AR vs AK: One is vastly superior, but which one?

My worst gun is PSA upper that shoots 8 inch at 100 yard. I have never seen any ak come close to that.

The ballistics of the 7.62x39mm from the SKS is similar to the .30-30 cartridge as a deer rifle. That makes the demand for the 7.62x39 much higher than the 5.45x39. Also far more countries manufacture 7.62x39mm than 5.45x39mm, which also has a more elaborate (and expensive) bullet.
I already commented on the M16 in response to your excellent video on "old wives' tales" and such.
AK & AKM has a 14.5" barrel. The problem with the stampings is the receiver cover on the AK works loose over time, which is why there isn't an aperture rear sight or rails and why the AK has such lousy "V" notch sights with a 12" sight radius.

you forgot the 556 saiga

AR for the win!! Great Channel. Keep it up!!

Someone should tell about Zenitco to this guy

Nothing beats my tricked out, sexy Daniel Defense AR.

I enjoy the term “force multiplier”.

Seriously any rifle that is NOT an AK47 is just gay

I built a 7.62x39 AR to bridge the gap, and holy hell, I really like it a lot.

Strange the USA has been beaton all over the show with their fancy AR15 while they play and consentrate on all the toys fitted to the AR15 they get shot with an AK no nonsense Gun

IF YOU CANT HIT WHAT YOU SHOOT AT THEN YOUR RIFLE IS USELESS. THE AK Is fine for 100yds 4moa or less. The AR-15 is so accurate beyond 300yds. AK SPRAY AND PRAY, AR15 Pull the trigger and watch the hit, target goes down. Enough said.

AR >> AK
Times have changed.

I don't think "modern fighting rifle" and "VSKA" belong together. I just never cared for that Century Arms offering and I have gotten good shit from Century, believe it or not, there was a time when they had some decent stuff. But they've also had some absolute garbage and the VSKA, C39, and RAS I never cared for. Now the WASR GP10 & 10-63? Absolutely terrific and I've never had an issue with either. Idk what Thunder Ranch was thinking on that one. It should have had at least a side rail, but a dog leg dust cover or something like the Beryls would be preferable. No wood, this isn't WW2. It didn't have a folding stock. Just a slant brake, I would have gone with a 74 style brake or even an MI brake. And then topped it off with an adjustable gas rod. They didn't do anything but stamp their name on it. I don't get what they were trying to do.

Which is better 🤔 7.62x39 is my favorite one there's a reason that my state don't allow me to hunt mule Deer with 5.56 or 223 rem. But there military 🪖 is not shooting at 300 yard's out but the 7.62 can go through 3/8 steel not the 5.56 will not go through.

I solved the debate! I have both!

I couldn’t agree more MAC. I’ll stick with the ar15 for a go to because of all the pros mentioned but the ak is always intriguing.

For me for what assault rifles were designed, but when also restricted to civilian civilian semiauto, the AR is ahead; but it is ahead but not by so much. For longer ranges the AR is superior and I can fix an AR by putting in parts and even switch the barrels without a hydraulic press. With no spare parts for the most rugged scenarios with no more than the issue cleaning kit, I would take the AK with its iron sights. If I had to hit someone with my rifle, I will take a basic AK vs an AR.
For defending my home I take the AR, but the AK is not so far behind.

One doesn't have to be superior than another, they and their variant gun groups are both robust guns. But personally, if it's end of world situation, I go with AK and SKS. They are heavy but they always work!

Ismash quality is the best.
Their barrels are superior quality...

The AR15 is superior at things that only matter at a 3 gun competition. What matters in combat is that the gun is reliable, combat accurate and puts down enemies quickly. From what I've read from many combat vets is that the 7.62x39 takes the enemy out of the fight much quicker than 5.56.

Go with the NEMO Battle-Light AK. Best of both worlds, you get the USA part compatibility of the AR15 platform and the heavier hitting rounds of the AK platform all in a super high-end package.

Stopping power on the AK is vastly superior than the AR.

well, once you start considering modernized AK variants like the AK-12 and Galil ACE it's pretty much the best of both worlds

Icouldnotbemoreinagreement.SorryI'mhavingtroublewithmyspacebar.

The AK carbine is superior to the AR in cold climates (the AR stops shooting and clears the magazine). In addition, the AK carbine is cheaper to produce, which means it is more adapted to war, since war is a continuation of the economy. In battle, it will not be possible to aim particularly, they shoot mainly in the direction where the enemy is, because he is not a fool and disguises himself, which means that accuracy is not so important. These systems are both good, AK carbine is better for the mass army, AR is preferable in many ways for specialists.

Soooo - which one?

Every platform has it's benefits and drawbacks and reasons for choosing them. I'd agree that the AR-15 is a more versatile and modern platform. That said, I love my AK. My life consists of off-roading, and camping in the desert. I'm not a defense nut outside varmints and even then generally shoot to scare. That said if I were camping somewhere I'd have plenty of stopping power to handle a bear. (Not saying an AR doesn't). I have many friends that run AR that I can shoot anytime I like. I wanted something that was fun to shoot and provided versatility to our group and because of my love for retro aesthetics I felt the AK is more my speed. I'm admittedly not the best with my maintenance I can take it when I'm out in this arid climate and it just works.

You wanna talk about evolution of firearms you showed an M16 to M4 and how the rails have changed but you only showcase the 1947 model of the AK. Didn't even touch on the AK74 which is chambered in the 5.45x39 or the Galil Ace. The AK has evolved over the years. Just look at what's being used in Ukraine right now I can guarantee most Americans have no idea but its because all they've been allowed to own is an AR15 and it's because their government.

My first serious rifle is an AT-47 Milled. It has everything I need to mount optics and a light. The kick is hard, but so is the impact. They don't call the AK47 7.62x39 "The Vest Killer" for nothing. After training and using the AK, When I pickup the AR15 it feels more like a plinking gun than a defense weapon. They are two different animals for sure...

Which one murders people at the mall better?

Oh I see, that wasn't the question.. okay, which one is better to murder children at school?

I must not get it..

Oh, wait.. which one makes my dick bigger? That's the one for me.

Look let’s be honest and I mean it, no irony. The AR platform is superior to the AK. If you like AK’s it’s because of the lore or the niche and based on opinion.

I love AK’s and think they look classier, menacing and cool, but when it comes to serviceability, practicality and simply being a tool it’s AR or M4 all day every day.

I am very familiar with the AK and as is with racing it’s not the car it’s the driver I can, well you know, but I am intimately familiar with the M4 and default to it.

The AK is the sexy exotic you fantasize over and every once in a while get lucky, but the AR is the nice girl next door who will love you loyally to the end.

You are saying that AR-15 are superior in competitions but they're not made for competition. They are combat weapons. Short - middle range automatic assault rifles 100-300 meters. Combat weapons! Not for chair standing all things knowing & bullshit talking professor like you. Go on the field, where's wet and mud, roll around with that gun a bit, bite some dust, shoot around... Then talk!

So true...

Just bought my ar-15. Ex-army national guard, Vietnam era. Thank you for your video. I always believed that the AR was superior to the AK

There are endless combinations if you own a single AR. You can have a heavy upper for ultimate accuracy, light upper if you hunt or military. You can adjust the gas system, either with DI or piston. Good luck doing this with any AK. Well if you lack basic gunsmithing skills and you need someone else to change your sights, an AK is the gun for you.

You didn't get into maintenance comparisons.

For me, I want simplicity and durability in a rifle. One with big internals that aren't easily lost when out and about, tough, reliable, rugged, explosive close quarter power, and one that I can field strip and resolve issues cheaply and reliably in a pinch. I beat up my guns and I use them often. For that, I am an AK guy all the way. If you follow enough of AKOU, you can see how quickly he can overcome weather, dirt, sand, etc... If you watch enough Klayco47, you'll see the AK can hold its own in competition if the shooter is well trained. I agree with most in these comments and that is, whatever you train with, that's your superior weapon.

Your opinions are generally true with regard to US civil market. However, keeping in view, the outcome of conflicts over the last 6x decades (after the birth of M14), AK has beaten the crap out of M14 and even M4s.
Your presentation was biased right from the word go as you started comparing AK with M16, then switched over to modernized M4, while on AKs side refrained from showing modernized AK (like AK 203, TR-3 etc) fully featuring rail catering for modern day accessories ( obviously due to import ban and availability in US).
AK superiority over M14, M16 and M4s can't be denied owing to the fact that latest shift of US military to FN SCAR (an AK with a different attire).
Number of AKs produced around the globe and nearly every country either producing exact clones or near copies (like galils, insas etc) is another testimony of AKs superiority.
Though you may still prove in US market that an AR is superior (due to obvious import issues), however the world and contemporary history doesn't agree to your propositions.

Like em both... I like wood furniture. It's easy to mod an AK with multiple optics. Old wood furniture AK's are cowboy and make great cowboy truck guns.

When making the law I wonder who thought "hey the trigger is the heart of the firearm, it' won't shoot without the trigger!" when all you need is a chamber and barrel and something to whack it with.

If I had to pick bet these 2, I would definitely pick the AK, too many prob's with the AR, head space, chamber to bbl ext lugs, mags, feed fails, this thing was junk in viet nam, and it's worse now

Apples and oranges - if I were putting together an assault group I would have mostly AK rifles simply because of its robustness and the power of the round to shoot through walls etc. Most CQB is about 60 yards, well within the AK's range of accuracy. I'd have a couple of AR operators for sniping because the AR is more easily adapted for that and typically more accurate. Go to the strengths of both weapons. If the mission required room entry and clearing I'd even include shotguns for door breaching and extreme CQB.

Ease of use and ergonomics are no use if your gun can't handle extreme conditions
The charging handle of the AK is on the side because if a casing is stuck in the chamber,you can point the gun towards the sky and push the charging handle with your foot so the jammed bullet comes out
Another reason is that there is extremely cold in Russia and soldiers have to wear thick gloves and I think a person can not grab the standard AR charging handle while wearing thick gloves while the AK charging handle could be pulled easily without the use of fingers

Ak is the best guns

AR is for girls,AK is for boys and 8x57 is the real mens caliber.

It's so funny how people still compare early 50's AK with modern, pimped ARs.

It's unfair on so many levels.
I'm not saying that AK is superior over AR, but...
Even the cheapest, and the crappiest AK comes with ironsights.
If you compare modern AR with all the toys etc with the oldest AK, with wooden furniture, AR will always be better. But if you take the pimpest, Alpha Style AK... that superiority won't be that obvious.

My thing is, that It's not a platform, that evolved. They are both virtualy the same, they were back in 70's.
It's the aftermarket that evolved.
There are almost 400 milions of Americans. Each of them (including babies) owns at least one AR rifle. That's a huge market. Many companies, and small manufacturers make aftermarket parts for this platform. Some are crap, some are real game changers. With all between.
On the other hand most of AK's are used in countries where citizens are not allowed to have their own guns. Or they are too poor to by one (they usualy get them for free from soviets).
It is not a coincidence that the fastest evolution of AK platform takes place not in Russia, but in USA.
Americans love to pimp their rifles. Soviets (pardon... Russians) don't. Because they are raised to obecnie the orders. Not to think for themselves.

If you just give some more time, you will see how much you can improve AK platform. Almost to the level of modern AR.

So let's agree that AR is a superior platform. In general.
But the difference is not that big, people usualy think.

Why not ak 74 m2

I'm commenting below