Why The AK-47?
As 2020 comes to a close, the usual suspects at the ammo counter are still moving at outrageous prices and that’s if we are lucky enough to find them in stock. This will likely continue until the current primer shortage is sorted out. Even at that point, it will take time for the market to stabilize.
7.62x39 Availability
Throughout the year I noticed that 7.62x39 ammunition has been consistently available in case quantities for far less than .223 and 5.56 rounds. The 7.62x39 also comes in FMJ, HP and SP varieties which gives the platform more versatility.
This availability of ammo makes having an AK-47 in the safe viable.
The AR-15 is still America’s rife and is my first choice for tactical carbines. However, when range FMJ ammo in .223 is $650 a case plus shipping the AK-47 begins to look much more appealing. Check out my setup video here.
Reliability
The AK-47 is one of the most reliable tactical carbines in the world. They are designed to work with cheap steel cased ammo and they function reliably in filthy conditions.
Can you say the same about your budget AR-15 that you’ve loaded with aftermarket parts that were sold to you by Instagram influencers?
When’s the last time you tested your AR in a class or in less than ideal range conditions?
These questions are worth answering for a defensive carbine.
Iron Sights
The sights on an AK are not the best but they work. There is also one huge advantage that is often overlooked in the current market. AK-47s usually come with iron sights installed and zeroed from the factory (might not be the zero you want but better than nothing).
If you bought an AR-15 during the pandemic, did you also buy an optic? If so, how much ammo did it take to zero it? An AK-47 with iron sights is more useful than an AR-15 with no sights.
Don’t be the guy with an optic only setup and an unconfirmed zero.
I personally like guns that come with iron sights because I might not put an optic on every model. I end up having to add irons aftermarket and it brings the overall cost of each weapon up significantly. If you’ve seen my AR-15 Setup video, you know that I like having co-witness back up irons in case my optic shits the bed.
Accessories
The AK-47 has a good amount of aftermarket support.
Magazines are cheap and available.
Most modern AK options have weapon light mounting capability. Adding a light is probably more important than adding an optic if it is one or the other.
Optics mounts are more difficult than the AR-15 but there are some solid designs on the market that will host most of today's modern optics.
Conclusion
Right now at the close of 2020. The AK-47 is a viable tactical carbine choice. It is battle proven and damn near bombproof. In the coming month, I will be doing an AK-47 Setup and updating my current gear.
Don’t fall in love with the configuration pictured. It's changing!
