Why not use AK-47 / 74's for patrol rifle?

[Sumawolf]

I was hanging out with several old police friends in a small town here in Louisiana . I asked the question why police depts were not allowed to use AK-47 / 74 type weapons on patrol . Is it due to the fact its a communist designed weapon ? I never really got a straight answer as to why not . All they told me was they couldn't . Can anyone here enlighten me on this subject ? Thanks , Sumawolf

[mcsap]

Thats part of it and the one I fired was a lot heavier than the AR-15 that we carry.

[mxwelch]

AK 47's that I have witnessed being fired have a real problem with recoil. They might be real reliable but they also look somwhat hard to control. I don't know about the 74. It should be much easier to shoot being a smaller caliber. 5.45x39.

[0311Marine]

They are heavy and the recoil is a *****. They also dont look as cool as the AR-15

[mxwelch]

Originally Posted by 0311Marine

They also dont look as cool as the AR-15

That too!!! ;)

[ngcsubutterbar]

If they carry Glocks, made originally in Austria. then um no I really don't think that just because it's originally from the USSR that it matters.


to answer your question, the chief/sheriff/or state regs tell them what they can and can not carry.

[mxwelch]

Originally Posted by ngcsubutterbar

If they carry Glocks, made originally in Austria. then um no I really don't think that just because it's originally from the USSR that it matters.


to answer your question, the chief/sheriff/or state regs tell them what they can and can not carry.

I wouldn't bet on that.
Austria isn't the same as the Soviet Union or China. Our military uses weapons made in Belgium but you never see issued communist weaponry (to my knowledge).

[ngcsubutterbar]

issued no, the military has it's own supply/contracts as we all know: used yes, especially by non-conventional forces. Use what's there use what fits in, IAW what their mission is. For the military as a whole, there is no reason to go from the m-16 based family to anything remotely related to the Kalishnikovs(sp). However, this is about what cops use. :D


and yes I do consider the USSR and a former facist country to be on the same level in stigma related to this thread. (hell look at H&K, prime example it is a German company, yet MANY cops use their weapons)


but seriously whatever their chief/sheriff/ or state regs state it may very well involve that stigma. I don't know what their thinking, that was just my opinion. If I was the training manager/cheif/sheriff/whomever makes those decisions. It just wouldn't affect me. To me I'd go to the best weapon to the best people for my intended patrol purpose.

[mxwelch]

Originally Posted by ngcsubutterbar

used yes, especially by non-conventional forces. Use what's there use what fits in, IAW what their mission is.

Of course. Look at the seals. They love the Stoners.

Originally Posted by ngcsubutterbar

For the military as a whole, there is no reason to go from the m-16 based family to anything remotely related to the Kalishnikovs(sp). However, this is about what cops use. :D

The military is gearing up for the new round the Rem. 6.8mm. The police do usually follow a military trend when it comes to special applications.

Originally Posted by ngcsubutterbar

and yes I do consider the USSR and a former facist country to be on the same level in stigma related to this thread. (hell look at H&K, prime example it is a German company, yet MANY cops use their weapons)

The difference isn't what a country was, but what are they right now. Russia still supports some terriorst nations directly or indirectly. If Japan made a suitable weapon now we might very well use it.

Originally Posted by ngcsubutterbar

To me I'd go to the best weapon to the best people for my intended patrol purpose.

Agreed.

[TPDHellhound]

It's a matter of over-penetration (no comments Cat-Doc :D ). The AK-47 rounds are too hot for urban environments. They would go through the bad guy, the wall, the neighbor's wall, the neighbor's bedroom, kitchen, living room, the other neighbor's wall... well, you get the point.

[K-9MALY]

You don't need the AK-47 deployed as a police rifle or carbine. You can get the same 308 round in other model weapons, and the smaller lighter AR-15 generally fits that mold. Yes, I know that the AR-15 isn't a 308 round, I love the edit button for posts :p It is a 223, but they do make a 308 round to fire out of the model.
TDP also put my point of contention up already with velocity of the round. The 7.62.39mm round is not a tumbler when it enters the human body, it pulls and pushes right on through it. The lighter 5.56mm will travel around inside the body causing trauma, but generally containing the round inside the body on a center mass shot of a reasonably sized person.
I have a SKS and MAK-90 which are cousins to the AK-47 and AK-74, but having carried the M-16 in the service I would opt for it now also.

[Sumawolf]

I have shot both the AK-74 and M-16 in full auto mode . The AK-74's (5.45X39.5) recoil is less than the M-16 (5.56 X 45 ) . I just think it would out perform a M-16 after shooting one .

[ngcsubutterbar]

lol in relation, I just saw that HK makes M-16 mags, didn't know that lol

[P01IC3M4N]

there were a few of us who tried to get AK-47s approved for carry. we were told to get ballistics data so we got that. we even tried to get the AKs with the 5.45 x 39mm guns approved. what it comes down to is the AKs are not politically correct looking and we were eventually relieved of our hope when they said no because it's not the "PC" weapon of choice. it represents the bad guys and the AR-15s represent the good guys. just watch any movie. in the move HEAT, the bad guys used AR-15s just to show you how upscale and close they compared to the good guys.

if given the choice, i'd happily take an AK over an AR. our ARs have not been the most reliable rifles ever built. the recoil is only slightly more than an AR and rapid fire is easily manageable. i have a box of hollow points that probably wouldn't go through everything on the planet and you can get them in different weights and pressures, especially with the 5.45 rounds. the AK's only fault is that is does exactly what it was designed to do and it does an excellent job at it.

i've never seen an AK jam.

[K-9MALY]

If preference be told, I would carry a HK G-3. I think that rifle is tits! It is also in the 308 cal.