frostfire
02-28-2011, 13:21
It started out with a search for an AR platform for 2-gun/3-gun match. Had a decent budget, almost picked up the SIG 516, the LMT .308, the Larue stealth, then did the math with ammo, accessories, shooting school, usw.
I ended up with an AK74 NDS. Granted it won't hold toe-to-toe in all circumstances against the above choices, but my criteria was 0 to 100 yards with 10inch plate or 200 yards man-silhoutte, first round hit from low ready under 2 seconds. Also High Power has spoiled me so much that if I were to spend >1k, it better be able to punch 10 rds+ under 1 inch at 100yds prone unsupported. Unfortunately the 77gr is not as available and cheap as it was 4 years ago.
At lower $500, I already got rifle, mount, optics, sling, and 1000+ rds. So there's much left for schools, matches, training, and more ammo. Compare that with Bushmaster and other low end AR that started at $800+, and frankly, after trying out 2 of my buddy's Bushy AR, the AK trigger is much crisp. The out-of-the box Bushmaster's did not fare better than the AK accuracy wise either. Surplus 5.45 52gr vs. PMC & American Tactical 55gr. With Wolf 60grain HP and FMJ, I got all-rds-touching-sub-MOA at 25m, but at 100, they're all 4 to 5 MOA. At 100yds, each group has 2rds so close to give 2MOA, but it's always the 3rd one that breaks it. So it might be shooter's error and better optics might give better hold for greater accuracy.
Good
- Cheap ammo (the catch is PITA cleaning regime to get rid of corrosive salts)
- Cheap accessories
- Reliable and simple-no-brainer operations
- Airsoft-like recoil (shot it one hand @25m controlled pair, 4 inches apart)
- Decent to minute-of-man accuracy up to 200yds, possibly more
Bad
- Ergonomics not as great as AR, lots of sharp surfaces...
- Barrel not as easy to clean as AR
- Poor accuracy compared to them free-floated-barrel AR's
- As barrel heats up, group opens up
- The pistol-like iron sights and short sight radius not conducive to accuracy (hence, the red dot optics)
:munchin Anybody played with it and care to add?
EDIT: can't find any M4-adjustable stock type for the AK both online and at the shops around here, if you got one for sale, PM me please :)
I ended up with an AK74 NDS. Granted it won't hold toe-to-toe in all circumstances against the above choices, but my criteria was 0 to 100 yards with 10inch plate or 200 yards man-silhoutte, first round hit from low ready under 2 seconds. Also High Power has spoiled me so much that if I were to spend >1k, it better be able to punch 10 rds+ under 1 inch at 100yds prone unsupported. Unfortunately the 77gr is not as available and cheap as it was 4 years ago.
At lower $500, I already got rifle, mount, optics, sling, and 1000+ rds. So there's much left for schools, matches, training, and more ammo. Compare that with Bushmaster and other low end AR that started at $800+, and frankly, after trying out 2 of my buddy's Bushy AR, the AK trigger is much crisp. The out-of-the box Bushmaster's did not fare better than the AK accuracy wise either. Surplus 5.45 52gr vs. PMC & American Tactical 55gr. With Wolf 60grain HP and FMJ, I got all-rds-touching-sub-MOA at 25m, but at 100, they're all 4 to 5 MOA. At 100yds, each group has 2rds so close to give 2MOA, but it's always the 3rd one that breaks it. So it might be shooter's error and better optics might give better hold for greater accuracy.
Good
- Cheap ammo (the catch is PITA cleaning regime to get rid of corrosive salts)
- Cheap accessories
- Reliable and simple-no-brainer operations
- Airsoft-like recoil (shot it one hand @25m controlled pair, 4 inches apart)
- Decent to minute-of-man accuracy up to 200yds, possibly more
Bad
- Ergonomics not as great as AR, lots of sharp surfaces...
- Barrel not as easy to clean as AR
- Poor accuracy compared to them free-floated-barrel AR's
- As barrel heats up, group opens up
- The pistol-like iron sights and short sight radius not conducive to accuracy (hence, the red dot optics)
:munchin Anybody played with it and care to add?
EDIT: can't find any M4-adjustable stock type for the AK both online and at the shops around here, if you got one for sale, PM me please :)