AK or Buy American?

E

Edward429451

Moderator
There sure is a lot of AK-47 threads lately. This is a highly recommended gun. The AK is the pick up truck of the rifle world it seems. I know that the AK is a good gun. I know that the cartridge is fair, and more versatile than a 5.56. I am not bashing AK's but I do not own any AK's and suppose I never will unless a very good deal walks up to me one day.

My reason for not going AK? I'm an American! The AK is a Com-Bloc weapon and IMO stands as a symbol of American foes. It is the black rifle that says American...The silhouette of the AR15/M16/M4 can almost be recognized like a flag, it screams American. So I show my American Spirit and support my American Industry by buying American.

So am I being naive? Why? Are there any others who have not bought AK variants because it is not American? I want to see how much American spirit is on this board, or if it is another outdated concept lol.

Just don't try to argue that the 30 Russian is a better round than the 5.56 because I have my American M1A too. ;)
 
If you are buying one or the other: Buy American.

Building your own? An M-16 is a Lego project unless you have tools and skills to start with an 80% lower. An AK from a flat and a box full of parts is a decent way to spend a weekend in the garage while your mother-in-law visits.

Both are fun to shoot, but the average M-16 is far more accurate than the average home built AK.
 
I love America as much as anyone, but happen to have more AR's than I need, and I wanted a new rifle in a different platform. So I bought an AK. But, that AK (an Arsenal SG 31) is built in America (Nevada to be exact), by Americans, so I don't really feet that it is a big deal.

I've also seen plenty of pictures, videos and stories of US warriors whipping evil with AK's. As a matter of fact I have a personal friend who was the lone survivor of a convoy ambush, and he survived that ambush with the help of a picked up AK. He far prefers AK's to AR's to this day, for his own reasons.
 
No respectable arsenal is complete without an AK.

If you were a car collector, would you eschew Porsches, Ferraris, Bentleys, etc. just because they were made outside of the United States?

I understand your emotional aversion, but understand that it is just that: emotional. As you have acknowledged, the AK is an excellent, highly functional weapon. In my opinion, before one has two ARs one should have an AR and an AK.

But I don't get to pick your favorite color, you do.

Carry on.
 
Go with Mini 14. fires the 5.56, grand style op system just as good as AK's, will not fail you, weights 6.5 lbs, and at CDNN only 598 for the tactical mini.
 
While not an American, I only can say this:

If you buy an American firearm, you make the CEO and shareholders of the firm rich. If you buy a foreign firearm, you make your importer rich. Difference? I don't think so. If I'd want to, I could only buy domestic FN firearms. But why would I if I know there are cheaper foreign weapons that do the same?

Apart from all that, a Kalashnikov is a piece of history. Grab one while you still can.
 
Buying most AK's these days you are buying American, or mostly. If you are going on image alone...well there are NATO troops that carry AK variants, American contractors, special forces , allies.....So your perception isnt everyones experiance. Is a IMI Galil evil? Is a Radom Beryl evil?
Can a AR15 be carried by bad guys?Evil? No, the man is evil...the gun is a innamate object that is neither good nor evil....but can be USED for either.
 
My reason for not going AK? I'm an American! The AK is a Com-Bloc weapon and IMO stands as a symbol of American foes. It is the black rifle that says American...The silhouette of the AR15/M16/M4 can almost be recognized like a flag, it screams American. So I show my American Spirit and support my American Industry by buying American.

So am I being naive? Why? Are there any others who have not bought AK variants because it is not American? I want to see how much American spirit is on this board, or if it is another outdated concept lol.
Click to expand...

quite a few gun companies outsource manufacturing of their firearms overseas, and I see nothing wrong with that, so long as the quality & function of the firearm doesn't suffer. I know some people here are probably averse to Japanese made guns like those made by Browning, Weatherby & Winchester, but I think they make quality firearms. buying American isn't necessarily synonymous with quality either, as many people here might attest. as much as i'd like to support American companies, the truth is, most of the foreign made firearms are beating the pants off the US made ones in the gun market. American spirit and buying American have little to do with anything these days, especially in a down economy. just my two cents
 
American spirit and buying American have little to do with anything these days, especially in a down economy. just my two cents
Click to expand...

I suppose you are right, but can't help but think that buying foreign products (where there is an option) doesn't do anything to help the down economy.

Buying American not only makes the CEO and shareholders "rich", but some of that money winds up in the take home pay of the AMERICAN workers in the factory.

And that's enough reason for me.
 
9-ball said:
Apart from all that, a Kalashnikov is a piece of history. Grab one while you still can.
Click to expand...
Darn it, 9-ball, you took the words "piece of history" right out of my mouth. ;)

And quite a few AKs, these days, are assembled right here in the U.S.A. and use U.S.-made receivers and other parts... so the buy-American-to-save-the-economy argument is a bit flawed, IMHO.
 
I kinda felt the same way when I sold my Saiga conversion. Nice to have an American made AR-15 to compliment my Garand. I'm keeping the Glock though.:p
 
"Buying American not only makes the CEO and shareholders "rich", but some of that money winds up in the take home pay of the AMERICAN workers in the factory."
+1
I've come to the same conclusion and while I bought Made in USA as much as possible, I am now a fanatic for Made in the USA based on our economy and it is the best way to encourage more Made in USA firearms manufacturers. I've repented. We have much to gain and too much to lose.
I'm thinking the Mini 14 would be a good choice here.
 
Bottom line, for me, which rifle is going to make me happiest when I shoot it. I'm not shooting it to make a statement...I'm trying to get the best performance from what I'm most comfortable with and to have fun.

Almost every single one of my handguns is American made, I'm a huge fan of S&W. But if I want the Smith I'm not going to get the Colt so I can help spread my wealth around to other companies to keep them from being left out. The $92.50 I make a year only goes so far...I need to spend it as wisely as I can.
AK vs AR, I'm AR all the way because I shoot it far better than I can any AK. My buddy's the opposite. If the AK was US designed and made and a stocky little WW2 vet from Southern Russia designed the AR, I'd still be shooting the AR. The ergonomics on the AR work for me, not so much the AK.

I look at it this way:
I bought it from an American business owner, reload it from supplies bought from another American business owner, have it shipped to me by one of 3 American companies...or at least one that employs Americans to deliver it and all of them charged me local, state or federal taxes along the way. Then I shoot it on ranges on American soil where the owner pays taxes in US dollars that he thinks are too high.;) Lots of people still got a piece of my pie.
I figure I'm doing my part enough to enjoy one or two or 5 rifles made by some Swiss or Czech or German designer or maker. I'll do what I can but I'm not going to lock myself into a second or third choice. American companies (not just gun makers) should do their part by paying more attention to buying habits and try to adapt their product when possible to make it more appealing to domestic buyers. Took the US car makers a long time to get that one...

So short story long...which one do you want? If that AK floats your boat, buy it. If not, the AR. Ever thought about an FN FAL?;)
 
Last edited:
I love both the AR and the AK. Yes the AK sort of has the stigmatism of being the "terrorist weapon of choice" but my co-worker is a Green Beret.. and he said often times he carried an AK. He said a lot of times they took them because they worked and worked well. So technically speaking... there are AK's out there helping our country.

I like my method of owning and enjoying both. I understand both the strengths and weaknesses of each rifle, and they are both great to own side by side.
 
Is it true that US Special Forces are issued AK’s going into unfriendly countries? They do this to “blend in”. The empty brass, sound and the silhouette of a M16 / M4 is a give-away, whereas the empties, the sound and silhouette of an AK fits in? I read this somewhere. If true, an AK is loosely speaking some what American if it’s issued to American forces. Or is this false info I have read?
 
"...an AK is loosely speaking some what American if it’s issued to American forces."
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
 
I don't know if they exactly issued them... he said he would "pick one up" however if you watch the videos of the prison where John Phillip Walker Lindh was found in a Taliban camp supporting them in Afghanistan... when the SF guys show up... I know one is holding an AK and yelling at the camera man to stop filming.
 
There are NATO troops that come from former "Com-Bloc" countries too. Said "Com-Bloc" is long gone.
"...Is it true that..." The Special Forces guys from everywhere use whatever is appropriate for the mission.
 
I know that the cartridge is fair, and more versatile than a 5.56.
Click to expand...

You know this how? Explain how the AK round is more versatile then the 5.56.

Then riddle me this, "Why did the Russians & Chinese deside to go with the 22 cal bullets in their newer AKs?"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top