The AK-47’s official name is the Avtomat Kalashnikova, or just the AK. It is an assault rifle that is gas-operated and uses a 7.62x39mm cart. It was created in the Soviet Union by a gun designer named Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is the first rifle from the AK rifle family. The AK-47 is the most popular rifle in the entire world.
Mikhail Kalashnikov was born into a family of farmers in the south of Russia in the year 1919. He wanted to be a poet when he was a boy but was forced into the army. He fought Nazis until he became injured, and then started playing with designing small guns.
47 references the year that the rifle became finished. It first began being designed in 1945. This rifle is so popular over the globe because it is reliable when conditions are harsh, it is available to buy no matter where you are, and it is easy to use.
It has been built in multiple countries and has been in service in armed forces in addition to insurgencies ever since its invention. As of 2004, ⅕ of the firearms throughout the world were AK-47s.
The 5 Best AK-47’s
- Arsenal SAM7K
- Century International Arms – WASR-10 16.5in 7.62 x 39mm Blue 30+1RD
- WASR 10
- Arsenal SLR-107R-11E
- Century International Arms Inc. Red Army Standard RI2762N RAS47 Semi-Automatic
Arsenal SAM7K01 SAM7K 01 Milled Receiver AK Pistol Semi-Automatic 7.62Z39mm 10
The Arsenal SAM7K01 has a durable and high-quality construction. Its internal components are wear resistant. It comes with a cleaning kit and sling. It is safe to use either right handed or left handed. The barrel, stock, and optics are all customizable. People like to customize their AK-47’s, and this gun makes it simple to do so.
- 5+1 capacity
- 10.5” barrel
- 5.5 hours of milling during assembly
Century International Arms – WASR-10 16.5in 7.62 x 39mm Blue 30+1RD
This is a reliable and tough gun that is also priced reasonably. It is great for people who are purchasing an AK-47 for the first time, or people who will be using it in tough conditions. It is very durable, designed for reliability, and relatively easy to customize. It also has a large round capacity.
- 30+1-round capacity
- 16.5” barrel
- Removable magazines
WASR 10
This gun shoots incredibly. It is almost impossible to shoot out one of these barrels. Put it in sand, mud, whatever- and it will still last. They are made in Romania and are the easiest-to-find foreign AK-47 on the market. Just because it isn’t built in America doesn’t mean it should be overlooked.
- 30+1 capacity
- 16.5” barrel
- Removable magazine
Arsenal SLR-107R-11E
This manufacturer is known for its choice and quality. This model has a smooth trigger, higher-end sights, and a quality barrel. It is also highly customizable. All combined, this makes for an incredible rifle whether you are a novice or expert.
- 10 lbs
- 16.33” barrel
- 40 rds/min
Century International Arms Inc. Red Army Standard RI2762N RAS47 Semi-Automatic
This gun is very friendly for users with highly ergonomic features. It has a chrome/steel alloy barrel and is made 100% in America. It has a base build that is highly solid but also customizable. Its compensator can be upgraded easily. This is a good first AK-47 to buy because it is so easy to use.
- 30 capacity
- 16.5” barrel
- 1:10” twist
What Is So Special About the AK-47?
Ease of Use
The AK-47 is incredible for how simple it is. It can also take a huge beating. It was invented for its ease of use, ease of repair, and reliability. It is so easy that kids are able to use it. It is much easier than the AR-15. It was created to defend the Soviet Union against the Nazis, so beginner recruits had to be able to use it.
Reliability
It is rugged and reliable so it is perfect for the dirty conditions of war or soldiers who might not care about taking care of their guns. It can handle misuse, bad weather, or even being dragged through the mud. If you have untrained soldiers who drop their weapons a lot, these guns can take the beating. This gun can handle the worst of the worst so there is no need to worry about anything happening to it.
Firing Mechanism
The firing mechanism is very simple so it rarely jams. This is because of its design with a long-stroke piston that uses the round’s gas to move a bolt carrier and piston. The gas doesn’t touch many things which keeps everything running clean, unlike the AR’s. It is important to have a gun that doesn’t jam, especially a gun like this one that is often used in war. Even if you are just using it recreationally, a jammed gun is a pain.
Lifetime
Depending on how well you take care of it, it can live between 20 and 40 years. A gun that lives that long will feel like your best friend. If you buy this gun when you are 30, you will still have it when you are 70! Think of how much fun you can have with the same gun for so long. You will really know its ins-and-outs. You will also have a lot of time to customize it so it is the perfect gun for you.
Affordability
If you’re in charge of a troop of soldiers and need effective yet affordable rifles, the AK-47 is a great choice. You won’t be compromising quality for the price point. Repair is also cheaper than that of better-made guns. There is a huge demand for AK-47s. In some places around the world, it is actually cheaper now than it was about 25 years ago. This is because supply is so high.
Intermediate Rounds
Intermediate rounds are carts that hold a lot of powder, which can be used in rifles and not limited to pistols. They also aren’t as bulky or long as full semi-automatic rounds for rifles, so the ammunition is cheap and powerful but doesn’t create that much recoil. These are the perfect cartridges that are powerful but don’t weigh too much.
Parts of an AK-47
Cartridge
The AK fires a cart that is 7.62x39mm and has a muzzle velocity of 2,350 feet per second. The original bullets were boat-tail bullets with a steel jacket and core, as well as lead between the two. It penetrates very well when it shoots through heavy foliage or walls. It also shooters well through the bodies of cars to reach opponents. This projectile almost never fragments and will even stay intact after hitting a bone.
Operating Mechanism
To fire it, all you have to do is put in a magazine that is loaded, pull back and then release the charging handle, and then pull on the trigger. If it is semi-automatic it will fire once and then you will have to press the trigger again to shoot another bullet. If it’s fully automatic, the rifle will keep firing until there is nothing left in the magazine or the finger is taken off the trigger.
Fire Selector
The fire selector is a level on the right hand side of the gun, which is fairly large. It covers the gun from dust and is a safety feature as well. There are different settings: safe, full-auto, and semi-auto. These are in the positions of up, center, and down. This is so that a soldier can push down the level straight into semi-auto when they need to.
Some models have a selector level that is more traditional that is on top of the pistol grip. You use it with your right thumb and the settings are similar, except the positions are forward, center, and backwards.
Milled vs Stamped Receiver
This is one of the first things that will come up once you start researching this gun. It is talking about how the main receiver was created. The main receiver is the metal piece which is holding everything. The first AK-47s were milled, meaning they used a solid piece of steel and removed metal to create a shell. Being stamped is taking a thin sheet of steel and bending it. This is easier to make and saves weight.
If you are a history aficionado, a purist, want to shoot frequently, or have a high budget, get a milled gun. Stamped receivers tend to fail around 100K rounds but milled receivers don’t ever fail (that we know of). Although 100,000 rounds is practically inhuman.
Sights
This gun uses an iron sight that is notched and rear tangent. It is calibrated in increments of 100 to 800 meters. You can adjust the front sight. Any adjustments that are horizontal need a specific tool that the armory can do. The bullet rise is roughly -2.0 to 12.2 inches. This is why you have to aim right in the center of what you are trying to shoot. In war, this means the buckle of the belt.
Furniture
At first the AK-47 had a buttstock, an upper guard for heat, and a handguard all made from wood that is solid. Next they were all made out of birch plywood laminates once the Type 3 was introduced. These woods that are engineered don’t need to be matured for so long, they are more warp-resistant, and are stronger. AKMS and AKS models use a butt-stock that is metal and faces downward. 100 series AKs have side-folding stocks that are made of plastic.
Customization
Update the Furniture
Although wooden cheek welds of old stocks are beautiful, it is hard to keep consistency with this kind of build. The first thing you can do is update to a 6-point polymer adjustable stock. This will give you a cheek weld that is more consistent as well as comfortable. It will also create a pull length that is adjustable. This is good if your gun has a long arm.
Add a Quality Rail
With the AK47, sometimes you can choose the cheaper option. But you shouldn’t do that when it comes to putting a Picatinny rail in. The precision of your options depend on having a rail that won’t bounce around when a round is fired, so a cheap rail won’t really do the trick. One will only cost roughly $50, but putting that money down is better than buying a cheaper one that doesn’t do the trick.
Switch to Polymer PMags
A real stamped magazine is the most reliable and durable option for an AK-47. But if you’re looking to improve accuracy, which tends to be a bit of an issue for this gun, you should switch to polymer PMags.
Extended Magazine Release
This is an unusual mod that will turn heads. Without having an extended magazine release, every reload takes a lot of time and is a bit of a challenge. But with an extended magazine release, you will be able to keep up with other gun owners. The toggle of the trigger used to be stiff and hard to actuate, but with the extended magazine release you will be able to use it easily.
Upgrade Your Sights
The AK-47 was developed to be a machine gun that shot many rounds. This is obvious based on how the gun is designed. Fixing the sights is an easy way to improve the accuracy of your gun, since you will be able to aim better. Sights on the market are only getting more and more accurate, so this is a great upgrade to have. Accuracy is one of the weak points of AK-47’s, but this can be improved by upgrading your sights.
Are There Any Downsides to Buying an AK-47?
Accuracy
The accuracy of the AK-47 depends on who built it. It is a gun designed for combat, not marksmanship. It can hit a man at 100 yards, but not an apple, even if you use a scope. That means it may be great for hunting some animals but isn’t one to take out birding. However, depending on what you want to use it for, the accuracy may not matter too much.
Magazines
The magazines must be “locked and rocked” because how they are inserted is strange, you don’t just put them straight into the well. This is even harder to do when you’re stressed, like in combat. The catch also is a lever that has to be pushed forward, which is hard with just a trigger finger and needs a second hand in order to drop out the magazine.
Charging Handle
The charging handle, as well as the selector level, are on the side to the right of the gun. Only lefties can easily get to them without removing their shooting hand from their grip. You have to go under or over the gun to hit the charging handle and can’t just use the fire selector with your right hand unless you modify your gun. This can be dangerous and tedious in battle, or just get annoying if you’re using it for fun.
Durability (Sometimes)
While it is known for being durable and reliable, if the selector lever is pushed out of the safe position, meaning pushed down, there will be a very big gap between the receiver cover and the receiver. This means the gun will jam if any mud gets on the inside without getting cleaned off. The way this gun stays durable is if the safety is on. While shooting, it is more susceptible to getting clogged.
