What is the fascination with the AK?

[kalipsocs]

It goes bang every single time where the m-16 and especially m-4 platform are problematic if not kept clean constantly. Also, the 124-grain 7.62 has MUCH more knock down power than the anemic 55 grain .223. Within 100 yards, its the clear winner. Both weapons have their ups and downs, but if the a problem arises, gimme my AK.

[mr.72]

Also, a lot of people don't care about hunting, so the argument that the 7.62x39 round is not a good hunting cartridge is moot.

I could ask the same question: why the fascination with shotguns & bolt-action rifles? Oh, yeah. Hunting.

AK47 is a proven tool in wars for freedom worldwide for the past half century. If we have another war for freedom, it would be wise to have some on hand.

[KBCraig]

Could be that they work every time no matter what condition or what you do to them.

While they're rugged, I wouldn't go that far.

I've handled a number of military AK-47s that weren't reliable at all because of poor storage conditions. We kept them around in the Army for "threat familiarization", and everyone got to shoot them once a year or so.

Granted, the class was as much propaganda as training, and was designed to boost confidence in our weapons over "theirs", but I guarantee you that AKs that have been put away dirty and not handled for a year, can indeed be most difficult to make function at all, much less function properly.

[Vic303]

It's the only class of rifle I can think of that you can build from a parts kit with nothing more than a jig, dremel, 12ton press, and a set of bolt cutters...
Try building an AR upper & lower receiver in your garage... (yes I know the AR parts kits are easy to assemble, but the receiver is beyond homebrew).

[aardwolf]

It's the only class of rifle I can think of that you can build from a parts kit with nothing more than a jig, dremel, 12ton press, and a set of bolt cutters...
Try building an AR upper & lower receiver in your garage... (yes I know the AR parts kits are easy to assemble, but the receiver is beyond homebrew).

That depends on your definition of homebrew.


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[CompVest]

That is cool, aardwolf!

[B3XD]

They are the only weapon on the flag of 15 countries. While the AR has the edge here and in American dominated countries, any where else the Ak is standard.

[getnit1]

Reliabile, compact and cheap to shoot. Piston rod gas system makes it a reliable weapon along with tolerance for firing dirty or rusted. Piston system keeps build up out of the receiver where malfunctions occur. They started becoming popular because of the cheap price but the benefits of cheap to shoot added to it. Now the realization that they are reliable makes them very popular. I know a lot of people with more AK's than AR's.