In The United States, gun ownership has always been intertwined with the debate over which firearm is superior to the other. Early on in the 1700’s and throughout the turn of the century flintlock muskets and long rifles were the norm however by the late 1800’s & into the early 1900’s rapid fire weapons (semi automatic & fully automatic) began to take the stage as the dominant type of weaponry in advanced civilizations throughout the world. As wars took place over the years it became apparent that a need for more advanced military technologies were required in order to sustain victories quicker and more thoroughly throughout various military campaigns. Fast forward to after the fall of Germany in WW2, two nations sought to have military dominance amidst a great “Cold War”. The USA & The USSR developed two types of weapons that have spawned criticism and awe alike till this day: The AR-15 & the AK-47.

The AR-15 has its roots in The United States of America. During World War 2, American commanders were in search of a weapon that could render enemy arsenals obsolete through superior fire rate and accuracy. Many American troops were still equipped with older weapons such as the B.A.R, which had been in use since 1918 in World War 1. Granted the old saying is true, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, however by this point in time a major upgrade for the American armed ground forces were needed. During the Vietnam War, it was a hotly contested issue whether the troops should be equipped with the M14 or AR-15 produced then by Colt. The AR-15 passed many tests and was shown to be superior to the M14 as well as other American weapons that were being used in conflict at the time. However, by 1964 the M16 took over as the primary weapon for U.S Armed Forces and afterwards Colt began selling AR-15’s to the civilian population & law enforcement.

The AK-47 has its roots in the Soviet Union (USSR). As WW2 came to a close, the Soviet military was quite taken aback by the level of devastation they suffered at the hands of the German military. The weapon that most captured their attention was the StG44 (Sturmgewehr 44 Rifle). Many Soviet forces were still equipped with outdated bolt action rifles so the first upgrade was the SKS. It wasn’t long before this was overshadowed following the introduction of the AK-47 in which it became the primary weapon of the Soviet military. The weapon turned out to be better in almost every aspect when compared to the previous Soviet arsenal setup. Eventually even this would be upgraded in 1974, in which it was also replaced by the improved AK-74. 

There are many reasons people tend to pick one or the other. As for recoil, the AK-47 packs a bit more of a punch with up to 7 pounds of recoil versus the AR-15’s roughly 5.5 pounds. If the proper setup is not configured this extra recoil could perhaps throw off accuracy when in a high speed fire rate situation. As for accuracy in general, the AR-15 is approximately 30 percent more accurate than an AK-47. It’s overall a better gun in many aspects. No bias intended but the American made weapon is much more trustworthy, dependable, and reliable than the Soviet designed AK-47.() As with any personal decision when it comes to firearms: “It’s whatever floats your boat”. Some people like some styles better, others prefer the other. The best thing about the USA is that you and I have the freedom to pick (More than a Right: Guns Protect the Constitution – Lucky Shot USA)...and own both respectively. 

** Stay up to date with the newest arrivals at All Products – Lucky Shot USA, everything from apparel to drinkware. You’ll be glad you did! **

Images may be subject to copyright.