Thanks for the heads up on the savage 111, I always like finding out about cheap but reliable guns. I love CZ's, but I may go savage for my next rifle.

If the world were to end tomorrow, I would only consider reaching for one gun. My AK. It's a homebuild, and proof that when care is taken in manufacturing, AKs can and will attain MOA accuracy and maintain the reliability they are famous for.

In building AKs, the most expensive AK you build is the first one. You have the cost of your receiver jig, hydraulic press, drill press, and several other nit-picky tools. After that, you can build high-quality AKs for about 60% of the cost of the cheapest Romy you can find. I've put about 1500 rounds through this one and the only time it has ever failed is with 1950s era middle eastern ammo, known to have bad primers.

As for M4 type weapons, I just don't trust them. I have an FFL and I've seen multiple ARs malfunction, sometimes requiring a full tear-down to restore functionality. This is not to say that some people don't have reliable ARs, I just haven't seen any that I would trust. That being said, I have noticed that the rifle and midlength tends to be a bit more reliable than the M4.

My loadout includes the aforementioned AK and a .40 S&W Glock 22. I may switch to a 9mm Glock 19 due to ammo availability, but lately it's becoming a tossup as availability. The .40 S&W cartridge is becoming more and more common nowadays.

I include this picture as the "proof in the pudding." Since this picture was taken, i've since changed out the buttstock for a fixed Warsaw length synthetic, and a standard black synthetic handguard. I did not like the feel of the Galil handguard, and while I did not have any real complaints about the Tapco T6 stock, I shoulder the fixed length better. The target on the left is the group, target on the right is a short bump-fire burst.

This is why I feel like I am leaning more toward the AK74...I get the best of both worlds. Excellent simplistic reliability iun the guns design but better accuracy and a more available load in the .223

Netwarrior I have to say, that is a fine looking weapon you have assembled there. What would you charge someone to replicate that rifle?

I carried an M-16, liked it's easy handling after my quick-kill/instinct shooting training.
US military has lengthened the stock so it is no longer an instinct shooting weapon.
If you get an M-16 type weapon, buy the old Nam stock to make it easier to fire quickly and accurately.
Old stock-used to bed against 90 degree inner elbow, making the rifle like an extension of your arm.
Like pointing your index finger, aiming was so easy, hits nearly certain.
Traditionalists ruined the M-16 with the longer stock.

Have tried many weapons and now own AKM Egyptian Maadi with thumbhole stock and Chicom AKM with thumbhole stock.

My favorite shotgun is a Saiga .410, semi auto shotgun built in Russia on the AK pattern.

Mini-14 is like apple computers; very good at what it does but limited in supply and accessories to a very very few suppliers. Magazines will not interchange with M-16 family weapons for example of apple like blind alley development.

If you decide to go with the .556 mm
Consider the reliable AK action before risking the others.
Then I'd recommend secondly the Kel-Tec

Soldiers in the Nam had to clean their M-16s during firefights because the damn things jammed with every drop of moisture and every speck of dust.
Jessica Lynch said her M-16 had jammed and she never fired a shot in that famous Iraq war incident.
Unchanged in over 40 years. Still gotta clean it constantly.
Still unfit for the real world with it's dust, dirt and water.

AKs fire no matter how dirty or corroded.






[edit on 29-7-2008 by himself]

12 gauge for small game or up close big game
.308 or 30-06 for large game
hard to beat this combo

if i have to chose from these 3 and i am looking for a survival rifle, my choice is mini14 hands down, and i own all 3. remember survival is basically about eating, and good luck killing game with an ak or bushmaster.

as far as the ar-15,m-16 haters go, all you have do do is maintain the weapon, and it will perform.

if you have to kill intruders at close range, your ak or a shotgun will do, but if your talking survival, accuracy is king.

give me my k-bar and my 22-250, throw me in the woods naked, and i will survive

Originally posted by BlackOps719



This is why I feel like I am leaning more toward the AK74...I get the best of both worlds. Excellent simplistic reliability iun the guns design but better accuracy and a more available load in the .223

Netwarrior I have to say, that is a fine looking weapon you have assembled there. What would you charge someone to replicate that rifle?

Well, I had this nice long informative U2U typed out regarding the AK, but apparently You're not allowed to send U2U until you've amassed 20 posts, and I'm a noob.

Long story short, I can't build you one. I have an 01 FFL, not an 07 Manufacturer's license. The sale of homebuild weapons is a current gray area within federal and state firearms laws and I'd rather not do it. I would, however, help you out in building your own in any way that I can. Fire off a U2U to me with your email address and I'll send you the store's contact info...we can chat about AK builds all day. It's really not that hard. You just have to ask yourself..."Am I smarter than a barefoot Afghani peasant with a hammer and a rock?"

[edit on 29-7-2008 by netwarrior]

I still say AR with a piston upper. Accuracy and reliability that is unmatched by the others. AK's are a crap shoot in quality. Ammo will be gone quickly for them as well. If you can't maintain your weapon then you shouldn't own one. Someone mentioned Jessiaca Lynch and how her weapon wouldn't fire. Well it didn't fire because she and many others in her unit failed to maintain their weapons. Plus it's an easy cop out to say any M16 styled weapon jammed. Do you have to keep it clean? Yes. Is it as reliable as an AK? Well ask me that when your not sure what style of AK you have and what round do you need for it. 7.62x39 or 5.45x39? Wher can I get a replacement part? Do all of the parts interchange with other weapons of the AK family? Nope. Can you identify a Type 56 from a Type 68? Can you identify an AKM from a AK-74? Most people can't tell the difference between a a AK-74 and an AK-47. As for the AR family it's pretty simple. The "Black Rifle" I suppose is best suited for a rifleman. You can start out with a quality AR rifle for around 800 bones. Less if you do your home work. A friend of mine just recently built a complete AR with a midlength upper for less than that using quality parts. You can pimp it out as you see fit from their to best suit your needs, wants, and desires.