AK-47 Accuracy

[Medic218]

Seems I've heard conflicting stories as to how accurate they are.
I'm thinking about an AK for hogs due to cost effectiveness untill I can get a good semi-auto .308 or something similar and I want to make sure it will be on the mark. Cause lets face it, the last thing you want to do is make a hog mad and charge you!

[Beiruty]

You should be able to hit man-size target at 100 yrd with no optics. With Optics, man size targets up to 300 yrds. Pigs will be dispatched by your AK quickly.

[Medic218]

Sweeeeeeeet!!

[Weg]

I've owned three AK's in my my life. The best could hold 3-4" groups at 100 yds. for the first 10 rounds out of a cold barrel, then opened up to about 6-8", I still have this one, it's a Polytech ( Chinese). I had a MAK-90 that could do about 6" groups, and a MAADI ( Egyptian) that ( no joke) could barely hold 12" at 100 yds. and got worse as it heated up. I think the newer American made ones may have much better accuracy, but I have had no experience with them. Bottom line is they usually hold pretty good groups until they heat up, then go to pot, at least in the experience I have had with 3 different guns. I would say it should still be a great hog gun inside 100 yds. though. I have had much better luck with SKS's and accuracy, especially if you glass bed them. I took a chicom SKS from 6" groups to 2-3" groups with sustained fire just by glass bedding it once. My two cents.

[Medic218]

I've given the SKS some thought too.

Glass bedding?

[MechAg94]

Given the prices on SKS rifles, I am not sure it is worth it to settle for it when an AK is just a little more money. If you find a good deal though, go for it.

I have a Vepr K and and while I can't do really tight groups, it will shoot 5" groups or so all day long with just about any ammo. I don't really call that inaccurate. It is plenty accurate for what the rifle was built for. I've played around with a 300 yard gong and can hit it, though not consistently.

If you want something to shoot 1/2" groups, an AK is not what you are looking for.

[Weg]

I've given the SKS some thought too.

Glass bedding?

Glass bedding is a process in which you fill the voids in the stock with fiberglass resin, it makes the action "fit like a glove" in the stock and usually greatly improves accuracy, especially with guns that have a poorly fitted stock, which is most sks's. On the particular sks I did, I used acraglass gel, as it was easier to handle. I ended up glass bedding the stock from the front to the portion just in front of the chamber ( you lose the ability to put your cleaning rod back in the stock but it's worth it). Then I used a wooden c-clamp to hold the trigger group in, just short of snapping in, while it cured. It is extremely hard to get the trigger group to snap in now, but it can be done with a little elbow grease, but the gun shoots twice as good as before.

[Skydivesnake]

Do some research on the vz58 first (the D-techniks one, not the Century build). I have two - very accurate, lighter than an AK and a very, very, nicely built rifle. If you are looking for an AK-style carbine, they are superb.

[Beiruty]

concerned about accuracy?, get this AK variant:

[glbedd53]

My Chinese AK does 2 to 3 inch at 100 with no optics and I'm almost blind. Maybe I just got a good one and finding accurate ammo in 7.62 x 39 can be tricky. I have a Chinese SKS and a Russian SKS and I wouldn't trade the AK for 50 of either of them.

[shootthesheet]

They are good enough out to 300 yards if you mount a scope. I like the SKS better myself for the 7.62x39 and hogs. Seems a little more accurate in the 300+ yard mark. I have also found a HP bullet works best out of whatever rifle you use too. They give a little room for the AK no being as accurate as a bolt action or even SKS.

I am the same way about the .308 now that cheaper ammo is available for them around here. I just don't have $1500+ right now or I would get one. I like the Dragunov in 7.62x54 http://www.centerfiresystems.com/DRA-GUN-B.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and the price but would rather spend the money on a AR style .308. I noticed these too http://www.centerfiresystems.com/RIFLE-M76.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; which is a 8x57mm.

[badgerw]

I have a Saiga AK in 7.62x39mm. Saiga is about as good as they come from the factory.

http://www.k-var.com/shop/product.php?p ... 353&page=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A few months ago I mounted a Burris Scout scope on a Ultimak gas tube rail.

Here's my 100 yard final zero group:



That is with Wolf steel-case FMJ ammo, $219 / thousand from Ammoman.

I'll happily take a 2-inch group from an utterly reliable rifle.

YMMV one hell of a lot,
Bill

[TexasVet]

One thing to be mindful is that the Dragunov Beiruty has pictured is NOT the same as the Romak-3/PSL rifle. The Dragunov is really not much like the AK at all, other than the safety and side mounted optic. It has a different, adjustable gas system, etc. The PSL however is just a realy long AK with the same gas system. The Dragunovs are about 3K+ these days the the PSLs can be had for 600. Just a question of availability, as the Dragunov is no longer imported.

[shootthesheet]

One thing to be mindful is that the Dragunov Beiruty has pictured is NOT the same as the Romak-3/PSL rifle. The Dragunov is really not much like the AK at all, other than the safety and side mounted optic. It has a different, adjustable gas system, etc. The PSL however is just a realy long AK with the same gas system. The Dragunovs are about 3K+ these days the the PSLs can be had for 600. Just a question of availability, as the Dragunov is no longer imported.

Good catch. Thanks TexasVet.

[drjoker]

Use sellier & bellot ammo for accuracy available from Cabela's. Mak-90's are the best. Ironically, American made AK's are the worst. This is one case where buy USA is not a good idea, although usually try my best to buy stuff made in the USA. With sellier and bellot ammo and a Mak-90, you can expect 2-3 inch groups at 100 yards before the barrel heats up.