reliability..if it doesn't fire...it is just a stick

[jumpluff]

A very wise sage recently told me.... "I will tell you this, and you can take it to the bank... I would much rather carry the AK-47 if I ever had to go back into combat. I don't care about the extra weight, accuracy, bullet damage, range, or anything else except RELIABILITY. If it doesn't fire when you pull the trigger, it's just a stick." ....so I pose this question....in terms of semi-automatic rifles...in widely used calibers (5.56X45 and 7.62X39 for example)...suitable for combat/law enforcement/self defense....which are the most reliable?

I am biased...I already suspect that the AK and the Mini will bubble to the top of the list....so given that assumption.....is there any significant difference in reliability between an AK and a Mini-14/30?

[Boogyman]

A very wise sage recently told me....

Ha ha! If it's who I think it is, he's sure got you fooled... :lol:

He's right, tho... ;)

[bubbagump]

from combat experience in both jungle and desert enviroments, I would rather carry an AK-47/AKM compared to anything else. I fought in Panama in 89, Iraq in 91, Somalia, and Bosnia. I can't speak for the reliability of the Mini-14/Mini-30 rifles. When it comes to carrying a M16, I would rather carry the older M16A1 since it can fire full auto instead of 3 round burst. Plus the A1 is just as reliable as the A2. So yes my first choice would be the AK.

[Arizona Mikey]

My (rather old) copy of “Small Arms of the World” has a single, unflattering paragraph devoted to the Mini-14, where the author (Edward Clinton Ezell) says that “Although the resulting product [the Ruger AC-556K variant] has considerable eye appeal, tests in the Philippines, France and elsewhere indicate that it presently is best suited for use as a police weapon.”

And, of course, in “Boston’s Gun Bible,” Boston has nothing but distain for the Mini-14, considering it cheap, inaccurate, and fragile (though Boston is also carrying an extreme grudge against Sturm Ruger, a result of Ruger’s sometimes questionable support for the Second Amendment. This might color his opinions a bit).

Look, I like Mini’s a lot. I’ve got two of them, and they’re the only .223’s that I currently own. Still (note that I'm not a combat vet, so I can't speak from first-hand experience) based on what I've seen and heard, I'd honestly have to give a big edge to the AK in terms of reliability and durability.

[Dorkface]

When looking at reliability don't forget the M-14. :)

[josh]

I would also add for discussion that a weapon must be reliable and accurate to minute of man. I also wonder how much of the optics we use on our "shtf" rifles are going to be reliable and accurate if actually used for anything other than fun.
For example we were shooting my buddies romanian ak last weekend. he has a scope mount with a cheap red dot on it. Long story short while this rifle is uber reliable the red dot could not be adjusted far enough to the right to put the rounds on paper at 50 yards.
Any thoughts

[Dorkface]

If you can't adjust the scope to center whats the point?

[josh]

If you can't adjust the scope to center whats the point?

Exactly. he would have been better off with iron sights. I wonder though how many of us have optics on our weapons that wont hold up under rough use?
Hard to get much more reliable than iron sights.

[Mabes]

I've been to the range with Ultimak rail and Mep 21. 4.2MOA dot (orange, actually). Mini-14 puts 55gr JSPs in 1" at 50' and 2-3" at 100'. I have a 16.25" w/Choate FS/FH by David Clay (TX). Sight does not require batteries. Wash with water. Rugged. Great in low light. Way cool. Some of the photos of Israeli troops lately show Mep 21s on their M-4/M-16s. It's an Israeli product. Ordered mine from Kimberstore.com. Pretty pricey, but I'm very pleased.

[jwp]

m14/garand
fal
no knowledge of ak
but ar does fine too

[dchi]

Personally I would take my full auto AR15 (RDIAS inside) but I'm big enough to admit the AK's are more reliable. I've had about 8 of each of kind over the last 15 years. Ak's never gave me any problems. I wouldn't trust my life to 4 of the AR15's I had. Don't have em anymore.

[gunrun45]

I'll take the AK. Mini takes a close second along with every other Garand action type weapon.

[sortafast]

I think that i would be in with a M14 or FAL. Possibly a G3/clone but not too sure about that one as i have limited experience with them. I just dig something with a bit more pop than a 223. A good 308 gun would get the business done for me. But i must say that i like the Garand. Would possibly consider an SKS, but it would have to be the norinco para carbine model that takes the AK mags. I know AK's are toyota reliable, but i just cant get into them.