AR-15 vs AK-47: How Do They Compare? Which One is Better?

AR-15 vs AK-47:
How Do They Compare? Which One is Better?

 

Here in these articles from Select Fire, we cover a lot of different topics. today, we’re going to discuss some of the differences between the AR-15 (designed by American designer Eugene Stoner) and the AK-47 (developed by Soviet designer Mikhail Kalashnikov), two of the most common and iconic rifles in the world (Figure 1).

While both have a military lineage (the AR-15 is the civilian version of the U.S. M-16 and later the M-4 families of assault rifles, while the fully automatic version of the AK-47 was the Soviet Union’s standard rifle for many years), the common civilian versions of these weapons are both only available in semi-automatic. The military versions of these weapons have squared off on battlefields around the world for over 60 years, ranging from the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam to the sandy deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, to the present-day battlefield in Ukraine, among many other places. In fact, these rifles are two of the top four most produced rifles in history! So how do these iconic weapons compare to each other?

First, while many in the media label both as ‘assault rifles’, that is not really true for the versions that are commercially available. The commonly accepted definition of assault rifle is a rifle that features 1) selective fire (meaning it can be fired either semi-automatically or fully automatically), 2) uses an intermediate rifle cartridge, and 3) has a removable magazine. In the civilian versions of these weapons, item 1) is not true, as both fire only semi-automatically. While they “look” similar to their military cousins, the rate of fire from these guns is much, much less than from true assault rifles. No modern military force would use semi-auto rifles, so these civilian versions are clearly not assault rifles.

So, what are the main features and differences between these weapons? Let’s start with the ammunition. While both fire what are considered “intermediate” rifle cartridges, they do not use the same caliber. The AR-15 uses 5.56x45mm or 0.223 cal cartridges, while the AK-47 uses 7.62x39mm ammunition (Figure 2). The larger, slower AK round has a little lower muzzle velocity than the AR round; generally, greater muzzle velocity translates to longer range. While the weapons will certainly fire too much longer distances, the accepted ‘effective ranges’ are approx. 600 meters for the 5.56mm round, and about 400 meters for the 7.62mm round. The AK ammunition overall is considerably heavier; a 30-round magazine of 7.62mm weighs about 1.8 lbs, while a 30-round magazine of 5.56mm weighs just over 1 lbs., meaning that 240 rounds (8 magazines) of 5.56mm weighs about 8.2 lbs., while only 150 rounds of 7.62mm weighs about 9 lbs. So, in terms of carrying more ammunition and firing effectively to longer ranges, the AR is superior, though in terms of “hitting power” (defined here as energy on target), the AK round is a bit better, particularly at short ranges. The 5.56mm round’s muzzle energy is just under 1300 foot-pounds, while the 7.62mm provides just under 1600 foot-pounds at the muzzle. Due to differences in aerodynamic shape, though, the 7.62mm round slows down faster, and delivers about the same energy on target at 300 meters as the 5.56mm round. So for short ranges, the AK round hits a little harder, but at longer ranges, the AR round is a little better.

The differences in bullet weights are not the only weight differences. The AK-47 (in its standard form, at about 8.5 lbs) is about 30% heavier than the typical AR-15 (about 6.5 lbs). While weight differences of a few pounds may not seem like much, it adds up if you’re carrying the gun (and ammo) around for very long, so that (about) 3 lb difference between a fully loaded AK vs a fully loaded AR gives an advantage to the AR platform.

However, weight and effective range aren’t the only factors…what about reliability? In its earliest forms (starting back in the early 1960’s), the AR-15 and its military cousin, the M-16 were known to have some reliability problems. Much of that stemmed from a few issues; first, the original versions of the M-16 were not issued with chrome-lined barrels, which lead to corrosion problems in the damp environment of Vietnam. Also, problems with the propellant in early versions of the 5.56mm ammunition lead to misfires. Finally, an unfortunate (an inaccurate) rumor started early on in the M-16’s service life, which stated that the rifle didn’t need to be cleaned. This was absolutely false, but led to many early malfunctions. Once the Army started issuing weapons with chrome plated barrels, along with proper training of cleaning procedures and improved munitions, the M-16 (and its civilian version, the AR-15) proved to be reliable weapons.

One Achilles heel remained, though, in the AR-15/M-16 (and later, the M-4) family of rifles. This weapon was designed with what is called a “gas-impingement” operating system (bottom part of Figure 3). This system operates by diverting combustion gas through a small port in the barrel (after the bullet passes by) down a tube, back to the bolt. The force of this gas pushes the bolt backward, ejecting the spent cartridge. A buffer spring then pushes the bolt forward, picking up a new round, and resetting the hammer and trigger assembly. While quite simple and very lightweight, this system has the disadvantage of pushing all of this dirty gas back into the action of the gun, causing it to get dirty, and requiring thorough cleaning.

Here’s where the AK-47 really shines; it uses a different operating system called a gas piston (top part of Figure 3). With this system, there is still a gas port near the end of the barrel that diverts combustion gasses, but instead of sending them back to the bolt, those gasses are used to push on a piston, which is connected to the bolt. That piston pushes the bolt back and operates the action, but it keeps the dirty combustion gasses away from the bolt and the rest of the moving parts, keeping most of the gun much cleaner (and cooler, without those hot gasses interacting with the bolt). Many ‘knowledgeable’ gun enthusiasts will talk about the loose tolerances of the AK-47 as the main reason for its reliability, often touting that it can be “thrown in the mud and it will keep firing”. While this is true (both the loose tolerances AND the fact that it’s been proven to work after immersion in mud), the bigger reason for the AK-47’s well-deserved reputation for reliability is its gas-piston action, which greatly helps to keep the moving parts clean. When combined with those previously-stated generous tolerances on the moving parts, the result is a weapon which very rarely jams, and doesn’t need frequent cleanings to fire consistently.

In the area of reliability, no modern rifle beats the AK-47; it clearly surpasses the AR-15/M-16/M-4 family for reliable function, though in its modern form, the AR family still is a reliable, solid performer. In recent years, a few manufacturers (notably, Sig Sauer and Heckler & Koch) have developed gas-piston versions of the AR-15/M-4 platform, bringing the reliability of those high-end rifles up near the standard of the AK-47, but with the advantages of lighter weight and longer range. U.S. SOCOM forces now use gas-piston versions of the AR platform almost exclusively, due to the very high reliability of that system.

So which is the better rifle? With all of the improvements that have been done with the AR platform, and particularly if you are comparing a gas-piston version of the AR to the AK, that’s a tough question, one that generally comes down to user preference. The brilliance of the designs of both Stoner and Kalashnikov is demonstrated by the fact that even after 60 years, both platforms are still in production and are being used, in various forms, by military, police, and civilian users around the world.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this discussion about the AR-15 and the AK-47. Be sure to check out all of our articles under the Post section of our website: www.SelectFireTC.com.

 

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