The AK47 is, by any objective measure, the most successful rifle ever produced. Nearly 1 in 10 firearms in the world today is an AK47 or some variant of it. That amounts to approximately 100 million AK47s.
Mihail Kalashnikov’s rifle attained such immense popularity for several simple reasons. First, it’s reliable as the sunrise. Second, it requires very little maintenance. And third, it’s cheap. As a bonus it also fires a larger round than the more expensive M16/AR15.
While the AK47 has gained a reputation as the scumbag’s weapon of choice, that is not the gun’s fault, nor the designer’s. The fact is, the AK47 does exactly what it was designed to do: provide a low-cost, reliable way to spray bullets in the direction of the enemy.
Today, the AK47 and its variants are produced in more than 30 countries, including the US. And while it will never be the sniper’s favorite, it may be considered the people’s favorite considering how many are in circulation.
Below are the 10 best AK47s you can legally buy in the US. (more…)