Shooting Straight about the AR-15 and the AK 47
Posted on July 8, 2022 at 1:00 PM by The Biker Lawyers
The Ultimate in Self-Defense and Target Rifles
In this blog and video, I dig deep to learn about the ultimate self-defense and target rifles– The AR-15 and the AK 47.
Jayden from Midwest shooting, a gun expert (and a total rock-head to boot), is my tour guide, instructor, and sherpa guiding us into the world of these two wildly popular platforms.
So, with apologies to metal heads everywhere– it’s time to BANG YOUR LEAD – long gun style.
First, out of respect for those affected by recent events, let’s address the elephant in any room with these types of guns, mass shootings.
“Handguns are the most common weapon type used in mass shootings in the United States, with a total of 147 different handguns being used in 99 incidents between 1982 and June 2022. These figures are calculated from a total of 131 reported cases over this period, meaning handguns are involved in about 76 percent of mass shootings.”
Bottom line: Only 24% of mass shootings use long guns of any kind be they rifles or shotguns.
Gun crimes in general, further highlight the rarity of long gun usage in crime. For instance, according to an FBI report of all gun homicides in 2019, of the 10,258 deaths involving gun homicides in 2019, only 364 used a rifle.
For those not doing the math, that works out to .035% of homicides were committed with the dreaded, the politicized, boogeyman of weapons– the AR platform, otherwise known as the “Assault Rifle”.
The Smith & Wesson M&P Sport II (AR model)
Now that we have that out of the way, here is a description of the M&P15, a model very similar to the Smith & Wesson M&P Sport II we’ll be shooting in the video:
Many believe that M&P15 Rifles are the perfect sporting rifle. These machines are built to perform for multiple uses under many various conditions, most rifle enthusiasts will tell you that M&P15 Rifles are as versatile as they are reliable.
The M& P 15 Rifles are specifically engineered for a wide variety of recreational, sport shooting and professional applications and are known to be easy to accessorize, but hard to put down.
As for their build, M&P15 Rifles are lightweight and resilient embodying the best combination of function and form.
The AK-47
Now onto what is arguably the world’s (if not Hollywood action films circa 1980s era) most popular weapon; the AK-47.
From Wikipedia:
The AK-47, officially known as the Avtomat Kalashnikov, is a gas-operated assault rifle that is chambered for the 7.62×39mm cartridge. Developed in the Soviet Union by Russian small-arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov, it is the originating firearm of the Kalashnikov (or “AK”) family of rifles. After more than seven decades, the AK-47 model and its variants remain the most popular and widely used rifles in the world.
Interesting fact, the “47” in AK-47 isn’t like the 57 in Heinz 57 sauce, it actually stands for something! 47 stands for 1947, the year the rifle was completed.
There was a time when AK’s were cheap and wildly available in the United States. This is no longer the case because of various political and socioeconomic factors.
Ok Russ, but how do they handle at the range?!
As far as the shooting demo is concerned, like the target competition with Ned and Brian, I did not fare as well with the long guns as I do with pistols. It’s supposed to be the other way around but for some reason at this stage in my development, I am more comfortable and accurate with handguns.
BUT my lack of accuracy won’t stop me from selecting a winner in the battle for supremacy between the AR and the AK.
Watch the video if you haven’t already to discover my choice!
About Russ: The biker community’s Ambassador of Ammo
Known as a professional Radio Gypsy, Russ is the voice of “crazy stories and bad behavior” on Rock 108 every weekday from 10 AM – 2 PM (CST). After a shooting expedition with friends, Russ found a new passion for firearms and is now searching to find the perfect fit to match his needs. Join him as he tests and reviews various guns and targets, learns gun safety, and occasionally blows stuff up every week right here!
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