Would you rely on an AK as your primary defensive rifle?

[CraigC]

That's my choice. I know it isn't logical, but I love that bastard child.

Anywho... if somebody made the AK-47 today, it would be lambasted as a crappy gun. Its popularity and proliferation is what keeps it alive. A similar analogy is the original VW Beetle. Comparing the Beetle's technical specs against most other cars - it loses. It 'wins' because of popularity, cost, and there are a bazillion of them. Try to introduce the original Beetle today? It would never make it past government regulations.

That said, a Beetle will you get to where you're going. An AK-47 will also get the job done.

They are making the AK today. Available all day long from PSA, made in Murica.

Dad always said you had to have two Beetles. One to drive while the other was in the shop. He had a pair of black ones.

 

[GBExpat]

Seems to me that your @SUBJ Interrogatory (Would you Rely on an AK as your primary defensive rifle?)
and your Poll are not well matched.

 

[CraigC]

Seems to me that your @SUBJ Interrogatory (Would you Rely on an AK as your primary defensive rifle?)
and your Poll are not well matched.

I thought the same thing.

 

[Justin]

Seems to me that your @SUBJ Interrogatory (Would you Rely on an AK as your primary defensive rifle?)
and your Poll are not well matched.

That's because the title of the thread seemingly limits the reader to AK or nothing, but the poll offers the choice of AK or AR. Given the choice, most people will pick an AR15.

 

[CraigC]

The title asks 'would' you rely on an AK and the poll asks 'do' you rely on an AK. Two different questions. For example, I absolutely 'would' but I don't, because I think the AR is a little better tool for the job and I'm more familiar with the platform.

 

[Ignition Override]

It also might depend on the grade of steel used and how many thousands of rounds were used.

Compare results of tests done by Rob Ski after some AKMs have used 3,500 rds (barrel temps controlled, regular headspace checks)., .We are well aware that one segment of his videos is for entertainment. But that has no connection to whether a company decides to use cheaper grades of steel, or overlook proper fitting of components (IO, most Century “made by”).

Maybe the bolt lug or shoulder deformation isn't good after just 2,500 rds, with some rifles manufactured by two famous US conpanies.
Also—I hope that PSA builds quality AKMs, better than most Century-made models. Don’t confuse “imported by” with “made by”. Quite unrelated, very different categories.

In general, for a given high round count, Rob’s evaluations reveal less deformation on imported brands. Even his WASR-10 had a very good report after 5,000 rds.

IO (a US company) was one of the brands which seemed to place profit over good quality control, however…. it No Longer produces AKMs.

 

[Rexster]

Other. I do not possess an AK system weapon. I do maintain familiarity with the AR15 system, and have several of them, I do not keep them loaded, or otherwise positioned to be “go to” or “primary defensive” weapons. I reckon that one could say the AR15/M4 is my “reserve” defensive long gun system. Based upon familiarity, with my brain being hard-wired by far more reps, my primary defensive long gun is a shotgun. If a situation were to develop that would make me want to grab a rifle, first up is going to be a lever-action rifle, either the “household” Winchester 94, .30 WCF, or a Browning BLR, .308 Winchester.

The semi-auto AR15/M4 system weapon is on-safe when the safety/selector is aligned with the target/threat, and ready to fire when that lever is pointed at the ground, which goes AGAINST my far more training reps with weapons that are ready to fire with the safety in line with the target/threat. Some of those weapons are ON-SAFE when the lever is pointed downward. (“Don’t get caught with your Dingus down!”) This makes me less-than-comfortable using an AR15/M4 as a reactive/defensive weapon.

 

[strat1962]

I love the AK platform. I put a short video together on what I think are the pros and cons of the AK platform. So I put forth the question, would you rely on the AK as your go to rifle platform? Please let me know what your honest opinion. IMHO I believe that you should own one as a backup but instead rely on the AR.
Should you buy a Kalashnikov?

Love and own both. Any weapon the govt does not want me to have, I want.

 

[plainsdrifter]

No, not even if someone gave one to me. Too heavy for me and I don't want to support commie countries, even for the ammo.
I have 2 AR15's and an AR10 SFAR. Plus an older Rem 870 Express Tactical right up front in the safe.

 

[JohnMc]

I don't want to support commie countries,

Poland, Hungary, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Czechoslovakia etc haven't been Communist since the early to mid '90s.
The USSR and Yugoslavia dissolved in the '90s as well and none of the new countries are People's Republics.
Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia are part of NATO now.
You'll probably find more Communists in the US and Western Europe than in places that had to live under the yoke of Communism.

 

[CraigC]

No, not even if someone gave one to me. Too heavy for me and I don't want to support commie countries, even for the ammo.
I have 2 AR15's and an AR10 SFAR. Plus an older Rem 870 Express Tactical right up front in the safe.

Then buy a PSA made in the USA and feed it American made ammo. Problem solved.

 

[Ignition Override]

Newsflash !

You mean— the dreaded Iron Curtain has fallen ?

And the several guns I’ve bought which were manufactured in the Czech Republic were designed & built by people enjoying US-style freedoms?




.

 

[JohnMc]

Seems to me that your @SUBJ Interrogatory (Would you Rely on an AK as your primary defensive rifle?)
and your Poll are not well matched.

Indeed, as the question expects a yes or no answer.

 

[Robert]

I don't know why we get so wrapped around the axle over what other people choose to use. Allow that they might use a different rifle than you and enjoy the fact that we live in a country where we are free, for now, to exercise that right. Sheesh...