Gunner Quinn
(Continued from Part 5. This concludes the article.)
The AKM Rifle
If the rifleman is not well trained or is in no way mechanically inclined, this my favorite rifle that I know very well and will use exclusively in extreme cold weather. It is a rifle I can recommend to any one who would not be able to maintain the AR-15 rifle or any rifle. It is representative of the Cold War weapons and mentality.
Again, the military spends about a week to train new recruits about how to maintain the AR-15 platform. The AKM (a modernized, stamped receiver AK-47) should only require perhaps one day, or just a few hours to train a new shooter to maintain. It is that simple and easy to keep this rifle reliable, a veritable battle axe that can run when rusty and can use rusty steel-cased ammunition.
It is no brag, but fact, the AK can use the dust from rusty parts as lubrication. While some believe is so inaccurate that it can not be used to hit the broad side of a barn, even when fired from inside a barn, these myths are born of propaganda. And because it is partly true. If cavemen do not adjust the sights or use the sights of a AK-47, it is horribly inaccurate.
Most AKM (AK-47) rifles will function reliably without lubrication and it is quick and easy to remove the dust cover and the bolt carrier group to remove dirt and debris. The AKM rifle is over-gassed and has a strong recoil spring, and an action that allows it to continue to cycle or otherwise continue to operate with dirt and debris accumulated in the action. The AR-15 will not perform likewise. And it is ideally suited for freezing temperatures and extreme cold weather in general. Its controls are ergonomically well designed for when heavy gloves are necessary to keep the hands warm and the rifle functioning.
In general, the Kalashnikov action is easier to use when wearing gloves that protect the hands from the environment and from a hot rifle barrel and cold weather. And the bolt and extractor are able to free stuck cases due to heat and dirt that enter the chamber, merely by stepping on the bolt handle. The ergonomics of the AR-15 are better in warmer climates, but it is not nearly as well suited as the ergonomics of the AKM rifle for cold weather operation.You Tuber Garand Thumb proved that the AKM is superior to the wide selection of top modern rifles he tested side by side in the harshest cold weather conditions his tests could simulate.
While the ergonomics of the AKM are outwardly not as appealing, on the battlefield, the ergonomics of the AKM are better than the AR-15 in general, in my experience. Perhaps by sense of necessity and respect for the reliability and ruggedness, I favor this Cold War relic. But as a pragmatist, I would however choose the most suitable implement for a particular task at hand and I do not play favorites.
The extra weight of the AKM ammunition and steel magazines is offset by the worth of its .30 caliber bullet that is much more effective at stopping a fight that will likely be inside of 100 yards. And it can be reliable when loaded with soft point and FMJ in the same magazine. FMJ for penetrating cover, and soft points just to make sure they can not shoot back. I do not care if my enemy has a more accurate rifle because inside of 100 yards it will not matter.
Battlefield Accuracy
I’ve performed my own side-by-side tests comparing the battlefield accuracy on a man-sized target using an AR-15 that shot 2 MOA against an AK that shot 5 MOA. The typical AR-15 using ball ammunition may however shoot 2 to 5 MOA. The hit probably is nearly the same during rapid fire. In a real fight, I expect that I would have to hit them in the vital organs with the AR-15 between 2 to 5 times to stop the fight, whereas I expect to be able to stop the fight with an AK (7.62×39) with 1 to 2 rounds of FMJ, or just one round of soft point ammunition.
A 123-grain FMJ AK round will punch through pine trees that are 14 inches in diameter. In a direct comparison, 7.62mm NATO M80 ball ammunition penetrated the same species of pine tree that was no more than 16 inches. A 7.62×39 soft point can drop a deer with one shot and at any angle. Ballistically, it is similar in performance to .30-30 Winchester and superior to .30-30 Winchester at 100 yards and beyond.
The 7.62×39 ammunition that uses a 124-grain to 154-grain soft point .308 bullet will expand to 0.6 to 0.7 inches in diameter in deer out to 100 yards. This is approximately 3 times the diameter of a .223 bullet and it will be more accurate in most AKM rifles making 200-yard shots easier. Even as an expanding bullet, the 7.62×39 soft point bullet will out-penetrate the best FMJ or 77grain OTM 5.56 ammunition.
Arguably, it could be more effective than 7.62×51 NATO (M80) inside of 100 yards. 7.62×39 soft points will drop a deer faster and more reliably than a 7.62 NATO FMJ round. It is illegal to hunt with FMJ ammunition in most states because the animal would likely run away and die a slow and painful death. I would rather not give a “deer” a chance to shoot back.
Lastly, I would expect an AKM rifle with a chromed barrel to last 20,000 to 30,000 rounds. This ease of maintenance in austere environments, its ease of use, especially in the winter, and its ability to stop the fight much faster than an AR-15 makes it a better choice for some folks and for their terrain and environment. So much so that I am compelled to mention this rifle in an article otherwise dedicated to the AR-15.
I would also go so far as to suggest that the AK and other Cold War relics and antique bolt action rifles are not obsolete, but eminently practical for austere environments. Note that there would be a lack of ammunition and therefore they’d probably be of limited utility in any protracted collapse or in a civil war. The inability of the AR-15 to endure years of hard use can be compensated by a deep supply of spare parts. It simply is the rifle to have as there would be untold mountains of ammunition available. In the U.S. this is the rifle of choice, the gladius of the day.
Wrapping it Up
In truth, this article has been about making the rifle of your choice reliable and supported, and that means we must learn how to properly maintain it and understand what it will take to keep that rifle effective and operational for the next decade. All rifles have similar requirements to meet that goal. I would not only learn how to maintain and use the AR-15, but many other rifles as well as we shall adapt and overcome via innovation and with the know-how and skills needed to use whatever means and methods an irregular force might have. As Einstein postulated, we may end up using rocks and sticks after WW3. We shall certainly use what is at hand in this day and age even if would include rocks and sticks.
The AR-15 is not the most popular battle rifle on the planet, yet it currently dominates in the U.S.. Be prepared to use other weapons as well and combined arms teams instead of just the current military model. The strength of a combined arms team is that it is comprised of different rifles and weapons platforms provide a variety of different kinds firepower that can address a variety of battlefield situations and people who would use those rifles. Not everyone will have an AR-15, or know how to use it effectively. Therefore it is best to consider the advantages of a combined arms team that was used with success during WW2: For example, the biggest and strongest man would get the BAR (Browning Automatic Rife), and the smaller guy the M1 Carbine, and aggressive types or those who might have bad eyesight would get the Thompson submachine gun, and those who could shoot at distance got the M1 Garand. The scoped bolt action goes to the guy who can hit small targets at an extended ranges.
Whatever the justification for the assigned weapon, each individual can contribute to the firepower of the team in a more effective way based upon the weapon that best suits the shooter’s physical attributes, personality, and skills, and the needs of the team. The downside of a combined arms team is that there is little commonality between the arms in terms of ammunition and magazines. The advantage is that the team as a unit is overall more effective. Not everyone will have an AR-15, so plan accordingly.
The AR-15 was supposed to replace all the aforementioned weapons and simplify a serious logistics and training problem. It was intended to be used in conjuction with air power and other modern maneuver tactics and heavy weaponry that we will not have. We will have to develop a new style that avoids the neo-trench warfare that the Ukraine is involved in. To avoid becoming a Ukrainian, find whatever you think you will need, get it now while the ‘getting’ is good!
Conclusion
We will need more than rifles to survive and there is much yet to be accomplished. Proper prior planning prevents pitifully poor performance and saves lives. If the prepper is unsure how to proceed, I can recommend the book The Civil Defense Manual, by Jack Lawson. Therein is priceless information all in one place.
Prepping is a balancing act where we build up our larder and capabilities in terms of knowledge and skills based upon sensible execution of a comprehensive plan however simple or complex it might be. The act of planning should never cease. It should become habitual and well practiced as the first contact with reality will reveal the flaws and a new plan based upon the realities at that time could then be quickly generated and put into place. Planning is a skill and an art that comes with diligence born with a sense of mission and determination.
Without the inspiration to get it done, nothing would be accomplished. This inspiration is provided by the Grace of God, and guidance and comfort is provided by His Holy Spirit. It will be needed in the spiritual battle now and ahead. Getting right with God and close to God is essential if we desire to have the divine wisdom that can be ours through the Holy Spirit. He who will provide the critical details and general direction that can prevent failure as his divine wisdom supersedes the best ability and efforts of any man. But first and foremost, we must be willing to humble ourselves and seek to understand the miracle that happened on the cross, at Calvary.
If you read through to the end of my article then perhaps you are interested in the topic enough to study the matter at a more advanced level. There are other SurvivalBlog articles that discuss the AR-15 in greater detail. I have downloaded these articles as a part of my library even though I also have copies on the SurvivalBlog Archive USB memory stick. This is a valuable store of a brain trust collected over nearly 20 years, and it is in a hardened and waterproof form. There are also many gigabytes of extra memory on the stick that can be used to organize and store additional files and personal information. I have also added my detailed security plan that includes instructions, area photos, maps, and graphics as well as inventories and key information in many forms for others to refer to, in the event of my death.
Lastly, here are two suggested articles on ARs, for further research:
It is Time to Build Several ARs, by D.B.
and,
Thoughts on a General Purpose AR-15 Rifle – Part 1 and Part 2.
Read the full article here