The last couple of years have seen gun owners’ ranks swell by as many as eight million people. If you’re one of those, let me say “Welcome!” Whatever your reasons for buying your first firearm, we’re glad to have you in our community. With few exceptions, I think you’ll find that if you like guns, we’ll like you. Most of us don’t care what your political or social views are. We bond over shooting, collecting, hunting, whatever. The shooting sports are numerous and varied and chances are you’ll find others who share your interests.

AK Rifle 101 for New Gun Owners Part 1 — davidbaptistechirot.blogspot.com

One thing I noticed when I started getting more into firearms about 15 years ago was the sheer volume of information put out by people who often talked over my head. Heck, I still feel that way sometimes, and I do this for a living. One of my niches here at The Mag Life Blog is writing for people like me: non-experts who love the firearms scene. So, with that in mind, I thought it would be useful to write something about one of my favorite rifles in a way that appeals to folks who might be taking their first steps into an often-confusing world.

AK 103 rifle — An AK-103. The AK-100 Series brought the Kalashnikov rifle into the 21st century. (besthqwallpapers.com)

I’m the first to admit that I’m no guru on the AK rifle or any other firearm. But I’ve owned an AK since 2013, and if you’re thinking about buying one for the first time, I can give you the basics and point you toward more detailed info. Perhaps I can save you from a mistake or two along the way. If you’re already an AK guy or gal, you’re quite welcome to read, too. Just understand that I’m not Larry Vickers or Rob Ski. More on those guys later in this series.

Nor is this series of articles meant to be the all-inclusive guide to the AK. There are whole books on that. Let’s start with the basics of what a Kalashnikov Rifle is, and then I’ll relate how I bought my AK—a cautionary tale in which I got extremely lucky.

AK Rifle 101: What Exactly is an AK?

That’s kind of a loaded question but we can hit the basics. Designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov between 1945 and 1947, the AK rifle started as a carbine length, intermediate cartridge infantry rifle that was adopted by the Soviet military and first issued in 1949.

Mikhail Kalashnikov WW II — Mikhail Kalashnikov commanded a Soviet tank in World War II. While recovering from combat wounds in the hospital, he conceived an idea for a new infantry rifle. (dailymail.co.uk)

Designated “AK-47,” it features a gas-operated piston system, as opposed to the gas blowback system of the AR-15/M-16/M-4 family of rifles. The main variants of the Kalashnikov are the AK-47, AKM, AK-74, AK-74M, AK-100 series, and AK-200 series. There are many more subvariants. “AK” stands for “Avtomat Kalashnikova,” or “Kalashnikov’s Automatic.”

AK Rifle gas operated piston system — The Kalashnikov rifle is based on a simple but reliable gas-operated piston system. (businessinsider.com.au)

Most AK variants have stamped sheet steel receivers, with only key parts like the barrel, bolt, bolt carrier, and trunnions made from forged steel. I’ll explain about trunnions in Part 3 of this series. They’re important. Some rifles, however, are forged and milled steel throughout, as the original AK-47 was. Forged steel is of higher quality than stamped steel, but it’s also heavier and more expensive, which is why the Soviets moved to a stamped receiver beginning with the second-generation AKM.

AK 47 and AKM — The forged and milled receiver AK-47 (front) was replaced by the more economical stamped receiver AKM (rear). Critical parts like the barrel, bolt, and trunnions were still forged. (roblox-phantom-forces.fandom.com)

The Kalashnikov rifle, or “Kalash” if you’re Russian, is manufactured to looser tolerances than its American counterpart, meaning a quality rifle can take a lot of abuse, including water, rust, dirt, mud, and ice, and keep firing. Of course, those things have limits. No gun can function if its action is clogged with mud or other foreign material. Not even the personal rifle of Mikhail Kalashnikov himself. That same quality AK can also run for a long time without lubrication. I don’t recommend that because even AKs wear out, but it can do it. But why tear up your rifle if you don’t have to?

soldier weilding AK — Kalashnikovs are famously resilient, but there’s a limit to how much any gun can take. (Andrei Gordeev via ar15.com)

The AK system is simple to take apart and maintain. Much easier than an AR-15. There are no small parts to lose unless you start taking the bolt apart, which is rarely necessary. I have zero mechanical aptitude, and I’m not kidding. Mechanical stuff just doesn’t make sense to me. My view is that God created mechanics to do that stuff for me. So, when I say that it’s simple, it really is. I can tear it down and put it back together easily, with only one or two small screw-ups along the way. Normal people will have no problem whatsoever.

AK rifle recoil spring, bolt carrior, and piston — L to R: The recoil spring absorbs the energy of the bolt carrier and sends it forward to cycle the action. The bolt carrier is driven by the piston that runs forward to the gas tube. The recoil spring, bolt carrier, and piston are easily removed. (Author’s photo)

The AK rifle was used by the Soviet Union, the Warsaw Pact countries of Eastern Europe, China, and countless other countries. The Soviets shipped them all over the world in exchange for political and diplomatic favors or just to sow discord that might be exploited later. Modern Kalashnikov variants are still the standard service rifle of Russia and several Eastern European countries, and they are used by military and paramilitary organizations the world over. Of the estimated 500 million firearms in the world in 2004, 100 million were AK variants. Three-quarters of those were AK-47s or AKMs.

AK Rifle variants — “Is fine.” There seems to be a Kalashnikov variant for every role on the battlefield (reddit.com)

The Kalashnikov has become a symbol for freedom fighters (or insurgents, depending on your point of view) all over the world. It is featured on the Coats of Arms of East Timor, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, as well as on Mozambique’s national flag. It was a part of Burkina Faso’s Coat of Arms from 1984 to 1997 when it was replaced by a spear. Many “liberation soldiers” of Mozambique supposedly named their sons “Kalash” when the war ended.

Mozambique flag — Mozambique is one of four nations featuring the AK-47 on its national flag or coat of arms. (wallpapercave.com)

Buying My AK: Don’t Do It This Way

Relating this story is kind of embarrassing. I’ve been shooting rifles since I was eight or nine years old. My Dad owned lots of guns, and he taught me early on how to handle a gun safely and properly. He was the type who insisted that we check the chamber every time we picked up a gun, even if we had just seen someone else check it. My brother and I got yelled at more than once over that, and it didn’t take long for us to sink in. He once took away my 20-gauge shotgun because he didn’t see me check it. I had done it when he was out of the room, but that didn’t matter. I got the message.

But we were a family of deer hunters. AR-15s and such weren’t really a thing back in the 1970s and ‘80s. Even when their popularity took off after the “assault weapons” ban expired in 2004, I never thought I would own one. I just didn’t feel the need. I had my deer rifle, a few military surplus bolt action rifles since I love history and my old 20-gauge. That was it.

Russian soldiers on parade with the “Kalash.” (ibtimes.com)

Things began to change when I got my first concealed carry permit in 2011. I started paying more attention to the cool guy stuff I saw on the interwebs while researching which carry gun I wanted to buy. I seriously didn’t even own a handgun until 2010, and it was a military surplus gun. I thought the “tactical rifle” stuff was interesting and all, but still didn’t feel the need.

I did a 180 right after the Sandy Hook tragedy. I was as appalled as everyone else, but it suddenly looked like the opportunity to buy an AR or AK would be gone, maybe never to come back. Like many other folks, I don’t like to be told what I can and can’t do, including what guns I can buy. So, I decided right then to buy one. The problem was, I knew nothing about them. Oh, I pretty much knew how to handle and shoot an M16A1 from my ROTC days in the early 1980s (not that I was any good, but I knew the controls and could make it go bang) and I knew that AKs were reliable. That was really the extent of my knowledge.

Afghan soldier sleeping with AK rifle unsafely propped — In keeping with the theme of what NOT to do, we have an Afghan soldier showing a lot of trust in his AK while taking a nap. (legionmagazine.com)

To me, an AR-15 was an AR-15, and an AK was an AK. It never occurred to me that all ARs were not built by Colt or that all AKs were not built to the same specs. Told you it was embarrassing. It gets worse. I dived headfirst into the panic buying that hit the firearms market in late 2012 and early 2013. I decided I wanted an AK because I believed they were more reliable than ARs. I based that opinion on the “fact” that “everyone” knew it. Seeing a pattern here?

meme illustrating how the soviet government is a joke but soviet guns are considered to be heavy-weight champs — Pretty much the extent of my “knowledge” about the AK when I bought mine. Embarrassing.

So, with God as my witness, I pulled up whatever search engine I used at the time, typed in “AK-47 for sale,” clicked on the first one I saw and bought the damned thing. Right there. Took less than ten minutes. Now, let me be clear: DON’T EVER DO THAT. It was incredibly dumb. Fortunately, I got extraordinarily lucky.

Beginner’s Luck: Rolling a Seven on the First Try

Turned out the rifle I bought was a Saiga AK-103 conversion. Saiga is a civilian brand of sporting rifles built by the Izhmash firearms factory in Izhevsk, Russia. Izhmash is where real AK military rifles are built by Kalashnikov Concern, which is THE AK company in Russia. Basically, Saigas are AKs made in the same factory as Russian Army guns but with a few changes to make them look more like hunting rifles.

Those changes also made them eligible to be imported into the United States, where a few companies, mainly Arsenal, converted them back to the original AK configuration. They are damn good guns. Keep in mind that I was still oblivious to all this. I got mine from a company that is no longer around due to shady business practices, and I was fortunate to get one of their last guns before they went under. As it was, it took five months to get my rifle, since they sold it to me before they had even received it from Izhmash. Again, luck overcame my sheer ineptitude.

When I picked up the rifle from the FFL, I was excited to see that it was marked “Made in Russia by Izhmash.” I hadn’t expected a Russian gun. It was at this point, way after I should have, that I began looking into what Izhmash was and actually learning something about AK rifles, where they come from, and who makes them. That’s when I understood how lucky I’d been with my rifle and resolved to never make that mistake again.

My Saiga rifle converted back to the original AK-103 configuration. I’ll talk about how I jazzed it up in Part 2 of this series. (Author’s photo)

Now, just in case you’ve never bought a gun online, let me clear something up. Despite the deliberate misinformation coming from certain politicians and organizations, buying a gun on the net doesn’t mean they ship it to your door. I wish that was the case. But the law requires it to ship to a Federally licensed gun dealer (FFL) who, for a fee, performs a background check before transferring the gun to the buyer. If the buyer doesn’t pass the background check, the gun is returned to the seller. The background check process is exactly the same as walking into a gun store and making a firearms purchase. So don’t believe the propaganda.

Caliber Choice and Ergonomics

AK Rifle Calibers

I’m only talking about carbines here, so I’ll limit things to three choices: 7.62×39, 5.45×39, and 5.56×45. AK style guns chambered in pistol or full-size rifle calibers will have to wait for another day.

7.62×39

This is the classic AK-47/AKM caliber. It has been in use since right after World War II, beginning with the Russian SKS rifle. It’s the most powerful of the three in terms of energy on the target. It’s plentiful, cheap (as far as ammo can be these days), and reliable. You can easily hunt deer or wild hogs with it if you’re so inclined.

It has a reputation for being less than accurate, but that’s a relative assessment. It is generally a bit less accurate than the other two choices, but the difference is MAYBE an inch or so at 100 meters. None of these guns are meant to be precision rifles. 7.62×39 is as accurate as you need it to be out to 300 meters with iron sights and 500 or so with a scope.

The recoil is heavier than the other two but, again, that’s a relative thing. I think of it as a solid recoil more than anything. My deer rifles kick much harder. 7.62×39 gives me a satisfying “thump” and is my favorite of the three, and not just because that’s what my rifle is chambered in. I like the versatility, availability, and price.

5.45×39

This caliber was introduced by the Soviets in the mid-1970s for the then-new AK-74. It’s the Russian version of the 5.56×45 cartridge used by the US military. Some say the Soviets were afraid the American cartridge had some special advantage they might be missing out on. No idea if that’s true.

Either way, the 5.45 is nice cartridge. It’s a higher velocity round than the 7.62×39, shoots flatter, has a longer range, has less recoil, and is generally more accurate. It doesn’t hit as hard as the older cartridge but it’s still a great defensive round and people do use it to hunt deer and wild hogs. Its lighter weight and less bulk mean you can carry more ammo if you’re so inclined.

Russian caliber comparison - as two women — Here’s another way of looking at the two Russian calibers.

The real downside to the 5.45 is the price and lower availability. Simply put, the Soviets didn’t drop the 7.62×39 in favor of the 5.45. They and their fraternal socialist allies made both the supply of the former dwarfs and that of the latter. The Russian military still uses both cartridges. Because there isn’t as much of the 5.45, it’s harder to find, and it generally costs more. You decide for yourself.

5.56×45 (.223 Remington)

This is the same round used by the US and NATO. 5.56 is the NATO designation, and .223 Remington is the civilian. Any rifle chambered in 5.56×45 will accept .223, though you shouldn’t do it the other way around because of minor but important differences in the chamber. AKs chambered in 5.56 are relatively new to the market but they seem to be gaining in popularity.

5.56 and .223 are readily available due to the ubiquity of the AR-15 family of rifles. 5.56 is a proven cartridge with performance similar to the Russian 5.45. It’s just a lot cheaper and easier to find. Some purists refuse to buy an AK rifle in 5.56, but it looks like a winning combination to me. I still prefer my 7.62×39, though. If I want to shoot 5.56, I have ARs for that.

On a practical note, I once saw a test comparing the effect of 7.62×39 and 5.56×45 on cinder blocks. The 5.56 punched little 5.56 mm holes in the blocks. At the same range with the same number of rounds, the 7.62×39 broke the block into five or six distinct pieces. That doesn’t mean one is better or worse than the other. They just have different effects.

AK Rifle 101: Ergonomics

To be honest, AK rifle ergonomics aren’t that great, especially when compared to the current crop of AR-15s. Even the newer AKs have real limitations. They are better than the older models, but some real challenges still exist. Let’s start at the buttstock and work our way forward:

AKM with an under folding stock and an AK-47 with the standard Kalashnikov stock. — AKM with an under-folding stock and an AK-47 with the standard Kalashnikov stock. Either way, they are too short for me, but you might like them. (Wikipedia.com)

Stocks

I’m totally not a fan of the standard AK rifle stock. Yeah, the wood looks cool and all, but they are short and don’t really fit me. My AK came with a cheap polymer stock, but it was made to the same basic dimensions as a standard AK rifle stock. I couldn’t get a good cheek weld, and I felt scrunched when firing. I just didn’t like it. However, modern American industry makes some very nice adjustable aftermarket stocks, which fixed that problem.

AK Rifle 101 for New Gun Owners Part 2 — The only “buffer” in a Kalashnikov is the recoil spring in the action. (Author’s photo)

You may like the standard AK rifle stock. Good on ya if so. If not, you can find telescoping and folding stocks (mine does both), and you can even install an M4 adapter that lets you take advantage of all the great AR stocks on the market. One thing the stocks don’t have, as opposed to the AR platform guns, is a buffer spring. The AK rifle doesn’t operate that way. The only buffer is the recoil spring that operates the bolt. The only wood stock I think I would keep is the plum-colored version. That’s a unique look that I really dig.

AK Rifle with plum colored wood furniture — I think the plum-colored wood furniture on some AKs is really sharp. (imgur.com/V29piFC)

There are various surplus folding stocks out there, too. Some folks like them, and some don’t. I have no experience with them, but the information is out there.

AKM with folding stock — These AKMs are equipped with side-folding stocks. Note the rather skinny pistol grips. The bottom one has a rail added to the top of the gas tube in place of the upper handguard. I can’t say how effective that setup is. (alphacoders.com)

Pistol Grips

Again, the standard AK grips are just OK. They’re fine, if a little thin for my taste. The old ones are made of wood, but there are plenty of polymer options out there, too. There are also lots of aftermarket grips available in different sizes and whatnot. I kept the polymer grip that came with mine, but I’m thinking about adding some grip tape to it. I recently saw someone with tennis racquet grip tape, and it seemed to work very well.

Afghan soldier with AK that has under-folding stock and skinny pistol grip — This Afghan soldier’s rifle has an under-folding stock. Again, note the skinny pistol grip. (legionmagazine.com)

Safety Lever

The Kalashnikov safety lever is simple and effective. Located on the right side of the receiver, it moves up for safe, which blocks the action from cocking as well as the trigger if the rifle is already cocked. The down position unlocks the action and the trigger so the rifle can fire. Military-grade AKs have a third position for automatic fire.

That’s all fine, but the lever is impossible to operate without breaking your firing grip if you’re right-handed. If you’re a lefty, you’re good to go, except you might catch hot brass in the face when you pull the trigger. But the aftermarket has come to the rescue. An enhanced safety lever is available with an extra “shelf” that makes it simple to operate with the trigger finger while not breaking your grip. Newer model Russian AKs have adopted this feature, as have many newer civilian rifles. I haven’t upgraded mine. I might or might not. It isn’t really a big deal to me. But you do you.

Accessory Rails, or Lack Thereof

One of the great things about the AR-15 is its modularity. You’re likely to find as many different setups as there are owners, or even more, since many of us have more than one. There are different ways to set up an AK rifle, but you have to work harder for it. A nagging problem with putting optics on AKs is that the top dust cover has to be removed to field strip the rifle. The dust covers are not part of the receiver, so it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to keep an optic on zero, even if you install an aftermarket dust cover that has a rail on top. It just isn’t stable enough. I won’t say it’s impossible since I haven’t seen every dust cover out there, but it has proven difficult in the past.

For years, the solution has been a rail mounted on the receiver’s left side, on which an optic mount is installed. The mount includes a Picatinny rail that is suspended over the dust cover for installing an optic. It’s less than ideal, but it works as long as you have a properly installed side rail and a quality mount. A word of caution: most mounts that fit the side rail suck. Sorry, but they just do. If you pay 30 bucks for such a mount, well, you’ve wasted your 30 bucks. I found that out the hard way. I then paid a little over a hundred bucks for one that had good reviews. It broke a year later.

AK Rifle 101 optics mount — L to R: Side rail on my rifle — my current scope mount from the left — and from the right. Note how the mounting rail sits right above the dust cover but doesn’t touch it. (Author’s photos)

Honestly, the only one I can recommend is the RS Regulate mount, which runs about 150 dollars. The problem is no one can keep them in stock. I have literally been looking for one for two years. I finally got fed up and bought a promising-looking mount from Kalashnikov USA for about the same price as the RS Regulate. I haven’t used it enough to say whether it was a good purchase or not. It has held zero so far, but I can’t speak to its long-term durability.

The new Russian Army guns have receiver-mounted dust covers that lift up instead of being removed entirely. They are supposedly stable enough to mount an optic on the integral accessory rail. I have heard good things but have no experience with them. They are available as aftermarket parts, and I expect new American-made guns will soon have them as a standard feature, too.

An American made enhanced dust cover that attaches to the receiver and hinges up. This one is installed on an Israeli Galil, which is based on the AKM. — An American-made enhanced dust cover that attaches to the receiver and hinges up. This one is installed on an Israeli Galil, which is based on the AKM. (uzitalk.com)

Magazine Release

The AR-15 mag release is just about perfect ergonomically. Not so the AK rifle. It works fine, but I’m not really a fan. It’s a thumb-operated steel lever right in front of the trigger guard. It is ambidextrous, but it tears up my thumb. I tried a couple of enhanced releases that attach to the original, but none worked very well. I eventually just decided to wear gloves when I shoot. If that makes me a wuss, so be it. There are alternate ways to operate the mag release, demonstrations of which you can find on various YouTube Channels, which will be discussed in the last installment of this series.

Magazines

As with the AR-15, there are lots of magazine options, some good, some not so much. Surplus Russian, Romanian, Polish, and Bulgarian mags are available, and I’ve had good luck with them. The Russian bakelite mags look really cool, but I haven’t bought any because they’re very pricey.

There are also some nice domestic polymer mags out there from companies like Magpul, SGM Tactical, US Palm, and Lancer. I’ve used all of those, and I like them. I’m sure there are other good ones.

polymer ak mag feed lips — When buying polymer mags, try to use the ones with steel-reinforced feed lips. Otherwise, you’ll eventually chew up the polymer. (Author’s photo)

With polymer mags, I recommend the ones with steel-reinforced feed lips because you will tear up the polymer over time, even if you don’t mess up the reload (which you will, at first). If you buy a Saiga conversion, you can only use Saiga-compatible mags unless the gun is equipped with a “bullet guide.” It’s also necessary for Molot VEPR rifles. It’s an inexpensive part that is installed at the bottom of the receiver, just behind the barrel.

Saiga AK bullet guide — If you buy a Saiga or a Molot VEPR, you will have to have a bullet guide to use standard AK mags. The plate with the screw in the bottom of the receiver, just aft of the barrel is the bullet guide on my rifle. (Author’s photo)

Hand Guards

The original Kalashnikov handguards are also wood. Cool looking but not practical if you want modern accessories. They also get pretty hot when you’re shooting. As I said before, wearing gloves while shooting an AK is a good idea. But, like the stock and pistol grip, there are plenty of aftermarket handguards available. Modern AKs come with polymer handguards, some with limited rail systems and heat shields. Mine was a cheap polymer affair with no heat shield. I replaced it as soon as I could with a Magpul Zhukov extended handguard with M-Lok capability for accessories. It’s much better, if a little heavy.

Saiga rifle, from factory, then with upgrades — Left: My Saiga rifle as it was when I got it. Right: The same rifle with an upgraded stock, handguard, optic mount, and cool guy Cerakote job. (Author’s photos)

Accessory Rails Part Deux

As I mentioned, the original AK rifle handguards were made of wood. To be fair, there was no such thing as an accessory rail at the time, and there weren’t really any accessories to attach to a standard infantry rifle. Today, there are more accessories than I can keep up with, but there is no way to mount them on a wooden handguard. Like the stock and grip, there are plenty of aftermarket handguards available, and many new AKs include upgraded accessory-ready handguards as standard equipment. So, it’s now possible to mount optics, lights, lasers, foregrips, or whatever you might want on your rifle. Because of the AK’s basic setup, though, these handguards don’t offer the flexibility of the AR platform. That’s just how it is.

AK Rifle with upgraded furniture — Kalashnikovs can be modernized with aftermarket stuff. This one has upgraded furniture allowing the attachment of whatever accessory you might want. (badassoptic.com)

Sights

Standard AK sights are adequate. That’s really about the best thing I can say about them. They consist of a rear notch with an elevation adjustment. They are preset in hundreds of meters, with many maxing out at an extremely optimistic 800 or 1000 meters. My advice is not to bother. If you need to hit something at that range, you better get another rifle. The front sight is a shielded post adjustable for elevation and windage.

There are a couple of problems with AK sights, both of which contribute to the perception of inaccuracy.

First, the rear sight block is located at the front of the receiver, roughly halfway between the buttstock and the muzzle. That gives it a short sight radius compared to most other rifles, including the AR-15. A basic rule of thumb is that a longer sight radius contributes to accuracy, all other things being equal. As I said before, quality AKs are as accurate as you need them to be, but the short sight radius makes the ceiling a bit lower than it might otherwise be.

Second, the sights on AK rifles are sometimes canted to one side or another. Sometimes badly so. You usually see that on the cheaper brands, but it can happen to others. It’s common enough that you should be wary of it. This happens because the sight blocks are pressed onto the barrel. Imprecise tools or shoddy workmanship can lead to them not always being exactly right. The rear sight on my Saiga is canted just a bit to the right. You can’t tell unless you have the rifle to your shoulder, but it’s there. I’ve found, however, that it doesn’t negatively affect how well I shoot it. I considered trying to get it fixed but have decided it’s not worth the effort or expense, if it could be done at all. I doubt it would have much impact on the rifle’s performance. But you should always check for it because sometimes it’s pretty egregious.

AK rifle sights that are badly canted — Two examples of badly canted sights on a Kalashnikov. Always check for this before buying an AK. (theakforum.net)

I already discussed the mounting of optics, so I’ll only add that I’ve seen some folks who have replaced the entire rear sight with a low-profile red dot. I’ve never used one of those, but I took a training course a couple years back where a guy performed very well using that setup.

Muzzle Devices

I don’t have much advice here because there are a bunch of choices out there, including muzzle brakes, flash hiders, compensators, and combinations of those. There are also plenty of suppression options. Many AK rifles have a threaded barrel, including the Arsenal Saiga conversions. Because I unknowingly and naively went with a company on the verge of bankruptcy, they shipped mine out without a threaded barrel. They just slapped on a barrel shroud forward of the front sight, and that was that. I intend to have it done, and I know who I want to do it, I just haven’t yet.

Russian special ops soldiers with suppressors and a flash hider on their AK-12s. ((kaliberinfo.hu)

You should at least have a flash hider, though I will admit that seeing my rifle shoot a foot-long flame out the muzzle when shooting at dusk is pretty damn cool. Of course, you can always take it off for that. A muzzle brake will reduce the recoil significantly, but it will also make the already-loud AK even louder. Personally, I don’t feel the need for a brake, but I want the flash hider. Again, you do you.

There are other things to consider when buying an AK, like barrel length and quality, but that’s a whole discussion itself. All kinds of information on the merits of various barrels is available out there. All you have to do is look. But this ought to give you enough to start thinking about what you want or don’t want.

Shopping Tips

As with anything else, there are different levels of quality and affordability. Until recently, getting a quality AK rifle usually meant buying an imported or surplus gun because the American-built AKs were either poorly made or very expensive. I’m not going to break down the merits of various AKs, but I will give you an idea of what to look for so you can research on your own. Trust me, the research is where you learn the basics of the weapon system and start learning what appeals to you and what doesn’t. That’s the process I now use with every gun I purchase. It’s worth the time and effort.

A Ukrainian man with his rifle painted in the traditional Ukrainian Petrykivka style. Most likely hand-painted, it’s definitely a unique look. (Oleksandr Klymenko via Reddit.com)

Unfortunately, Saiga rifles were banned from import by the Obama Administration in the aftermath of Sandy Hook. You can still find them, but the prices have gone way up since there are no more coming into the country. Given what’s happening in Ukraine, that may be a permanent thing. Happily, there are other good options, including a recent surge of quality American AKs that didn’t exist even a few years ago. That gives you more choices between imports and American-made guns.

The Saiga rifle in its original sporting configuration. Many of these rifles were converted to AK specs after being imported. Further imports were banned by the Obama Administration. (rediff.com)

The Biden Administration also banned the import of Russian-made ammo, which was among the most affordable on the market since much of it was steel cased. A couple of American firms have since vowed to fill that void, but it remains to be seen whether they can actually do it.

Saiga AK rifle — The author’s Saiga rifle as it was bought after being converted to the AK-103 configuration. It has since been upgraded (see below) (Author’s photo)

When I began this article, I intended to talk about some AK brands that I like and some that I don’t. But when I started researching that, it became obvious that it was just too much. And who am I to tell you what to buy anyway? Plus, lawyers. So, instead, I’ll cover a few things to look for when shopping for an AK rifle.

What to Look for in an AK Rifle

Forged Trunnions

I will make one firm and unequivocal point here: DO NOT BUY AN AK RIFLE THAT HAS CAST TRUNNIONS. That should be non-negotiable. “Alright,” you may say, “but what is a trunnion?” Excellent question. I’m glad you asked. Kalashnikov rifles only have one receiver, unlike the AR-15. Inside that receiver are two trunnions, front and rear. The rear trunnion takes the recoil from the spring in the action and is the anchor for the stock. It takes some pressure and needs to be a good quality component, but it’s not nearly as important as the front trunnion.

The quality of the front trunnion can literally make or break your rifle. The front trunnion connects the barrel to the receiver and houses the locking lugs when the bolt comes forward. In other words, it’s where the explosion happens when you pull the trigger. That’s where most of the pressure is contained and distributed. So, it obviously needs to be strong.

Mikhail Kalashnikov understood that and designed the rifle with forged trunnions. Even when the AK-47 evolved from an expensive forged receiver to cheaper stamped sheet steel, the trunnions were forged. They still are today. Unfortunately, some firearms manufacturers in the United States thought otherwise.

American-made AKs have often been regarded as junk because certain companies tried to cash in on the exploding popularity of defensive rifles by putting out a cheap, inferior product. At the center of that was the decision to go with cast trunnions instead of the more expensive forging. If you only put a hundred rounds a year through your rifle, it’s probably not a big deal, but if you shoot it regularly, the cast trunnion’s failure is only a matter of time. And by failure, I mean it will break. If it breaks at the wrong time, or if you haven’t noticed it yet, the gun could literally blow up when you pull the trigger or maybe send some steel flying back at your face. (Pro tip from a non-pro: Always wear eye protection!)

broken cast trunnion — The arrows are pointing to spots on cast front trunnions where the metal has literally broken off. Never fall for the line that cast trunnions are “good enough.” They are not. (akoperatorsunionlocal4774.com)

All it takes to confirm this is a little effort on your favorite search engine or an AK forum. Now, some of those companies, and even some gun people, will try to tell you that cast trunnions are “almost as good” or “good enough.” I call BS on that. Yes, forged trunnions are more expensive. But take it from someone who has learned that quality absolutely matters in the firearms world. With high-pressure explosions happening a foot from your face, do you really want “almost as good,” even if that were true? Get a gun with forged trunnions, and don’t listen to that other stuff. It’s a big enough deal that manufacturers will tell you upfront that their product has forged trunnions. If they don’t tell you that, be very careful.

Properly Seated Rivets

Rivets are another thing to look for. Being sheet steel, most AKs are held together with rivets. Look for rivets that have been pressed in evenly and have no air gap between the rivet head and the receiver. Again, some people will say it’s no big deal, but if the rivets are holding your trigger group in place, don’t you want them to be solid? Poorly done rivets can work themselves out. The most important rivets are those in the trunnion. Check them regularly. A poorly riveted gun can be a sign of shoddy workmanship elsewhere.

Several American companies have stepped up and started making quality AKs in the last few years. Some are better than others, and there are different price points, but each of those companies has committed to including forged trunnions and a better overall rifle than what used to be available. I said I wouldn’t tell you what to buy, but companies like Rifle Dynamics (which has been fantastic from the start), Meridian Defense, Kalashnikov USA, and Riley Defense are making high to good-quality AKs. Palmetto State Armory, after a rocky start a few years back, is now making good, affordable guns. Those are the ones who spring to mind. I’m sure there are a few others. Omission is not an indictment. Just do your homework.

AK guys love good rifles and loathe subpar guns. See if you can guess which one uses cast trunnions. (instagram.com/kalash_lover)

What about AK parts kits?

I have purposely refrained from discussing AK parts kits, which are widely available. If you have the technical capability, you can assemble your own rifle from these kits. But it requires skill and the proper tools. It’s not a snap-together thing. I have no experience with those, and I’ve seen all kinds of differing opinions on their quality. I expect the quality to vary as the rifles do. Since I have never done anything with them, I’ll let you do your own research. Just know they are out there.

Nor do I know much about surplus AKs, other than to advise you to be very careful. As a surplus bolt action rifle collector, I’ve learned to ask pointed questions as to quality and condition and to see the rifle in person if possible. Have some kind of buyer protection if at all possible. I’ll point you to some info sources below.

A Polish AK rifle parts kit. Others will look similar. Don’t attempt this if you don’t have the necessary skills and tools. (recoilweb.com)

I will make one small disclaimer about aftermarket parts on AK rifles. Aftermarket stuff might not work on all of them or may need some custom fitting. For instance, I decided to replace the gas tube on my rifle, but when I tried to install it, it didn’t fit. It required a Dremel to fit it to the gun. I didn’t want to fool with that, so I just kept the old one. That’s when I discovered that my experience was nothing unusual. Likewise, some stocks, handguards, grips, whatever may not fit all Kalashnikov models. You can usually make them fit if you’re willing to alter them a bit and have the knowledge and skill to do so. I don’t.

The Zastava guns from Serbia are said to be especially picky about aftermarket parts because of how they are designed. I will say, though, that Zastava products are very good. It’s just one of those things with AKs. They are made in so many places by so many companies that there are often minor but important differences.

Mikhail Kalashnikov with his AK-47 in 2002 — Mikhail Kalashnikov, “Papa Kalash,” with his AK-47, in 2002. (wbur.org)

Do Your Research.

I know I’ve thrown a lot at you and then told you to do your homework. I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you where to look. As always, firearms forums contain a wealth of information, and you can ask specific questions. The downside is you never really know who you’re talking to, and many of the posters can be condescending and pedantic. When I go to a forum, I spend a lot of time lurking and finding guys that have hundreds or even thousands of posts. I try to direct my questions to them. It can be time-consuming, but I usually get good info if I’m patient.

Another source is gun blogs like the one you’re reading right now. The Mag Life Blog has tons of great writers who know a heckuva lot about everything related to firearms. Most, if not all, of them know a lot more than I do, so I read it literally every day. There are other good blogs out there, too.

meme about AK vs AR — There’s a lot of good-natured back and forth between the AR and AK communities. Some of it promotes bad habits. Still funny, though (Reddit.com)

Finally, you can go to YouTube. There are some excellent content creators there, and I’ve learned a LOT from them. Again, you have to be careful and spend some time seeing who knows what they are talking about and who is full of crap. Here are several AK guys on YouTube that I trust, in no particular order: Larry Vickers of Vickers Tactical; Rob Ski of AK Operators Union Local 47-74; Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons; Tim from Military Arms Channel; Garand Thumb; Mike from Mr. Guns-n-Gear; Eric and Chad from Iraqveteran8888; and the AK Guy, Brandon Herrera, who has the added bonus of being funny. I’m sure there are others, but those are my go-to guys. The “AK Users Guide” series on AK Operators Union is comprehensive and excellent.

I also like Kalashnikov Group, the official YouTube channel of Kalashnikov Concern, which makes AK-pattern guns for the Russian military. They have some outstanding content, some in English and some in Russian, though the Russian language stuff has English subtitles.

Stoner & Kalashnikov with Dr. Seuss character — The endless debate. (breachbangclear.com)

Why Should I Bother with an AK Rifle?

With all that stuff about cast trunnions, canted sights, mounting issues, and parts that might not fit, why bother with an AK rifle? After all, quality AR-15s don’t have issues like that. Even cheap ARs don’t have that much stuff to worry about. Fair enough, and I’ll admit that my number one defensive rifle is an AR-15. That’s the one I train with most often.

AR vs AK cartoon — Cheaper ammo is one argument for buying an AK rifle. (Instagram.com/brandonherrera)

But man, there’s just something primal about a Kalashnikov that speaks to me like no AR ever has. It’s my fun gun, like that wild sometimes-girlfriend you used to hang out with on the weekends because she could smoke, drink, and cuss right along with you and your buddies. The AR-15 is like the girl you take to the prom. The AK is the girl you take to the bar with sawdust on the floor.

I Even Named my AK.

I love my AK-103 so much I named her. Don’t judge me. (Author’s photo)

Her name is Roza. I once took her to a shoot at a friend’s farm. Near the end, my friend’s brother, who is a cop, showed up and asked if he could shoot her because he had never handled an AK before. I handed him Roza and a full mag and said, “Knock yourself out.” It was right at dusk, and Roza spat orange flame as she roared down the valley. The cop went through the mag, with the last ten or so shots going as fast as he could pull the trigger. He turned to me with a big grin and said, “I think I just got a chubby.” That’s how Roza rolls.

AK rifle right and left profiles — A previous Roza setup. (Author’s photo)

The AK Community is Fun, Too.

For the most part, they’re more laid back, and they don’t turn their guns into a pseudo-dick-measuring contest like some AR guys. There’s a lot of good-natured razzing of AR guys, even among owners of different AK rifle variants. Brandon Herrera’s “AR Guys vs. AK Guys” series on YouTube is hilarious. There’s even a Kalashnikov brand Vodka endorsed by “Papa Kalash” himself, Mikhail Kalashnikov.

Kalashnikov vodka — Kalashnikov brand vodka. Endorsed by “Papa Kalash” himself. (breachbangclear.com)

There is also a near-universal loathing of subpar AKs. Most of those are from certain American companies. I say “near universal” because that excludes guys who own those guns, at least until they understand why their guns are loathed in the first place.

I’m glad I got an AK rifle before I got into ARs because I think I carried a lot of that attitude over. I do what I want with my guns, and I don’t give a crap who doesn’t like it. Chances are, at any given time, Roza has various grip tape all over her, optics, lights, grips, and anything else I want to play with. She doesn’t have a permanent setup and I like it that way. That’s one reason why finding a reliable scope mount is important to me. I’m always taking that thing off and putting it back on. It’s whatever I’m feeling at the time, unlike my primary AR-15, which I’m always trying to fine-tune. There is no fine-tuning for Roza. I like her however she is. No matter what she’s wearing on any given day, she’s never far from “Rifle is fine.”

AK vs AR meme — Not far from the truth for some guys (Reddit.com)

So, on the question of why you should bother, my response is, “Because they’re fun.” Yes, the AK can be an awesome primary defensive rifle if that’s what you want. It’s versatile and reliable. As the saying goes, if you take care of it, it will take care of you. With a quality AK rifle, that’s no exaggeration.

meme - mongolian shepherd with an AK-47 and snow leopard — The AK rifle can be a mean addition to your defensive system (Reddit.com)

Of all my guns, and I may have added two or three in the last ten years, Roza is the most fun. I don’t even have to think about it. Just make sure you don’t buy yours like I did. Do your homework, and you’ll get a rifle that will likely rank among your favorites in a very short time. I’m just glad that Saint Mikhail, peace be upon him, was watching over me that night when I clicked “Buy Now.”