Check out www.classicarms.us as they have a lot of rifles at good prices
and some good ammo prces also.
and some good ammo prces also.
This vid will change your mind about AKs accuracy:
YouTube - AK 47 vs M16
Interesting video, Al. But the accuracy of the rifles portrayed here is subjective to the shooter's talent. A sighted in AK at 200 yards and a decent shooter would have pegged the target just as well as the AR shooter did in this video.
I'm looking for something that goes bang everytime I pull the trigger without fail. Although the wife probably won't shoot it on a regular basis, if something happen to me, and she needed it, she has to be able to pick it up and start shooting. I'm not looking to swap out parts on a regular basis, I want to buy or build what I need, and then maintain an shoot it. I'm not looking for a cool toy or bragging rights. I cc a bersa 380, because it fits my needs, not because its the coolest thing available. I've looked at a few other weapons, but as said above both the AR, and AK are proven in battle, and relatively cheap for a modern magazine fed semiauto rifles.
The point of the rifle is, if things ever get so bad, that this is the only way I can defend my family I want something that will certainly persuade people to pick another target. So good cheap ammo is a concern here too. I almost thing because the AR is an American weapon ammo should be easier to come by, but I'm seeing AK ammo listed at lower prices.
Get an SKS. It's design pre-dates the AK and it's just as reliable. The only comprimise is the fixed box magazine. It is heavier because of the milled reciever and more accurate than an AK. If you have to have replaceable magazines, you can buy versions of the SKS that use AK mags. At $250-400 you can get a great quality SKS and get your feet wet with a combat rifle very similar to the AK. Another great alternative that few people think about is the VZ-58 which is another milled receiver, striker fired version of the AK. Those are about $850 though. Otherwise, I agree with most of what has been said. If you buy an AR, the honeymoon will never end and you will keep buying stuff for it until you are tapped out.
I, like most of the others, have both. "I" would lean twards the AR, if it were me and those are the only choices. As long as you maintain the AR, it will give you great service.
Actually, .223 IS cheaper (if you reload). As far as the wife grabbing it, if something happend to you, the AR is, by far, a better choice. Not near as much recoil.
Now, if this is a home defense weapon, I would lean twards a 12 guage shotgun. Point and shoot. A Knox stock would dampen the recoil down enough for a 12 year old girl to shoot. 12 guage ammo is cheap and there is NOTHING like the sound of a shotgun being racked. IMO
This almost sounds like maybe I should forget about the AK, get an SKS from me, and an AR a little later for the wife and not worry about the 9mm carbine. I've seen the 22lr conversions for AR's and would probably get one eventually anyway if I went that route, I saw one really cheap here in Dallas last night.
The over all plan was to get a 9mm carbine and share fairly cheap ammo with a 9mm handgun I would be using sometimes for CC. But for getting the wife into shooting, and range time the 22lr conversion would be even better.
I use to see SKS's for 100.00 and passed on them, now I regretting it.
Then do yourself a favor and kick that budget up a little bit and do some research. In the end you'll be happy you saved for quality....I think I'm going to start looking for an AR.
I've had more malfunctions with AKs than my ARs. In thousands upon thousands of rounds of 5.56 I've had exactly ONE malfunction with an AR, and that was a bad mag. That may be because most AKs are from parts kits and my ARs are top shelf though.The AK is more reliable,easier to strip and clean....and most accessories are far less expensive as well. You also won't void your warranty by shooting steel cased ammo,which is what its mean to shoot.
I've had more malfunctions with AKs than my ARs. ....
What malfunctions?
Which? I'm willing to bet that they're also the ones that don't spec out well in the first place.a lot of mfgrs state that shooting steel cased ammo voids your AR warranty,read the fine print.
But they aren't replacing them with AKs. And even then, how many ODAs do you think are actually deploying with piston guns right now? I'm not convinced that "shitting where it eats" is a problem. At one point I shot almost two thousand rounds through my LMT and while every five hundred rounds or so I'd shoot some oil through the gas holes in the carrier, I did not clean it at all(not the chamber, bolt, bolt carrier, reciever, barrel...none of it,)and didn't have one hiccup.I love the AR platform it is very modular yes,however it shits where it eats....bad idea. SOCOM is outfitting them with HK416 piston systems for a reason,something to think about.
No doubt, my AK is of middle of the road quality, certainly not an Arsenal, while my three ARs are BCM, LMT, and DD. But this doesn't tell me much about the platform itself...it tells me to buy quality regardless of platform and you'll experience high reliability. The decision to be made regarding AK vs. AR should revolve around ergonomics and ballistics. Ergonomically the AR wins hands down. Comparing ballistics becomes tricky. Do you need to shoot through intermediate barriers? AK In regards to terminal ballistics, only 5.56 seems to be taking advantage of modern bullet design. Recoil/follow up shots? AR.Low end AKs are totally different from a quality AK rifle,same goes for ARs. If you get an AR go with a BCM,LMT or the like....don't get a Stag,Bush,RRA etc etc.
the ballistics is why i recommended the 74 in 5.45x39 you sir have great taste in AR mfrgrs.....don't get me wrong i like ARs i'm absolutely not trying to trash them. i was simply offering him the option of having the simplicity/reliability of an AK and the accuracy of an AR within the AK platform.
Field stripping an AR looks like a huge pain in the ass compared to an AK