How accurate are AK47s
 

I'm thinking about getting an AK47 for plinking...maybe the occasional deer if we do a drive.

What type of accuracy, for plinking, should I expect out to 200 yds.? (Deer wouldn't be more than 50)

thanks, ths78

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

Terrible!! You'd be much better off getting an AR-15, much more accurate and more reliable. A lot more companys make them, easier to get parts, and they come in calibers other then .223.

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

They are accurate enough to be dangerous on people, thus, they should be on deer. I was looking at several in a Missouri shop. They recommended Eastern European production over the Chinese stuff, and they really did look better. The last AK I actually handled was a captured sniper piece and it was pretty decent. Otherwise, you may hear "they shoot patterns, not groups." Some people like them. It won't cost a fortune, either.

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

AK's were designed for one thing...Reliability. Period.
If there was a second major criteria, it was ease and low cost of mass producing them.

Their job was to go boom whenever the trigger was pulled regardless of temp, humidity, dust, sand, snow,or whatever else you could throw at it.

In a general sense, reliability and great accuracy are opposites in the world of firearms. You can either hit very small targets every time the gun shoots, or you can have the gun shoot every time.

Most folks usually settle for something in the middle, meaning a gun that has modest accuracy, and enough reliability to keep them from throwing it in the garbage.

Ultra-accurate competition 'race guns' go down often for two reasons:
1) Fatigue due to repetitive use.
2) Extremely tight tolerances that accomodate no foreign material of any kind.

AK's can be fun to shoot, but they are not tack-drivers, by a long shot.

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

you should go with the ar-15 much more accurate and more accesorries

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

i agree with huntingbuddy419 ar's are bad i like the look of a shortened one but they dont kick as bad they rise up on hell fire they have tons of extras to add to

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

ditto

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

All of the AK's I have shot are more than accurate for deer at 50 yards. As far as shooting at 200 yards, I could reliably hit a 15" gong at that distance. Never tried to print them on paper. Good luck

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

The few AK's or variants I have shot were not terribly accurate. I certainly would not hunt with them. I used to own a Saiga sporter, which is basically a non assult version of the Ak. It was horrid in the accuracy department. I traded it for a marlin .22 and some paintball stuff.

I suggest you look for a quality SKS and fire good ammo out of it. They fire the same round as the AK but tend to be more accurate. I used to have one of those as well and it was decent, especially with good ammo. I could shoot large jack rabbits at 50 yards or so with it.

The 7.62x39 is a decent round for deer as long as you keep your range in mind and you use premium ammo. It is simular to the 30-30 if you use the right ammo. Don't use that cheap surplus FMJ crap. Get brand name ammo with a loading designed to hunt with. I think 200 yards may be pushing it a bit, but 100 is certainly doable. Really depends on how accurate the gun you get is.

You could probably get a H&R handi rifle cheaper than an AK though and it would be a much better rifle to hunt with.

Paul

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

I've seen guys at the range try to shoot 100 yards with AK's. They had more misses then hits. I have an AR M4 style and a Mini 14. I can shoot tight groups with the AR and hit the traget at 100 yards with the mini. The mini isn't a nail driver but it hits it's mark. I would choose one of those before an AK.

But the AK will fire all the time. NO Jams or FTF or anything.

you have to ask yourself what is more important. A gun that will always fire and spray rounds or a gun that will shoot where you aim.

That being said a gun will shoot better with the more practise you get.

Shoot more and shoot more often.

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

you would be a ton better off with atleast a SKS. personally I would opt for in order of preferance 1st AR-15 and other variants or a M1A 2nd a Saiga Sporter and 3rd a Mini-14 or Mini-30. AK's are made to be rugged and reliable rather then accurate, but the accuracy is good enough for shooting at people to 300 yards under combat standards.

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

Take it for what it worth... I am a pretty good shot period...

Dozens of shooting awards from the USMC...

Buddy of mine bought one... We went to the range and shot man size targets at 100 yards with iron sights... I was lucky to hit the target... I took my AR-15 DELTA HBAR out and put 5 shots in a 1" group(with scope)

They are good for one thing... Putting a lot of bullets down range...

Buy what you want;)

Check out the HK line of assult rifles;)

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

I sure did have a bunch shot at me over in Nam in 68-69 and they all missed...johnny b.

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

I'd have to agree with most here..you'd be aweful unlucky if you got hit by one, problem is since there .30 caliber even a bad hit is usually fatal..with all that empty brass laying around in the streets of Bagdad you'd think all the people would be dead by now..not accurate but reliable for sure....and if you ever get a chance to be in the firing line they make a sound unlike any other..you won't forget that either..

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

The Saigas are the best of the bunch that you can get for under $1000. They are made by the Russian Ishmash armory to Russian Specs which are pretty much tops for AKs, the Chinese make good AKs also, but thanks to Bubba Clinton, they can't be imported anymore and command a high price these days. The Saigas can easily be converted back to their military form with a few hours worth of work and about $100 worth of parts. The accuracy of Saigas that I've shot were rather decent out to 100 yards, and there is always an option of adding a scope.


As far as shooting moving deer goes, that is a completely different story. The conservation club I belong to has a running deer shoot where only AR rifles are allowed. The deer runs at 60 yards away and is in view for about 3 seconds and makes a total of 6 passes for the shooter who has to shoot standing. There is a small paper plate attached to the head and a standard paper plate attached to the vitals. Most of the shooters used 30 rd mags, and there were very very few hits on the paper plates. I burned off 30 rounds myself without a single hit. [:o] It looks very easy to an observer but is very difficult in practice.

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

if your state allows it you be better off with a load of buck shot for those moving deer.

RE: How accurate are AK47s
 

I had a saiga sporter in 7.62x39, with the scope mount. Biggest POS gun I have ever owned in my entire life. It sure didn't need the scope, I could have done just as well without the sights all together. My SKS was WAAAY better in every aspect. I have shot a few mac 90's or what ever they are that were not too bad. I still wouldn't hunt with one though.

For the same money I paid for the saiga you could get a H&R single shot rifle and it would be much more accurate and you would have the option of swapping barrels from different centerfire rounds to shotgun barrels.

Also keep in mind to check your local laws. Many prohibit Semi Auto rifles, rifles of a certain length or type and how many rounds it can hold.

If money were not a concern I would suggest an AR style weapon chambered in .308. This would be an excellent all around weapon.

Paul