[GuerrillaBob]

What are the main differences between AK47 and AR15 given that they are both manufactured and not modified for comparison sake and that they have the same auto or semi-auto capability?

 

[ranger_sxt]

This is one of those threads that could go on forever...

 

[Bidah]

Gads!!!

One is piston driven, one is gas driven without the piston.
One uses peep sights, one uses open sights. ( not including scope mounts )
Magazine insertion/removal is different.
Safeties are different.
No bolt hold open on last shot, and one with it.

I believe that about covers the basics.

-Bidah

 

[FALPhil]

I believe that about covers the basics.

-Bidah

AKs are generally stamped sheet metal receivers these days while ARs are machined from castings or forgings.

 

[BLS33]

Don't forget they shoot different calibers.

 

[FALPhil]

Don't forget they shoot different calibers.

Yes, but...

I have an AK in 223 Rem and an AR upper in 7.62x39.

 

[SabreArms]

How about this.

One is spendy, is very accurate, has hightolerances and comes with a "purse handle" (as my wife says)., needs regular cleaning ans maintenance and always looks sexy.

They other one is cheap, not quite as accurate. has low tolerances and is portrayed as evil in almost all movies. not to mention doesnt require cleaning or much maintenance and looks better dirty

Does that work or did I open a can of worms?

 

[BLS33]

Yes, but...

I have an AK in 223 Rem and an AR upper in 7.62x39.

I thought we were talking about the original incarnations of both. The first mass produced ones.

 

[ranger_sxt]

They other one is cheap, not quite as accurate. has low tolerances and is portrayed as evil in almost all movies. not to mention doesnt require cleaning or much maintenance and looks better dirty

Does that work or did I open a can of worms?

You opened a can of worms, with incorrect statements flying out the wazoo.

The rifle AK can be just as accurate as the AR. The difference comes, primarily, from the nut behind the trigger usually not being able to shoot as well with the AK sight system as with the AR system. Throw on top of that the differences in ammo standards (6 MOA for the AK vs 2 MOA for the AR) and the AK can be less accurate.

The AK does need regular cleaning and maintenance. Like any mechanical device, it needs lubed.

And there is nothing quite as sexy as an AR covered in dust...

 

[FALPhil]

I thought we were talking about the original incarnations of both. The first mass produced ones.

I must have missed that. Where was it?

 

[BLS33]

I must have missed that. Where was it?

That was my mistake, didn't say it anywhere just what I thought

 

[SabreArms]

You opened a can of worms, with incorrect statements flying out the wazoo.

The rifle AK can be just as accurate as the AR. The difference comes, primarily, from the nut behind the trigger usually not being able to shoot as well with the AK sight system as with the AR system. Throw on top of that the differences in ammo standards (6 MOA for the AK vs 2 MOA for the AR) and the AK can be less accurate.

The AK does need regular cleaning and maintenance. Like any mechanical device, it needs lubed.

And there is nothing quite as sexy as an AR covered in dust...

I dont believe they are incorrect so much as they are more general. They AK generally IS more inaccurate than the AR (DUE to the ammo among other things). Yes it DOES need cleaning but generally speaking it can handle more "dirt".

My statement was just a general overview of the differences. Personnally I love them both (Although the M16 I was issued I would have rather run over with my tank cause it was a POS) and many things can be said about one or the other. Those are my thoughts and opinions.

 

[AR Hammer]

"What are the main differences between AK47 and AR15 given that they are both manufactured and not modified for comparison sake and that they have the same auto or semi-auto capability?"

This is the debate (sometimes heated) that happens every second Tuesday of every month around here...

The AK guys calling the AR guys 'Poodle Shooters',
The AR guys calling the AK guys, 'Lead Wasters'.

Pretty accurate on both counts actually...
...................
...................

So the question is actually about the rifles as they fall off the assembly line...

That's really easy,
AK-47 is a true 'Assault' weapon, shortened rifle caliber, in this case a .30 cal., gas assisted piston operation with locking bolt, full auto capable.
Reliable, albeit not particularly accurate, short and medium range weapon with good penetration and 'Knock Down' power.

The AK was intentionally designed to be a battle rifle, easy to manufacture from common materials, have large clearances and tolerances so thermal expansion & contraction, dust, powder residue, ect. wouldn't cause stoppages in combat.

The AK is quite effective at ranges up to 300 yards, but is not particularly accurate by to days standards.
Since it is a 'Combat', standard issue rifle, it must be noted that in study after study of combat after action reports, most soldiers won't engage a target FIRST unless that target is under 75 yards away...
Most soldiers won't engage a target with ACCURATE, AIMED fire even after being fired on, at ranges over 150 yards...
So the AK was particularly effective at that 75 to 150 yard range, exactly as designed!

The AK was also designed for an army that practices 'Target Saturation' and 'Attrition Advances' in battle.
The AK lends it's self well in 'Insurgent' campaigns where irregular and poorly trained and/or educated combatants will be using the rifle.

The US Military practices 'Accurate, Aimed Rifle Fire' and team maneuvering, not human wave attacks...

The AK is perfectly designed for it's intended purpose. (Killing people at short ranges.)

I would like to point out that we don't really have a problem in this country with 'Waves' of deer size animals throwing themselves at us...
And it's too inaccurate and/or under powered in factory trim for 'pinpoint' or longer range hunting of smaller game.
.............

A word should be said about later versions of AK variants for civilian use.
China made thin walled stamped receivers and pinned barrel versions are junk at best, and dangerous at worst.
Inferior machining, inferior base materials, and improper design & fit make these 'civilian' versions a menace to everyone around them when they are fired.
--------------------------

AR 15 is a civilian version of the military M-16.
It was designed by an aircraft company using the latest (at the time) in materials and manufacturing, and is inherently accurate because if the ammunition chosen and the complex modular design.
It is a fully gas operated locking bolt design with no mechanical assist.
The AR-15 wasn't originally designed as a full auto weapon, but was later adopted to full auto.

It's a full size rifle that shoots a highly accurate .22 cal. (.223 or NATO 5.56x45mm) round designed to kill small, thin skinned game and 'varmints'.

It is very reasonably accurate from the factory, but can be very particular about ammo types and cleaning routines.

The factory rifles are accurate, fast into operation, rugged, reliable, made from very good quality materials with very high standards and will reliably drop small and most intermediate size game animals with little or no problem.
Since they use modern materials and designs that use automated machining practices, the price is very reasonable for a highly accurate, safe rifle.

There are no 'Unsafe' AR manufacturers that I'm aware of, although some have better materials & quality control than others.

The AR has the added bonus of being standardized and modular, so after market specialty items grow on trees, and a lot of them actually work as advertised.
-----------------------

The best of both worlds is an AR-10 in .308 Win. or .300 WSM. caliber.

The AR-10 in NATO 7.62x51mm (.308 Win. to civilians) was an issue combat rifle in at least 10 countries and has a cult like following among Egyptian and Israelis snipers that see a lot of action.

A .30 Cal round capable of killing any animal in north America, with the light weight, speed, reliability, and inherent accuracy of an AR rifle.

Also, let's not forget the after market parts machine in this country that can crank out some pretty cool things for AR-10's!

 

[slowryde45]

Owning both, they are as much alike as they are vastly different. Aside from everything everyone has already stated, I have AK's in .223 , 5.54 x39, 7.62 x 39, and even .308. In the AR safe, there is 9mm, .223/5.56, .260, .308, and soon a Bushmaster Thumper in .450. AR's are available in a wider assortment of calibers.

Accuracy wise, my most accurate AK, a Russian VEPR .223, with a RedStar trigger group, on a good day, sandbagged and no wind will flirt with 1 moa/100yards. The other AK's in the collection, including Chinese Norinco, Egyptian Maadi, Bulgarian, Yugo, and Hungarian models will all shoot anywhere from 2.00 to 4.00" groups easily. But...that drops quickly when the distance increases. The AR's in the rifle calibers will outshoot almost any of the AK's accuracy wise.

The main difference if you are comparing original standard issue firearms, the AK could be dropped in the mud, water, sand, etc., then picked up and fired. Not so with the original AR's. Maintenance is also simpler with the AK's - as demonstrated by quite a few of it's users in different arenas around the world (hint - gasoline and tranny fluid worked wonders). Since then, and with proper maintenance on each, the reliability gap has narrowed. But that edge still goes to the looser tolerances, and less ammo-finicky properties of the AK. In original issue, the AK also offered more knock-down power (7.62x39 versus .223/5.56), and also cheaper ammo-wise.

Between the two, they each have their pros/cons, just like FORDS/CHEVIES. If you are thinking of adding one, why not one of each?