My kid has been in to guns forever.
He likes the AK style because of exactly what you say, you can put it under water, throw it in sand and it will still fire, unlike the M-16 in Viet Nam that had a habit of getting stuck with one or two grains of sand.
When he got his saiga it would not fire cheap 12 ga. shells.
Researched it and opened some exhaust ports to allow for other than high brass expensive shells to be shot.
With his dragovov he imported a night scope, better firing mech. and trigger. I believe a 1/2 popund pull as opposed to three. Not sure what all else.
Then to make it legal he had to include at least three American made parts, Stock, etc.
To learn about it he went on line and used an russian to english conversion program so he could read about the guns he’’s bought on line from the foormer soviet block. Then he started buying 1000 rounds from same that is delivered home.
We usually go to the rifle range in Sebastian Florida, as good a range as you can find. Has a two hundred yard target.
As for real long shooting we simply shoot wild hogs on the 4000 foot runway we live on.
B.S.?
Ok pal, think what you may.