siglite
Member
I propose we settle this once and for all. HPD, send me two pallets of ammunition, one garand, and one AK. I'll get back to you in 30 days with a definitive answer.
I see 60s and 70s vintage AK47s all over lowland Ethiopia (from the biggest Soviet weapons airlift ever, they say) and they run like Swiss watches. These are regularly fired in anger, too, not sitting in someone's armory. The bluing is gone, and they have a few scratches, but they fire and fire.Yet, as Onmilo said, there are very few AKM rifles still around from the 60's or 70's.
i didnt side track it, you did, you and Onmilo relate an items existance with its reliability. falacy of numbers. the fact that there arnt many AK's from the 60's still around, isnt longevity, but reason. that being there isnt any reason to rebuild and repair when you can make a new one cheaper.
are you including replacement of wearable parts or not? Barrel replacement being key. And depending on your answer to that, does accuracy matter?
I'm pretty sure that, all else being equal, an AKM's barrel will last longer (at least remain accurate longer) than a Garand's simply due to the cartridge's lower power. This assuming both weapons are fired in moderation (no rapid fire).
Thats pretty much the point I was getting at. The Garand was made to last and last and last.
there are very few AKM rifles still around from the 60's or 70's.
have any of you actually seen what a Garand looks like after a few years of hard use? Visit the CMP sometime and look at some of their used stock.
Those Garands might be 60+ years old, but honestly, how much use have they had in the past 50 years.
Also, consider the number of smaller, spindly moving parts in the M1 Garand's action. M1 Garand's gas pistons bend on occasion as a result of not being greased, rendering the rifle unserviceable. I've never heard of an AK being rendered unserviceable by not being greased. Arsenal claims that a chrome lined AK-47 barrel can withstand 30000 rounds on full auto before it needs to be replaced. Reduced heat of semi-auto only firing would certainly prolong this barrel life. I doubt the Garand could withstand the same...
My guess, and let's face it, we're all guessing, is that the AK would come out the winner. I have a feeling something would eventually fail in the M1's gas system.
The Garand's receiver would probably crack at around 400,000 rounds.
There's ONE moving part in the M1 gas system, and it's over 1/2" in diameter. What's this "spindly" business all about?
The M1 gas system is stainless and self cleaning. If you disregarded the field manual and greased it, you'd negate the self cleaning nature of the design. It'll gunk up badly when greased and will fail very soon. The rest of the rifle will run just fine when dry as well.