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Friday, November 2, 2018

The US military would be better off with an AK variant as a standard service rifle

At least that’s what Larry Vickers believes.

In the video below (minute 4:30) he discusses his AK47 book and commented that he believed the AK would suit the “Joe Average” military personnel better while AR variant rifles would be better suited for special forces and other specific tactical units.


As you can imagine, he got a lot of hate from a lot of people for this comment.
I must say though. I do agree with the man.

Hold your horses! I didn’t insult your mother just had a different opinion there, that’s all. The thing is, the AR is a great rifle… but its not as great as many would want it to be. Accurate and with great ergonomics yes, but it requires a minimum maintenance, knowledge and dedication that is higher than the one required by AK type rifles.

Most gun people simply don’t understand how little the average non-gun person cares about firearms.
And believe it or not many of them serve in the military. The AK is a gun that can take that kind of neglect. Just getting some oil prayed somewhere in the vicinity of the gun and little else is enough to keep it running.

The AR though, it needs a knowledgeable user, someone that at least has some interest in having a working rifle. It may be super simple and easy for you, but for the person that doesn’t car at all about guns, trust me, it is not. And Vickers is not talking about your typical pile of crap imported AK. He talks about a Valmet rifle with a few tweaks and upgrades.

I completely agree that something like that would be ideal as well. Especially for survivalists, the AK holds that category of beaten and abused gun that somehow keeps on working. The AR is a more refined gun that while reliable requires more attention. The AK with its piston gas operation, larger components with looser tolerances tends to be more forgiving.

Different opinion? Some other thoughts? Leave your comment below.

FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Except that AKs are notoriously inaccurate. What's the point of shooting at someone if you can't hit them?

bad moon said...

outstanding video,,i have both rifles..thanks for your web site,,i check every morning.

Steve said...

Plus they will save a bundle on those pesky royalties.
https://southfront.org/us-infringing-copyright-laws-to-produce-and-advertise-russian-weapons/

Anonymous said...

Goat fucking talibans succesfully used AK to defeat US army.

The AK is a battle proven weapon. It is efficiently operated by idiots. As idiots are more numerous than smarter than average soldiers, numbers talk.

The AK would be a perfect weapon for the non-elite tropper : it is reliable, can provide suppressing fire, decent marksmanship at urban fighting range, all-weather availability and enough stopping power.

By the way, how many ennemies were taken out by an american AR at engagement distance between 50 and 200 meters (the range where AR has an advantage above AK) by regular infantryman other than designated sharp shooters ?

If the answer is a low number, than case closed. The Pentagon has the actual statistics.

Anonymous said...

Ferfal,

Many changes are coming.

https://www.range365.com/us-armys-mysterious-new-68mm-round

Anonymous said...

Ferfa,

Change is coming

https://www.range365.com/us-armys-mysterious-new-68mm-round

Anonymous said...

The AK is a better weapon than any version of the AR/M16/M4/AR10. AR's are a range Barbbie/snob gun. If they are surgically cleaned and carefully lubed several times a day, they will work about 50% of the time. Provided you feed them only the most expensive hand crafted ammo, they might even work about 75% of the time. BUT: Make no mistake. EVERY version of the Stoner will fail you when your life is on the line. The AK on the other hand was designed to fight, and survive, the battle of Stalingrad. It will fire ANY proper Cal. ammo. It is every bit as accurate as the standard M4 service carbine. All you need is, To Quote Kalashnicov (spell?) himself. "I designed AK47 so that any common Russian could lift it from the mud. Clean it with Diesel Fuel. Lubricate it with crank case oil, and defend the Mother Land" The AR is the worst choice you can make in your life. Period. It WILL fail you when you need it the most. The AK will keep running with holes rusted in the receiver, and can be manufactured with hand tools. It is the best military carbine class weapon ever devised by man. 200 years from now somebody will find one in a dry cave in some middle east shit hole. Kick the action open,and it will fire.--Ray

Anonymous said...

For the average troop it's an AK
world. Look at the ME battles when
US support units were overrun.
Jammed, dirty and improperly lubed
AR's were the cause.