Handgun guy who's looking to get into rifles.
Feels even more daunting than figuring out the handgun market to me. Been through the sticky already. Any other good resources for info on how to decide what kind of rifle is right for you, and good choices for the various kinds?
Pic semi-related. I'm told the Romanian WASR 10s are solid choices for AKs, if I ultimately go that route.
If I could do it over again as an AK guy.
>buy an Arsenal folding stock anything
>buy a 5.45x39mm rifle because its cool
>buy drums because they are cool
>best AK overall is the VEPR, in any cartidge
Go with ak variant first
So much simpler and easier to take care off
Get into ars when you feel like you're ready to customize and accessorize
>Any other good resources for info on how to decide what kind of rifle is right for you
I haven't seen one that's incredibly generic, but there are plenty of guides that will suggest good choices for defense or hunting. Of course YOU need to be the one to decide if you're shopping for a fun gun, a collector's piece, a hunting gun (for what game?), a defensive weapon, etc.
Once you've narrowed that down there are tons of guides for specifics like what's the best hunting rifle to get, or what's the best AK, etc.
Always start with the basics: what's your intended purpose and what's your budget.
Posting to brag that I just paid 458 after tax for a SAR-3 with 5 magazines
>folding stock
If you're looking for a first AK, a WASR is a great choice. The furniture that comes with them is dogshit, but easily replaceable with a surplus set. 7.62 is a great way to go because it's all over the goddamn place, piss easy to find.
Rifles tend to be more "one size fits most" than handguns, my recommendation is to find a range that'll let you rent a couple rifles before putting money down on one, that'll give you a clearer idea of what you're looking for.
AKs dont need a buffer tube, use this advantage instead if wasting it.
>t.retard with 1 sidefolder and 10 fixed stock aks
Wrong, you have no idea what you’re talking about. The AR15 is almost just as simple. The only difference in a field strip is that the AR BCG must be taken apart in a couple more steps than the AK. The AR is also easier to learn rifle shooting with because it recoils softer. Starter level AK pattern rifles tend to have all kind of issues with magazine compatibility where sometimes you buy a mag and it doesn’t *quite* fit and you have to sand the rear lug down a little bit or something retarded like that. Also AR parts and furniture is generally universal while there are multiple patterns of AK that can’t accept certain furniture. Tldr get an aero precision AR15 and don’t worry about anything else.
Also forgot to add the AR has much better ergonomics
>j-j-just get an AR!
I bet you'll reccomend a glock next.
I mean the idea of the AK being so simple a peasant could use it is kind of a meme. ARs have proven to be much more intuitive to westerners, not even trained soldiers.
You’ve obviously have never shot a 5.45 AK, ever.
And what's wrong with glock + AR? Theyre the best fighting guns we have. And the professionals like spec ops use this exact combo. You're just a salty hipster who hates everything that's the best and popular cause you wanna be a special little snowflake
>5.45 in this day and age
Lmao good luck finding a gun that isn’t thrashed or 200% overpriced
You’re an idiot. Owning both, I honestly feel as if my ARs are slightly simpler just by virtue of modularity and cleaner machining. AKs are very mechanically simple, but unless you’re an illiterate conscript, the AR will be no more complicated.
Gawd I wish decent side folders were still available
Dewd, what’s a decent side-folder on the market rod
Market today*
Find me a 5.45 AK for sale that isn’t a kit build from 2004 or 300% marked up due to scarcity, I’ll wait.
5.45 doesnt need to be practical or affordable
Its just rad and thats okay
If we only cared about price and effectiveness we wouldnt have cool guns
The SPAS12 is the perfect example
Its an overpriced underpreformer but its fucken rad.
$939 for a Romanian AIMS-74 on Atlantic firearms. That’s less than your “midtier” ARs.
In this thread you will find
>Fuck u, AR best
>No. Fuck u AK better. rifle is fine
ad infinitum
Just buy what you want and Git Gud with it. I like AKs more, my prefference overall. AR is good if you want that. Just fucking go for it man.
Buy M7O from Serbia. Is cheap and work which is purpose of AK. Will pull good group at 300 meter all you need comrade. Maybe gun you buy was used to remove Kebab too.
>5.45 AK
>2019
I have a WASR. Good gun. I'm still getting into guns though. Looking back I'd rather get an AR. That said, I still love my AK and it's better than nothing. I like 7.62
This.
If you are new to rifles I would suggest going with an AR-15 as your first, very modular and cheap system and runs well for what it is.
Switching out uppers is very nice also, if you Form 1 on a lower you will be able to have a single lower that can fit all combat roles;
>10 Inch barrel upper with low profile red dot for close quarters
>16 inch barrel upper with 4x scope/red dot for midrange DMR use
>20 inch upper with bipod and 3-9x scope for longer range meme use
3 in 1, however the AK is also a solid choice if you’re just wanting something quick and easy
Just stay away from American made AK's. Buy am Arsenal or converted Saiga or a VEPR if you have the money for it, but if you're a poorfag, then get a WASR or a Zastava.
>looking to get into rifles
For what purpose? Hunting? Defense? Range use? Assuming you want a semiauto mag fed rifle in an intermediate cartridge go with an ar or ak. For aks get a wasr and a set of surplus wood furniture to replace the stock stuff. 7.62x39 is a great general purpose round and it's cheap and widely available.
Every time someone refers to the AK Operators Union youtube channel as "AKOU," I read it as AK Over/Under. Until seeing this picture I had no idea what that would look like
>the entire Russian armed forces
Owned AR, and AK.
AR is easy to take care of. AK is easy to take care of. Both were designed for conscript armies in that 10 year period between the end of ww2 and the immediate aftermath of Korea. For what it's worth, I prefer the AR takedown. Push out rear pin, then the whole thing poops out the back hole. But actual cleaning, AK isnt hard. Lotta chrome so it wipes away nicely. I preferred button mag release and thumb safety, but ymmv. Both will outlive you with even remedial care as long as you dont do something incredibly dumb like use the rod as a prying tool or try to use it like a shovel.
Any extra gun money saved after buying should go to practice ammo. Ak market isnt getting cheaper. By this time next year, AR prices will likely climb again due to election panick. An AR lower now may make a good investment against future election uncertainty regardless if you go AR or AK.
In the end both are fine and it literally is choice.
We are talking about owning one in the US of A you muppet, not an army of drunk vatniks
>glock
>best at anything
Hand a noguns an unloaded AK and an AR, both with the safety off and dont say anything except make it fire.
I'd bet 9 out of 10 times they get the AK to function first.
In noguns terms:
The AK is insert mag, pull big lever thing and fire
The AR is insert mag, watch noguns try and figure out where charging handle is, fire
Now ask them to make a mag change after firing
Repeat AK steps, watch noguns struggle with mag release and rocking mag, same as insertion
Watch the noguns struggle to find mag release, watch noguns struggle finding bolt release, watch noguns pull charging handle back because it doesnt understand what happened.
The AK is much more peasant friendly