AR15 Book points to AK47 as Best Rifle ?

- Just been reading the Gun Digest Shooters Guide to the AR-15  - I bought it from Book Depository in England. - They sell books so much cheaper than we have to pay here in New Zealand book-shops and they send them world-wide postage free.

- I've been researching about which popular mid-range rifle is the best-buy, and which calibre is the very best and most versatile choice. - And this book has really helped me to decide.

Masterpiece Arms MPAR556 Gen.II Sporting Rifle. A 'side-charger' AR

 No - That's NOT my choice! - Very nice though and no doubt an excellent tool in the right environment.

- Here are some influencing quotes from the well researched & detailed book:

"Kept well lubricated and generally clean, a properly configured AR firearm system is a versatile and reliable tool for battle."

Gas Impingement: " This gassing of the mechanism or, as some shooters call it, "pooping where it eats," is considered a problem and is why we now have ARs that are driven by a piston."

"One of the most reliable battle rifles of all time is the AK-47. Like the AR, the AK runs on gas, but instead of using direct gas to operate the action, the AK uses the gas to drive a piston/rod attached to the bolt carrier. This rod essentially does what the gas in a gas-operated AR does and pushes the bolt carrier to the rear, cycling the action. The gas in the AK is then vented to the outside and, so never enters the action area of the rifle."

"In addition to having a great reputation for reliability, the AK also has  an equally bad reputation for inaccuracy. In close quarters this isn't an issue, but if you are trying to hit a man-sized target or something smaller at several hundred yards with an AK, all I'd say is  good luck."

A Russian built SAIGA 7.62x39mm AK in 'sporting' configuration for NZ.

(No registration required as not an "MSSA" - no free-standing pistol-grip, no bayonet-mount, -five-round magazine fitted)

- Five 7.62mm holes all touching each other on the target at 50 yards - this AK shoots better than I do! - If I need to shoot out beyond 200 yards I'd also need new glasses and a tripod mounted bolt-action sniper rifle.

 

Hickok45 Tries Both AK & AR on Range.

- Buying an AK in 7.62x39mm also removes the problem of how to get an AR adapted to fire an effective short/mid range .30" calibre round ( 300 AAC Blackout or 7.62x40WT or .30 Remington AR or 6.8 Remington SPC or 6.5 Grendel or ..)

Cheap standard ball ammunition and re-loaders don't have any trouble working-up subsonic loads for use with a silencer fitted 7.62x39 AK. - And don't forget that sound-moderators tend to improve accuracy when fitted.

 - If you really feel the need for a bolt-action 7.62x39mm for longer range use you can always get a British SMLE .303" converted to accept standard AK magazines and have the chamber re-cut with a spring-loaded extractor. - Not an expensive conversion.

Enfield Conversion takes standard AK Magazines (Including x30 round capacity bananas.)

-Of course anyone shooting an unfashionable AK in 7.62x39mm Russian will have to grow immune to ugly looks and 'stupid comments' from anti-communists who haven't yet heard that Russia is no longer communist and is as free-market, corporate, free-enterprise and millionaire blessed as anywhere!

Marty K
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16618870