Today I decided to perform 30 min of cold fire drills in a typical load out with an AK. I'm recently committed to using a Kalashnikov pattern weapon for any training I undertake this year, and in general as my go-to long gun, and relegating the AR to secondary status. Reasons being I really can't see the need to involve myself in anything outside of 25m, given where I live and/or where I am likely to find myself under threat. On that premise, I'd trade MoA accuracy for MoM adequacy if I can also have 123 gr of discouragement for hostiles included in the package. Better for cover penetration that one would expect in a metro area and putting an attack to a stop in general. Lastly, 7.62Soviet is much more affordable to shoot, train, and stockpile than 5.56. Those are my reasons, YMMV.
Ok. So I'd rather not wait for a course to figure out my gear layout doesn't work. The more time wasted addressing those issues is the less time that is spent becoming a better armed citizen. I've been working on some basic manipulation for a couple weeks now toward that end, but today is the first time I loaded on the gear that I'd choose to have at hand during a civil disturbance while doing it.
I've discovered a couple of things fairly quickly:
1. The idea that tactics/procedures that work for the AR also work for the AK is patently false.
2. I have not found a way to extract a new mag from a chest rig, extract the empty from the weapon, charge the gun with the new one, and replace the old mag in the rig without taking my eyes off the threat area or lowering the gun from eye level. Two problems. The magazine catch "notch" on the back of the mag interferes with the quick drawing/insertion of the mag into the mag pouch without looking. Rig used is an Eagle Universal from SKD TAC. The other issue is that my mags are a firm fit into the mag well of my gun. Lastly, unless you've got some really big mitts, there isn't an easy way to hold one ak mag with any degree of control while manipulating another into the gun. I may have to alter the system that I know second nature to include putting the empty/almost empty mag in back pocket first, then drawing a fresh one from the chest, lastly recharging the bolt.
3. The Soviet Bloc standard sling is not sufficiently long for anything but as a hasty sling. Transitions into prone or supine prone are slow and cumbersome because there is too much tension to allow the strap to smoothly slide across my back for quick sight acquisition. The same goes for transitioning to the handgun from a drop leg. Because I am required to "pull" the gun into position on the weak side, my weak side hand is put into an uncomfortable position before the gun falls fully, barrel down, on my weak side. The tension in the sling would become more pronounced if I wore anything other than the t-shirt that I had today.
4. Donning what I'd wear inside my home (reason for MY loadout) during a civil emergency is moderately heavy. I'm not in the condition of my earlier days but I'm also not a slob. Having qualified that, I imagine it would be a PITA to wear for several days straight in Georgia summer heat without AC. Best to get back into form sooner than later.
5. There really isn't a place on my rig for a radio. I also need to find a way to have some water at hand. Will try to integrate a Camelbak MULE into the system later today. There are probably better solutions but that's what I have on hand.
6. Applying the safety before performing a reload and releasing it upon its completion isn't viable on an AK. The charging handle isn't allowed the full range to strip a new round off the mag when the safety is on.
now, my questions follow:
1. What type and make two point sling do others use that is adjustable so as to allow enough slack to accommodate any chest gear that may be worn but also can be tightened down to assist in finding a stable shooting platform from sitting/prone?
2. How do you folks perform an admin or tac reload using an AK pattern gun?
3. What LBE gear do you own that extends itself to easy manipulation by AK sized mags?
4. What do you all do for hydration on the move? As in, the taps don't work or you aren't near one.
5. What other aspects of training/going to AK gun can you think of that I should keep in mind as a consideration?
What'ya think? Intelligent comments please. I only ask that folks not turn this thread into an AR v. AK debate. That isn't being discussed here.
Thanks for looking.
