ar vs ak for first semi auto rifle choice?

[ls81]

I have broken down and decided I would like a semi automatic rifle for home defense and target shooting.

Heres what i am hoping to find
reasonable priced
reliable
accurate to around 100 yards longer is a plus but 100 is usually as far as i shoot.
Easy to care for and maintain.
abundant ammo I know all ammo is hard to find now.
Also some good budget choices for either option would be nice

[BB MBD]

Ammo wise - AK. Plenty available and prices are almost pre-panic. If you go with AK74 its even cheaper.
Target wise - AR. AK is not a subMOA/1MOa rifle. Most ARs can shoot 1moa groups out of the box @100 yards. However hitting full size target at 400 meters with AK is very easy.
Price wise - almost the same. You can buy dirt cheap AR or AK for almost same price range.
Reliability - AK. Say all you want but AK became popular exactly because its a very reliable platform.
Maintenance - AR. Shooting dirty russian ammo through AK has its side effects. Cleaning Ar is a breeze.
Home defense - AR. Either platform is not a perfect rifle for home defense. I vote AR because my HD gun is an AR pistol.

AR 3 vs AK 2

For cheap new AR monitor Palmetto State Armory website. Look for $200 complete lower and $410 complete upper. JSE surplus also makes great upper on a budget.
WASR AK hated by so many is actually very good for me but you have to hand pick it to make sure front sight is not canted. Do not pay more than $500 for it.

I would suggest to stretch your budget and go for $800 spikes complete rifle
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.as...fle&groupid=11

or look for Molot Vepr which is civil version of RPK.

Lots of folks like to buy AK from Arsenal - but personally I would never pay over 1K for AK platform.

[*Klutch*]

AK-74 all the way

[CBennett]

Ak for one that will last you forever you will pay 1/2 the price of a AR..not gonna debate whats better etc,etc...but a $550 AK will last u forever surely just as long as a $800+ AR will...and will be good for MOM(Minute of man size chest) at 100 yards all day long and run through almost anything.

[mike12_nguyen]

Ak for one that will last you forever you will pay 1/2 the price of a AR..not gonna debate whats better etc,etc...but a $550 AK will last u forever surely just as long as a $800+ AR will...and will be good for MOM(Minute of man size chest) at 100 yards all day long and run through almost anything.

Right now AK's cost more than low and mid entry AR's. good entry AR's i would recommended are BM or Wyndham weaponry orc. They are pretty good out the box for what he wants.

[dkf]

I vote AR due to .223/5.56 having a very large amount of ammo available best suited for home defense/self defense situations.

[GreenBlood10]

Between the two, for someones first semi-auto rifle, I would choose the AK. Price of a basic platform, ammo availability, ammo price, ease of use, etc..

GB

[markshere2]

The SKS is a lower cost, more accurate semi auto than the AK.
Same ammo, and almost as many bolt on goodies out there.

And it can look nice and safe like a hunting rifle if you pull the bayonet off.

[ls81]

The SKS is a lower cost, more accurate semi auto than the AK.
Same ammo, and almost as many bolt on goodies out there.

And it can look nice and safe like a hunting rifle if you pull the bayonet off.

thanks for info but if i take the bayonet off how would anyone ever identify it as the mythical working class civilian "Assault rifle owner"?

[clugnut]

You will probably end up with both, so it really doesn't matter!