A new twist on the AR vs AK debate

The firearms community is home to many deep-seated debates.

Revolver vs automatic, velocity vs calibre, and of course Colt vs Smith and Wesson are all common fodder in gun stores across this great land.

Carnival of Cordite often brings up these venerable debates, and few of them are a hotly contested or well-worn as that between the AR-15 and its variants and the AK-47 and its variants.

The Posse has read many of these posts, and most of them seem to fall into the same rut.

The AR is more accurate, has better range and is easier to use.

The AK is more reliable, hits hard and is less expensive.

Even the most ardent AR partisan usually concedes that the AK has the better of the contest.

However, it seems to us that many important points are left out in this debate, the first and foremost is that the wise gun collector with have both.

Failing that ideal state, it seems to us that many of the salient advantages of the AR are overlooked.

For one thing, it is easy to maintain.  Now it is true that the AK is almost fautlessly reliable.

However, we believe that that this can lead to a false sense of complacency.

To put it another way, the AR teached good habits.  It is easy to clean, but requires responsible and consistent care.  AKs teach bad habits.

The other factor is ease of use.  Here again, the AR wins hands down.  It is lighter and easier to shoot, making it more accurate.

What good is a gun if one can't hit the target?  The AK is loud, and accurate enough for short-range work, but less experienced shooters will be put off by the report and recoil.

This will make them less accurate when the shoot and less excited about practicing.

The AR, by contrast, is a pleasure to shoot and easy for novices to use.

Finally, there is the "good guy" factor.  One of the reasons civil disorder breaks down is the perception that there is no one in charge.

ARs look official because they are official.  A posse of local citizens patrolling their street with ARs may be mistaken for plainclothed police or off-duty National Guardsmen.  Either way, they project more of an aura of normalcy than a similar patrol carrying AKs.

For these reasons, the Posse gives the advantage to the AR.

But we still want an AK.

Comments

[Mr. Invidious]

The AK mainly wins on price. A decent cheap AK will run $299 (plus $30 if you want a trigger upgrade). Cheap 7.62x39 ammunition and mags as well. The cheapest ARs run about $600 if you get them in kit form.
Me...well I want an AR but can afford an AK. I guess I'll stick with a Garand for now.
For the truly frugal a $69.99 SKS can't be beat.
Now if we want to start another argument how about FAL vs. AK.

[cube]

just hang black furniture on the AK and the normal person might not beable to tell the difference between an ak and an ar

[Big Daddy "D"]

My AK (owned as a civilian) has never jammed. My M-16A1 (our unit got A2's way later than anyone else it seemed) jammed up one me in the middle of a firefight and almost got me wasted. AK's do not have forward assists...

'Nuff said