{"id":398300,"date":"2023-05-08T17:00:23","date_gmt":"2023-05-08T22:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/?p=398300"},"modified":"2026-01-07T13:37:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T19:37:12","slug":"ar-vs-ak-one-guys-perspective","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/ar-vs-ak-one-guys-perspective\/","title":{"rendered":"AR vs AK: One Guy\u2019s Perspective"},"content":{"rendered":"

AR vs AK. It\u2019s the eternal question. Unless you\u2019re brand new to the gun world, you\u2019re probably as sick of it as I am. If you are brand new, welcome. If you hang around long enough, you\u2019ll be sick of it too. But there was a time when I gobbled up the debate, trying to figure out where my hard-earned dollars would be best spent. I eventually learned that the correct answer to which is better is \u201cYes,\u201d tempered with a healthy dose of \u201cIt depends.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"man
We answer the eternal burning question. Kind of. (Author’s Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So, with that in mind, let\u2019s look at one guy\u2019s experience owning both platforms and talk about a recent range trip where the two went head-to-head. This was not a scientific experiment. Many variables were left unaccounted for because I don\u2019t check barometric pressure and all that stuff when I\u2019m on the range with either rifle. I\u2019m not that kind of shooter. There are also other variables which are impossible to reconcile. We\u2019ll get to that. But we can get an indication of how each performed on the same task.<\/p>\n

AR vs AK: The Contenders<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the AR-15 corner, we have my Grey Ghost Precision Mk II Light, better known as \u201cEowyn.\u201d Yes, I\u2019m one of those geeks who names his guns. Some of them, anyway. Eowyn is a better-than-mil-spec M-4 clone chambered in 5.56 NATO. She has a 1:7 twist rate, 14.5-inch barrel and sports a pinned and welded Grey Ghost Precision 4-port brake. I\u2019ve owned this rifle since 2017 and have many, many rounds through her. I don\u2019t even know how many.<\/p>\n

\"AR-15
In the Blue Corner: “Eowyn,” a Grey Ghost Precision Mk II Light AR-15. (Author’s Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eowyn currently wears a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 FFP LVPO rifle scope<\/a> and a Vortex Venom Red Dot<\/a> offset at not quite 45\u00b0. I will note that my rifle is not exactly in spec with the current Grey Ghost Mk II Light rifles. It was actually a MK II Light prototype that I managed to purchase because I knew a guy. Same quality, but with a few differences.<\/p>\n

And in the AK corner is my Saiga AK-103 conversion, AKA \u201cRoza,\u201d chambered in 7.62×39. I stripped off the cheap furniture she came with and replaced it with a Magpul Zhukov folding stock<\/a> and handguard. The chrome-lined barrel measures 415 millimeters, which translates to 16.3386 inches in God\u2019s measuring system. I’m not positive about the twist rate. Kalashnikov Group lists it as \u201c240,\u201d whatever that means. I translate it as \u201crifle is fine.\u201d Honestly, it\u2019s probably one twist every 240 mm, which ciphers out to a 1:9.44819-inch twist rate. That tracks with Roza’s general accuracy, but \u201crifle is fine\u201d works for me. Roza has no muzzle device at this time, though she\u2019s slated for a flash hider when I get around to it.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve owned Roza since 2013. Like with Eowyn, I don\u2019t know how many thousands of rounds she\u2019s put downrange. It\u2019s a lot. Roza currently sports a Primary Arms SLx 3x Micro Prism optic optimized for 7.62×39 and .300 Blackout<\/a>. Roza was built in Russia by Izhmash, on the same production lines that make Russian military AKs. She was one of the last rifles to be imported before the ban on Russian weapons. The quality is there.<\/p>\n

\"Saiga
In the Red Corner: “Roza,” a Saiga AK-103 rifle. (Author’s Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Shooters<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The shooters for this friendly competition were me and my son, Will. We both have lots of time on these rifles, but for this one, I had the AR and Will had the AK. Despite owning several ARs between us, we both drill with Roza too. We are about equal in terms of skill. Each rifle was equipped as noted above.<\/p>\n

Ammo-wise, I was shooting American-made PMC X-Tac 62-grain M855 5.56 NATO<\/a>. Will had Russian made Wolf 122-grain steel-cased FMJ<\/a>. So, each rifle had rounds from its country of origin, not that it matters.<\/p>\n

AR vs AK: Built-In Disparities<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re paying attention, you\u2019re likely getting the idea that ARs and AKs are like the proverbial apples and oranges. If so, congratulations. Welcome to the world of St. Eugene vs. St. Mikhail (peace be upon them). If not, let\u2019s try a little harder to convince you.<\/p>\n

Different Platforms with Different Philosophies<\/strong><\/h3>\n

ARs and AKs have different design parameters and different manufacturing tolerances. Tighter tolerances in your average AR-15 mean that it\u2019s generally more accurate than your average AK. The AK was purposely designed with looser tolerances to provide greater reliability in the field. Remember, the Soviets were only a few years out of World War II when they accepted the AK-47 for service. They had learned that reliability in all conditions was paramount. The same requirement influenced the gun\u2019s simple, yet effective, design. That simplicity means it can only be fine-tuned so much, even in high-end AKs.<\/p>\n

Plus, Soviet manufacturing capabilities were not equal to American industry when the AR-15 was designed a decade later. Even recently manufactured AKs, like Roza, are built on that same philosophy, even though the manufacturing technology has greatly improved. That\u2019s just the AK system and you know what they say about fixing things that ain\u2019t broke.<\/p>\n

The AR-15, while not a precision weapon by any means, is still more so than the AK. That\u2019s just how it was designed. It reflects a different philosophy in terms of an American military, and an outdoor tradition, that has always valued accurate rifle fire. The American experience is different from the Soviets and weapon designs reflect that.<\/p>\n

Finally, the two rifles have completely different operating systems. The AR-15 is a direct impingement system, using the gas to directly operate the bolt. The AK does it with a gas-driven piston. They both work.<\/p>\n

Ammunition<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The ammunition is obviously not the same. The Soviet 7.62×39<\/a> round is bigger and hits harder than the American 5.56×45<\/a>. The 5.56, on the other hand, is faster and more accurate. But that\u2019s not the point. Each cartridge, like each rifle, speaks to the philosophical priorities of each nation.<\/p>\n

The Soviets developed the 7.62×39 round for the SKS rifle in the mid-1940s. Mikhail Kalashnikov was required to fit his design to that cartridge. It\u2019s effective and it fits the WWII Soviet philosophy of \u201cgood enough,\u201d while still being easy to mass produce. And mass produce it they did, and still do. That\u2019s why 7.62×39 is relatively inexpensive. That availability and price point are why I chose that chambering instead of the more accurate, but more expensive, 5.45×39 cartridge<\/a> the Soviets developed for the AK-74.<\/p>\n

\"5.56
The ammo choices gave the AR-15 an advantage but reflect what most shooters use in the real world. (Author’s Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Additionally, in this case, I used brass-cased American mil-spec ammo, while Will used the cheapest steel-cased 7.62×39 that I could find. As noted, the 5.56 NATO round is generally more accurate than the 7.62×39, especially when the latter is the cheap stuff. I could buy more expensive brass-cased ammo, but here in the real world, I can stack the cheap stuff high for not a lot of money and my AK eats it and spits it out just fine. It\u2019s \u201cgood enough\u201d for what I want it for. So, this friendly competition is less scientific, but more realistic because each rifle uses ammo that most owners of both guns are more likely to use every day. Or however often they shoot.<\/p>\n

Finally, the 7.62×39 recoils a bit more heavily than the 5.56. It doesn\u2019t kick like a mule or anything, but the heavier recoil does impact accuracy and the ability to bring the rifle back on target. This is amplified by design differences regarding the AR-15\u2019s buffer spring and the AK\u2019s recoil spring, which mounts on the bolt carrier. The AR\u2019s buffer spring absorbs more recoil.<\/p>\n

The Rifle Setups<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We said that the 7.62×39 kicks a little harder than 5.56, but these rifles are also set up differently, impacting how the shooter deals with recoil. Eowyn, my AR, has a very effective Grey Ghost Precision muzzle brake that eliminates almost all muzzle rise. I\u2019ve never used a centerfire rifle that\u2019s so easy to keep on target for follow-ups.<\/p>\n

Roza, on the other hand, has no muzzle device at all. Will not only dealt with slightly heavier recoil, but he also had more muzzle rise, impacting his ability to stay on target from round to round.<\/p>\n

\"Firing
Will with Roza on the day of our friendly competition. (Author’s Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Another difference, though not a huge difference maker, is optics. With the AR-15, I used a 1x red dot coupled with an LPVO. Will, with the AK-103, had a single fixed magnification optic. I don\u2019t think it made much difference, if any, because I had the LPVO set between 3x and 4x, while Will\u2019s was fixed at 3x. The only real difference that I can see is my transitioning between optics as we moved from close range to medium range targets. And that\u2019s a choice on my part.<\/p>\n

Shooters<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Finally, using two shooters adds another variable. We possess similar skills, but there are endless small things that could affect such a competition. So, not using the same shooter for both rifles adds some disparity one way or the other.
\n\t

\n
\n

Shop This Article<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
\n