Middle ground between the AR and AK?

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2 guns that comes to my mind that's a middleground of AK and AR

Isreali Galil : Lean more toward the AK design

Korean Daewoo rifle : lean more toward the AR design

both are great guns that incorporates features from the AK and AR series
 
I have to agree with sig 556. AR look with AK-like action.

You're wrong about AR and AK owners hating each other. Some of us like both and have multiple firearms of both platforms :neener:
 
Gas piston AR's are pretty much the future so.... Ruger SR-556 :p You know there'll be plenty to go around since no one wants to pay $2K for a Ruger.
 
"...What do semi-auto owners who do not own AR's or AK's own?..." M1 Rifles, M1 Carbines and M14/M1A's.
You buy an AR for accuracy and an AK, an SKS or a Standard Mini-14 for screwing around with a rifle. None of the latter 3 are made for great accuracy with any ammo. Screwing around with a rifle isn't a bad thing though.
 
I think you made a mistake here. It's the AK that's renowned for reliability and the AR that's known for killer accuracy, not the other way around.
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I guess I worded that kind of funny didn't I? What I mean is I couldn't find a gun that is more reliable than an AR, and more accurate than an AK.

As in the AR is a ten in accuracy and the AK is a five. The AK is a ten in reliability and the AR is a five. So what I'm shooting for is a 7.5 accuracy and a 7.5 reliability.

I know the thread has been off the main page for awhile, but I wanted to make sure this little issue was stamped out.
 
my AR and AK are best friends forever.

But honestly, if you want something in-between, then get an AK in .223 or an AK-74. Decent accuracy, lower recoil, in a semi-invincible platform
 
I'm fond of both weapons and aware that both have their advantages and disadvantages.
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+1

I own and love both. Infact, my saiga shares a seat right next to one of my ARs in the safe.
 
I Agree with some of the above posters in that many of the flaws counted on each rifle, You'll find someone makeing a solved version.
I would say a rifle with a caliber between both systems would be a middle ground. I say you could say the barett m468 is a middle ground, but thats just caliber-wise and even then you could chamber a AR for anything.
So I Say It;s all a matter of opinion.
 
I own the MAK-90, an AR. You want something different...something that has a statement in accuracy, an reliablitlty...something that won't break the bank....an yet something with authority, something with power an when others look at it...an they do...they admire it....then I would suggest going to CMP.com an check out a WWII M1 Garand. You just can't go wrong with one....
 
I don't own an AR or an AK...although I have plenty of trigger time behind both after 22+ years in the military. The semi's that I do own are the 580 series Mini-14 and an M1 Garand from the CMP. I love my mini. It's one of the early 580 series with the skinny barrel. The only thing I have done to it was add a strut to the barrel. My mini is very reliable and more than accurate to take a man down out to 200 yards and was so even before I added the strut. Factory 20 round Ruger Mags have come down in price and are becomming more and more available. 10 rounders from Ruger are on the way as well. I highly reccommend the mini as long as you are not one of those who has to have a sub or 1 MOA rifle. The M1 Garand.....what can I say...it's an M1 garand. It's a pleasure to shoot, accurate and powerful, not to mention the looks of the weapon and the history behind it. I also owned an SKS about 10 years ago and was more than happy with that rifle also.
 
Your either an AR fan or an AK fan these days. Either way you've successfully gained understanding of the first letter of the alphabet, but despite this relationship AR owners and AK owners do not like each other.
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Wow, I must really hate myself; I own several of both :D. That said I prefer my AKs orignal looking (wood or poly) and my AR both ways (KISS and loaded). That's just me.

I didn't read all the responses but the Sig 556 and the XCR are current rifles that borrow from both platforms. You'll pay the price though as neither of them are mass produced enough to get the cost down to AR/AK levels.
 
IMHO (without really thinking it through)...Mini-14 (newer 580 series), SKS, Daewoo, Bushmaster M17s (if you can find one..out of production), Armalight 180B, maybe Keltec SU-16 (if you can find one and you get a good one that is reliable).
 
"but despite this relationship AR owners and AK owners do not like each other"

Actually theres no problem between AR and AK owners, whats to keep us from liking each other, we just prefer our own choice of rifle over the others rifle. The only AK owners that most AR/M-16 owners or users dont like are those who are shooting at our soldiers with them.
As for the mini-14, even with improvements in the new models they are inaccurate compared to the AR. Why else would Ruger decide to make ARs, its a niche they had no rifle to fill.
There are many gas piston ARs now available, due to prices Im sure there is little to no wait time on most of them.
There are many rifles available that are similar, in fact the sig 556 is similar, uses AR mags, but is not an AR at all in any way, again pricey.
Some of the other choices such as the SKS, or garand are rifles from other niches altogether, none fit the description of either an AK or AR. The FAL is comparable to the garand or M1A, different type of weapon.
Decide which you like, and want, or buy a few different models.
 
I'm a Mini-14 fan. I really like that little carbine, and after putting $100 and a little of my time into it, it is more accurate than the Colt 20" HBAR I once had. I bought another used Mini today, with the factory folding stock, for $600. It came with 5 mags and a padded carrying case by Shooting Systems. You just have to be patient, and one will pop up for a reasonable price. Just be ready to jump on it fast when it does.
 
For the money, the VZ-58. In general, the Sig 550. A chinese SKS is the cheapest option, but those 20 round box mags are expensive and hard to find and not all of them run nicely (mine's great).

I'm biased towards AKs, I'd say get one and sell it if it happens to be inaccurate. Through the irons, most of them are probably about as accurate as you are. You can still find them for $500-700 if you get an AMD-65, WASR-10/63 (not a plain WASR-10) or Yugo M70. I think if you went for an AR, you'd want to get something like an LMT or Colt 6920, but that's gonna run you $1000-2000.
 
For me, the midle ground between the AR-15 and the AK is covered by the Robinson XCR and the Galil. The XCR if you lean towards the AR in modularity, Galil if you lean towards the AK in terms of feel.
 
Now own a used Mini 30 and SKS. Can't tell you about accuracy (never checked), but both are very reliable, lots of fun blasting anything at a deep river from 40-100 feet.

Have seen two very good-looking Russian SKS at a gun show this spring, each listed for about $425.
With an SKS, the rifle always has a magazine.
 
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Think first of the cartridge you want to shoot. It's strengths and its limitations. Once you have decided upon that, then begin the search for the platform you desire.

Unless you design and build the rifle yourself, you will be limited to what is produced by others. SLRs or semi automatic rifles can be a whole lot of fun, true enough. The subtle and gross differences between them as far as action types seem to me to be exaggerated. The actions are all designed and constructed to open the breech, extract the empty, and chamber a fresh cartridge.

Accuracy is a relative thing, range is generally longer than you would imagine, in the hands of a trained and accomplished marksman.

Get your rifle, shoot it and enjoy it.
 
I must be bipolar then, since I shoot both the AK and AR at matches.

My SLR017FR is a 4MOA rifle, but has never failed since I took it out of the box and put the 1st round thru it.

My AR is a 1.5MOA rifle, the only failure I've ever had was a broken gas carrier key bolt head. The rifle kept functioning and I found the failure while cleaning.

Some of the other options in intermediate cartridges: XCR, SCAR, FN2000, AUG, FNC...

All suffer from only being available from 1 manufacturer or being mucho expen$ive. Some, like the SCAR, suffer from both flaws.

After the SCAR has been out for a couple years and the price comes down to something semi-reasonable, I may move that direction. I'm a firm believer in the saying 'Never buy the first model year of anything more complex than a hammer'. BSW
 
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