I'm really surprised these courses with AK-47's aren't far more popular than the AR-15 courses of the same nature. For one the guns are cheaper, and far more reliable! I know this will bring about a great many comments, but the fact remains the assault rifle of choice worldwide is the Kalashnikov. People need to accept that fact. I get so sick and tired of Colt lovers not accepting the FACT the AK-47 is the worldwide carbine of choice for war. I own and shoot a total of 7 AR-15 rifles, and love them all like children, but that does not excuse the fact the AK-47 is the greatest war rifle ever developed! PERIOD! I don't mean to offend with pure fact. Bill T.
You have to remember Bill that a certain amount of the "popularity" of the AK is due to the fact that the Soviet Union gave thousands of them to any one with a beef against the west. During the Cold War the US was the leading arms supplier in the world based on value, We were selling air craft, ships and armored vehicles, but VOLUME wise the Soviets took the prize hands down, distributing tens of thousands of tons of AK's and RPG's to every one from China to the IRA.
With that in mind if you were in a third world country would you pick the weapon that you wanted, or the one that was free ?
Not trying to down the AK, it IS reliable, but you don't see to many of them at shooting matches. Just pointing out that the proliferation of them around the world is not necessarily by choice.
Note, The Sandinista's in Nicaragua used M16's that they were given by North Vietnam.