Norinco MAK 90 vs. AR 15

[hillman]

How does a Norinco MAK 90 compare to a AR 15 (whatever quality AR you would get for $1000-1200 range)?

Can someone who has experience with these break them down for me in terms of reliability, accuracy, availability of pre-ban magazines, overall general value? There may be one of these in my near future. (If you're reading this, just kidding, babe!)

I'm looking for something that will be both fun to shoot and useful for SHTF situations. Not concerned with hunting or home defense, I have other tools for that.

Thanks.





The New Zed Order: SURVIVE

 

[stinx]

The AR will have the edge in accuracy, but the AK will win out in reliability. The AR. is not as unreliable as people make them out and the AK is not as inaccurate as people say. THe AR is modular.so its easy to reconfigure the gun etc. The easiset answer is get one of each, as they are both excellent weapons. WWW.Warriortalk.com has alot of great AK information, as well as AR info.

 

[fbirdquik6]

AK's are cheap, clunky, stamped steel creations. They are not all that accurate but very reliable. I would never pay more than $600 for any AK

Ar's are machined quality, so they are much better finished, and very accurate. They are a design that has become well adopted, and therefore has an enormous aftermarket, with conversions, and endless accesories. I have over 3000 rounds of the cheapest and crapiest ammo you can find, through mine and have only had one isue which was a failure of a Steel shell casing and not of the gun. Most AR's are worth between $850 on the low end, to ~$2000 on the high end.

YMMV

 

[Blitz1]

I'll take reliability over accuracy any day. Norinco.

 

[Baldkat82]

I would say, that for a SHTF scenario, I'd prefer the mak-90.

I have one and an AR. I find that my AR is finicky with ammo. One particular brand of .223 I've tried wont cycle properly. It makes my AR essentially bolt action, lol. I've had no issues with my mak-90. I also paid less that half of what I paid for my AR, for my mak-90.

My mak-90 is very accurate as well. I am very happy with it's performance in that area.

 

[gerrycaruso]

I'd pick the AR15 for long range precision shooting because it's more accurate and easier to scope and the AK47 for defense because its more reliable and hits harder. I have had both for about 20 years. I have a Poly Tech AK47 and a Sendra M16. I had a Colt AR 15 but sold it when I bought the M16. Both are very good but in my opinion, do different jobs.

 

[Moderator]

Wow, a M16 vs AK47 thread. this should be interesting. lol

They both have their ups and downs. What good is a gun that may not be reliable in your environment, what good is reliability if you can't hit your distant target? Caliber size, ergonomics, and accessories, also come into play.

I sling both, and will continue to have both available in my arsenal. If you want it all, I say go with an FAL or SOCOM II

 

[mac1911]

I luvs my MAC90. The thing shoots and shoots and shoots. The best I can say on accuracy. I hit the 100yard military target @100 yards. Yes hit the target. Somewhere on the paper the shots where.
I liked it a lot more when we could roll tree stumps out on the range and turn them into tooth pics. I have a russian scope on my AK cool and silly all at once. Has been 100%
Never jamb,FTF,FTE

I have had my AR just about a year now. no issues more fun to shoot when trying to actually hit specific point on a target.

They are both designed to hit M.O.M I found a article about SKS's. Acceptable accuracy was 10 shots in a 16" target @ 100 meters. I would say this should be about the same for ak,ar or any other military combat rifle. Special builds and good rifleman skill aside.

Get both. I started with a russian SKS still the least exspensive. I will shoot that over the mak only because it slows the ammo consumption a tad.

 

[hillman]

Wow, a M16 vs AK47 thread. this should be interesting. lol

They both have their ups and downs. What good is a gun that may not be reliable in your environment, what good is reliability if you can't hit your distant target? Caliber size, ergonomics, and accessories, also come into play.

I sling both, and will continue to have both available in my arsenal. If you want it all, I say go with an FAL or SOCOM II

I hadn't intended to start an M16 vs AK47 thread, more like a Norinco MAK 90 vs. (AR 15 in the $1000-1200) range, as those were what I was looking at available for sale near me.

 

[45collector]

I had a MAK-90 for a few years, traded it toward a Luger. As others have said, that thing would not quit. Never any failures of any kind. Since that trade I've picked up an SKS and an AR. I spent hours cleaning the cosmo out of the SKS, and replaced the gas seal. Shoots beautiful now. I had some problems with the AR at first but fixed those with Magpul followers and a new buffer spring. Also, it only likes 5.56. .223 doesn't do so well. I'm happy with both those rifles and probably won't bother to get another AK variant. Definitely a reliable rifle but the SKS is good enough for me for 7.62x39.

 

[Gadsden]

I've owned both. I used to swear the MAK was better than any AR.
MAK:
Pros: Reliable as hell, great trigger pull. Feeds anything. It is a great rifle, and my favorite of the AKs that I have shot.
Cons: Not as accurate, more muzzle climb, round less effective outside 200 yards, crappy ergonomics. Prone shooting is difficult, rounds more bulky.

AR:
Pros: Not as reliable as MAK, but still works great if taken care of. Accurate out to 600+ yards, round is more effective (better wound channel in short distances, more likely to be on target at longer ones), great ergonomics.
Cons: not as reliable in mud, gunk, etc. Can be picky about ammo.

I chose the AR over the two. I have rarely had mine to fail (although crappy ammo can cause this). I rather have the ability to actually hit a target out at decent distances and lay prone. In the real world you would be very unlikely to be in a situation where you need shoot so much you would not have time to clean the firearm. If you do, get a piston operated AR and be done with it. Just buy them both, practice a lot with both, then grab the one you prefer if you need it!

I look at it this way.. there is a reason that professionals tend to use the AR platform while third-world places with disposable troops use the AK.

I say go for a M1/M1A, FAL, or HK-91 and have the best of all worlds.

*disclaimer* personal observations, IMHO/YMMV/WWJS/INAL/OMGLOL/ROFL/ETC

 

[The Goose]

My MAK 90 is definitely my SHTF rifle. I replaced the gas tube with an Ultimak for the optics rail and made a few other changes. This thing will shoot all day long without a glitch. Great rifle. No tack driver, but a great defensive rifle.

 

[seanc]

It is really hard to go wrong either way. Ultimately, you'll probably end up with an AK and an AR.

But, with all of that said. I would opt to go with an AK first.
With the money saved (vs the ar) put as much of that balance into mags (ak and ar) and then when funds permit hedge your bets and pick up an AR lower.

 

[andy t]

I would choose AR- more ergonomic, much more versatile - one lower for multiple uppers.
It's reliable too. All the people having issues with AR's and crappy ammo most likely have out of spec AR's with tight chambers, improperly staked gas keys, etc...
Go with a quality AR NOT a DPMS/Olympic/Other no name and it will work just as reliably as an AK while offering superior ergonomics and better accuracy.

 

[hillman]

Thanks for all the advice. Now I have to find a gun shop that has one of each and see what they feel like in my hands.

 

[drumenigma]

Buy a Galil.

 

[vellnueve]

Chinese AKs are among the best (although Norinco takes the back seat easily to Polytech)

That said, I'm an AR type.

 

[hillman]

Buy a Galil.

As soon as I can find one in the $1000-1200 range, you betcha.

 

[TomH]

I would choose AR- more ergonomic, much more versatile - one lower for multiple uppers.
It's reliable too. All the people having issues with AR's and crappy ammo most likely have out of spec AR's with tight chambers, improperly staked gas keys, etc...
Go with a quality AR NOT a DPMS/Olympic/Other no name and it will work just as reliably as an AK while offering superior ergonomics and better accuracy.

This. And don't let people BS you with the "dirty gas system" argument. Unless you plan on firing thousands of rounds in a single encounter (yeah right ) it won't jam up on you because of that. My Colt is definitely my SHTF rifle. I have yet to have either of my AR's go "click" instead of "bang".

 

[SKS Ray]

If you've got the money for an AR than you have the cash to get a much better AK47 than a Mak90.

You can find an Arsenal Inc or converted Saiga for $1,000 - $1,200.

Sure some Mak90s are better than others, mine for example is a Polytech, but in the end they'll run basically the same.

If it was my money, I'd get a nice pre ban Chinese AK and spend the rest of the cash on magazines and ammo for it.

 

[Dench]

thats a hard question, and i honestly cant say what id chose...

but, if i was never in the Army, I would almost deffinatly say go with the MAK-90. Its a solid rifle (not some clanky thing like another poster in this thread thinks), is accurate up to reasonable distances, durable as all hell, etc etc.

pre ban AK mags are incredibly easy to come by.

also, if it breaks, you can slam a mosin nagant off it a few times and it will get it back into working order (thats your que, clinotus)

 

[clinotus]

also, if it breaks, you can slam a mosin nagant off it a few times and it will get it back into working order (thats your que, clinotus)

This is true, I have seen the denchmosin in action, slaughtering targets, clubbing deviants, and used as an armorer's toolset.

This thread needs more animation!

 

[vellnueve]

If you've got the money for an AR than you have the cash to get a much better AK47 than a Mak90.

You can find an Arsenal Inc or converted Saiga for $1,000 - $1,200.

Sure some Mak90s are better than others, mine for example is a Polytech, but in the end they'll run basically the same.

If it was my money, I'd get a nice pre ban Chinese AK and spend the rest of the cash on magazines and ammo for it.

Milsurps, the Norincos and the Polytechs are two different animals. The Polytechs were built to much more exacting specs and the AK-47S Legend is considered to be the cream of the crop for AK imports. Fit and finish are superb. The MAK-90 is a far more commonly found version that came into the country with a thumbhole stock and "sporter" 5 round mags.

The MAK-90s are nice, but the Polytech is the cream of the crop as far as imported semi-auto AKs go.

 

[FalArAk]

I like AK47.

AK47 is good.

AK74 is better.

I like AK74.

AR good.

I like AR.

AR not as good as AK.

I like AK.

I get both.

 

[hillman]

So does this mean $900 is too much to pay for a Norinco Mak 90?

 

[SKS Ray]

Milsurps, the Norincos and the Polytechs are two different animals. The Polytechs were built to much more exacting specs and the AK-47S Legend is considered to be the cream of the crop for AK imports. Fit and finish are superb. The MAK-90 is a far more commonly found version that came into the country with a thumbhole stock and "sporter" 5 round mags.

The MAK-90s are nice, but the Polytech is the cream of the crop as far as imported semi-auto AKs go.

My Poytech Mak 90 was one of the stamped receiver import AKs that got caught up in the AWB and was neutered. You can see where the receiver's model type was milled off and the letters "Mak 90" crudely etched and its clear where they ground the bayonet lug off and shaved the muzzle threads. Plus its got a straight cut receiver.

I'm not sure if any of the milled receiver models were turned into Mak 90s, but I know later imports with the slant cut receiver were scheduled for Mak 90 status right from the start.

Whats great is that the Poly Tech web site still sells original parts and anyone can return a Poly Tech Mak 90 into original config if they had the tools and time. Their web site used to have a section detailing what was different about their AK47s but I don't think the info is on there anymore.

Bottom line is its still an AK47 and will run just like the rest, only a little smoother and will look better.

 

[SKS Ray]

So does this mean $900 is too much to pay for a Norinco Mak 90?

I'd say its at least $400 too much and even then a Mak 90 would have to be mint and come with accessories for me to pay $500 for one.

 

[drgrant]

So does this mean $900 is too much to pay for a Norinco Mak 90?

$900 is way too much. $650 at the most, and the only reason you have to
pay that much is because of the WASR-10 junkers bringing up the
rear at stupidly high prices.

Back in even 04 you could get em for $350-400 or so... but that was before
Obama.

-Mike

 

[drgrant]

The MAK-90s are nice, but the Polytech is the cream of the crop as far as imported semi-auto AKs go.

You're also forgetting Valmets and the rare Steyr Maadis. Excellent rifles.

Some would say the Valmet isn't an AK, but it takes AK mags and has a similar internal mechanism, so it is to me.

-Mike

 

[vellnueve]

I'm one of those people who say the Valmet isn't an AK