Historical examples of "good guys" using AKs

[robledo]

A coworker of mine recently handled an AK for the first time and seemed to dislike it on principle, declaring it to only be a "drug dealer gun" and mentioned that "communists and terrorists use them" etc etc.

That got me thinking of what historical examples there could be when AK pattern rifles were used for good or self defense. Some of these "good guys" fall into a shade of gray in many cases but it is still an interesting thing to consider.

1956 Hungarian Uprising, 1989 Romanian Revolution, the Bosnian War.... in the shades of gray (before they started targeting civilians and using terrorism) you could include the Chechen Wars, and the Taliban fighting off the Russians in the 80s. Any obscure historical events that you guys can think of?

[lovemyguns]

Ask a roosky handling an AR platform and they will say the same thing, that only Americans use AR's.

[AK all day]

I have often thought about this.

"The good guys" is relative to the perspective from which you look at it from. Typically, AKs are used by groups or countries that many consider "bad guys" in the west. The gun was designed in the east, distributed among the east, and fairly available to any god forsaken terrorist, drug lord, ect. From the other point of view they are the "good guys". However, if you watch and study various conflicts in the Middle East, AR platform rifles are also used by the "bad guys". They are not picky in most cases, and will take anything that will throw lead. The AK just happens to be very widely available, thus gets the bad reputation.

I personally don't look at guns and like or dislike them because of who made them, or who used them, I like them based on operation, function, and of course the one nobody likes to admit, looks.

I am a good guy (at least I think so), and use some AKs


Russian Spetsnaz may be "communist" however they are a counter terrorism unit and considered mostly "good guys" by me personally. They use just about every AK...

[deckhandmike]

IRA used them. Flame on.

[Taquero07]

it's on Mozambique's flag




flame suit on

[j-shot]

During the battle of fallujah rumor has it US forces were at times picking up AKs for use as they are more tolerant of sand.



Good guys with AKs

More good guys with AKs

Other good guys with AKs

[bob7122]

the citizens defense league in mexico uses them to defend themselves from narcs and feds

[gwgn02]

A coworker of mine recently handled an AK for the first time and seemed to dislike it on principle, declaring it to only be a "drug dealer gun" and mentioned that "communists and terrorists use them" etc etc.

That got me thinking of what historical examples there could be when AK pattern rifles were used for good or self defense. Some of these "good guys" fall into a shade of gray in many cases but it is still an interesting thing to consider.

1956 Hungarian Uprising, 1989 Romanian Revolution, the Bosnian War.... in the shades of gray (before they started targeting civilians and using terrorism) you could include the Chechen Wars, and the Taliban fighting off the Russians in the 80s. Any obscure historical events that you guys can think of?

Korean shop owners. 1992 LA Riots.

[timdps]

"Good guys" operating behind enemy lines use them: Vietnam and other places...

[gaberaynes]

Well in Fallujah alot of soldiers dropped there rifles and picked up ak's plenty of ammo around and the enemy couldnt pinpoint americans where abouts by the sound of a rifle. Oh and there super sexy

[gaberaynes]

Oh sorry j-shot just seen your post yes you are right

[gorn5150]

My son was an Army sniper assigned to an airborne unit in both Iraq and Afghanistan (several deployments). There were many times he would grab an AK instead of his M-4 when he went out of the wire on hunter/killer missions.

Some of the reasons he gave me were that they always fire, ammo is easy to come by when behind enemy lines and the silhouette blends in to what the bad guys think is there equipment.

[j-shot]

Well in Fallujah alot of soldiers dropped there rifles and picked up ak's plenty of ammo around and the enemy couldnt pinpoint americans where abouts by the sound of a rifle. Oh and there super sexy

Oh sorry j-shot just seen your post yes you are right

[Powder_Keg]

Gandalf would be considered a good guy and his rifle of choice is the AK.

[gaberaynes]

Powder_Keg you have to let me use that as my avatar.