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AK Sponsor
8/7/2014 3:25:36 AM EDT
Gents,

    I am looking for your thoughts about two rifles I currently own. Specifically, I have come to the conclusion that neither will likely be sold, but I can only focus on maintaining one of them as my go-to rifle. The intended use of the rifle is as follows:

1) Target shooting/proficiency maintenance
2) General defense around the house
3) SHTF

    I am not needing my AK to serve as a hunting or precision gun, and don't envision the need to carry thousands of rounds of ammo from place to place while blazing away. I expect reasonable accuracy out to a range of approximately 200 yards but am most concerned with terminal performance inside of 100 yards... Perhaps inside of 50. I am not currently running an optic on either rifle. The rifles in question are:

A) Arsenal SLR-107CR in 7.62x39mm which has been SBR'ed on a Form 1. Rifle has a 12.5" barrel, side folding polymer 100 series stock, and AK104 cone booster. I have a decent supply of 8m3 ammo for this rifle.

B) Saiga 5.45x39mm conversion made by myself with help from a knowledgeable friend with proper tools/parts. This rifle has standard AK74 polymer furniture, and a standard AK74 brake. I have a decent supply of 7n6 for this rifle.

    My initial thoughts are that both rifles have proven reliable, and accurate enough to suit my needs. I was initially sold on my Arsenal until I spent a bit more time playing around with the 5.45 and am now not entirely sure that the smaller round isn't more effective against flesh targets. With that said, I am looking for input from the group here as to which of these rifles would make more sense for me to focus on, given my intended uses for it.

    I like the compactness of the SBR, but wonder if the 5.45 might be more effective against say... A home invader. Lastly, between 8m3 fired from my SBR, and 7n6 fired from my full length Saiga... Which is likely to stop faster after passing through its intended target? As stated before, I plan to keep both rifles. I'm simply curious what others think with regard to which one I should focus more time/effort/resources on.
8/7/2014 4:26:38 AM EDT
[#1]
A, already SBR'ed and would just look better during the zombie apocalypse.
8/7/2014 5:01:25 AM EDT
[#2]
B, so you can sell A to me

I think either would work well, but I think A has that "second kind of cool" (ref: nutnfancy)
8/7/2014 7:39:21 AM EDT
[#3]
A. Moe compact and packs a nice punch plus ammo will be easier to come across.
8/7/2014 11:30:42 AM EDT
[#4]
So far, the idea seems to be that the SBR is my better bet because it looks cool and it might have more easily sourced ammo options? If the SBR was in 5.45 rather than 7.62, it would make it easier for me. Any compelling reasons (other than the fact that my 7.62 is an SBR) to go with a 7.62 over the 5.45?
8/7/2014 12:17:13 PM EDT
[#5]
Without a doubt,  the 104. Way easier to source ammo and it's 30 cal, the compactness..  Kind of a no brainer IMO.
8/7/2014 3:25:48 PM EDT
[#6]
The SBR would be my go-to rifle.
8/7/2014 4:42:11 PM EDT
[#7]
Even in a worst-case-geopolitical-scenario, 7.62  should still be easier and cheaper to find than 5.45. That's where I'd put my money, effort, and attention. 5.45 isn't a dying platform, but it sure as hell isn't a growing platform.
8/7/2014 6:06:50 PM EDT
[#8]
Seems that the 7.62 SBR is the overwhelming favorite here. It has been my go-to for a couple of years now. Only recently had the idea crossed my mind that maybe the 5.45x39mm might be a more effective platform for anti bad guy applications. I have experience with both calibers dating back to about 2001 or so. I've heard conflicting theories regarding whether the 8m3 or the 7n6 would be more likely to wind up in a neighbors house after passing through a bad guy. I am inclined to believe that the 7n6 would display more overpenetration although I suspect both would still have a lot of juice when fired from room distance.
 I'm just tired of stocking mags ammo and parts for 2 different caliber AK's, an Uzi, a Mosin Nagant, a Savage .30-06, and several pistols.... Not counting the half dozen or so other calibers that make up the guns I've inherited. I'm looking to cut shotguns completely out of my strategy, and standardize on 9mm for pistols and either 7.62x39 or 5.45x39 for my rifle. I will keep all the others, but will stop buying stuff for them and will keep them all in the safes.
 At this point, I will probably sell some mags and ammo from the rifle I don't choose, and replace them with more of the same items for the other rifle.
8/8/2014 8:17:59 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote History
Quoted:
Seems that the 7.62 SBR is the overwhelming favorite here. It has been my go-to for a couple of years now. Only recently had the idea crossed my mind that maybe the 5.45x39mm might be a more effective platform for anti bad guy applications. I have experience with both calibers dating back to about 2001 or so. I've heard conflicting theories regarding whether the 8m3 or the 7n6 would be more likely to wind up in a neighbors house after passing through a bad guy. I am inclined to believe that the 7n6 would display more overpenetration although I suspect both would still have a lot of juice when fired from room distance.
 I'm just tired of stocking mags ammo and parts for 2 different caliber AK's, an Uzi, a Mosin Nagant, a Savage .30-06, and several pistols.... Not counting the half dozen or so other calibers that make up the guns I've inherited. I'm looking to cut shotguns completely out of my strategy, and standardize on 9mm for pistols and either 7.62x39 or 5.45x39 for my rifle. I will keep all the others, but will stop buying stuff for them and will keep them all in the safes.
 At this point, I will probably sell some mags and ammo from the rifle I don't choose, and replace them with more of the same items for the other rifle.
View Quote

You can send me whatever you no longer want.
8/9/2014 11:44:33 AM EDT
[#10]
I would go the sbr route....
 
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