More Rifle Notes

27 Sept 09

More rifle notes, from a student at our Urban Rifle Course last weekend:

"As you know, you were compelled to pull my AR-15, in 5.45X39, off the line the first day of the Course, due to the fact that it was doubling and tripling routinely. I purchased it as a high-volume trainer, mostly due to the fact that 5.45X39 ammunition is relatively inexpensive, at least currently.

The rifle's hammer spring is extremely heavy, necessary to set off hard Russian primers. Even then, a half-dozen rounds failed to fire. The rifle quickly began to randomly double and triple, which is doubtless due to the heavy hammer spring.

I will be shedding this rifle in the near future!

Curiously, another student, using an AK-74, a Polish Tantal, also cambered for 5.45X39, experienced zero malfunctions over two days of heavy use."

Comment: Once again, the AR-15 platform, in any caliber other than 223, is likely to be a can of worms.

It is my opinion that the Soviet/30 (7.62X39) is the best military rifle cartridge in existence today, certainly superior to the 223 and the Soviet/22 (5.45X39), in every way! In the AK and XCR format, it is hard to beat.

However, cheap ammunition makes hypocrites of us all, eh?

/John