AR-15 or AK-47?

[Dynasty]

I went to my friend's farm the other day to shoot some guns. It was my first time shooting an AR-15 and an AK-47 and I enjoyed both very much. I plan on starting my own gun collection when I turn 18 in a few months and I want either the A5-15 or the AK-47 in it. I plan on going back to my friend's farm to shoot some more and compare the two rifles even more, but in the mean time what would be more accurate up to 100 yards, easier to maintain, shoots cheaper and more readily available ammo, reliable, and more fun to shoot?

Here are the pros and cons of each IMO...

AR-15

Pros- light, accurate (scope at 25 yards), little recoil, feels good in the hands, fire power, easy to shoot

Cons- price (min. I found was $600 NEW)

AK-47

Pros- parts available everywhere, reliability, fire power, price (min I found was $350 NEW)

Cons- heavier than AR-15, accuracy? (no scope, iron sights), more recoil

I would like to hear your opinions/experiences with each rifle. I hope it will help me decide. Both were a blast to shoot !

 

[Joe Demko]

If you use the search function, you'll find enough on that topic, on this board alone, to keep you busy reading until you are 18.

 

[Deer Hunter]

I nearly soiled myself when I saw the topic of this thread....

 

[nalioth]

If you use the search function, you'll find enough on that topic, on this board alone, to keep you busy reading until you are 18.

... and if you are a quick reader, this is probably the MOST discussed topic on any gun forum.

You can assemble your own AR15 for less than $600, btw.

 

[Never No More]

Son please call them AKS not AK-47s.

Two different firearms. You will never hold nor see a ak-47.

Now on your choice matter. Firearms are tools, get the right tool for the job.
What you intend on using it for, is what dictates what you own.

Being you are young and inexperinced, Id say the AKS is a better choice. They are WAY more forgiving.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Who cares about the semantics of AK-47 or whatever... I call my M4gery an M4. It's not a real M4, but who cares?

As for which to get between an AK or an AR. It is a personal choice. You should have a great idea of which you would prefer just by shooting them.

One of the things that I don't like about the AK is the ergonomics are worse than anything else I can even think of. It just feels clumsy and awkward to me as well. controls are in strange places and this makes them harder to do mag changes and things like that.

The AR is the opposite. The controls are placed in intuitive places. Mag changes take half the time.

The AK is LESS accurate, the AR is a bit LESS reliable, but these two negatives are often highly exaggerated by those who dislike the other platform.

Like I said, it is a personal choice. Both will serve their owners well.

Good luck.

 

[W.E.G.]

You will never hold nor see a ak-47.

Really?

None of that sort of stuff in the 50 states eh?

I must have been hallucinating. Although, it wasn't signed by that Mikhael dude. So maybe I was confused. Or maybe we're just splitting hairs.



Classes are available. Bring your checkbook.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Kalashnikov rifle chambered in 7.62x39 -- AK-47, semantics be damned liked RockyMtnTactical suggested. Just saying "AK" instantly begs the question of caliber, barrel length, etc etc etc. AK-47 or AK-74 thumbnails that answer very well, even if the "right" answer should be "Kit built Kbk wzor 88 Polish 5.45x39 semi-auto rifle" or whatever.

Also like he said, there are pluses and minuses to both designs. The AR is a superior fighting rifle in terms of ergonomics and use, but the AK has its strengths. Shooting both, and seeing what your gun budget is, are both good ideas. Whichever you pick, take the time and money to get good with it -- defensive carbine courses are a good idea if you can afford the class fees and ammo. Even if the AR is a better fighting weapon, a guy who knows how to run an AK is quite a bit better off than a guy with an AR whose main skill is hitting a coke can pretty reliably at 10-20 meters.

Now one strength on the AK side did catch my eye:

Pros- parts available everywhere

Here in the US, parts availability favors the AR-15 in a big way. AK parts aren't hard to find, but the number of people producing both stock parts and aftermarket goodies for AR-15s is staggering comparatively.

 

[inherentical]

Classes are available. Bring your checkbook.

Cripes, you look like a friendly bunch. Remind me not to run into you guys in a dark alley!

 

[HorseSoldier]

Really?

None of that sort of stuff in the 50 states eh?

I must have been hallucinating. Although, it wasn't signed by that Mikhael dude. So maybe I was confused. Or maybe we're just splitting hairs.

This one has both flavors on its selector lever. My understanding is it was legally imported by Magua Industries, but when that guy was busted by the ATF for other illegal weapons imports, his inventory got turned over to the military for use as training weapons. Made it into the US in an aboveboard fashion, anyway.

 

[MIL-DOT]

i have, and love, both. for most situations, i'd take the AK.

 

[RaferJanders]

The AK

 

[Snapping Twig]

Like the others have said, it's a horse race, each having it's own set of spots and high points.

How about a Ruger Mini? They come in both calibers, use a modified Garrand action and can be had used at a fair price.


My personal opinion...

AR is the better rifle in terms of hitting what you're aiming at hands down.

AK can shoot under any condition, clean, dirty, frozen, neglected.

AR round is too small for me, you can't hunt with it, so other than paper ventilation, ground squirrels or social work, it's not so useful. I'm never going to face zombie attack, so rule out the social work and you're left with paper and pest control.

AK round is .30 cal and just about identical ballistically to the venerable 30-30. Hunting, paper ventilation and general plinking, good to go.

Get a Ruger mini and the 7.62 X 39 can be hand loaded pretty accurately, not MOA, but MO Paper Plate and that's good enough for hunting. The Mini with .223 is equally accurate, but this falls under the AR in terms of accuracy.

I recently saw a SS/plastic Mini 14, scoped for $500 OTD, so the deals are there if you look.

You have time, so research all forms of rifle and you might even find that a Remington semi or a Browning semi in a nice caliber suits your needs and will never be on an endangered list or shunned by the public and will offer accuracy and hunting potential. Hell, even a nice bolt gun.

Good luck with your search.

 

[pdowg881]

I don't think criticizing him for saying Ak because "You will never hold nor see a ak-47." Makes any sense. I have never shot an AR-15 or AK clone, but I've shot a lot of AKs and M-16's. And I'm talking priavtely owned.

But yeah, do a search. Most debated firarms topic out there. Both have pro's and cons.

 

[JWarren]

Adding to the advice here....


What do you want the firearm to do?

What ranges are we talking about?


In my situation where I like my long guns to be able to hunt, there really isn't a game animal that I can legally hunt with a 5.56 AR-15. However, my AK's have been great "brush" deer rifles (using low capacity magazines)

So, for me an AK comes out ahead in utility. That's not to say that I don't plan on getting another AR one day, but I assure you I'll be tossing on a 6.8SPC upper most of the time.


-- John

 

[MudPuppy]

I call 'em AKs or AK-47s, and I most certainly have seen, held, and even fired the real deal. If people I'm talking to care to know the difference, I'll happily talk for hours on the subject...if they don't care I'll not be a jackass and waste their time.

Sometimes I even call a magazine a clip--surprisingly, the "gun" works.

BTW, I knew a lot of inexperienced guys shooting targets at 300 yards within a week.

For the OP, no one can tell you what is best for you--you've shot them both, use the search feature and you'll find the basic questions answered.

 

[baz]

Take a look at the Saiga before you make up your mind. It is an AK, but can be had in .223 or .308. The stock version is a sporter, not an assault configuration, but there are plenty of ways to trick it out in the latter. I let Tromix do it for me -- got it in .223, from "our own" fbmginc -- but you can get the Sporter for ~$300 (listed price is less, but you've got to factor shipping and FFL charges in), and trick it out yourself. If I were young, and $$$ were a factor, this is something I'd look into. Hey, I'm old, and $$$ is still a factor.

 

[JWarren]

I'm never going to face zombie attack

Sure, we all say that now....

-- John

 

[Slugless]

Up to 100 yds?

Up to 100 yards, I'd take the AK, somewhat grudgingly, especially for farm duty. I would hardly care if it got left out in the rain, got hay dust all over/in it, whatever. When I was 18 my firearm maintenance skills were, well, I'm embarrassed by it now. An AK can handle it (but read up on that stuff anyway)

A friend recently bought a folding stock tantal type yugo, $450 at a Houston gun show. It took a little while to get good with it - the left horn of the front sight protector is a little buggered, messes w/ sight picture(1) & the rifle seemed to break in after a couple hundred rounds.

Now that we & the AK have come to an understanding, I was pleasantly surprised to find out it works just fine at 100 yards. We bounce / shred beer cans at 65 yards and I miss a little more often w/the AK. But not much.

We did two things for that weapon: 1. put on peep sights, mojo I think. 2. Fed it Wolf Classic, not regular Wolf. Haven't tried it with brass case ammo, I'm saving that for the zombies.

 

[jay43]

the ak is cheaper and very reliable, personaly im an AR guy being an american you know, maybe I'm biased I don't know, no but seriously. the AR's are a little more money but they are just so versatal. you can take one lower and transform it from a tricked out close quartes combat gun to a sub moa 600yrd shooter in minutes. it at all depends on what you want to do with it

 

[JWarren]

personaly im an AR guy being an american you know

Probably not a road you want to go down here. The gun doesn't make the American regardless of what some may think. I have AKs, and NO ARs and I'd challenge anyone to refute my "American-ness."


-- John

 

[jay43]

not questioning anyone's americaness on whether they the like ak's or ars. i just like the ar better. I know the ak is a great gun and a widly used gun world wide. they just all seem crude, but they are reliable. K.I.S.S. i quess right

 

[atblis]

Are you only allowed to own one rifle?

Buy one of each, and then go out and buy some more. BTW, there are other rifles. The Daewoo is one that comes to mind that often gets overlooked.

I started out thinking the AK would be more amusing, but after having shot for a while, I've found that I in fact find the AR more amusing.
Newb = blasting crap at 50 yards is fun.
Experience = hitting stuff at long range with irons is more fun.

EDIT: One thing that everbody fails to mention is that the AR is a much more durable rifle. It'll take a pounding. A nice addition to that is that the barrels are really easy to change. People seem to always take exception to this assertion, but they always confuse reliability and durability. An AR will out last an AK in sheer round count.

 

[hank327]

Why limit yourself to one or the other. Get both! I understand that you probably can't afford to by both at the same time (I know I can't ). However you can pick the one that most tickles your fancy to buy first and add the other latter on down the road. They are both great rifles.

 

[Slugless]

Daewoo

Okay, I'll bite on that one.

The Daewoo is an AR-type gas piston rifle, designed for the Korean Army to replace M16A1s. Been mistaken at the range for an AR-180.

I like my Daewoo DR200 better than my 2 AR's. Mainly because I shoot it better, both bench & offhand. I don't know how accurate it is because my bench setup & my bench technique suck. But when a call goes out for a tackdriver, I reach for either the Daewoo or the Swedish Mauser, not an AR.

Rugged, accepts most AR-15 mags (strangely not the latest Bushmaster curved 20 rounders). Reliable, although it's a bit sensitive to a cartridge being a little forward in the magazine. Peep sights like the FAL, easy to use. Easier to clean than the other rifles.

Dynasty, if you're interested in the Daewoo, check out gunsamerica.com. There's one for $650, others around $800. The weird ARB thumbhole stock can be replaced by an ACE M4 style stock for not too much money. Spare parts? CNCWarrior makes some.