This is going to be a very short post. Typically I despise posts like this as my answer is always, “Yes!” What I mean by that is simply “yes” get what you want – either one. I’ve seen this topic brought up recently in a couple of places and beyond the irritation, I’ve decided to throw my 2 cents in.
You get what you pay for and you’re paying absolutely nothing for my thoughts on this. 😉
The AK is a great weapons system and I don’t fault anyone for choosing it. I’ve had two AK’s in 7.62x39mm so I’ve not developed my opinion based entirely on theory. A quality AK is an incredibly reliable and fine weapon.
Now – let me ask this question and the answer is very telling:
What law enforcement agencies in the United States are issued AK-47’s?
I believe the obvious answer speaks volumes and does not nullify just how great a weapon the AK-47 is. The fact that nearly all major law enforcement agencies use the AR and not the AK sums it up. 
These are the reasons why I prefer the AR over the AK:
- Ergonomics
- Accuracy
- Reliability – yes, reliability
- Weight of the weapon systems
- Adaptation to user
- Effective handling
I find the AR the better choice to put rounds down range in quick succession, accurately and reliably. Reloads are faster and handling quicker and more natural. Muzzlerise is easier to negate and I feel the AR makes me look completely #badass.
It’s all in how you look, right?
I know at least one reader(hello Capt. Michael) that will completely disagree with me. It’s perfectly fine for him to be wrong….LOL. In all seriousness, this is my preference and my opinion and it’s based on my own experiance. Yes – it is based on facts and logic(more jabs at AK people) but I love the AK too!
The true answer to the question of AK versus AR versus “throw in a long gun of your choice” is YES.
Stock up and stack ’em high and keep your powder dry!!
Rourke
While anyone with 2 brain cells to rub together can see that the AR is vastly superior to the AK😏, the AK does shine in a couple areas: with it’s excessive weight and odd shape it makes an excellent emergency boat anchor, looks better under 10ft of water as well. The AK helps you know who your dealing with, only commie scum use AKs. AKs rattle so much you can use them as maracas if your in a band, or imitate an angry rattlesnake. I’m sure there are many more examples 🤣
Holy cow you had me rolling!!! LOL!!!
I have both the AR 15 and the 10. Say what you will, the both handle the same. A former SAS buddy of mine told me the 10 has lot of recoil. I find the 10 and 15 behave the same. Love shooting both of them. But my real love to shoot is my M1A, or better known as the M14. Now that is a weapon. Love it. My first time on the range with it I zeroed at 100 yards with 3 rounds. From that point on, I punched out the black on the bull’s eye. Beautiful weapon, but heavy. I’d hate to carry it all day long with 200 rounds.
Jealous Oren!!! I’d love to have an M1A/M14. Agree – fantastic weapon.
I have had a m1A for 15 years and its my go to weapon anywhere. it does what I want. its a tack driver after 5k rounds, I wouldn’t trade it for anything
What’s the 10? Mostly it is a preference on what the individual likes and is comfortable with. Both weapons are good ones to have.
Normally an AR-10 is .308 or 7.62×51 (the cartiges are 10,000 psi different by MilSpec, but close enough dimensionally to work in either weapon usually as well as bolt guns.. AR is the platform that describes the controls and basic furniture and configuration.. Of course you and geek it out .. dress it up with tacticool stuff if you want to.
the 10 does have more recoil than the 15 for sure.. but not unmanageable.. The painful thing to learn unless you read up is that AR-15 parts are almost all interchangeable across genres or 15’s. The AR-10s are not.. some parts can be on specific mfg’s products.. just depends.. People frequently get in pissing contests about which is better for what . IMO They each have a designed mission, and all of them are more accurate than most shooter.. like I said IMO
GG58
Without saying all the minutia as to weight and rounds and yada yada.. and without saying I own anything at all.. you can also have a 7.62×39 round in a AR platform.. you get common controls, inexpensive shooting.. works really well..
Of course the AR cleaning and tolerance for dirt and jamming has been overcome years ago.. and in large part with a standard forward assist. .. that you no longer need really ..
That said the AK was designed to run under poor conditions .. to be used by the most ignorant of peasants and keep working.. and it works. You can build a case for any of the 3 variants.. If I were to do such a thing it woudl seem reasonable to me to have all the variants .. just to be prepared .. IF I owned any I’d do that.
As to which is best or who should; have what.. don’t care.. as long as it pointed down range from me.
GG58
Good points GG58. Those AR-47’s – I cringe just typing that – are highly suspect from a reliability perspective. Would be fun to have and having fun is a viable reason to own a firearm.
well sir I am VERY close to someone that has one and it is very reliable as in zero errors so far even with steel case ammo.. ahem.. Just saying its a PSAK-47.. they do it well. Some of the other conversions.. not so much .. and of course common controls .. beats the crap out of paying a premium for .300 BO ammo for almost exactly the same balistics.
that is PSAR-47
Also, availability of ammo.
Valid point vandal67. While the 7.62×39 is fairly available is does not compare to the .223/5.56 here in the States.
I enjoy reading posts like this one, from someone who knows next to nothing about guns and is yet to own any.(but plan to change that) Your passions on the subject is insightful. Reading different posts online gun ownership is such an involved topic especially across different countries.
The bottom line is the AR is a domestic gun, that is less likely to have supply interruptions dues to global politics and isn’t subject to the same ATF regulations as imported firearms like the AK. While there are some AKs made in the U.S., most still rely on imported components. The bottom line is logistics.
Oh, for the record I’m not an AK hater, I have owned a total of 4 AKs over the years, but I’m currently down to one just because I want to have at least one for old times sake. I currently run an AR 11.5 SBR as my long gun for self-defense fall back to my Glock 19X.
Thanks 3rdMan. I didn’t consider the logistics component and importation. Good point!
AR stands for America’s Rifle