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Weapon Of Mass Destruction (The AK-47)
Washington Post ^ | 11/26/2006 | Larry Kahaner

Posted on 11/26/2006 2:55:42 PM PST by HoldFast

By Larry Kahaner Sunday, November 26, 2006; B01

In the grand narrative of World War II, the Battle of Bryansk is a minor conflict, barely deserving of a footnote. But Bryansk has another place in history. It was there that a then-unknown tank commander named Mikhail Kalashnikov decided that his Russian comrades would never again be defeated. In the years following the Great Patriotic War, as Soviet propagandists dubbed it, he was to conceive and fabricate a weapon so simple, and yet so revolutionary, that it would change the way wars were fought and won. It was the AK-47 assault rifle.

The AK-47 has become the world's most prolific and effective combat weapon, a device so cheap and simple that it can be bought in many countries for less than the cost of a live chicken. Depicted on the flag and currency of several countries, waved by guerrillas and rebels everywhere, the AK is responsible for about a quarter-million deaths every year. It is the firearm of choice for at least 50 legitimate standing armies and countless fighting forces from Africa and the Middle East to Central America and Los Angeles. It has become a cultural icon, its signature form -- that banana-shaped magazine -- defining in our consciousness the contours of a deadly weapon.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ak; ak47; akm; banglist; kalishnikov; miktim; rpk
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To: labette
I lost connection as I was posting, The Stg44 parts pic didn't make it through.


61 posted on 11/26/2006 5:12:21 PM PST by labette (I'm not an expert, but I play one on Free Republic. You can too!)
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To: padre35
Put on your helmets folks, here it comes...again?

Now that the gun-grabbing, bed-wetting, Un-American scumbags are back in power, it's more like...

BOHICA.

62 posted on 11/26/2006 5:29:56 PM PST by DocH (Gun-grabbers, you can HAVE my guns... lead first.)
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To: tcostell

We need to ditch the Mattel built M16 in all its incarnations and go to the AK47... Far safer weapon for the person handling it. The M16 has killed more American soldiers than any IED ever blown up. M16 is downright unsafe to handle, you aim down the sight on it and squeeze the trigger, after several shots you'll be shooting almost straight up. OTOH, the Kalishnikov is an excellent point and click interface...


63 posted on 11/26/2006 5:36:06 PM PST by Schwaeky (Welcome to America--Now speak English or LEAVE!)
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To: Solitar
I've shot about a dozen different AKs (Russian, Bulgarian, Egyptian, Rommanian, & Polish). I found that the Bulgarian was top notch. They had a forged receiver, a crome lined barrel and the best trigger pull of the AK family (it is better than my AR-15's trigger). While other countries made AKs with forged receivers, they stopped in the 60s/70s. Bulgaria never had the money to retool, so they continued up until just recently. Kalashnikov considered the Bulgarian Ak to be the best of breed.

A lot of Bulgarian AKs were imported in the early 90s. But the laws were changed so their importation stopped. A U.S. company called Aresnel (I've probably messed up the spelling of the company.) made these same semi-automatic AKs in America. Arsenel went so far as to bring Bulgarian gunsmiths over to ensure that they did it right. I think I read that Arsenel stopped making froged receivers about a year ago, so some still might be found. However, expect to pay about $600.

My Bulgarian AK is very acurate with Winchester ammo (2 inches at 100 yds), but who wants to spend a lot of money on ammo, when all we are really doing is blasting away. While the forged receiver increases the weight by about a 1/2 lb, it is worth it.

64 posted on 11/26/2006 5:36:18 PM PST by fini
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To: Grut
Thanks, but I'll take a BUF for my iconic weapon... even has a bathroom, of sorts.

What is a 'BUF'?

65 posted on 11/26/2006 5:55:31 PM PST by Hazcat (Live to party, work to afford it.)
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To: SauronOfMordor

Well, HK or AK, Ford or Chevy...it does look similar. Mikhail Kalashnikov vehemently denies that he copied it.


66 posted on 11/26/2006 6:03:09 PM PST by Sender ("Always tell the truth; then you don't have to remember anything." -Mark Twain)
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To: Schwaeky
, after several shots you'll be shooting almost straight up

?? Shot my share of M16s. Never had a problem with them climbing.

67 posted on 11/26/2006 6:09:14 PM PST by Hazcat (Live to party, work to afford it.)
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To: tickmeister
I guess I'll just shoot back with my harmless little Remington Model 7 chambered for .308 Winchester that I occasionally use to shoot in the general direction of a deer. I figure I'll have a good long while to draw a bead as he tries to get close enough to hit me.

I'll take this in 30.06. Same result, drop 'em long before they get to you. http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=002B&cat_id=031&type_id=001

68 posted on 11/26/2006 6:12:53 PM PST by Hazcat (Live to party, work to afford it.)
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To: Hazcat

Let's try that link again. http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=002B&cat_id=031&type_id=001


69 posted on 11/26/2006 6:16:24 PM PST by Hazcat (Live to party, work to afford it.)
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To: All; SevenofNine


70 posted on 11/26/2006 6:22:25 PM PST by monkapotamus
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To: fini; All
Apparently Arsenal Inc. is still manufacturing brand new semi-auto Kalashnikovs. They're pricey, $699-$1250 but are supposedly high quality.

Arsenal Inc.

Anyone have experience with this company's weapons?

71 posted on 11/26/2006 6:23:18 PM PST by primeval patriot
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To: padre35
Yep...my thoughts exactly. The run-up to AWB Part 2 is on. For anyone who doesn't know what BLOAT means..."Buy Lots of Ammo Today!"

This next time they'll be going after everything...weapons, ammo, magazines, parts kits, accessories, you name it. Claire Wolfe's awkward period is about over, folks.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

72 posted on 11/26/2006 6:25:29 PM PST by wku man (BLOAT!!!!!!!)
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To: Inyo-Mono
It is the firearm of choice for at least 50 legitimate standing armies and countless fighting forces from Africa and the Middle East to Central America and Los Angeles.

But but but how can "fighting forces" in Los Angeles get them? I mean, they are illegal!! I mean that's all that takes to solve a problem right?? Put ink on paper and everybody holds hands and gives up their guns right??

73 posted on 11/26/2006 6:28:09 PM PST by Tribune7
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To: Hazcat
What is a 'BUF'?

a Big Ugly Fu**er, or a B-52 bomber

74 posted on 11/26/2006 6:28:21 PM PST by Wingy
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To: Wingy
a Big Ugly Fu**er, or a B-52 bomber

LOL Never heard that before. (and I think they are cool looking).

75 posted on 11/26/2006 6:31:46 PM PST by Hazcat (Live to party, work to afford it.)
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To: AdamSelene235
defining in our consciousness the contours of a deadly weapon.

Actually, my first thought is the gunman is obviously poor and clueless about rifles.

.....and the author is probably writing this piece with a BIC pen.

76 posted on 11/26/2006 6:34:33 PM PST by The_Media_never_lie
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To: Farmer Dean

It was designed for a peasant army, the level of accuracy for this weapon is basically minute of badguy instead of minute of angle .

While I own a FN-FAL & want a G-3 I know that my AK-47 clone will work no matter what as long as there are cartridges in the magazine.

It will go bang when I pull the trigger even if its been dropped in the mud,sand,snow,water all of the above without cleaning.


77 posted on 11/26/2006 6:35:12 PM PST by Nebr FAL owner (.308 reach out & thump someone .50 cal.Browning Machine gun reach out & crush someone)
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To: All

78 posted on 11/26/2006 6:41:23 PM PST by monkapotamus
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To: MaDuce

Legislation has been introduced several times which would have repealed the entire "Sporting Purposes" nonsense.

But even with a "conservative controlled" congress and presidency the bills never got more than one or two cosponsors.

So much for the myth of actual conservatives in congress, and now any chance of gains reinforcing any portion of our Constitutional Rights is DOA for at least the next two years.


79 posted on 11/26/2006 6:42:05 PM PST by Richard-SIA ("The natural progress of things is for government to gain ground and for liberty to yield" JEFFERSON)
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To: All

80 posted on 11/26/2006 6:47:09 PM PST by monkapotamus
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