I guess this could just be me, but every AK i've ever seen looks cheap as all heck. They look like a kids toy made out of stamped pot metal.

I'm sure they're not as bad as they look, but even the "good" AK's look cheap compared to a low end AR15.

Anyone else feel the same?

They look cheap to me too but they are an outstanding design. Very reliable and durable. I much prefer the AR but the AK is a formidable platform. Have you never fired one?

Many say the Glock looks cheap. Not to me , I think they look and feel great.

They look cheap for a reason. It was a weapon that was made in extremely large quantity at a fast pace with the cheapest materials possible. Not to meention it was made using the cheapest manufacturing processes.

The gun did excactly what it was designed to do; reliably, using a much larger round than the AR.

Yes they look like crap but are probably more dependable than a M16.

I want BOTH!

Hit the nail on the head...

i've never had the chance to fire one, and have been unwilling to invest my cash in one.

I suppose shooting one might change my mind.

I've handled one, and they feel CHEAP

Carried one over the M16 anytime they would let me and that was when it was "for real". Did the job every time. still choose my AK74 over my M4 virtually every time for 2 legged and 4 legged yotes. AK74 $369 M4 $700. They always felt better to me than an M16.

I am the exact opposite. The AK to me is the most unergonomic carbine made. I am 5'11 with really long arms, a very long torso and neck. It is extremely uncomfortable for me to fire the AK. I can not get decent cheek weld on the stock and the sight plain is really low for my long neck. The AR is just a fit for me.

I think you just nailed it. I'm 5' 7 and kinda square with a round head. Ak juts fits. I neve really thought about it but it makes perfect sense.

I think the milled AK is one of the finest rifles the world has ever seen.

Need we quote Samuel L Jackson? When you absolutely, positively have to kill every youknowhat in the room: AK-47, accept no substitutes!!


Only thing I don't like about AR's is the buffer tube in the stock. Feels and sounds wierd when shooting.

As far as stamped AK's, some are absolute crap, others are very sound weapons. Only thing they all have in common is that they are flat out dependable...

I know everyone compares AR and AK together but I dont. Yes they are assualt rilfes. But IMO the AK is like a willis jeep. The AR like a new H2 hummer, looks like good 4x4, but would really never leave the road. The AK is very durable, dependable, and will work in every condition imaginable. Like stated above they were built that way for a reason. The Russia doesn't care for looks, it just has to work, be reliable, and it was built for simplicity and ease of use. Dont get me wrong, the AR is a good platform, but requires quality care to keep em operating. I fourtnatly have both and enjoy both of them. My ak is of a better quality. I no my AR can be picky on ammo especially with dirty ammo. My AK dont care as much. Much of the feeding problems with AKs comes down to the magazine rather than the rifle.

they look cheap to me...then again, so do ARs. But if there is one laying in the truck I jump in to make rounds in the pastures I'll put it to good use.

I own both AK and AR platforms and I must say that no one platform in my personal experience is more reliable than the other. My ARs run 100% and are much more accurate than my AKs.

If a person was burning through tens of thousands of rounds in full auto and in less than perfect conditions then the AK might be a superior platform in terms of reliability. I would venture to say that no one on this forum qualifies for that. Both platforms are utterly reliable for the average shooting enthusiast. (like me)

I prefer the AR hands down. They rival bolt gun accuracy and the are much easier to maintain than the AK albeit they do require a little more attention to detail.

Finding parts for the AK in say a SHTF scenario would be much more difficult compared to the AR. Just type in AR lower parts kits V. AK lower parts kit in google. Their are infinitely more parts available for the AR.

I like both but give me the AR any day.

Yes, but I have never shot one either.

I think the AK is way better looking firearm than the AR.

they both do the job they were designed for. the ak is like the budget 870, except more reliable and no plastic internals. neither are "pretty" guns if thats what your after

as dependable and well made the ak is yes they look cheap, would never underestimate one though
however i prefer my ar tons more that is y ar is in my stable and ak isnt

yes IMO they do look cheap, but there durable is al get out !!!!

X2

I think they both look ok...they both fit me just fine.

I have never been a fan of the AKs. I have friends that have them and I've shot several of them. I dislike the location of the safety, all that I have shot were fairly inaccurate (at least in my hands), and they look like someone built them in their tool shed. That being said, the AK is exactly what it was designed to be....a cheaply manufactured, designed with very loose tolerances, that fires every time you pull the trigger.

I am not a big fan of AKs... As someone mentioned earlier, I just don't "fit" an AK very well.

I work in mfg, so I really do admire and respect the design of the rifle, but its just not my cup of tea.

I really do like my AR. Its funny, I used to carry my M1 Carbine or my SKS as my "ranch rifle" when running around the farm. It is typical North Texas land, some nice coastal fields, wooded, water, etc. I bough a RRA M4 back in '08 to carry as my Ranch gun and all I can say is wow! I love it. The collapsible stock keeps it very managable. An EOTech 512 makes it great for what I do. I did add a Hensoldt magnifier for reaching out there sometimes and a tactical light for hog killing. I keep the mags full of 50gr Hollowpoints.

My AK experience has been with my friends Hungarian (I believe). He has had it outfitted with several different stocks, but never with one that fit me well.

Now, more on topic... Yes AKs do look cheap to me. But for every cheap AK you see out there, there is someone with a TAPCO'ed out, pimpy look AR too!

Yep that is it. Almost any soldier in a dirty enviornment would pick up and AK instead of an M16 if he had to. They just always shoot and require little maintenance.

ugly?

I have never had my AK...JAM / STOVEPIPE or malfuntion. I have over 1000 rounds throught it. Cheap ammo good ammo you name it!

However I have had ALL my AR15 act up one time or another.