AK47

Question
Hello Doug,

I'm thinking of purchasing an AK47 due to their reliance and durability under adverse weather conditions, guerilla warfare, and survival conditions. I like them compared to the AR15 because they're more likely to perform well if dirt or sand gets into them, run out of lubricant, or one happens to not have any cleaning supplies.

I was told the AK47 wouldn't fire NATO rounds and that if one were going to plan on surviving in the U.S. under a doomsday scenario, that NATO rounds would be the most available, being able to salvage some amongst battle sites. I read on a forum though that the 7.62x39mm normal AK ammo has been in increasing supply over the last 20 years.

My question is-Can I buy an AK47 or have one modified which will shoot 5.56 NATO or do you think that one could find an ample amount of 7.62x39mm ammo laying around during a revolution or survival situation?

Thank you very much.

Best

Mark E.

Answer
Mark,

I was traveling this past weekend (teaching a rifle course) and am a little late in responding.  Sorry about that.  The answer to your question is simple.  You can buy AK pattern rifles in 5.56 NATO calibers.  KVAR has some, Arsenal USA makes a couple of versions and those aren't the only two manufacturers.  

I understand your thinking re:  availability of ammo, but it does depend on the scenario you envision.  If you are talking about a conflict internal to the US, then 5.56 would be what we are talking about.  If the conflict is based on an external force invading the US, there will probably be a lot of 7.62 and 5.45 stuff laying around (assuming that the most likely adversary would be either Russia or China).

I personally like the ballistic characteristics of 7.62 x 39 over the 5.56 round.  It is a much better penetrator and does a really good job of stopping personnel with a minimum of muss and fuss.  On the other hand, 5.56 has not performed particularly well in theater in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Troops complain of the inability of the round to reliably penetrate vehicles without significant deflection.  On peripheral hits, sometimes the rounds will simply punch right through without significant effect.  Most of the special units are either going back to 7.62 x 51 (.308) for serious knockdown or some of them are getting 6.5mm rifles that have been designed to be more effective against enemy personnel.

I would submit that an AK pattern rifle with 7.62 x 39 would be a good choice with a reasonable back supply of ammo (2-3k rounds).  I would suggest that if there is a bunch of 5.56 ammo around, there might also be a few M-16 or M-4 rifles laying around to shoot it with...

Hope this helps you out...

Doug