Alaska: Hiker Kills Bear with AK-74

The Truth About Guns ^ | July 31, 2013 | Robert Farago

[JoeProBono]

[FreedomPoster]

Cheap ammo.

[PreciousLiberty]

"I understand fire and maneuver, and the advantages of being able to carry and shoot more ammo, but one of the consistent post-Vietnam complaints about the M-16 was the lack of knock-down power of the 5.56 round compared to the 7.62 round of the AK-47. I'm sure the soviets had plenty of direct battlefield intel about the performance of the M-16; so I'm just surprised that they switched to a similarly-sized round after seeing the results of the American weapon for nearly 10 years. Either their analysis of the effectiveness of the 5.56 round was very different from the loud American criticisms, or they just ignored 10 years of direct observation. It's a puzzlement to me."

The 5.56 is plenty capable of rapid incapacitation, the issues revolve around bullet design. The original M-16 barely stabilized the bullet, so it often tumbled resulting in large wound channels and plenty of energy transfer. Not all that accurate, but if you hit the target results tended to be pretty good.

Once the bullet was better stabilized, it tended to pencil through. That's the source of the complaints you're citing.

I think the Soviets have a good bullet design for the AK-74 that will fly properly, but tend to tumble and fragment after impact.

There is at least one good military option for the M-4, the SOST round recently adopted by the Marines. The Army, on the other hand, may be in trouble with their most recent design, the M855A1, which also happens to be lead-free.

The M855A1 looks to be a turkey, costing twice as much as the SOST round, and running at 63,000 PSI which halves barrel life. It's also pretty poor at armor penetration.

Civilians have a lot of fine options for 5.56 bullets, as well as even better AR chamberings like the 6.5 Grendel.

[Kip Russell]

Civilians have a lot of fine options for 5.56 bullets, as well as even better AR chamberings like the 6.5 Grendel.

I have one chambered for 6.8 SPC...the ammo's pricey, but I do like the round.

[AnAmericanMother]

Looks like up the nose is the way to go. Direct pathway to the brain and relatively soft, porous bone behind.

Not that we're likely to encounter anything around here but a small, displaced black bear from NGA.

[AnAmericanMother]

Nice buck.

[AnAmericanMother]

Diet has a lot to do with meat flavor. But a good strategy is to marinate it in buttermilk before cooking.

[bramps]

BTW, I like your sense of humor.

[skinkinthegrass]

I've heard similar thingsthanks, for the reply..
I heard G*D has a series of fans adjusted to turn 1 degree arc for every
lie the 'Toons/O'Blahlah tells, gets pretty cold up there; while Satan/Devil
has the same situation for a Blast Furnace.

[Flag_This]

"I served with a mech infantry outfit fighting NVA on the DMZ."

I salute you and your service, sir. I was mech infantry a generation after you, but I never faced anything more dangerous than down-range Ft. Carson. We were still using 113s - they were great for hauling gear, but I would not have wanted to be in one under fire.

You mentioned the NVA wanting to keep things close - I'd read about Giap preaching to "grab the enemy by the belt." It makes sense from their perspective. One of our NCOs was a Vietnam combat vet and he mentioned a firefight where one of the NVA was hit be a 40mm grenade that hadn't traveled far enough to arm.

[Conspiracy Guy]

LOL

[PreciousLiberty]

“I have one chambered for 6.8 SPC...the ammo’s pricey, but I do like the round.”

The 6.8 is almost as good as the Grendel (grin).

BTW, given your tagline I have to mention that my son’s named Robert Anson.

[Kip Russell]

BTW, given your tagline I have to mention that my son’s named Robert Anson.

That is awesome beyond words!

[millergun]

Actually, it’s reasonable to say a well built AK74 is right on par with AR15 accuracy using only Russian surplus ammo. I do love the AR15, however I have seen enough in person to realize that. The 5.45x39 was in fact the Russian’s answer to our M16.

In sub zero climates with minimal access to supplies, the 74 makes sense in those type situations. Minimal upkeep and as a military weapon has proven to be the same in desert warfare. For a hiker in the woods it is a simple to tote around choice. It has it’s place for sure. There were actually bolt action sniper rifles chambered in 5.45x39 used in East Germany.