Why is dc so popular??

Post by **Alpha_Lima** » 2004-09-11 14:57

I'm not a gun expert but I would guess ak's have simpler mechanisms than the M-16, making them more resilient and reliable. But also less accurate, slower rpm, etc.

Anti-}{ero · Post by **Anti-}{ero** » 2004-09-11 18:37

Mr. Kalishkinov made a very good weapon... The AK also fires a larger round doesnt it? Plus Terrorists like the AK47 since there are so many on the black market, they are relyable, tough, and pack a punch.

Post by **JS.Fortnight.A** » 2004-09-11 19:04

I'm not trying to offend/be overly critical on this one but I'd like to correct you on that, as yes the AK47 is readily available on the black market, however the more often encountered version of the AK47 is called them AKM which is often mistaken for the AK47. The AKM has a slight redesign which can be identified by the distinctive machined cuts above and forward of the magazine well and was manufactured as of 1955 effectivley replacing the AK-47. The AKM is the weapon which most Coalition forces facing off against in both Afghanistan and Iraq and it fires the larger 7.62mm Soviet M1943 rounds.

See here for more info:
http://world.guns.ru/assault/as01-e.htm

Post by **DrZero** » 2004-09-11 23:42

so the 47 isnt a very widely available gun?

Post by **JS.Fortnight.A** » 2004-09-12 00:04

It is a widely avaiable gun, however, one must realize that the AK-47 is a 'first generation' Kalashinikov and so therefore the number of AK-47 rifles in circulation (if not well kept and maintained) have considerably worn out and degraded since their 1955 replacement the AKM (revamped AK-47, same look, more long lasting) and succeeding models (AK-74 and AK-103, along with the compact variants the AKSU-xxx) and are most likley suseptable to failure; even though they were and still are one of the most rugged/durabely built assault weapons ever created.

Post by **DrZero** » 2004-09-12 01:47

so, are the AK's around now clones? guns from 1955 are 49 years old, they might still work but they wouldnt work so well

Post by **JS.Fortnight.A** » 2004-09-12 03:34

No, no. There are still genuine AK-47 assault weapons in circulation I'm sure, what I'm saying is that they most likley aren't of 'working standards'. As for AK-47 "clones" I'm not quite sure what you mean by that...

There are the real thing, AK-47, which yes are very old and most of which do not function well.

The newer version (from 1955) also known as the AKM which looks exactly like the AK-47 except for a few changes in the machining is what most people believe to be an AK-47 but in reality is an AKM, the ever so slightly updated version of the original AK-47.

And then of course you have your even newer AK versions which I stated earlier.

Post by **DrZero** » 2004-09-12 03:44

but arent the new ones of a different design? yet the original design of the gun is still remarkably popular

Anti-}{ero · Post by **Anti-}{ero** » 2004-09-12 16:39

Im guessing that they all keep the basic design, since it is the popular Kalishkinov design, and its simple. Only difference is probably what is used to make them, and to keep them from looking like a real AK-47 thewy do a distinct machine or somthing else to distinguish it from the real ones.

As in "real ones" i mean the original AK-47

Tacamo · Post by **Tacamo** » 2004-09-12 17:39

[R-DEV wrote:DrZero]but arent the new ones of a different design? yet the original design of the gun is still remarkably popular

Depends on the clone and production standards. Companies like Norinco produce almost 100% pure clones of their Russian counterparts with certain models. Then there's others like Valmet that modify the original designs a little more.

One thing that spread the AK and it's variants around was the way the Soviets provided military aid. Another thing was the fact they didn't really care if other nation's factories produced the weapon, so no licensing fees and/or royalties needed to be paid like the HK weapons made in Pakistan.