The AR-15 and its ancestor, the select-fire-capable M-16, have served the United States Armed Forces and their allies for nearly 50 years. Many of us know the history behind its selection and implementation, complete with all its growing pains. Today’s M-4 Carbine is similar to the original M16A1, but advancements in machining, design, materials, and powder make today’s M4 a much more reliable weapon platform.
That being said, I can no longer place any confidence in the AR-15 to defend myself in a time of disaster or urban unrest. To protect myself and my family, I have completely switched over to the AKM family of weapons—a semi-automatic variant of the legendary AK-47. I know that somewhere, someone is saying out loud that I am a dumb-ass or a communist. When I first discussed this with one of my close friends, a career Army infantryman with more than 16 months of combat duty spent with the 172nd Infantry Brigade, he just shook his head in disagreement. I remember telling him over some beers, and he just kept asking “Why?” with a look of disappointment and bewilderment on his face.
The M16A2 was my primary weapon for my entire career in the United States Air Force; I knew it inside and out. I was one of the few USAF engineers I knew who loved target shooting, going to the range, hell, I even liked to clean guns. So why walk away from a weapon platform I had used or owned for over 20 years? The answer comes down to two major reasons: supportability and simplicity.
Supportability
Any military or company that uses AR-15s/M4s has much deeper pockets than I will ever have. Major corporations and military units typically have a robust supply system that can provide an individual any desired replacement part they may need. This is necessary, because the variation in parts from manufacturer to manufacturer is immense, making interchangeability difficult.
The buffer spring and buffer weights alone have more than a dozen different variations depending on barrel length and number of coils on the buffer spring. Then, stop and consider the rifling twist rates in the weapon’s barrel and what projectile works optimally in them. Here is a sample of the variations and options on buffer weights alone.
The size of the gas port in the barrel also varies depending on the manufacturer of the barrel and its intended use. This directly effects the amount of gas coming back to cycle the weapon. Over-gassed or under-gassed guns coupled with improper buffer springs and weights can cause failures to cycle and operate effectively.
The pins used in the trigger and lower control group also have variations depending on manufacturer. Colt used a pin set with a larger diameter than other makers, while also making rifles with the industry-standard smaller-sized pins.
With the AKM/AK-47 family of rifles, buffer-spring variants from country to country don’t matter much, and it has no buffer weights to worry about. Problem solved. I only need to stock one style of spring, the same one used by most of the 100 million AK-47s that have been produced. This makes my overhead for long-term support of my rifles considerably less.
Simplicity
The word simplicity might cause people to think that the AR-15/M4 is a difficult weapon to operate, and that is not the case at all. When I use the word simplicity, I think of overall use and maintenance of the weapon. How maintenance-intensive is it? What type of lubricant do I have to use for my situation?
With the AR-15/M4, there is an entire segment of the shooting world that will launch into heated arguments about what lubricant works best. I have seen the debates between CLP versus Frog Lube versus Fire Clean. Running the gun ‘wet’ or ‘dry’ is another topic of debate. I have even heard people who say they use WD40 or Castrol Slick 50 on their AR-15s/M4s.
Properly lubricating a weapon isn’t rocket science, but improper lubrication can lead to the weapon jamming at the most inopportune moment. In the case of over-lubrication, in a dusty or sandy area, excessive dirt and debris can accrue on the weapon’s working parts, causing stoppages and malfunctions.
The AK alternative
Consider my selection. The AKM can be lubricated by just about anything that has some degree of viscosity. Bearing grease, lithium grease, motor oil, 80W 90 gear oil, the tears of liberals, the blood of unicorns, you get the idea. There is a scene in the video below (at about the 20-second point) where you can see an AK-47—buried in the dirt and clay of Africa for 18 years—rendered operable with only a can of motor oil.
Squawking and haters
I know a lot of people will tell me how superior an AR-15/M4 and the .223/5.56mm cartridge is compared to the AKM and its 7.62mm x 39mm cartridge. They will try to make their point with ballistic coefficients, tables, or charts outlining bullet drop at various distances. Then they will resort to name calling; that’s what insecure, narrow-minded people often do. The bottom line is, when I analyzed my threat assessment, what I needed my rifle to do, and the conditions I needed it to operate in, I chose what I felt was best for me. I am secure with my choice—the AKM.
If I was part of an invading army, with thousands of people making sure I had what I needed to do the job properly, then by all means, the AR-15/M4 would be perfect. But I am not, and I don’t see myself being in that situation again. I also don’t foresee myself needing to hit a man-sized target from 600 yards away. I need to have a weapon to operate in a close-quarters environment without worry about lubrication, jamming, buffer weights, or springs.
While this article may sound like a condemnation of the AR15/M4 as a viable weapon, it is not. For the past 20 years, the military has been looking for a replacement for the AR-15/M4 and they can’t seem to find one that fits their needs. That says a lot about the gun. The point of this is to open people’s eyes to the fact that, if you are preparing for a disaster and choose a semi-automatic rifle, there are variables to consider. A well-maintained and well-built AR-15/M4 is a fine weapon, but it can be maintenance intensive.
Not all AKs are equal
This needs to be said: Not all AKs are equal. Often, people’s only exposure to AK-47 variants are poorly built imports. Most of these guns are full of major safety and functional issues requiring skilled gunsmiths to correct. Like anything mechanical in nature, cheap knockoffs will never meet the standard of the original.
For me, the AKM was the perfect weapon for my needs: short range, heavy-hitting, simple, and with a proven track record. I selected an American-built AKM made from a Polish parts kit, with a few upgrades added to it before I got it. The manufacturer I selected has a good quality-control process to ensure safety and reliability.
During my field trials with this American/Polish AKM, I have sent nearly 1,000 rounds downrange and have had only one failure. The failure was a primer that was installed backward from the ammunition manufacturer—not a problem with the rifle itself. A full review on my AKM will be done at the 5,000-round count.
Some of this article is rather overstated. Fine that you picked ak family weapons. I almost did the same. But there is no reason to complain about confusing logistics and bigger weights when you are in charge of your own supply line. If you went out of your way to buy nice AKs you can go out of your way to buy functional and uniform ARs too.
The very reasons the author disses the AR is the very reason it’s so popular. It’s the most versatile rifle on the planet. Different ARs can be set up for different reasons. Or one can set up a ‘standard’ AR for all occasions. The much vaunted AK isn’t nearly as reliable as the fanboys would have us believe. I’ve seen the “unjammable” AK jam at the mere sight of sand. I’ve seen them literally explode in the users hands. Like the AR, the AK is a mechanical construct that works or doesn’t dependent on the user. With more than 30 years using the AR/M-16 family of firearms, I can count on one hand the number of stoppages I’ve had, and that includes old worn out much abused basic training rifles. Three of those stoppages were due to magazines, having nothing to do with the rifle itself. People love their ARs. They try different things with their ARs such as different buffer weights. So what? How is that a negative? The author fired nearly 1,000 rounds before his AKM jammed? Fascinating. I’ve fired nearly 5,000 through one of my ARs without a single jam. That was with minimal maintenance BTW, I hate cleaning guns. Gun oil is a problem? I’ve used everything from wheel bearing grease and motor oil to the finest high tech lubricants on the market. My ARs took it all in stride. If the author prefers the AK platform, more power to him. But to say that he chose it because it’s more reliable than the AR is simply wrong.
If all you want is one SHTF rifle then I agree with you that the AK is the way to go but if you want to do other shooting then the AR platform is the way to go. What else can you convert from pistol to SBR or rifle and have numerous calibers to choose from and you can even hunt with it.
Well, I disagree for a number of reasons. I myself have debated my decision to run an AR multiple times, but each and every time I come right back around to the AR-15 being the best combination.
1) A lot of the problems you mentioned with the AR are the sole turf of building your own from scratch. That is not a process that should be undertaken in haste, or with little research. That is why, as a noob, I purchased a completed upper for my build. However, there are a ridiculous number of guides for choosing the right combinations of gas tubes, gas blocks, and buffer tube weights out there for this to be a problem. There’s literally no excuse.
2) The AK’s reliability has been blown up to mythical proportions. The AR-15 mops the floor with the AK in muddy environments in multiple experiments, and will not jam as easily as often believed in sandy environments. In order to get the AR to malfunction in sand, it is usually cracked open and sand poured directly into the trigger mechanism. This would not happen in normal operation, clearly. I will admit that the AK does have the edge in sand, but not by much.
3) If parts on either rifle break, and they will break, then the AR-15 provides the best chance to become operational again. All one needs is a vice and a multi-use wrench to completely disassemble the AR and put it back together again. The AK will require welding equipment and grinders on occasion in order for it to be serviced.
4) The AR-15, by material properties alone, will outlast the AK-47 if it were buried. 7075-T6, the aluminum the AR’s receivers are composed of, is exceptionally resilient to corrosion when compared to steel.
5) As you mentioned, AKs are not standard. Therefore, if one is wanting to ‘upgrade’ their AK with rails and such, they will need to make sure they know which country manufactured the rifle, the year, and sometimes the mod #. Good aftermarket AK accessories are not cheap. In fact, one might find their $450 AK costing them $900+ by the time forward rails, optic mounts, butt stocks, and optics are figured in (Whereas ARs that come with most of these accessories already integrated can be found in the $500-$800 range). One-size-fits-all options rarely fit well and do not look good.
6) Bonus, I wouldn’t suggest buying your AK sight unseen. Some countries don’t have the best quality control. The one and only AK I bought had the front sight post canted visibly to the right. I had to crank the front sight over to the left so far, it limited the height range because it ran up against the hood.
7) Lastly, the AR-15 is demonstrably better than any service rifle that preceded it. Open-action rifles like the M1A and other “Ultimate SHTF” rifles fail quickly in muddy and sandy environments. This includes the AK.
Nothing I’ve said hasn’t been researched over and over and over again as I said at the top of this comment. It’s all available to the avid reader.
rwdembroski
You are violating the uniform rule there, which will always complicate your logistics. Additionally, barrel length may seem inconsequential but It’s pretty common for the SBRs to be a mite touchy. If you standardized on a 14.5″ or 16″ platform – which are much less ammo picky – then removed the variance. It would give you a nice and simple logistics tail with weapons you don’t have to “think about”.
Not saying that your path is invalid, aks are fine. Just that your anti-path isn’t very accurate.
Minor nitpick, but the AR15 (commercial designation) came before the M16 (military designation). In fact, the M16 *is* an AR15. To use an alcohol analogy, AR15 is the “beer”, M16 is the “ale” & the semi-auto AR15s are the “lager”.