AK-47s showing up more on US streets

[57Coastie]

Here is an AP article which can be used by both the pros and the anti's, depending upon which paragraph you choose to quote. We, I would suggest, should take every opportunity to quote the correct paragraph, in a reasonable fashion.

Jim

[shootthesheet]

The number of auto-loading AKs (nothing to do with the kind that fire multiple rounds with one pull of the trigger) being traced is going up because they are more popular with civilians now. There are more opportunities for this type of rifle to be traced because there are more of them now. Trace data has nothing to do with crime data. It is like saying "hit and runs" have gone up since LEOs are calling in more license plates to be checked. No, LEOs are calling in more plates to be checked because automobile ownership has gone up. That is why Mayor Bloomers cannot use the data to extort money from other states and innocent civilians. It does not reflect any criminal act.

[Deaf Smith]

Well one showed up at my door awile ago. I asked my wife if I could keep it and she said yes.

[Ranger+P+]

I own 12 myself in various forms, use them for training and the 7.62x39 round is potent on any critter, 2 and 4 legged ones.

[Mike1951]

This is posted on Classic Arms website. I can not vouch for its veracity.

If true, the cheaper Romanian AK's could become scarce.

http://www.classicarms.us/

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH AK RIFLES?.
THE AK RIFLE MARKET HAS BEEN CRAZY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AND FOR GOOD REASON. I HAVE KNOWN WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE THAT HAS CREATED THIS SITUATION BUT WAS NOT AT LIBERTY TO POST AN EXPLIANATION UNTIL NOW. THIS IS THE STORY AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
THE MAIN SOURCE OF AK RIFLES INTO THE U.S. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS BEEN THE COUNTRY OF ROMAINIA AND PARTICULLARLY THE CUGIR FACTORY WHICH WAS A STATE RAN MANUFACTURING PLANT. THEY HAD CONTRACTS WITH THE IMPORTERS HERE AND WERE BUILDING AK RILES FOR EXPORT TO THE CIVILIAN U.S. MARKET.OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THEY HAVE SHIPPED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF AK RIFLES INTO THE U.S.
FOR SOME TIME NOW ROMAINIA HAS DESIRED AND BEEN PETITIONING TO BECOME A NATO MEMBER NATION. ONE OF THIER ROADBLOCKS HAS BEEN THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PRODUCING LOW PRICED AK RIFLES FOR EXPORT ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TO THE U.S. CIVILIAN MARKET. I AM TOLD THAT THE POWERS THAT BE IN WASHINGTON HAD MADE IT CLEAR THAT AS LONG AS THEY CONTINUED THIS FOR PROFIT "PROLIFERATION" OF AK RIFLES INTO THE U.S. THAT THE U.S. WOULD CONTINUE TO OPPOSE THEIR ENTRY INTO NATO. FRANKLY THERE IS NOTHING NEW
ABOUT THAT AND THEY CONTINUED TO BUILD FOR A LONG TIME SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY NEEDED THE CASH FLOW THAT THE SALES OF THE RIFLES PROVIDED. THAT IS UNTIL RECENTLY. LATE LAST YEAR A MAJOR AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER SET UP A NEW FACTORY IN ROMAINIA. THEY COULD NOT DO ALL OF THE WORK IN HOUSE AND DECIDED TO JOBBER OUT BUILDS ON SOME OF THEIR STEEL PARTS TO A NEARBY FACTORY. WHEN CUGIR WAS APPROACHED WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RE-TOOL AND MAKE AUTO PARTS INSTEAD OF RIFLES THEY JUMPED AT IT. IT SOLVED THEIR POLITICAL DELIMMA WHILE ALLOWING THEM TO MAINTAIN A REVENUE FLOW. AS OF ABOUT 45 DAYS AGO THE CUGIR FACTORY IS DONE WITH FIREARMS MANUFACTURING AND ALL OF THE ROMAINIAN AK PRODUCTS ARE DRYING UP FAST.
ON ANOTHER FRONT. CENTURY ARMS HAS HAD AN ONGOING AND VERY SUCCESSFUL PROJECT WITH THEIR YUGO B-1 AND AB-2 AK BUILD RIFLES. UNFORTUNATELY THERE WERE ONLY A FINITE NUMBER OF KITS TO BUILD THESE RIFLES WITH AND THOSE KITS ARE NOW EXHAUSTED. CENTURY'S YUGO RIFLE PROJECT IS NOW DONE. AS I WRITE THIS WE NOW ARE OUT OF THE UNDERFOLD RIFLES AND ONLY HAVE LESS THAN 100 OF THE B-1 RIFLES IN STOCK.
SO WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?. MY EDUCATED GUESS IS THAT WE WILL SOON SEE SOME U.S. MADE AK RIFLES COMING TO THE MARKET. BY THAT I DON'T MEAN ENOUGH PARTS TO BE U.S. COMPLIANT, BUT COMPLETELY MADE IN THE UNITEDS STATES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT SINCE NO MORE PART SETS CAN BE IMPORTED INTO THE COUNTRY WITH BARRELS INTACT, AND SINCE THERE AREN'T THAT MANY PARTS SETS LEFT HERE WITH BARRELS, THEN ANY NEW BUILDS WILL ALSO HAVE TO HAVE U.S. BARRELS. COMBINE THAT WITH ADDITIONAL U.S. PARTS, FURNITURE AND U.S. LABOR. AND YOU HAVE A VERY EXPENSIVE U.S. MADE AK RIFLE. I WOULD ALSO GUESS THAT MOST IF NOT ALL OF THESE RIFLES WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF POLY STOCK SINCE WOOD STOCKS MADE IN THE U.S. WOULD BE COST PROHIBITIVE. UNFORTUATELY WHEN THESE LAST IMPORTS SELL OUT I REALLY THINK THE DAYS OF THE INEXPENSIVE AK RIFLE ARE GONE.
NONE OF THIS TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE AND THE FACT THAT WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE A STRONG PRO-GUN CANDIDATE LEFT IN THE RACE. THIS TOO DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR THE FUTURE OF THESE TYPES OF RIFLES.

FORTUNATELY WE STILL HAVE A FEW AK RIFLES LEFT IN STOCK AND WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO HOLD THE PRICE. BUT DON'T WAIT. THEY ARE SELLING FAST. SEE A COMPLTETE LISTING OF OUR AVAILABLE AK RIFLES BELOW.

[Ranger+P+]

The entire state of Imported weaponry is dire. I have a FFL 05 (Curio/Relic) License and Class 3, and I am having a tough time finding parts for most of my Autos or Eastern Bloc Guns. I can tell you from my sources that SKS's of any type are drying up fast because of new import restictions bt the BATF, AK's are not far behind--for those interested, buy as many complete guns or kits while you can--combine the current state of affairs in the ATF with a possible fiasco in November if a Dem (either one) takes office--forget about it. While we are on the subject, this not only applies to the "Evil" Rifle (AK) but also the "All American" Black Rifle (AR)--they are all looked at the same: Look what happened to Cav Arms--the only reason it has not happened to Bushmaster or DPMS is they have Big, Fat Military Contracts and nobody wants to stop that flow of money.

[Skiprr]

I own 12 myself in various forms, use them for training and the 7.62x39 round is potent on any critter, 2 and 4 legged ones.

Ya think 7.62x39 is adequate for critters? I'm thinking North America only, but we got Grizzlies and Kodiaks in that mix. Multiple rounds delivered from a trained operator would work, but I'd be hesitant to say 7.62x39 is an effective big-game stopper.

[Skiprr]

...For those interested, buy as many complete guns or kits while you can.

Support the national economy by spending money, while supporting yourself by storing value for that spend.

I mean, look at the gun auction sites. Our firearms are holding value better than our houses!

I bought a boatload of firearms in 2006, not as many in 2007. I need to pick up the pace in 2008.

[WarHawk-AVG]

I own 12 myself in various forms, use them for training and the 7.62x39 round is potent on any critter, 2 and 4 legged ones.

Ya think 7.62x39 is adequate for critters? I'm thinking North America only, but we got Grizzlies and Kodiaks in that mix. Multiple rounds delivered from a trained operator would work, but I'd be hesitant to say 7.62x39 is an effective big-game stopper.

I wouldn't be too sure about that
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr4s3jjUOxQ

The AK round 7.62x39 is almost ballistically matched with the 30-30(not counting that steel core one)...many many many large game animals have been taken with the 30-30

http://www.frfrogspad.com/terminal2.htm

But the old adage is bring the biggest gun, better yet, bring your buddies and their guns too!

[Skiprr]

I'm thinking North America only, but we got Grizzlies and Kodiaks in that mix. Multiple rounds delivered from a trained operator would work, but I'd be hesitant to say 7.62x39 is an effective big-game stopper

I wouldn't be too sure about that
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr4s3jjUOxQ

The AK round 7.62x39 is almost ballistically matched with the 30-30(not counting that steel core one)...many many many large game animals have been taken with the 30-30

Ain't buyin' it.

With the largest Kodiak Bears and Brown Bears going well over 2,000 pounds, my observation stands: The 7.62x39 is too light to be a do-everything cartridge. Show me where the 30-30 has proven to be consistently effective at bringing down big game. Not Whitetails: big game.

Stepping up a notch, I love the .308 as a multipurpose round, but I recognize it can't match a big-game load like .375 H&H or .458 Lott.

[WarHawk-AVG]

30cm of penetration ain't that bad is it? And that is if you aren't using FMJ, those cut much deeper, not saying it is the best round...but it is capable of penetrating very deep, I guess it would be like using a .22 against a man size target..NOT what you want to do if the target is hell bent on eating you right?

But yes..if it absolutely positively has to be killed in one shot..those big ole honkering rounds are best

Ever see the .577 T-Rex?

[Ranger+P+]

I have seen with my own 2 eyes what an AK round can do to a human being, and the above ballistic table is correct concerning the yaw rate--I have seen exit wounds so large because the bullet exited sideways with FMJ ammo.

I cannot comment on what it would do to a Grizz, but I have taken several Whitetail, feral hog, coyote and wild dog with my SKS and AK's, I used a variation of Wolf MC 122gr HP & Corbon 125gr Soft Points for most of the critters.

I can tell you that in my current job when we are working in vehicle convoys, we will have a few modified AK's loaded with heavy Soft Point ammo --they chew thru vehicle bodies and windshields with ease, where most 5.56 FMJ ammo will disintegrate upon impact.

Of course with the wider use of the Alexander Arms .50 Beowulf, which we recently started deploying the uppers and magazines in the teams, being able to put a .50 cal 300-400 grain bullet thru a M4 platform, we have the ultimate anti-material/personnel stopper. One of the guys from Alexander Arms showed some game he took with the .Beowulf, including a Moose and Grizzly--nasty round!

I will try to post some pics of some range time we got with the .50 Beowulf and 6.8 SPC recently...

[Ranger+P+]

I want to apologize for my previous post--I did not mean to say the 5.56 "disintegrates" upon impact on metal, but on typical windshield glass. Many Police agencies, including DPS, found this out and now have switched from 55gr HP to a heavier 62-77gr SP bullet.