Battle Rifles for Woodland Survival- AK-47 vs AR-15
Woodland survival is about having the proper tools at your disposal, right from your basic camping gear to the most effective firearm that would not only provide protection against threats like wild animals but can also be reliably used to hunt for food.
This brings us to the most common yet controversial debate among survival enthusiasts; which battle rifle would one prefer to have when faced with grave or imminent danger in a woodland scenario, the AK-47 or AR-15? Let us compare some basic facts about the two rifles and analyse which would perform better in a woodland survival situation:
General Description:
The AK-47 was designed in the USSR by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the latter part of the 1940s. It is a long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt assault rife with a weight of 9.5 lbs on an empty magazine which equips 7.62×39 mm caliber cartridges.
The AR-15 was designed in the USA by Eugene Stoner of the Armalite Corporation in the late 1950s. It is a direct impingement, rotating bolt sport utility rifle weighing between 5.5-8.5 lbs with a magazine that equips .233 Remington or 5.56 NATO caliber cartridges.
The AR-15 is lighter but deploys smaller cartridges in comparison to the AK-47
Range and Accuracy:
The fully automatic variant of the AK-47 has a range of 300 meters and the semi-automatic variant 400 metres. The accuracy varies between 2-5 MOA based on the barrel size.
The semi-automatic variant of the AR-15 has a range of approximately 400-600 meters with an accuracy varying between 1-3 MOA based on the barrel size.
The AR-15 has a greater range and accuracy as compared to the AK-47
Handling and recoil:
The AK-47 can be easily controlled by left handed people and has a mild but predictable recoil.
The AR-15 has controllability issues when it comes to left handed people and has a moderate but unpredictable recoil.
The AK-47 has better handling and recoil control than the AR-15
Durability:
The AK-47 is known for its durability even under harsh environmental conditions. It requires considerably less maintenance and is known to have functioned even after years of inactivity.
The AR-15 is prone to jamming if not maintained carefully. It is known to have issues while functioning in harsh conditions. Periodic maintenance is the key in ensuring its reliability.
The AK-47 is more reliable in terms of durability under harsh environmental conditions.
Pricing and Accessories:
The AK-47 is priced in the range of $350-$600 but has limited customisation options.
The AR-15 is priced higher in the range of $750-$1500 but has a wide range of customisation options available.
The AK-47 is cheaper than the AR-15 but has limited accessories.
Conclusion:
The AR-15 may be a lighter and more accurate rifle with a greater range but in the great outdoors, durability, power and handling of your rifle may become decisive factors for survival in a life or death situation. The AK-47 is the hands down winner in this case and having a cheaper price tag doesn’t hurt either.