AK or Buy American?

While I enjoy both the 5.56 and the 7.62x39... I gotta go with Kraig and his infinite amount of wisdom on this. I don't really consider it more versatile.

It has been debated over and over and over again. Like I said.. I choose to own both.. enjoy both. I will admit my AR has a ton more money sank into it.:cool:
 
American/ Russian hybrid

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Then riddle me this, "Why did the Russians & Chinese deside to go with the 22 cal bullets in their newer AKs?"
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Ammo cost, ammo weight, recoil and a flatter trajectory.

But I do believe in your point. 7.62x39mm and 5.56/5.45mm are equally versatile, just in other ways.

Nice rifle Come and take it. Is that a Ruger Mini-14 accepting AK mags?
 
It is a mini-thirty tactical put in an ati strikeforce.

the cartridge is matter of purpose. If you use hunting bullets and your shots are under 200 yards and they are deer sized game than the 7.62x39 gets a firm nod. 223 can take smaller game effectively at a longer range but will never kill as efficiently as the Russian round.

If you are going for combat than the 223 has the overall advantage if it uses the m193 or sost. If you use the m855 than range and penetration is your only advantage.

M855 versus M67. The Russian round will be more terminally effective. Considering the ww2 German criteria for the assault rifle, both cartridges fulfil their range obligations of 300 meters.
 
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.
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don't get me wrong, I do prefer buying American when possible and I agree that I would rather my money go to a company that helps workers here by paying them a liveable wage and therefore helps the economy. with that said, it's not always an option, unless you're buying used and you know exactly what you're looking for. I bought my Browning A-Bolt used via gunbroker.com, and while my money didn't go into the pockets of Browning directly, it did benefit the person selling the gun. my rifle scope, however, is a Leupold and American made as well as my rifle sling (Montana Sling).
 
The most highly respected bolt action made in the history of high quality sporting arms is the German M-98, which was used against us in 2 world wars
It's interesting to see that more Brits were killed in WW! and in WW2 then Americans, and yet H&H, Purdey, Rigby, Wesley Richards and many other top builder in Britain used the M-98 as the bolt action of choice when rifles were being made without a care to final price.

We need to always remember that guns are just tools. They do not “represent” any will of their own.
The AK is one of the all time great designs for a close to mid range fighting weapon. Many of our troops use them by choice in conditions that have made the M-16 stop BECAUSE the AKs work, and they can be aimed at an evil man as easily as they can a good man, or a target, or a dirt clot, or a soda can.
 
Since I buy most of my guns from a local pawn shop I could care less who made the weapon to begin with. Going the route that I go all the money I spend on weapons goes into the local economy. If I had an LGS other than a pawn shop I would go there also.
 
Great responses! I love seeing different perspectives. Being non-military, I had not considered our guys using AK's for our cause. A very good point and I certainly understand that. I didn't know they were cranking out AK's in Nevada either.

Kraig, when I said more versatile I spoke from the perspective of a hunter looking at the round alone. I see a deer cartridge when I look at the 30 Russian, and a small game round in the 5.56. I see your point though that through Military purpose and tactics, they are equally versatile.

A couple posters missed that I am not looking to buy a rifle right now and made suggestions...Thanks! The Mini-14 is a fine suggestion so I already have one of those too. A 5R Blue Factory Folding stock model. I have shot FN-FAL's before too and I like them but iirc, that's one of those that chews up the brass, isn't it? I am a reloader so shyed away from it for that reason and got the M1A instead.

Perhaps there is an AK in my future, who knows? It's still Osamas gun though. They plastered him all over with that AK, it woulda been pleasantly ironic if they had shot him with an AK.

I tip my hat to chrisinva & 44amp who gave the most succinct and poignant spirited answer.
 
Edward

I agree with you on buying American. But that AK was paid for a long time ago, and any new ones for sale are built here in the USA. What you are buying is a peice of history specially if it is a Russian model.

Do we buy Lugers, yes, FALs, yes, Enfields, yes, and my favorite SKS, You have to love a rifle that comes with a grenade launcher and folding bayonet (Yugo).

You are not supporting the Commies but Americans that work in the import business, gun stores and distributors. Besides you could go American and buy our ammo for it. (but the Russian ammo is cheaper)

Jim
 
You do what you feel like. I personally dislike ARs, plan on getting an AK soon. There are American made AKs, if you so badly want to show your support just pick one up.
 
It's a gun. Should departments turn in their Glocks because the manfacturer is an European company? As for AK -vs- AR, heck get both. Both are fine weapons.
 
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Last year, my 13 year old son picked an AK-47 as his first rifle.
Odd choice, I thought (his older bro. picked a Remington 700 in .223), but we picked up a nice WASR 10/63 and a POSP 4x scope for it.

As discussed on another thread, inaccuracy is a myth. Vickers on Tactical Arms has a nice segment on the Kalashnikov's. Until you've owned one, you really can't appreciate the absolute ingeniousness that lies in it's simplicity.
Until you shoot one, you can't appreciate how effective it is for it's purpose- an absolutely reliable assault rifle.

American made from mostly Russian parts, I've read some very impressive reviews on this builder:
http://www.krebscustom.com/KalashnikovRifles.shtml
 
I see your point though that through Military purpose and tactics, they are equally versatile.
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Not just for military purposes, but for competition. You just don't see 7.62X39s in High Power or any other precission rifle matches, it cannot compete with the 5.56 in the accuracy department.
 
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