I finaly got out today and shot these two ak-47's.
I bought one for me and one for my brother as a gift.

I think this is the first time they have been shot.
they was claimed to be new in box. and I realy thing they was.

they both had probems shooting at first. I had to shoot about 40 rounds threw both of them before they started shooting good with out hanging up.

they both would shoot about 3 to 5 rounds then hang up. not load or jam.
but that was not a probem. just pulling and ejecting , or feeding a new round in , it started shooting again.

after this, I used the sight tool I bought for $ 8.00. and sighted them in realy quick. I think I was only 40 to 50 yards . and I was impressed.
I was only free hand shooting. kneeling .
when I held it steady, and shot 5 rounds, all 5 bullets was with in a 25 cent piec. one hole. that was good enough for me.
and I was amazed at how much power this ak gives out.
full metal jackest 123 grain. it would shoot threw 13" or 14" blocks of wood. it seemed to go right thew them every time.
I shoot my 30-30 at the same wood and it never goes threw.
my 223 bushmast went threw it only a copuld of times using full metal jackets.

I have to say, at the rang I was at. the ak did a great job. very impresssed.

I have a MAK90 AK-47 and it shoots great! I would not hesitate to shoot a deer with it at 150yds at all. as far as the 7.62X39 round goes, If you load your own or buy Winchester loads they will take deer as well as a 30/30 with the same bullet weight all day long and neither you or the deer will know the difference.
As a side note, Ruger thought so much of the little cartridge he chambered it in a Mini 30. Allthough its not a true 30 caliber. also a great gun for up close deer hunting.

I shot it again the other day while I was shooting the 22's with a friend.

we started out shooting the 22's at a small 22 target we made out of 1\4" metall. about 2 1\2" round metal welded on a bar that can fly around and around when you hit it. works real nice with the 22 round.

we was shooting at about 65 to 75 yards.
I pulled the AK-47 out and aimed at a can that was behind the round 22 targets.
the way the sun was shining the 22 targets was shaded, and the vision on them was not good. for one 22 target was in the middle of this can I was shooting.
I pulled the trigger. and the can fell down. as I was still watching I thought I seen something swinging around . I nailed the 1\4" metal 22 target. it went right threw it and ripped up the can too.

I was impressed. open sights. about 65 yards away. and still zipped right threw the 1]4" metal with out breaking it off the from the welds.

I am now very happy with these guns. and not dissapointed anymore.
they have power and accracy that is good enough for me.

Counterpoint: from a historical military arms point of view, the AK47 has been among the most influencial of firearms. Kalashnikov's design and economy of production renders it one of the most important firearms of recent decades. But, I am conflicted on how I view the AK47, or, more aptly, the owners of AK47s.

I am not sure it has added much to our American shooting scene. While I realize the attraction of an inexpensive rifle and ammo, I am aware that it is the firearm of choice of our enemies of the recent past and present, that it has been the instrument of death for many American servicemen and will continue to kill our military personnel in years to come. I find it hard to venerate such a firearm. It symbolizes hatred for our country and our system of government. It is a critical instrument of Muslim terrorism.

The pristine deserts of Arizona are littered with more 7.62X39 steel cases than any other chambering. Many (not all, and certainly no one on this list, I am sure) that shoot them are inexperienced and unethical and blast at cactus and bottles without regard for the environment or fellow shooters or the consequences of their actions. At public ranges, the AK47 shooters are amongst the most obnoxious of all participants, spraying their bullets and cases indiscriminately while tearing target frames to pieces.

As a seller of firearms, I see the type of shooters most attracted to the AK47 and their unquenchable thirst for cheap "blasting ammo". IMO they do not represent responsible firearm owners and, in the final analysis, contribute nothing to sportsmanship or ethical ownership.

wow tell us how you really feel.. now not trying to start a peeing contest, but this is just the normal one bad apple spoiling the bunch, I am sure those same owners go out with thier 1911s and do the spray and pray as well, you cannot blame the firearm for the owners actions. now back to my thoughts on the weapon itself.. it is a inexpencive, rather well made firearm that is reliable to the point of you can either shoot it use it for a ball bat then shoot it, use it for a ditch digger and then shoot it again.

final thought on it, if you like semi rifles get one you will love it. if you dont then dont. but dont let firearm ownership cloud your view on a persons character

My SKS with a 4X scope makes one hell of a pig killer. We are overwhelmed with feral hogs on our deer lease, at least part of the time. They do seem to move on and off as a pack. Anyhow, I never had more fun than when I shot 3 of the bastards with the SKS and finished one off with the bayonet!

AK is just an advanced version of the SKS.

I also have an AR15 and it is much more accurate but those 223's do not pack enough punch for most hunting applications beyond varmints.

Nothing like sittin' at the rifle range and having a AK-47 move in to your left when he could have moved in on your right. Yup...Love those cases bouncing off me and my rifle...

Bushmaster wrote:

Nothing like sittin' at the rifle range and having a AK-47 move in to your left when he could have moved in on your right. Yup...Love those cases bouncing off me and my rifle...

thats when you introduce the owner to the back of yer hand..

Morax wrote:

. . . . final thought on it, if you like semi rifles get one you will love it. if you dont then dont. but dont let firearm ownership cloud your view on a persons character

Howdy Morax, and welcome to the site. Allow some comments to your response:

It is the persons' character that clouds my view on the specific ownership of AKs and SKS. Admittedly, I paint with far too broad a brush and allow that there are responsible owners of those firearms. Not many, but, some. Its just that far more of the owners of those firearms are the source of much grief and outrage in our part of the country. In fact, the abuse is so easily traced to the owners of firearms chambered in 7.62X39, that the stigma seems valid and taints the whole public attitude to the matter of firearms in general. While this is unfair to responsible owners of AKs and SKS, it would be naive to dismiss the matter and not recognize its seriousness.

More than defining a problem and carping about it, the salient matter is what can be done to counter the bad image these, and other, firearms have due to the messs their owners make. IOW, how do we police our own? Educating firearms owners is a significant step toward addressing the issue of desert litter and the need to cleanup after every shooting session on public land. Signs in public land areas can help, at least until they are blasted to pieces. Work parties are also a help and two major efforts occur near Arizona at Table Mesa, a popular recreation area. Literally, tons of trash are collected every six months (shotgun hulls and 7.62X39 cases being the most popular discards, along with TVs, broken glass, old tires and even an abandoned travel trailer).

Perhaps, others have suggestions or ideas on how to counter the trashing of public lands by recreational shooters? If we are not effective in reversing the problem, added areas will be "off limits" in the near future in our area and, I suspect, other parts of the country.

Unfortunately Handloader I am forced to agree with the vast majority of your post.

Out here in Australia, the quantity of 7.62x39 cases left lying around was disgusting. Now that these firearms are illegal the problem has all but ceased to exist....well the 7.62x39 cases that is. I think the biggest problem with them is nobody wants them because they cannot be reloaded and as such have no value....not even scrap value. A large percentage of the people who purcgased SKS were not what I would call shooters. They were all too often fools whose only aim was to get out there, shit the sh*t out of anything and everything and have a laugh.....definitely not responsible.

Now as for other rubbish.....its pretty well everywhere people can get into areas to dump it. Maybe if the Councils (:pcal Govt) didn't charge so much to use the Waste Transfer Stations then that problem might ease as well.

Cheers, Vince

Vince wrote:

They were all too often fools whose only aim was to get out there, shit the sh*t out of anything and everything and have a laugh.....definitely not responsible. Cheers, Vince

I know what you mean......... !

I see lot's of people bringing garbage to the area where some of us go shooting. Usually these slobs go out there when no one is around. There are several of us that keep cleaning it up.

Ripper007...You might be one of the good guys that cleans up your shell casings and make a point to not affend those sharing the range with you, but the vast majority of AK and SKS and the like rifle owners that I have ran into on the range and afield are not what I would call high on my list of shooters that I would afiliate with.

Please keep in mind that you ask this loaded question and we are giving you our honest opinions as, I'm sure, you would want. Sometimes self policing (convincing others) the AK and SKS owners in the fine art of contious thought and concideration of others. Also agressive gun owners tend to set everyone back a step or two. And that (or what I see) these people seem to be.

I also agree with handloader's view as far as AK-47's and its history is concerned. It has always been the weapon of choice by our enemies and still is. Mostly because THEY ARE cheap...

DO NOT take any offence to any of this as it is not meant to offend. But, maybe, to give you some thought and ideas on the subject.

poor folk have poor ways.....

True Dawgdad...But I save and save until it hurts and buy Browning, Colt, S&W, Ruger, Winchester, Star and such...Then of course my horses come first...Ooops Broke again...

handloader, just came back from holiday bliss (yeah right) and read what ya had said and I do agree with you on it all.. it is a shame more people dont have the deciency they were born with when it comes to others.. I myself have had shells bounce off me from just about every caliber/owner out there except for those wheelgunners.... of course i use those moments to solidify the range rules to the offending peoples in a diplomatic way of course (another yeah right) hahahha all of you i hope your holidays are good to you..