Mikhail Kalashnikov dies at 94

[aray]

Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the AK-47, dies at 94:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/rifle-designer-mikhail-kalashnikov-dead-94-21310543

[VN Vet]

You think Obama will attend this man's funeral services?

Yes, I think both Mandela and Kalashnikov were great men, both were communist and both had an impact on the World, be it good or be it bad, but I may be wrong. My wife tells me I am most always wrong. But, what does she know? She's more wrong than I am. ;>)

[CJB]

Not into his politics.... but credit where due. He designed a good weapon,

[TheTman]

I wonder how many deaths the AK-47 and variants have caused world wide. I bet its a very large number. It's was a damn good weapon for Russian, and all the rebel forces that have adopted it. You can abuse the hell out of it and it just keeps firing.

[downtownv]

The original "Spray and Pray" gun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhxqIITtTtU

no comment.

[RevRay]

You think Obama will attend this man's funeral services?

Yes, I think both Mandela and Kalashnikov were great men, both were communist and both had an impact on the World, be it good or be it bad, but I may be wrong. My wife tells me I am most always wrong. But, what does she know? She's more wrong than I am. ;>)

When my wife criticizes me for something ... which she does on occasion ... I simply remind her that she married me ... so I can't be all bad!

[ltxi]

Not into his politics.... but credit where due. He designed a good weapon,

Damn straight!

[ltxi]

I wonder how many deaths the AK-47 and variants have caused world wide. I bet its a very large number. It's was a damn good weapon for Russian, and all the rebel forces that have adopted it. You can abuse the hell out of it and it just keeps firing.

....unlike the original M16. Thank you Misha....

[RRP]

I wish he had been on our side.

[MikeyKahr]

There are sides? I bet the USG distributed more of the comrade's weapons than any other in our country's seen and unseen history over the years.

[aray]

I wish he had been on our side.

In 1947 he sorta was.

Recall that the USSR started the war on the side of the Axis powers - Hilter and Stalin both invaded Poland. Then Hitler got greedy and stabbed Stalin in the back. Stalin, being the opportunist that he was and being deeply in trouble (and really having no other choice) switched sides. The AK was developed in that period of defense against Germany.

Of course when WWII was over, Stalin once again became the enemy of freedom and liberty and the Cold War was born.

[ltxi]

In 1947 he sorta was.

Recall that the USSR started the war on the side of the Axis powers - Hilter and Stalin both invaded Poland. Then Hitler got greedy and stabbed Stalin in the back. Stalin, being the opportunist that he was and being deeply in trouble (and really having no other choice) switched sides. The AK was developed in that period of defense against Germany.

Of course when WWII was over, Stalin once again became the enemy of freedom and liberty and the Cold War was born.

Thanks aray...I was thinking of posting something about that but thought it too hard. He invented that weapon for defense of his homeland....makes him one of us in my book.

[ParabellumJ]

He created a tool. Let's not confuse that with the politics of his homeland.

[CJB]

I'm gonna chime in again on this....

The thing with Kalashnikov, Pederson, Ruger, and Browning.... is how very interesting it is that they designed with the manufacturing process in mind, each knowing their own capabilities and the capabilities at a production level. Sorta like... I know what I want to do, but how in hell am I gonna actually make it? Better yet, how are they boys gonna be able to make a bunch of 'em? There's talent.

[muggsy]

Never been a fan of the man, his gun or his politics.

[CJB]

Truth be told I had a folding stock Czech AK semi-auto. I bought it with three crates of ammo, and a few spare mags. I think it was like some odd number of rounds in those crates... 1240ish (or something like that). Fired it all. Never cleaned the rifle. Sold it for more than I paid for the rifle and ammo all together, and it still hadn't been cleaned and still hadn't malfunctioned well beyond heavy use by its second owner. On the other hand, you'd be hard pressed to hit a paper pie plate with it at 100 yards.

I look at AK's as a sort of bridge between the M1 Carbine's role, and the M4 Carbine's role. Where as the M1 Carbine was really under powered, but handy, and the M4 has the oomph and accuracy, the AK is in the middle someplace. There's a role for it.... I guess.

I'll take the M4 these days. Number 2 is in the works.... sorry Misha!

[ParabellumJ]

There is good reason the AK is the most widely used military rifle in history. It's cheap, it's built like a tank, and it runs in any conditions. Accurate it ain't, but in a jungle or a sandbox it seems to be the perfect tool for the job. I prefer the AR-15 for its accuracy and modularity, but as a tool of battle, the AK is among the best of all time.

[TheTman]

I shot an Egyptian Maadi RPM (would have been akin to a SAW), with a 20" barrel instead of the 16" norm, and I was surprised at the accuracy of it, compared to a Norinco version with standard 16" barrel. My S&W 629 classic with 6" barrel would shoot a tighter group at somewhere around 75 yards, than the Norinco would, the Maadi had a lot smaller group than the Norinco, and was close to the group from the 629. About 3 inches. All using iron sights, no optics. The SKS outshot them all, and would be the rifle I'd go deer hunting with if I had nothing better.

[Armybrat]

I wonder how many deaths the AK-47 and variants have caused world wide. I bet its a very large number. It's was a damn good weapon for Russian, and all the rebel forces that have adopted it. You can abuse the hell out of it and it just keeps firing.

I would venture to say they caused 0 deaths.

Now the ideologies & their followers that employed their use certainly have killed untold hundreds of thousands over the past 60+ years.

[ltxi]

I would venture to say they caused 0 deaths.

Now the ideologies & their followers that employed their use certainly have killed untold hundreds of thousands over the past 60+ years.

And x25.3 to this, also. Kalashnikov was a great in the world of firearms design.