting either or both guns for the same low match fee. $15.

The match starts around 10:00 and should wrap up around 2:30-3:00.

The last time it was almost a draw on which was better.

Just be sure to leave that steel core ammo at home. Its reallly friggin hard on our steel targets.

For more details, contact me here or via PM.

 

[SoCalShooter]

Thats really cool, how many of these matches have you been to and how well does the AK do?

 

[Glockfan.45]

What testing methods do you use? To really compare the AK to the AR you would need to simulate real combat conditions for example a dirty rifle with little maintenance. Or a poorly trained (noob shooter) using it. Dont get me wrong I am not an AR basher I own one and enjoy it, but I would love to show up with my beat up WASR10 and give the AR a run for its money .

 

[1 old 0311]

No controversy there.

 

[Gary G23]

AK's are slow to reload and slow to get the safety off compared to an AR IMO.

 

[Hoser]

Thats really cool, how many of these matches have you been to and how well does the AK do?

This is the second one that we have put on. For the close in stuff, its about a tie. Even with the slower reloads and shorter sight radius. When the targets start getting past 250-300 yards, the ARs better trigger and better sights start winning. We might do a CQB stage, not sure yet.

What testing methods do you use?

This is just an IPSC match using rifles. Targets start around 100 yards and go out to 425 yards. Most all of it reactive steel.

To really compare the AK to the AR you would need to simulate real combat conditions

After spending a pretty good chunk of the past five years deployed overseas, the last thing I want to simulate on my days off is Combat. Till you are bleeding or the targets shoot back, you arent simulating anything. You are just pretending. Maybe the title of this thread should have been, AK vs AR. Whats better for IPSC Rifle? In the end, its the Indian not the Arrow, or whatever cute little phrase you want to use.

but I would love to show up with my beat up WASR10 and give the AR a run for its money

Come on out. Your match fee is on me.

Zak made it down for the last one, but I cant remember if he shot both guns or not. Zak? Wasnt that the Denver Blizzard Match?

 

[Zak Smith]

It may have been. Nothing like turning a 3 hour drive into 5!

If I get enough work done before Sunday, I'll be there, borrowing someone else's AK again. Is this where I feel shame for not owning an AK ?!?!

-z

 

[Hoser]

Is this where I feel shame for not owning an AK ?!?!

Makes two of us...

 

[Glockfan.45]

Hoser said: Come on out. Your match fee is on me.

Does that include my plane ticket?

 

[CZ52GUY]

AK vs AR for IPSC competition

AR generally stomps AK in our Carbine matches. I like to pull out my Commie Rifles as a "heavy bat" for practice (think on-deck circle).

I've worked pretty hard at it, and on a good day I can give the best shooters in our little group a real run for their money with one of my AK's against their AR's. I find that I really have to focus on my game, reload when I want to, not when I have to (which can very much negate the reloading disadvantage to the AR). The additional mental focus I need to employ to stay focused helps me when I switch back to the AR.

Out to 25-50 yards I think I could stay with the top 5% on most days...beyond that, the stage design we generally employ makes it hard for me to stay with the little Black Rifles (so I join them ).

If you have a Commie Rifle, I'd encourage you to bring it out to a match on occasion. It really makes you think through your strategy and work hard to run the stages clean, which can help you elevate your results over the long haul.

Safe Shooting,

CZ52'

 

[Justin]

So, how was the match? I'd given some thought to attending, but was all lazy and recovering from a Bullseye match. (Yeah, lame excuse, but there it is.)

 

[Zak Smith]

The match was hard, as usual. Results are still pending.

Picture are here. I was in the mostly "shooting one gun only" squad, so there aren't that many AK pics--
http://demigod.org/~zak/DigiCam/PRM-2006.11/

 

[Justin]

Looks like a good time.

Couple of Questions:
Floated barrel a good idea?
Also, recommendation for bullet weight? Will 55 grain stuff get out there with any accuracy, or would it be better to have 55 grain hosing ammo and 68-77 grain stuff from anything past 200ish yards?

 

[SamTuckerMTNMAN]

sks to ak

I enjoy shooting my sks...I shot an ak once and personally I like my sks better for a few reasons, price being one. Does anyone else have a feeling on this. If you answering you prob know this, but the sks was the early prototype for the ak, semi-auto, must be modified for detachable mags, but with determination fairly quick. My sk has compact scope, flash hider/muzzle compensator and no bayo.

ST

 

[Zak Smith]

Justin,

The smallest/furthest target is a LaRue at 415 yards, which is still multiple MOA in size.

XM193 will knock over that LaRue, and get there without much drama.

Optics recommended, floated barrel not required but most of us run them, and heavy ammo will generally drift less but drop more, and will "indicate" faster on the reactive steel targets.

I shot this match with a bone-stock A2 shooting XM and did OK.

-z

 

[Justin]

Hm. Sounds like my setup would be alright.

The operator, on the other hand, might leave something to be desired...

 

[10-Ring]

Sounds like a really good time! Have fun for me!

 

[Hoser]

Its on again in 2008. 28 October. Lets see if people are willing to try it again this year.

 

[MrTwigg]

Sounds like fun. Wish I could get out there.

 

[Justin]

I'm planning on going this year.

 

[Zak Smith]

Hoser couldn't make it due to some hero-type job stuff.

Here are some of the photos we got:

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Lessons re-learned:

* AKs are not necessarily more reliable than AR's
* AK sights suck
* It's way easier to make hits with a stock AR-15A2 than an AK.
* Reloads on an AK suck
* At anything beyond "across the room distances", the AK is less than 25% as capable as a modern AR (comparing shooter times and stage difficulty)

 

[Justin]

The match was a blast.

I wasn't squadded with Zak, so unfortunately no hero shots of me.

(Or pics of me fumbling the frickin' reload on the second stage when I had a FTE.)

 

[Hoser]

Hoser couldn't make it due to some hero-type job stuff.

Wildland Firefighting is one of the few things I enjoy more than shooting.

Looks like you guys had fun. See you soon.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

I would love to go out there and let my SKS give y'all a nice showing. The trick to mounting optics is to find a spare receiver cover that you don't care about at all, take it to a machine shop(I love engineering school), and then after it is fitted perfectly weld a mount to it. It takes a hammer and punch to get it off now, but it keeps zero.