Question For Those Who Have Both AR/AK

[rangerruck]

ak, never know when you will be getting back to ' civilization' and all that might entail, so i want for sure workyness. Just made that word up.

 

[benzy2]

Well if I were bugging out it would be to my cabin in the hills. They all would be coming with me as well as all of my ammo and all of my reloading stuff. If though I had to pick just one it would be my Stag Arms Model 1, bone stock. I have more faith it will go bang than my WASR 10. The WASR had a few issues at first going into battery fully. I got that squared away but honestly the rifle feels cheap. Its just the nature of the cheap wood and the stamped receiver. Maybe the rifle will last forever, I don't know. All I can say is that between the two the AR feels like it is built to stand up to more stress. The AK feels like it was built to last until it gets dropped in which case a new one would be stamped and handed to the shooter. Oh and I would rather carry 500 rounds of .223 than 7.62x39. Not a ton of weight difference but if I'm huffing it much every pound helps.

I am also much more proficient with my AR. I hate the sights on the AK and have come to enjoy the AR sights quite a bit. Since both rely on just using the irons the AR has the clear advantage here. Since neither has given me any issue(at least since the AK was massaged) I see that being the biggest factor left for me to base my decision on.

 

[hadmanysons]

Aside from the CCW gun and food supplies, the AK. Especially if you are referring to a bad weather situation since the AK is more tolerant of FOD

 

[Quentin]

As much as I like my WASR and as well as it functions I'd take my plain jane home brewed AR. Both rifles are reliable but the AR is more accurate and I can carry at least twice as much 5.56 ammo.

 

[ganymede]

I would carry my AK for the following reasons

1. It may have less range, but there are very few circumstances where i could reasonably determine someone was a threat to me while they are over 200 yards away.

2 I can take the stock off my ak pretty easily and it fits inside my backpack so i wouldnt need to attract too much attention while making my way out of the city (I dont own a car).

3 the 7.62x39 has beter penetration through walls then the .223. In case i eer needed to take out a target that was using cover

4 you can buy a well made AK for about 600 dollars, saving you more money for ammo and practice.

5. The AK is extremly reliable. you can drop it in the mud, pick it up and fire it without having to worry about it not working. (I saw someone do it) in a katrina/major disaster situation the weather and conditions on the ground might not be the best and it would be nice to know your rifle can handle any situation you can.

I have 320 rounds at the ready, they dont weigh THAT much, i'm sure i could carry 500 if i needed to, but i think 320 i more then enough. I heard about soldiers in viet nam carrying 1500 .223 rounds with them.

This isn't to say that the AR doesnt have merrits. It does of course, but givin a choice, i would take the AK with me without haing to pause and think about it.

 

[sultz34]

ganymede , good points ... all of them

except, maybe 4. .... i believe that AK is much cheaper then 600 bucks

btw, I'm from Croatia , done shooting with with all AK family and some HK G3,MP5 , Colt AR15, Sig 550, FN FAL ...
and yes ,the AK isn't precise like western counterparts, but still got something that drag me back to be the 1st logical choice
last one I had is East-German made AK-74S, I almost cried when I sold it for about 450$, :banghead: but I can find ordinary AK-47 for free or 50-100$ tops ....
and I have more faith in old (7.62x39) ak round, then new (5.45x39)
also logistical issue in favor of 7.62 ....

greetz

 

[possum]

if i could take only one rifle it would be my ar. it is what i am most comfortable and most effective with. I have had alot of training on the system and it works for me.

 

[Snakum]

I have owned ARs in the past as well as used many variants of M16 in tactical drills and in actual combat (M16A1 only) in the Army and while contracting. And when I got back into guns recently due to the interesting times we live in, I chose the AKM folder and got the best built, most accurate version I could afford at the time.

I studied the various scenarios I might find myself in and it just made sense for me. They are very rugged and reliable, easy to work on if needed, relatively easy to conceal or use from a car when folded, still relatively light weight, mine can be 2 - 3 MOA accurate if scoped, use a big enough round to hunt deer, also big enough round for one shot stops on two-legged bad guys and punching thru automobiles, and the ammo was cheap to stack a couple thousand for each rifle.

In light of all the above, I have two identical WASR 10/63s with Tapco furniture, AK-74 brakes, plenty of poly mags (no more wobble), and either a scope or red dot optic. I have less than $1100 in two rifles that will cover all my needs in any worst case scenario I can envision. Your mileage may vary, of course. And don't forget food, water, and medical when planning.

 

[lobo9er]

national gaurd took all guns they saw during katrina no one had the right to be armed. so i guess walking around with any type of rifle would have gotten a national guardsmen to take it away. 2nd amendment went out the window during katrina and i wouldn't doubt during the next big thing the same thing could happen. so bugging out with a big rifle wouldn't have helped there, would have drawn to much attention out in the open.

 

[ultradoc]

AR for me

 

[Moose458]

One of the easiest ways to stay out of trouble is to never look like a potential target or a potential threat. Being the much-slandered 'gray man' really does have advantages.

How do you stay gray? Are you going to crawl into a hole and hide? If you have to be out and about, then you can look like a victim or a threat. The average bad guys will go after the easiest mark. During the L.A. riots, the stores that were not looted, were the stores where the owners sat outside with thier M1s and M1As. Those stores didn't get hit until the National Guard made the owners go home. If you are one of the "Bad Guys" are you going after a Man holding an AK, or the guy trying to look like a fence post?

 

[AK103K]

I think the prudent answer is to look like a fence post holding an AK.

 

[sarduy]

If you had to bug out, Katrina type natural disaster or other, and could only take 1 of your rifle's and 500 rounds of ammo, which would you take your AR or AK?

keep in mind you need a few (a lot other things) other stuff, water, first-aid, food, rope, knife' extra clouth, so you need to go with something ligh so you can move around easy, it's just a natural disaster not an alien attack. i recommend a pistol with those 500 rounds but if i have to pick only a rifle... well, i few towns ahead it won't be a place where i can't find oil and a tooth brush to clean my weapons so i pick the AR (because it's lighter in my configuration, m-4 style with iron sights.) and i'll packing all the others things mentioned above.

note: a pistol in a sholder-holster is easier to carry than a rifle, plus 500 rounds of pistol ammo is lighter too (9mm, .40, .45acp)

 

[frankd4]

AK in 223

An AK in 223 the best of both worlds a 223 in a piston driven gun, I have four one Arsenal and three Saigas it's the best combo in the long run.

 

[Rshooter]

In the spirit of the OP's question I would take the AR. It is more accurate and it is reliable if maintained correctly. Magazine changes are much quicker and the AR has a bolt hold open.

I would keep all of my guns with me as they are investments and I am not bugging out unless I have to. If riding in a vehicle I would load the most important weapons and a load-out box with ammo for each weapon that is already packed and marked. I am not walking as I am disabled.

 

[d2wing]

AR here, the AK (Saiga) is heavier, bulkier, less accurate, and the ammo is heavier. I would consider taking my Remington 7400 in 30-06 before the AK as well, because the rifle is about the same weight and I prefer the 06 or the ak round even if it has more weight. I don't know how I'd carry 500 rounds of either though. The Ak is still a good choice. It makes a better club and short range Zombie killer.

 

[RP88]

if I was walking, an underfolder AK would be my choice only because you can hide it in a small duffle bag or a medium-sized backpack. As said, drawing as little attention as possible would be a prime critical factor - and the most important one. An AR is good for this as well since you can pop the upper and lower from each other, but it wouldn't be nearly as useful as a ready-to-go folded up AK, IMO.

so...

performance = AR
keeping a low profile = underfolder AK

 

[benEzra]

Magazine changes are much quicker and the AR has a bolt hold open.

I'll have to differ with this somewhat. AR magazine changes are slightly quicker, but not hugely so, and it only takes a half-second longer (if that) to slap the AK's charging handle with the left hand as it does to slap the AR's bolt release.

Reload with retention, AR: Grasp inserted magazine with left hand and hit mag release with right-hand index finger, put mag away, grab fresh mag with left hand, insert, slap bolt release with left hand.

Reload with retention, AK: Grasp inserted magazine with left hand and hit mag release with left-hand thumb, put mag away, grab fresh mag with left hand, insert, slap charging handle with left hand.

Reload without retention, AR: Hit mag release with right-hand index finger, grab fresh mag with left hand, insert, slap bolt release with left hand.

Reload without retention, AK: Grab fresh mag with left hand, hit mag release with the front face of the mag, insert, slap charging handle with left hand.

IMO the answer to the OP's question boils down to personal preference, what you are already proficient with, and your mode of transportation (foot vs. vehicle).

 

[EdLaver]

You guys saying neither and you would take pistols instead, whats the reason you even own one of these types of rifles then?

I have my AK set-up for more CQB type encounters and my AR is CQB to medium range using a 1x-4x optic. Given that I live a little in the suburb/country setting I would see the nod going to the AR b/c of more distance related shots if necessary.

 

[John Parker]

How do you stay gray? Are you going to crawl into a hole and hide? If you have to be out and about, then you can look like a victim or a threat. The average bad guys will go after the easiest mark. During the L.A. riots, the stores that were not looted, were the stores where the owners sat outside with thier M1s and M1As. Those stores didn't get hit until the National Guard made the owners go home. If you are one of the "Bad Guys" are you going after a Man holding an AK, or the guy trying to look like a fence post?

You stay gray by not looking like you have anything to take and by not going onto someone else's turf with a bunch of guns looking like you want to fight. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, I was involved in low-profile, non-uniformed human intelligence operations. I always felt much, much safer going around in a 'guns down' posture (dirty old Corolla or Hi-Lux, flow of traffic, local clothing, guns hidden) than I did blaring up and down the street in an armored Land Cruiser or Suburban pointing guns at every car that got close. I never understood HUMINT teams that did that, all it does is endanger the team and endanger the source.
I agree that there are times when it makes sense to get all your friends and as many guns and armor as you can. We'd often go out like that when we'd do HUMINT response to an IED, but I never liked it.
It's not a choice between looking like a victim or looking like a threat. It's looking like someone that isn't worth hassling, meaning that you don't act threatening and you give the enemy no reason to suspect that you are anything but another guy going about his business. That's how I would choose to roll, based on my extensive experience in not being noticed in very non-permissive envornments. YMMV.

And I'd take an AK. I've grown quite fond of that little rifle.

 

[Ignition Override]

These might be dumb questions.
Don't many people have one suitcase which can hold either an AR or AK and some ammo?
A car could get damaged during an earthquake or a riot, but when would walking be necessary from the home, unless you and your girlfriend/wife or roommate share only one car?

Does a civilian "bug out" imply leaving the neighborhood by motorized four-wheel auto, motorcycle or foot etc?
A car with only a quarter tank of gas and no other supplies, unless reliable relatives live within range with some reserve fuel upon arrival, appears to be a one-way path into much deeper trouble.

 

[atlanticfire]

An AK in 223 the best of both worlds

5.45x39?
How about a AK74? Lighter ammo than 7.62, Still the an AK. . . .

 

[Shadow Man]

I couldn't agree more with you, John Parker. All the Cardboard Coffins, 1114's, and MRAP's driving high-speed, counter-flow, just made themselves targets for IED's and ambushes. That was fine for a high-profile op, but for more low key things, junker Toyotas, Mercedes-Benz, Fiats, and the like worked far better. We used to get pretty serious about the details as well, shunning shades, because the undercover military and OGA guys were dead give-aways with their "raccoon eyes." AK's and Makarov clones worked for weapons, because Beretta's, Sig's, and Colt designs were far too obvious. The "grey man" look is pretty easy to pull off, it's just unheard of these days with everyone having to be "unique" and "stand out." You'd be surprised all the things you have to "unlearn" in order to be able to blend in this world.

 

[Joe Demko]

Neither. They can be easily replaced and I have no great attachment to them. I'd take the .300 Savage and handguns my dad gave me. Those have value beyond simply being guns.

 

[Shadow Man]

Those have value beyond simply being guns.

Sentimentality in life and death situations is deadly. I'd much rather have a weapon that meant little to me beyond being a tool, so if it was lost, damaged, or taken by LE, I would be out little more than a replaceable item. Then again, I value my life beyond any item. I am not sentimental...probably why I'm still single