User Panel
Posted: 12/24/2006 3:13:30 PM EST
I want one of these in the gun safe, (AK74 or AK47) which one would you advise? Just a plinker or SHTF truck gun. I already have the 12ga, 22's, .45, 308.
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I elected to get a Yugo M90 in .223....until the mil changes calibers, I feel comfortable with my choice.
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I'm sure thats a great rifle, (223), but i can get 5.45 and 7.62 cheaper than .223. So far, its a toss up. Anyone else have a thought on which one to get? I'm leaning towards 7.62 due to magazine and ammo availability.
I will put up about 2k rounds for the future, so ammo availability will not be an issue. |
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I would opt for the 7.62 due to more ammo and mags being available. A folding stock AK would make a great SHTF truck gun.
Ron |
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Much as I love the SAM7 series, you already have .308 when you need bigger, so try a 74 for the option of very fast follow up shots and being able to hoof it with 50% more ammo of the same weight (500 7.62x39 and 750 5.45/5.56 weighs about 18.5lbs for either).
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Easy choice, get both! I have both, and will add this, MY SAR-2, is more accurate at longer distances than my SAR-1. I believe this to be more a product of the ammo, than the rifle. You can haul more rounds of the 5.45, than of the 7.62, as mentioned earlier. If you have buddies that own these two rifles, try them both, see which one you like best, and fits your needs. Nah,... just get both. Michael |
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And so did Schulze. But I say - Get all three! |
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It's gonna Be a while before you can find 5.45 at Walmart.
So Far there is not ONE .223 AK that is both reliable AND has easy parts availability 7.62 is the way to go |
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With the hit and miss availability of 5.45 ammo, I would go with the 7.62x39
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Get all three that way you can make a well informed decision yourself and not have to worry about ammo availability.
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For someone who just wants an example of a AKM in his gun safe, as well as for plinking, the 7.62x39 makes more sense. If you get the 7.62 AK-47, I recommend you buy some of the Hungarian 20rd mags while they are still available, they are very handy, less bulk and weight. I have both, the AK-47 has me covered as far as future ammo supply goes. My 5.45x39 AK is more fun to shoot, it feels better balanced, is more controllable during rapid fire, is lighter if only due to the mags and ammo. I just like it better. |
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Fo shure! At a carbine match with my '74, a fellow competitor asked seriously if it was a machinegun! The kicker? There was a bona fide M16 in our group for him to compare to.
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Its easy to find 5.45 right now. Several places have it in stock. |
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im gonna quit tellin people how cool 5.45 is, so i can stockpile it my self. i wanna finally be the guy with ten zillion rounds in my ammo can.
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The AK 74 ia plain and simply the better choice with more accuracy, greater hit probability, greater range, lighter weight and better ergos.
I am grateful our enemies predominately use the outdated AK47. |
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I would get an AK74 except that the AK74 doesn't have a 100 round drum available like the AK47.
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It's a great question and often debated here and on other boards. I personally have three (3) 7.62s with another on the way, one (1) 5.45 with another on the way and one (1) .223.
So far, each rifle has performed 100%, but the 5.45 is profoundly more accurate than the others. It's a pleasure to shoot and more "fun" than the .30 caliber guns I have. However, I would suggest one .30 and one 5.45. They each have their place and their own characteristics; good or bad. |
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Profoundly more accurate? My 106 is scary accurate. My 105 does well if you give it barnul. Wolf poly is meh.
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Let me clarify...more accurate than the .30 calibers. Yes, my SLR-106FR is very accurate as well. I've never bench rested these rifles to compare, but offhand, equal to the 105.
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BTW, if I could afford it, I would have an AK47, just for the cool factor.
The 5.45X39.5 is an interesting round. It has performed well above expectations on feral hogs and deer. They go down like they have been hit with a sledge hammer. Go figure? My most accurate AK is my SLR 106 with Lake City M855 front line ammo. |
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Better ergos?? Its the same damn gun from an ergonomic standpoint. Same for lighter weight, granted a loaded mag will weigh less, but otherwise you are at best talking a few ounces. |
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7.62x39 for ammo availability. You can find 5.45 right now, but that is not always true, and in my area you will never find 5.45 on the shelf at a gunstore or wally world
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So why not buy a ton of it online and stack it deep? I can't find any 5.45 locally either, but even if I could I probably wouldn't buy it because it would be much more expensive than online sources. |
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I agree with Chris. Never understood the whole "can't find it at Wally World" argument. Ammo purchased from stores tends to be somewhat more expensive, and ordering it online is very simple. Just order a few 1000 rounds and it comes right to your door. Then you're set for awhile. Pretty easy. As for 5.45 vs. 7.62-I'd go with 5.45, for many of the same reasons already listed on this thread. The controlibility of the 5.45 round is what puts it over the top for me: I can rapid fire a 30 round mag at a pie plate at 50 meters and keep them all near the center, and I'm not particularly skilled at rapid fire drills. The improved accuracy is nice, but I think the 7.62x39 round is adequate enough for most real world situations. The low recoil and controlibility of the 5.45 round are what make it such a joy to shoot. That said-BUY BOTH! |
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Do your homework. The AK 103 is almost the same as an AK 74; other AKs are not. I know it must be hard to get over it, but the AK 74 really is an improvement over the 60 year old AK47 design. Different internal, stock angles etc. |
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I have done my homework. Frankly there is very little practical difference between an AKM and an AK-74, save for the MB and 90 deg gas block (which is important for only 5.45) with regards to ergonomics. The internals are virtually the same (esp on anything made here since it will likely be a G2 or RSA group). The furniture is pretty much the same, or can be made the same with little cost to the end user wood/vs plastic. Especially if you are talking about an AK-74 you can buy here vs an Ak-47/AKM/AK103 that can be had. I'm afraid you are nitpicking at things with little difference when it comes to weight and especially ergonomics, I own both and they are identical in that regard. Get either or, it really depends on what features you want and the type of ammo. I perfer the 74 since mine is far more accurate and lighter recoil. Also a big +1 for buying 5.45 online. Who cares if you can buy it at wally world. |
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You want to shoot 5.56? Get an AR. 7.62 is the preferred choice of the K-man himself. N'uff said.
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Dear God! I just had an orgasm! |
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When are you going to sell me that gem? |
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I had 74, it was just like AR. Very useful if full-auto capable.
But alas, poor I am, I chose 7.62 because it hits harder than 5.xx mm and my gun is not capable of auto fire. YMMV |
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What he said Mags, drums and ammo are plentiful. I had a SAR3 and finding mags that worked were expensive and the modified 74 mags sucked. MTK prefers the 7.62x39 that should be enough. |
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I own AK's in 5.45, 5.56, and 7.62. I'd get a 7.62 AK before anything else. I love the 5.45 but I don't shoot it as much as the others.
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I agree with Jake. I look at 74 owners as being a little more hardcore. As far as ammo availability, just buy enough ammo to last a year or two and who cares if you can't find any at a brick and mortar store. |
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WTF? |
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SLR-106??? Where does this "unreliable" stuff come from? Mine is absolutely dead reliabl with Bulgarian mags. |
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I think AK-74 owner's are a little more hardcore is because they probably already had a 7.62 and then chose the 74 over an M4gery which means they LOVE the AK.
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A few years ago I was having this decision to make. Went with the 74 and loved the platform. When more cash was in the account, picked up a VEPR 47. Had to say why does everyone like this round? Right now is the time to stack 5.45 deep, its a run round and you'll think twice before taking out your AR again. YMMV |
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i take this as one of the highest compliments you can pay me without knowing me personally. |
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Yep. That would descibe my history. |
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i decided to build my AKS-74,.. i already had a AK-47,.and a pimped out AR (wich i sold to pay for my SA-M5) |
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