AK- ALPHA Rifle

[snayperskaya]

Look I get you love your AK's but the way I see it, if someone can make one that is capable of tight groups at 300 yards then why not. Just because it isn't made in Eastern Europe, doesn't have wood and the metal isn't from an old plough doesn't make it a bad thing. Nobody is calling it an AK47, the old "it isn't the real thing" attitude is a little closed minded IMHO.

I don't love AKs....I appreciate them for what they are.If I wanted tight groups at 300m I'd buy an AR rather than trying to "reinvent" the AK.

I'm not closed minded, I have shot a lot of very nice, very expensive and very accurate rifles but I enjoy shooting and collecting Russian type rifles and the ability to put round after round through the same hole doesn't interest me but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate other rifles, a friend of mine has an AW AI in 7.62x51 and that thing is beautiful to shoot.

By the way.......most steel items in the world have a percentage of Russia steel in them so there's a good chance your rifles contain some old Russian plough steel

[Rab]

I don't think they are trying to re-invent the AK in this case, just make one that's more accurate. I don't see anything wrong with that.

[snayperskaya]

I don't think they are trying to re-invent the AK in this case, just make one that's more accurate. I don't see anything wrong with that.

OK, gone back and looked at the article again and apart from the 45 degree gas block, the caliber and the fact it takes AK mags the link to the AK seems to end there.....it's pretty much a new rifle from the get-go so one reflection it should be judged as a new rifle rather than compared to the AK we all know it.

Taken as a new rifle in its own right it doesn't look too bad and it would be interesting to try one to see how it compares to say a Saiga.I dare say that many people will find the improved ergonomics suit them better, but I'm old-fashioned and getting "bitten" by the AK selector gives me a bit of nostalgia.

[Rab]

I don't think they are trying to re-invent the AK in this case, just make one that's more accurate. I don't see anything wrong with that.

OK, gone back and looked at the article again and apart from the 45 degree gas block, the caliber and the fact it takes AK mags the link to the AK seems to end there.....it's pretty much a new rifle from the get-go so one reflection it should be judged as a new rifle rather than compared to the AK we all know it.

Taken as a new rifle in its own right it doesn't look too bad and it would be interesting to try one to see how it compares to say a Saiga.I dare say that many people will find the improved ergonomics suit them better, but I'm old-fashioned and getting "bitten" by the AK selector gives me a bit of nostalgia.

Yeah I agree, they aren't calling it or implying it's meant to be an AK47/AK74 or any other Russian model. Many firearms have started life as a base model and evolved over the years and I'd say this is somewhat the case here. I guess it's just whatever suits you.

[snayperskaya]

I can't find any details anywhere but I wonder if the barrel and chamber is hard chrome lined like traditional AKs, if it isn't that will improve accuracy quite a bit.The old Yugo Zastava M70s weren't chrome lined and they are very accurate.

Also the new trigger set-up will also help with accuracy.The stock AK can be heavy but was built with conscripts laying down heavy fire in mind, not a crisp release for target shooting.

One thing I can't help but wonder is if it is like putting a VXR badge and bodykit on a standard 1.2 Astra.......is it purely uprated styling with the same base model underneath???.

[Gundoc]

For those wanting a shiny new trigger, CMC in the states just released their AK Trigger, and very nice it is too.....

[breacher]

If one is choosing a rifle for the particular application the Kalashnikov was designed for, the AK platform already does it very well. So, why try to improve on it ?

While I get the "if it isn't broken" thing there is also the argument for why not try and improve on it. Perhaps some shooters would like an AK that will shoot more accurately.

Accurate means tighter tolerances.

Tighter tolerances means it wont perform in a s*** environment with s*** ammo with minimum of cleaning.

Its plenty accurate enough for its intended purpose.

[Rab]

Accurate means tighter tolerances.

Tighter tolerances means it wont perform in a s*** environment with s*** ammo with minimum of cleaning.

Do you speak from personal experience of owning such a rifle? Because I don't agree with that at all. There are video's on Youtube showing very accurate Yank made AK's being torture tested, submerged in water, then being buried and all the other stuff we've seen in the past and they've come through it still very accurate with the minimum of cleaning. Having a decent barrel on it goes a long way to improving accuracy as well.

Also the yanks can still buy parts kits that are from former Eastern block countries and looking around, despite embargoes, and maybe not Russian made, they are still plentiful. Thing is they are buying these kits and then putting American made barrels on them and making them damned accurate, so the way I see it the tighter tolerances thing doesn't wash. Like it or not the are making excellent and very accurate AK's that will shoot surplus ammo just as well if not better than what you say.

Hey look lads, I get you love your AK's and happy shooting to you, but like it or not there is always room for improvement and the yanks are proving that with the AK.

[snayperskaya]

If you spend some time on US-based AK forums you'll realise that US AKs are no more accurate than what we get here.Some of the most accurate US AKs are simply converted Saigas etc (as in converted from a "sporting configuration") and their part kit builds are only as good as the builders ability to put them together with a new, US made, receiver.....and there are some truly awful builds out there with canted sights and poor riveting etc.

I would happily put money on the fact that with the same ammo etc the rifle in the original post wouldn't be any more accurate than a good Saiga AK from Izhmash.

[breacher]

Accurate means tighter tolerances.

Tighter tolerances means it wont perform in a s*** environment with s*** ammo with minimum of cleaning.

Do you speak from personal experience of owning such a rifle? Because I don't agree with that at all. There are video's on Youtube showing very accurate Yank made AK's being torture tested, submerged in water, then being buried and all the other stuff we've seen in the past and they've come through it still very accurate with the minimum of cleaning. Having a decent barrel on it goes a long way to improving accuracy as well.

Also the yanks can still buy parts kits that are from former Eastern block countries and looking around, despite embargoes, and maybe not Russian made, they are still plentiful. Thing is they are buying these kits and then putting American made barrels on them and making them damned accurate, so the way I see it the tighter tolerances thing doesn't wash. Like it or not the are making excellent and very accurate AK's that will shoot surplus ammo just as well if not better than what you say.

Hey look lads, I get you love your AK's and happy shooting to you, but like it or not there is always room for improvement and the yanks are proving that with the AK.

I did a few years security work abroad.

I have used AK, G3, L1A1 and a few others. Typical engagement range was 200-300 yards as due to the ROE, they had to be that close to see if they were carrying certain items and thus a threat.

At that range, I found the AK as effective as the others.

Further, I have inspected captured AKs that were in horrendous condition but still working - I have also taken L1A1 and G3 out of pelicases after a few months in an ISO container and found certain parts siezed and needing a bit of a clean up before being useable.

Also, forget the barrel - you are barking up the wrong tree. An AK platform ( AKM more than AK47 ) twists quite a bit on discharge due to the out of balance bolt group. And at the same time, the receiver bends down at the back and the front trunnuions by about 2 or 3mm. So, you have a weapon bending lengthways and twisting crossways.

Dont believe me ? Look online at ultra-slow motion footage of the AK in action !

Does not matter what barrel you attach to a receiver if its bending and flexing.

You will get a better increase in accuracy by simply choosing the better end of the milsurp market and batching your ammo.

Bendy bendy .........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeeeFxA_9nA

And at 1;42 on this one - barrel and receiver bending.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCgmfbAbP-Q