imported post
Wow. That's a lot of maintenance just to keep arifle functioning. I like my ak47. I clean it when I get around to it, and I don't have to be careful not to over oil or under oil anything. Also, my magazines are not prone to denting orbending lips. I can abuse my AK47 all day and it will still work.
I keep wanting to get an AR15, but I'm so discouraged by how finicky it is. With my ak, all I have to do is point it at a target and shoot. I have to know how to cycle the charging handle and change magazines. On the ar15, I have to know that, plus which parts to oil heavily, which parts are fragile, which parts need to be replaced if they are worn, which parts are easily bent, which parts require special tools to replace, etc. You could teach everything anyone would ever need to know about the ak47 in about 20-30 minutes in broken english. The AR15 seems like it would take at least 8 hours of classroom time to get all of the necessary information out.
BTW, I'm not trying to start an AR vs AK fight. I know that the AR15 is a much more accurate gun, and it is a much more reliable rifle now than it was in 1967. I am just ranting on how much more maintenance it requires than the AK. There are certainly benefits to either platform and it is all about personal taste and needs. I need a SHTF rifle that can stand up to poor maintenance and a lack of cleaning. If I needed a rifle that was accurate, the AR would be a much better choice.