AR or AK: What's you're preferred EBR?

AR or AK: Which platform do you prefer?

  • AR

    Votes: 49 47.6%

  • AK

    Votes: 45 43.7%

  • Other

    Votes: 9 8.7%
  • Total voters
    103
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GunNut

GunNut

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Now, having both an AR and a MAK90 in .223, I'm wondering what is the preferred platform for others.

Let's assume that we are only talking about .223 and 7.62x39 versions.

My first impression shooting both rifles is that the AK platform may be a little quicker on double taps.

I think that I'm beginning to think that I may prefer the AK platform.

Now, I'm on the lookout for a 7.62x39 MAK90 or AK47.

So, which do you prefer and why?

Steve
 
I'm no expert marksman, and I've never been trained in the military. The AR may or may not, in its current state, be a reliable, well-rounded weapon. However, I KNOW that the AK is utterly reliable. I KNOW it will not jam. Being as such, I choose the AK.
 
I prefer the AK, because I think it fills my needs better. I formerly owned a Bushmaster Dissipator. I also owned a SAR-1 and currently own a Saiga Sporter in 7.62x39 converted to an AK-103 clone.

I like the simiplicity of the Kalashnikov action, which if you look at it, is to a large extent a derivative of the Garand. I'm not saying that the AR's more complex action is not reliable, but it is easier to keep the AK functioning than the AR.

The AR has a significant edge when it comes to accuracy, but for my needs that is neither here nor there. The AK is accurate enough for my needs. The AR's ergonomics are better than the AK's. AK magazines are infinitely more robust than AR mags.

If you get an AK with the side rail scope mount on the left side of the receiver, it's a wash between the two for mounting optics, although the AR is better for setting up a dot sight that co-witnesses with the irons than is the AK.

In my opinion, the 7.62x39 is a better anti-personnel round. While the 5.56mm can be devastating, its terminal effect depends too much on fragmentation if we're talking ball ammo. Obviously this isn't a concern with HPs or SPs. Also, the 7.62x39 penetrates light cover better than 5.56mm. Since people tend to hide behind thing if you shoot at them, I'll take the 7.62.
 
Is it AR vs. AK time again? Oh goody! :p

Still just getting used to the AK, but my answer's still AR. It feels better, it handles better, and I can hit what I'm aiming at with it. Heck, on aesthetics alone I prefer the M1A/M14 platform, but I still shoot the AR better. It's almost boringly easy to actually *hit* a target with it. And when it comes right down to it, that's what a rifle's supposed to do, yes?

Never had a failure with one either. And for all the vaunted uber-reliability of commie guns, the ONLY consistent jammomatic I ever had was an SKS.

I keep hearing horror stories of the AR unreliability, but ya know.. from what I've seen WITH MY OWN EYES, that don't hold water. The AR I had, the ARs my friends have owned, and the vast majority of the servicemember friends I've had all report the same experience. (With one notable exception .. *cough cough * OGRE *cough cough* :) )

Even if I weren't a silly whitebread chick with absolutely NO intention of dragging one through the muck and mud to shoot at people, I'd likely still say the same.

Both can do the job.
Both are adequate for their intended purpose.

To me, one is easier and more comfortable to use.
Each to their own I guess.

-K
 
Still just getting used to the AK, but my answer's still AR. It feels better, it handles better, and I can hit what I'm aiming at with it. Heck, on aesthetics alone I prefer the M1A/M14 platform, but I still shoot the AR better. It's almost boringly easy to actually *hit* a target with it. And when it comes right down to it, that's what a rifle's supposed to do, yes?
Click to expand...
Well, I've had my AK longer than my AR and switch M1A for M1 Garand, but everything else Kaylee said right here goes for me too. :)
 
I gotta go with AK here on one point, price. Rifles, Mags and even ammo. I love the ergonomics of the AR platform, but for $700 you can buy a really nice Kalashnikov.

'sides, I'm cheap.
 
Voted AR - Used them while in the Army, and contrary to internet slams... I've never had one fail using live ammo. (NOTE: blanks seemed to turn them into awkward bolt-actions after 100 rounds or so... then again... blanks will gum up an M60 or M2HB with ease as well).
 
I've got a Bushy M4gery and a MAK-90 and definitely prefer the AR. No slam on the AK, it's a fine rifle, but the AR is clearly more accurate and a couple pounds lighter. Aside from a few jams caused by a bad AK magazine, both have been perfectly reliable for me. When I get my <a href="http://www.ninjalawyer.com/public/FAL/FAL.html">FAL project</a> built I may have to re-evaluate :)
 
AR here.

I've got a Bushy M4gery and a MAK-90 and definitely prefer the AR. No slam on the AK, it's a fine rifle, but the AR is clearly more accurate and a couple pounds lighter. Aside from a few jams caused by a bad AK magazine, both have been perfectly reliable for me. When I get my FN FAL Project built I may have to re-evaluate :)
 
Voted AR - Used them while in the Army, and contrary to internet slams... I've never had one fail using live ammo. (NOTE: blanks seemed to turn them into awkward bolt-actions after 100 rounds or so... then again... blanks will gum up an M60 or M2HB with ease as well).
Click to expand...

I too have to vote ar, having the same experiences. No problems with live ammo, except for my first ar which was broken when I was issued it in basic. It needed a new extractor in a bad way. Once that rifle was fixed I went on to qualify sharpshooter, and every ar I was ever issued in the national guard has been flawess. I do want to get a AK for a fun gun, but I have too many years of muscle memory built up in ARs to switch to aks now. My ar is 100% reliable, and very accurate and meets all my ebr needs. But man, I really do want one of those AKS to play around with :).
 
ar

AR15A2. I was an Armorer in the Army, and for the professional soldier who will maintain his weapon, the AR is the better choice. Most of us civilians maintain our weapons better than that, so the time-worn argument that the AR family are 'jam-o-matics' just doesn't hold water.
The A2 series is a vast improvement over the A1's ( except for the burst on the M16A2, I prefer good fire discipline on an A1), with SS109 NATO I consistently kept groups in the vital ring at 600m. I had to walk fire onto a 500m. target with an AKM:cuss:
 
well, I was shooting my friends AR and my AK and the AR jammed left and right. We figured half the problem was a damaged mag, but it was still jamming left and right. All the tales that I've heard about AR reliability definatly left a first impression.(however my friend was completly surprised. Only thing we could think of was that their was too much oil and it was too cold out 0 degrees F) With that said the first time I picked up an AK, it just fit me. I'm more accurate to 200 yards or so with the ak, but beyond that I know the cartridge starts to have a problem.



So, I say AK for myself.
 
I think in order to make a fair comparison, the AR would also have to be chambered in 7.62x39. Even though the recoil isn't that much more, different cartridge types will of course affect the firing characteristics. Rapid fire controllability may very well suffer with the AR chambered in 7.62x39.

With both rifles chambered in .223 I'd say they were about even.

Although I own a few AR15s, the AK stands ready as the first weapon to use. It's hard to argue with 30 rounds of .30 caliber JHP. And if I actually had to use it I wouldn't be out 1K or more just to replace it while it was being held as evidence.

Good Shooting
Red
 
I'll take my .223 Saiga (AK in disguise) any day. It comes with the reliability of an AK and the accuracy of a stock AR. All I need are high cap magazines, and it could easily match or do better than an AR. IMHO, the biggest problem with many AK's is just the cartridge. Using 5.56 nato instead of the 7.62x39 quickly closes the accuracy gap between the rifles.
 
I own or have owned both AR and AK variants. Right now, I still have an AR but don't have an AK only because some knuckle-draggin pig f$*ker stole it from me back in 2000.

But in response to this question and poll, make mine a FAL, please.

hillbilly
 
I am a recreational shooter, and I have owned both rifles. The chances of my rifles having to endure some kind of torture test are very slim indeed. The chances of me engaging in some combat senario with one of my rifles is very slim. Therefore, the never ending argument between the reliability of the two weapons is a moot point for me. I have fired possibly twenty thousand rounds out of my personal AR15s and have had no reliability issues with them. Nor did I have any reliability issues with my Norinco AKS.
The ergonomics of the AR15 are far superior in my opinion. The accuracy is superior in the AR15 in my opinion. I enjoy having rails to mount accessories on. I like all the accessories and options available on the AR15. I like the fact that I can easily and quickly change the configuration of the weapon.
For my uses and my tastes, the AR15 is far superior to the AK.
 
DSA FAL

Ergonomics as good (or better) than the AR,
Caliber better than AR or AK,
Reliability in dirty environments is better than AR, comparable to AK.

Richardson
 
AR for me, I too shared Trappers experiences in the Army. I don't own and have never owned any AK variants but the ones I've shot just felt too short for me, the stock needed to be a little longer to be comfortable. My go to rifle however is the SKS....talk about a TANK. I love mine.
 
AK hands down....no contest. I've owned five AK's and all have been superb as per their intended task. All have been combat accurate, totally reliable and trouble free. One can't ask for more. I have only one experience with AR's and it's been terrible because it's my shootin' buddy and I have to listen to him cuss and swear at his Colt H-BAR every time we go shootin'. I wish he'd trade the damn thing. It jams probably a half dozen times or so every time we go out. Is it the mags? Is it the new shorter barreled receiver he got? Wolf ammo? Bad karma? Geeez....when he ain't lookin' I'm gonna bury that POS and not tell him where.:banghead:
 
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