Post by: SDDLUP on October 07, 2005, 10:24:44 PM
My most recent firearms purchase (a couple of months ago) was an Arsenal Inc. SA M7 A1R. This is my first AK an so far it has lived up to my expectations. As one friend put it...."It's really more of a bullet hose."!!! I have many firearms including some nice bolt guns, HK-91, shotguns and more handguns than my family of five has hands, but I wanted to add an "assault type" rifle, the HK-91 being more of a main battle rifle.
Reliability and a more suitable caliber is why it was chosen over an AR-15. Accuracy? I'm more concerned with reliability than being able to shoot 1" to 2" groups with this rifle. In the end I just think a 7.62x39 AK fits into my battery better than any AR.
Does anyone have any input about the AK-47? Especially anything likely to fail or any peculiarities.
Thanks!
"Arm yourself, arm a friend!"
Post by: tomkatz on October 08, 2005, 12:43:57 AM
I have a hungarian that has never failed me in thousands of rounds downrange......as far as I know they have no weaknesses.....
I also own an AR but the AK is the one I would reach for if my life depended on it.....enjoy!!!!
.....tom
Post by: Unregistered(d) on October 08, 2005, 08:10:28 AM
Post by: EireGoBragh on October 08, 2005, 10:43:57 AM
Post by: Trophyrider on October 08, 2005, 10:46:24 AM
Erin, the imported barrel ban is going to be enforced.
Post by: Dos on October 08, 2005, 11:12:57 AM
Post by: BRASMAN on October 08, 2005, 08:52:22 PM
Some idiots banned the importation of barrels I think. Which would mean a higher cost since they would have to ship them in without one and fit a barrel on it when it gets here although I thought it was just for kits. Maybe someone else can chime in and be more specific.
Post by: BRASMAN on October 08, 2005, 08:54:52 PM
Congrats on the AK. I used to make fun of them and call them farm impliments and so on. Then I got one and became an AK convert. The AR has its advantages but I prefer a quality AK over an AR now. I prefer the Russian and Bulgarian AKs.
Post by: Unregistered(d) on October 09, 2005, 08:04:13 AM
Post by: EireGoBragh on October 09, 2005, 08:58:51 AM
Post by: jwc007 on October 09, 2005, 09:29:41 AM
I think you're going to like it, alot! I have a customized Egyptian Maadi AKM that I like alot. AK's have that legendary reliability and can be reasonably accurate their intended purposes. You must keep in mind that the ammunition varies in quality from maker to maker, but it all goes bang and will make holes downrange! For Inexpensive Defense Ammo, I recommend the Barnaul HP's. For plinking, all others will do.
Post by: verbaltharhino on October 09, 2005, 05:37:14 PM
Post by: SDDLUP on October 09, 2005, 09:19:46 PM
I've picked up some Barnaul (Brown Bear) FMJ that is supposed to be some pretty good stuff. I'll get more when it becomes available. One thing I like is that I won't be reloading this stuff all the time. I'll reload a few rounds to do some testing and have some "premium" ammo on hand but for the most part it'll be like a super sized 22LR.
I've purchased a few of the Pro-Mag polymer magazines and they have worked 100% so far. It'll be a while before they will gain my complete trust but they have been flawless so far. I've heard "stories" that they didn't work or that they were bad magazines, but no one has offered any real evidence that I can see, and I KNOW they work fine for me.
Post by: verbaltharhino on October 10, 2005, 04:16:41 AM
As for ammo, give the Wolf stuff a try. My AK seems to like it more than the Barnaul stuff. Not that the Barnaul doesn't work well, it's just that the laquer does get sticky (noticably) and I've had two misfeeds with it. None with the Wolf bi-metal (and I've shot a bunch more of that than the Barnaul).
Post by: jwc007 on October 10, 2005, 08:52:44 PM
Have not had any trouble with the Lacquer coating on the Barnaul or the Wolff in the AKM. When cleaning up from that stuff I brush out the chamber with a patch coated with Paint Thinner.
For AK Magazines, I'm using surplus Russian Magazines that I bought a loooonnng time ago when I could get them for $3.00 each. Still a good deal at $9.00 each, now. Sportsmansguide has some used Balkan AK47 30 rnd mags, 10 for $24.97. The Plastic Bulgarians sound like good magazines too! (No Rust!) I've had good luck with Israeli Orlite and Canadian Thermold plastic magazines with my AR15.
Edit Note: Sportsmansguide may now be out of the Balkan 10 packs, but they do have others. I would call and not use the Website order.
Post by: CanuckZ on October 11, 2005, 06:27:25 PM
Post by: BRASMAN on October 12, 2005, 01:38:38 AM
Post by: verbaltharhino on October 12, 2005, 08:33:47 AM
I think he might be able to get by the US parts count!
Post by: BRASMAN on October 12, 2005, 11:54:07 AM
Post by: GaryXD on October 16, 2005, 10:06:53 AM
Post by: SDDLUP on October 16, 2005, 08:16:40 PM
No doubt the AR is more ergonomic, but I do prefer the charging handle on the side of the gun (1st left, 2nd right) more than in the rear right at your face.
As far as reliability I'd say that the Bushmaster is probably the most reliable AR you can get, but they are not as reliable as an AK. I have some friends that took their AR's to a tactical rifle course and started having trouble after about three hundred rounds or so. One Arsenal Inc. AK they have has probably had a couple of thousand rounds through it without cleaning and without malfunction.
I'd still like to get a Bushmaster CAR-15 type rifle though, it's on the ever expanding list, but slipped behind the AK in my own personal lineup.
Post by: jwc007 on October 17, 2005, 08:52:51 AM
As for an AR, it may never be quite as reliable as an AK, but they can be made to be very reliable. The way to do that is to go to the Single Coil Gas Ring Gas System on the Bolt offered by CMMG, and to use magazines that your AR likes. (Mine likes the polymer Canadian Thermold and Israeli Orlites.) Also, the chrome silicon Ejector Spring will eliminate most FTE's that occur when the Bolt gets hot. On my last outing to a Range, I was able to go thru about 360 rounds without a single failure. The only reason I quit shooting was that I had run out of ammo. I recommend that your friends who have had trouble with their AR's install this kit, pronto!
208.16.99.27/inventory_a/...e_tbl.html (http://208.16.99.27/inventory_a/Accessories_EverthingElse_tbl.html)
"New E.G.R.E.S.S. Bolt Upgrade Kit. Enhanced Gas Regulation Extraction/Ejection Supplementing System is low cost bolt upgrade that aids extraction and ejection and provides a superior gas seal. Extractor and ejector springs are chrome silicon which won't take a set and provides added corrosion resistance over standard springs. The single coil gas ring provides more consistent gas pressure than conventional gas ring. The addition of the E-Ring and Mil-Spec Black Extractor Insert assures enhanced extraction performance."
Post by: atblis on October 18, 2005, 11:36:56 AM
AK
or
a Daewoo
or
insert biased rifle brand opinion here.
Have fun and buy lots and lots of ammo (you're going to need it).
Post by: SDDLUP on October 20, 2005, 09:49:50 PM
Part of the criteria I used to determine an AK would be best suited to my needs is that it had to be a "factory" gun without any tweaks or custom additions. Sure there are some things that cam be done to make an AR more reliable, but some of it's unreliability is inherent in the fact that the 5.56mm NATO round is smaller and thus malfunctioned from soot/crud/dirt more easily.
My friends are now aware of how critical it is to keep those AR's clean and they do have AK's if they need them.
"Arm youself, arm a friend!"
Post by: GaryXD on October 21, 2005, 07:33:30 AM
Post by: BRASMAN on October 22, 2005, 03:31:09 AM
Post by: CanuckZ on October 22, 2005, 03:45:06 PM
Post by: jwc007 on October 23, 2005, 09:34:16 PM
Quote
Quote:
I think AR unreliability is blown way out of proportion. Normally when I see problems is when some guy buys a cast lower, a cheap upper from the "chicken grease lady" at the gun show, then feeds it Wolf ammo from USA brand magazines, and then wonders why their "mil-spec" gun won't work.
I've seen that from a vendor at a Gun Show! He'll sell anything and claim they're Mil-Spec Parts. For some reason, he's not in business anymore. AK manufacturers probably never had to deal with vendors/Government Contractors producing substandard parts, some of which wound up sold at Gun Shows. To do so, would've meant a long Siberian vacation.
I can say that my AR15A2 is currently 100% reliable. It was that also, back when I first built it. (1987) It was only recently when my Range round count went past 200 rounds that I noticed a drop off in reliability. New Gas Rings and an ejector Spring would probably have solved the problems, but I do like the CMMG design upgrade and my next AR will get it, too! Even before it needs it!
I love both AK's and AR15's, but admittedly I would reach for my AK first, should trouble come to call. I like the AK and the 7.62x39mm cartridge for the Urban Combat Scenario.
Post by: BRASMAN on October 24, 2005, 12:52:35 PM
That is how I feel as well. People can say whatever they want about the 7.62x39 not being accurate. I am not going to use it at 200-300yrds any way I will use a .308 then and I think with real ammo you could hit a man at 200 with 7.63x39. I also would rather have the .30cal bullet to stop my target. The only thing is the over penetration issue in a duplex but I keep a 12ga with no4 next to my bed anyway.
Post by: Devy55 on November 02, 2005, 01:50:38 AM
If you get one, get one that's a standard AK, ie; 7.62x39 and accepts all the standard AK stuff. You'll be much happier and will be able to enjoy all the various products available such as magazines, flash suppressors, bipods, stocks, scopes, etc.
I had one in .223 and had trouble finding mags that would fit, plus reliability issues. Continually jammed. Plus I spent a bundle on magazines for it and half of them didn't work. Swapped it for a standard AK (Romanian) and it worked flawlessly. My brothers have the same thing and swear by them.
If you get one of the Romanian AKs, they now come with a bayonet and other cool toys that weren't available when I got mine.
Food for thought. Hope it helps.
Post by: verbaltharhino on November 02, 2005, 08:43:36 PM
Post by: BRASMAN on November 03, 2005, 03:19:20 AM
Post by: jwc007 on November 03, 2005, 12:21:55 PM
Post by: Dos on November 03, 2005, 07:20:20 PM
There ya go...I like your style Brasman..mines a Vindicator...heh heh..makes for a good nites sleep...