Let's understand that if you spend $2000 on an AR or AK, the results would likely be far superior to the military version and they both better darn well shoot under 1/2 MOA.
I didn't start the thread to bash on piston guns, please don't turn it into another AK vs. AR thread. I started it to communicate that the popular mythology of AR's leans on a lot of misinformation and outright ignorance. Much of that is perpetuated by non-owners, by fans of other platforms, and by people trying to sell something.
To me, it's a simple observation, the AR market was getting stalled, and the best way to pry cash out of gullible uninformed shooters is to push piston systems.
Lets look at what should be getting pushed: the POF roller cam bolt, titanium, carbon, and teflon coated parts, better propellants, more powerful calibers, or even better yet -
INFORMED AND APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE, training, and range time. At which point the experienced competitor will start shooting at longer distance targets to improve their skills, or try and use an AK with it's limitations in a three gun match.
Accuracy can be bought and installed - the real problem with some firearms is that they don't help the shooter with features that will speed reloading or help keep the sights on the target. We all have our favorite firearms, but really - to load the AK is to suffer a significant obstacle. No bolt hold open, a safety that has to be OFF when it needs to be engaged to reduce negligent discharges, a magazine that requires both an upward, then rocking motion to engage, leaving the shooter to do so with the bolt to charge against magazine spring pressure - all this conspires to make the AK less than a helpful system. The SIG 556 does better. Most governments who can make independent choices don't choose the AK for their armies, LEO's, and special departments. It's not a modern tactical or user friendly firearm. Golly, the Winchester 94 has better features, and comes in an equivalent caliber.
Let's move beyond the emotional under schooled hype - the inability of the AK to resemble a modern firearm is directly related to the fact that it was designed over 50 years ago. The Garand is no more a modern battle rifle either. Both designs served well in the day, are nice to own for retro shooters, and are much more comparable.
DI is the modern trend. Maybe it's not what some want, but it does the job, just like gasoline engines do even though many detractors preferred steam in it's day, or the 1911 enthusiasts who can't imagine using a polymer double stack double action.
The people who have to do the real work prefer the best designs, and that's why the old ones are Curios and Relics.
I didn't start the thread to bash on piston guns, please don't turn it into another AK vs. AR thread. I started it to communicate that the popular mythology of AR's leans on a lot of misinformation and outright ignorance. Much of that is perpetuated by non-owners, by fans of other platforms, and by people trying to sell something.
To me, it's a simple observation, the AR market was getting stalled, and the best way to pry cash out of gullible uninformed shooters is to push piston systems.
Lets look at what should be getting pushed: the POF roller cam bolt, titanium, carbon, and teflon coated parts, better propellants, more powerful calibers, or even better yet -
INFORMED AND APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE, training, and range time. At which point the experienced competitor will start shooting at longer distance targets to improve their skills, or try and use an AK with it's limitations in a three gun match.
Accuracy can be bought and installed - the real problem with some firearms is that they don't help the shooter with features that will speed reloading or help keep the sights on the target. We all have our favorite firearms, but really - to load the AK is to suffer a significant obstacle. No bolt hold open, a safety that has to be OFF when it needs to be engaged to reduce negligent discharges, a magazine that requires both an upward, then rocking motion to engage, leaving the shooter to do so with the bolt to charge against magazine spring pressure - all this conspires to make the AK less than a helpful system. The SIG 556 does better. Most governments who can make independent choices don't choose the AK for their armies, LEO's, and special departments. It's not a modern tactical or user friendly firearm. Golly, the Winchester 94 has better features, and comes in an equivalent caliber.
Let's move beyond the emotional under schooled hype - the inability of the AK to resemble a modern firearm is directly related to the fact that it was designed over 50 years ago. The Garand is no more a modern battle rifle either. Both designs served well in the day, are nice to own for retro shooters, and are much more comparable.
DI is the modern trend. Maybe it's not what some want, but it does the job, just like gasoline engines do even though many detractors preferred steam in it's day, or the 1911 enthusiasts who can't imagine using a polymer double stack double action.
The people who have to do the real work prefer the best designs, and that's why the old ones are Curios and Relics.
