What is Wrong with 5.56 AKs?

[Talyn]

After missing my opportunity to get a real Gail in the 80's before the import ban, I wish I had picked up a SAR-3 back in the day when they were available, but the Weiger mag situation shied be off the SAR-3.

I picked up a 5.56 Arsenal but it was a POS, and got rid of it due to the supposed rep that Arsenal had/has.

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Many think that 5.56 AKs are some kind of novelty, created specifically for the US civilian market, and therefore a Kalashnikov rifle chambered in 5.56 is somehow “less authentic”. But that cannot be further from the truth. In fact, 5.56 AKs have been around as long as 5.45, if not longer.

What is Wrong with 5.56 AKs?

There are a lot of things in life I don’t understand, and one of those things is why some people in the AK community look down on 5.56 AK rifles.Many think that 5.56 AKs are some kind of novelty, created specifically for the US civilian market, and therefore a Kalashnikov rifle chambered in 5.56...

www.thefirearmblog.com

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

i've thought about those and the 308win/7.62x51nato also, but haven't bought either.

 

[BarryinIN]

A friend had a 5.56 AK of some variety and it was awful. It had some goofy magwell for AR mags that was a mess. The magazines fit so tight it sometimes took two of us to get them out. Malfunctions no matter what was used.

I know I shouldn’t, but I think of that one when I see any 5.56 AK and turn away.
That, and at the time, 5.45x39 ammo was still cheap and available, making a 5.56 AK something a guy really wanted to have before it made sense.

 

[deadduck357]

Lately when someone asks about AKs and wants to get one I now tell them go 5.56; for one simple reason - ammo availability.

 

[Belt Fed]

All mine work just fine.

 

[UC_Guy 1971]

I went the opposite route and have an AR an 7.62x39. Except for hunting ammo, not expensive.

 

[meistermash]

I squished and chopped two 556 akms together.
One takes ar15 magazines and the other is a mishmash of parts, under folder, 556 and takes 556 ak mags.
Both utilized east German weiger barrels.
Bulgy parts kits.
They are a lot of fun.

 

[KillerFord1977]

to quote an esteemed member here:

"its a passing fad"

this again is a firearm I'm just not a fan of. Fired original imported AK's and tons of high quality clones. just not a fan of the AK for whatever reason.

 

[PieterCoetzee]

Its the magazines. Military mags are still relatively cheap and reliable. MagPul and a few other manufacturers make quality copies at a decent price.

The 556 guns were never a general military issue (if ever), so youll never have access to the volume of 556 mags as you will for 762x39 mags.

 

[Belt Fed]

5.56 AK mags can easily be found. i bought a few a while back. even a 100 round drum for one. Unity is a big maker of them. and they are good mags

 

[Shibadog]

to quote an esteemed member here:

"its a passing fad"

this again is a firearm I'm just not a fan of. Fired original imported AK's and tons of high quality clones. just not a fan of the AK for whatever reason.

Ditto. I’ve shot original Russian and Chicom ones. I just don’t like ‘em. They do go bang when they’re supposed to but the ergo’s just feel weird to me (plus they’re ugly). Man shouldn’t use ugly rifles when there are nice looking ones out there

 

[Condition1]

Back in the early 80’s you could buy a Norinco for $89. It came with 3 bakelite mags bayonet oil bottle and cleaning kit, now you will have to pay over a $1000 to get one. Nobody wanted an AK back then. 7.62x39 was 1.25/20. Corrosive ammo was .50/20. I bought a RAS 47 because it was fun and cheap to shoot. Now not so much but it’s still fun to shoot.

 

[PieterCoetzee]

5.56 AK mags can easily be found. i bought a few a while back. even a 100 round drum for one. Unity is a big maker of them. and they are good mags

OK perhaps I should have said MilSpec mags but if those work for you then great

 

[meistermash]

One of the issues used to be that there was 3 different magazines.

 

[Condition1]

One of the issues used to be that there was 3 different magazines.

About like the old L1A1 standard and metric.

 

[deadduck357]

One of the issues used to be that there was 3 different magazines.

Yep that is one of the turn-offs.

 

[USMC6094]

Like every gun ever produced, it depends on who made it......

For decades anything Century was suspect.......

Maybe they still are........

It boils down to doing your research, and spending your money wisely......

 

[Talyn]

Century did & continues to market AKs made overseas (i.e. SAR/WASR Romanian's) but had to be slightly modified once imported into US to meet 922R Fed requirements. With both it was mainly enlarging the mag well for "normal" capacity mags as well as fire control components.