The Old Debate

[ThatZX14Fella]

Brace yourselves, this one may be a rollercoaster. AR vs AK. This has been debated for decades annd now I'm going to take a swing at it.

SHTF:

In a SHTF survival situation, the AK has my vote. Most engagements will probably happen within 400m, which is plenty suitable for the AK. Anything further than that and I'd prefer to evade with just about any weapons system. Bear in mind, in a SHTF situation you may not have the oppurtinity to do weapon maintanence for weeks.

Military/Contractor use:

Even in this situation, I'd choose the AK (if I could). Reasons are basically the same as above.

Target/plinking:

Obviously, the AK is still a wonderful choice due to cost of ammunition, but if you're going to be reaching out 800+m, the AR definitely has the upper hand. Keep in mind I'm talking about a AR-10 for this particular section.

These are not biased opinions. These are opinions I have formed after basically driving myself insane trying to boil it down to the better tool for each purpose. I enjoy both rifles and would love to own both. I didn't bring up reliability because I firmly beleive that both weapon systems will most likely not fail you, even in the most extreme environments. If there are any questions, feel free to ask. I will discuss caliber preferences and such, and try to go into more detail if needed. I didn't go into as much detail as I would've liked due to being tired of typing on a tiny keyboard.

[ww2farmer]

The airsoft game called, they want the internet gun experts to report back for serious operations. 

[ThatZX14Fella]

Good for them, guess I'm exempt since I never claimed to be an expert.

[ww2farmer]

9 hours ago, Slipknot_Fan666 said:

Good for them, guess I'm exempt since I never claimed to be an expert.

Kidding aside. This is like the 45acp vs 9mm, Glock vs 1911,etc...debates

Your going to have fan boys on either side, who , sometimes irrationally, claim one is better than the other, I see this argument almost daily on several gun topic related forums. It always breaks down into a peeing contest that serves no real purpose, other than people identifying what there favorite stuff is.

For the record, I am firmly in the AR fan boy camp. Yes, even in NY, we can still have AR's. I know of almost no other platform, that an idiot like me can fully assemble from a box of parts in on my kitchen table, with a minimum of tools, into a fully functioning, reliable, accurate firearm in a multitude of calibers. I have built two in 5.56/.223 that have been trouble free for many many rounds, a third 5.56/.223 project on going, and also a 300 blackout project in the early stages. I have no interest in a .308/7.62x51 AR at the time due to the lack of industry wide standardization between everyone's offerings. Even vendors who use the "DPMS" platform, often have issues with cross compatibility problems with other brands using the DPMS template, it's too confusing for an idiot like me. My choice in a 30 cal./7.62 platform is the "outdated" M1 Garand or the Springfield inc. M1A. 

[clayton86]

Being a infantrymen for 7.5 years I spent lots of time behind the M4/AR platform and some time infront of the AK platform as well as behind it. 

Both have their pros and cons. Personally I like the AR platform it's more consistently accurate and basic maintenance keeps them reliable with little effort. How ever a huge weakness for the AR/m4 plat form is skittles wrappers....... Long story but true story I'll give the short version that guy had skittles from MRE stuffed empty wrapper in mag pouch which then found its way into the star chamber with s round. 

 

AK will always work but you also run the risk of old ancient crappy corrosive ammo taking away the reliability of the AK. 

 

AK has the scary factor to it when it goes off you know exactly what is making that sound. I feel the range is pretty limited. Many say it is with the M4/ar also but I personally consistently can take my beat up M4 with an acog and hit a e type silhouette at 800m. 

 

Either one is good in a SHTF ww3 situation. Ammo is plentiful no mater what country you are in for the most part.