RIP Mikhail.....

Mikhail Kalashnikov, one of the last of the legendary figures in the industry died at the age of 94.

I personally never liked the rifles he designed, but I respect him for them.

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12/23/22022220-father-of-ak-47-mikhail-kalashnikov-dead-at-94?lite

As a family friend once said in reference to the design of the Yak-18: "Russian engineering: Strong like bull; Smart like tractor."

I have owned 3, two AMD 65s and a WASR 10. I had to sell them last year due to financial troubles. I will buy some more. Loved them.

I've only had one. It was an early CAI Egyptian import. Canted sight and all. THat thing ran thousands of rounds (between 4-5k) without a single gun malfunction. The only problems we ever had in all those rounds was one or two no fires (dented primer, just a bad round) and 2 or 3 feed issues with the drum because we didn't wind it sufficiently.

Funniest thing about that gun, after a fresh cleaning you couldn't hit the broadside of a barn at 5 yards. Seriously, 15 yards we were talking 3-4" groups. Pound out about 300 rounds and you could watch the groups getting smaller. By ~400 rounds it was as accurate as anything else.

2 x SKS and a Romanian AK47, love them all

Bobzilla wrote: I've only had one. It was an early CAI Egyptian import. Canted sight and all. THat thing ran thousands of rounds (between 4-5k) without a single gun malfunction. The only problems we ever had in all those rounds was one or two no fires (dented primer, just a bad round) and 2 or 3 feed issues with the drum because we didn't wind it sufficiently. Funniest thing about that gun, after a fresh cleaning you couldn't hit the broadside of a barn at 5 yards. Seriously, 15 yards we were talking 3-4" groups. Pound out about 300 rounds and you could watch the groups getting smaller. By ~400 rounds it was as accurate as anything else.

Well, that's a given. I'm pretty sure the "C" stands for canted.

cOULD BE. IIRC, you could use the left side of the site (I) and it was spot on. Damn think hated to be clean.

I either want that one back or another.

I ran 25 mags through mine in a 15 minute exercise, the furniture was blistering but the rifle just kept on running, used 12 mags in my G19 as well, same result for a different reason

In reply to aussiesmg:

Was yours a Romy G?

In reply to aussiesmg:

I don't think its possible to "burn down" a glock.......I put around 1500rds through my g17 as quick as possible one time, the barrel was glowing and would have a wick of flame everytime the slide locked back. Afterwards, the forward 2" of it was caked in grey......come to think of it, I sold it that way.

aussiesmg wrote: I ran 25 mags through mine in a 15 minute exercise, the furniture was blistering but the rifle just kept on running, used 12 mags in my G19 as well, same result for a different reason

I still have the mark on my finger from mag dumps on a pair of 30-rd'ers and the 75rd drum in less than 2 minutes. It slipped as I was putting it down and singed the E36 M3 outta my finger. There's still a smooth mark on my finger there.

In reply to Anti-stance:

Yep, that's the one and I still have it, I paid $300 about 6 years ago

I need a Kalashnikov.

I'll give you $450 for it today.

In reply to Bobzilla:

I am sure you would, lol

I really wish I had one of the VEPR guns that had an AK mechanism, but were chambered in 7.62x54r so I could use the same cheap ammo as the mosin

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/ak-47-74-rifles/russian-vepr-rifles.html

Actually, I really liked the Galil's from Israel. If I could get an Galil SAR in 5.56 I'd be happy.

I would love to get a Galil myself. I need to put together a couple more this coming year, the wife REALLY wants my current AK but I don't want to let it go (Norinco 56S pre ban)

I had a Century Golani Sporter. It was nice, but too long. That's why I want the SAR version. 14" bbl with a pinned flash hider to make it the legal 16".

AK's are the the bomb!!!!!....RIP sir!

I think I'll go fondle my Chinese AK right now...

...amusingly, my mother's husband has one made in the US.

This photo essay isn't new, but for some reason I find the eighth one particularly haunting--probably because I was likely having more fun that day.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/23/us/gallery/kalashnikov/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

I told the wife and she was sad to hear the news. One of her favorite rifles is the AK. Upon hearing the news I got the OK for two new ones for next year. One for her one for me. Gonna build both I think...or do converted Saigas.

I had a wasr that I sold a couple years ago, I've wanted another one ever since. Don't regret selling it though, sin e I used that to finish an AR that I was building at the time. Damn century imports are stupid priced now though, oh well.

I would love to know if it indeed is true that the ak had influence from the German stg/mp44.....which was the first "assault rifle"