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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: Solitar

I agree. I've been buying 7.62 NATO like crazy. Tomorrow I'm picking up either a Romanian AK or Yugoslavian AK M70A


81 posted on 11/26/2006 6:49:15 PM PST by I got the rope
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To: Tribune7
But but but how can "fighting forces" in Los Angeles get them? I mean, they are illegal!!

Of course, you're right, and that is why the weapon of choice for the "fighting forces" of Los Angeles are hold 'em sideways .25 autos.

82 posted on 11/26/2006 6:50:16 PM PST by Inyo-Mono (If you don't want people to get your goat, don't tell them where it's tied.)
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To: HoldFast
...the AK is responsible for about a quarter-million deaths every year...

Really? I thought to be responsible for something implied you made a choice and were accountable for it. Has a Russian firearms maker finally found the secret to artificial intelligence and married it to a weapon?

From Mirriam-Webster online:

Main Entry: re·spon·si·ble
Pronunciation: ri-'spän(t)-s&-b&l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Anglo-French responsable, from respuns
1 a : liable to be called on to answer b (1) : liable to be
called to account as the primary cause, motive, or agent
{a committee responsible for the job} (2) : being the cause
or explanation {mechanical defects were responsible for the
accident} c : liable to legal review or in case of fault to
penalties
2 a : able to answer for one's conduct and obligations :
TRUSTWORTHY b : able to choose for oneself between right and
wrong
3 : marked by or involving responsibility or accountability
{responsible financial policies} {a responsible job}
4 : politically answerable; especially : required to submit
to the electorate if defeated by the legislature -- used
especially of the British cabinet 

After reading that, tell me how an inanimate object could be responsible for anything. Just another case of some fuzzy headed anti-gun type trying to deny accountability and responsibility for themselves and their ilk, and put it on someone (or something) else.

83 posted on 11/26/2006 6:58:08 PM PST by CodeMasterPhilzar
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To: wku man
Hooo, let them that have ears to hear..let those who have tongue to speak, speak.......

Claire is one of the nicest people that I have ever transcendently met.....

Claire is cool even if she isn't a Christian.....
84 posted on 11/26/2006 7:17:28 PM PST by padre35 (We are surrounded, that simplifies our problem Chesty Puller)
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To: I got the rope
I don't mean to rain on your parade or to burst any bubbles here, but, the AK does not shoot the 7.62 NATO round. The AK shoots 7.62X39 ammo, not the 308 round that NATO weapons shoot.
As a gun smith, hand-loader, retired AB Ranger and competitive long range shooter I know a thing or two about this subject.
It is usually the left wing media that makes claims without knowledge of fact to back them up.
85 posted on 11/26/2006 7:28:54 PM PST by oldenuff2no
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To: oldenuff2no

Yep. Had this discussion before.

7.62 x 39 AK type

7.62 x 51 NATO

7.62 x 54 .308

7.62 x 63 30.06

Note: The .308 round is rated at a higher pressure than the 7.62 NATO so even though the will chamber in most rifles interchangeably care should be used when using .308 in an older rifle chambered for the NATO round.


86 posted on 11/26/2006 7:46:39 PM PST by Hazcat (Live to party, work to afford it.)
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To: I got the rope

See posts 85 and 86


87 posted on 11/26/2006 7:48:24 PM PST by Hazcat (Live to party, work to afford it.)
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To: oldenuff2no

I have a Ruger Mini-30 which shoots the same 7.62x39 ammo as the AK. Its accuracy is pretty disappointing to me. Can any of you make a comparison of the two, touching on reliability, cost,ease of maintenance, etc, as well as accuracy? I bought the Mini-30 as a hedge investment before the 2000 election - - maybe it's time to look over the portfolio again.


88 posted on 11/26/2006 8:05:56 PM PST by 19th LA Inf
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To: Hazcat
Shot my share of M16s. Never had a problem with them climbing.

A friend of mine is a police instructor (unarmed combat). The first time he fired a full-auto M-16 on the range, the range instructor stood behind him, hands on the back of both shoulders.

Apparently, the -16 climbs for some folks, some of them even lose their balance and tip backward, and some of those don't have the presence of mind to release the trigger when that happens. It's not universal, and maybe not common, but it's a real enough possibility that they take the precaution.

I've never fired anything full-auto, so I have no first-hand experience to bring to the table. My dad tells me that there's a range around here with a full-auto M-16 available, so I might scratch that off my list next weekend.

89 posted on 11/26/2006 8:06:00 PM PST by ReignOfError
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To: Hazcat

The more common form is BUFF, for Big Ugly Fat ... erm, Fellow.


90 posted on 11/26/2006 8:08:01 PM PST by ReignOfError
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To: Hazcat
err uh, 7.62 X 54 is the designation given to the old rimmed Russian cartridge used in the old Mosin-Nagant rifles.

The 7.62 X 51 Nato is generally interchangeable with .308 Win.

91 posted on 11/26/2006 8:08:06 PM PST by labette (I'm not an expert, but I play one on Free Republic. You can too!)
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To: Muttering Mike
I would however take a Russian AK-47 instead of an M-16 in a desert or jungle environment due to its loser tolerances

That's typical of Russian engineering. We build rifles that are much better under ideal conditions, and jet fighters that can outperform anything in the air, but need a nice smooth runway. They build rifles you can wrap in an oilcloth and bury in mud, then dig up and fire, and fighters that can land on tundra.

92 posted on 11/26/2006 8:11:59 PM PST by ReignOfError
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To: HoldFast

93 posted on 11/26/2006 8:19:18 PM PST by Armed Civilian ("Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.")
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To: Schwaeky
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...

LOL! Stop, you're making me hyperventilate I'm laughing so hard! I've been in the military for over 19 years. I am a holder of the distinguished riflemans badge (USAF #300). I was a member of my state's National Guard combat rifle team for three years. You sir are on drugs.

The AK-47 is a great weapon if you want to shoot someone within 100 yards of your position. If you'd like to shoot something farther away go try an M-16 or an AR-15.

I challenge any of you AK-47 lovers to go witness your states National Guard TAG match (it happens every single year) and see what real marksmen with off the rack issue weapons and standard GI issue ammo can do with an M-16. Then go and try and replicate that with an AK.

I'll wait here patiently to see the results.
94 posted on 11/26/2006 8:27:14 PM PST by Tailback
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To: edpc

I don't disagree. The AK is an obvious rip-off of the StG, but many self-proclaimed "experts" obsess over the trivial differences and claim the AK is totally original.


95 posted on 11/26/2006 8:27:53 PM PST by ozzymandus
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To: HoldFast

I was unaware that the cheap, inaccurate, intermediate-powered AK was posessed of magical powers that make it a superior weapon rivaling the A-bomb. I was also unaware that it is the "simplest automatic weapon ever designed". There are many simpler weapons, but the most famous would probably be the Sten gun. I seem to recall they cost about 8 bucks per unit.


96 posted on 11/26/2006 8:31:01 PM PST by ozzymandus
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To: primeval patriot

As a matter of fact now that you mention it...yes. I have an Arsenal of Nevada SA M7, with a milled receiever, US made, NATO type stock (longer butt stock or length of pull than the original furniture), very high quality, paid about $750 used for it.
The company has stopped making the milled models in order to concentrate on the stamped models but will resume milled production sometime in '07 according to their website. I've heard the price will increase quite a bit too.

The milled receiver adds a little weight but it's better than a lot of the junk out there, stamped receivers with improper heat treating, badly welded rails inside the receiver, etc.
I like the Bulgarian waffle pattern polymer mags better than the various metal types, lighter, don't rust or dent and the lips don't bend (tho the lips on steel AK mags are pretty substantial).

Stamped receiver models are actually AKMs btw, sometime in the 50s they Soviets switched production methods, the "M" stands for modern or modernized. The milled types required something like 200 odd milling operations, more expensive and time consuming to produce.

Nothing wrong with a $300 Romanian WASR (if you can still find 'em at that price) if that's all one can afford. It's still a semi-auto .30 cal rifle that holds 30 rounds!
I owned a Davis .380 chrome plated Sat Night Special when I lived in the type of neighborhood they were named after.

Hint: the MSM media and anti-gunners no longer use the full term they originally coined to disparage the type of weapon poor people could afford. Terms that flew in '68 will get you sued by night club audiences nowadays. Ask Kramer.

All that said I prefer the AR design I learned to use in the Army, it's lighter, more accurate and ubiquitous, at least in this country. There's no appreciable recoil and I like the idea I can project high volume aimed fire at need. The need most likely will never come. Most likely I won't need the generator or big first aid kit either, but it's better to have and not need than the opposite.

Personally I think everyone should keep a rifle they know how to use and a 1000 rds minimum on hand along with a dozen or two mags (Israeli polymer Orlites for my ARs) per weapon.

My AR in .308 is due any day now, already have the ammo, mags and sights for that one. Grins.


97 posted on 11/26/2006 10:02:29 PM PST by skepsel
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To: ReignOfError

You're going to find that an M16 has just about zero recoil. You can fire it one handed (it will climb some if you do that).

Seriously my 13 year old (60 lbs) could fire an M16 on full auto with no problem.


98 posted on 11/27/2006 4:36:41 AM PST by Hazcat (Live to party, work to afford it.)
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To: Solitar
I'm glad I've already got the guns I want....however, the first thing to go will be the hi-cap mags (again), second thing to go will be semi-auto handguns and import rifle variants....third is a limit on type and quantity of ammunition.

Couple that with mandatory 5-7 day waiting periods, crackdowns or suspensions of gun shows, and a host of other nuisance regulations intended to weed out the casual collector/enthusiast..... BTW, the G-21 45 ACP can use the 25 rd 2nd source mags..I've got some, works good....

99 posted on 11/27/2006 4:51:12 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: HoldFast
It is a very good weapon for the type of troops that typically use it. It will run well when dirty; fires different quality of ammo, breaks down and reassembles easily, and has a good rate of fire.

Its only drawback that I can see is that it is not very accurate at longer ranges; but if you are using poorly trained, cannon fodder, you are working close in anyway.

100 posted on 11/27/2006 5:23:14 AM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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