In the past, I frequented the r/AK47 page, but there are a few things that are hardcore turnoffs regarding r/AK47.
First, the elitism is heavy on that page. You’ll see folks focusing on trash-talking domestic AKs. They’re tracking US-made AK pattern rifles in a document, highlighting each reported issue. I don’t have an issue with tracking in this fashion, if it’s tracked across all makes. If issues across ALL makes aren’t being tracked, then that’s 100% bias.
I say this because I’ve noticed issues being reported by Zastava owners, yet that make’s issues aren’t being tracked. As well, I’ve seen quite a few issues with WASRs and those issues also go unreported. I’m not the only person noticing the bias. Folks ask about the bias all the time, but their questions are ignored.
I got curious about issues, so I began to keep track of them myself, using a Google spreadsheet, which is here. This effort was more of a proof of concept and only has a subset of data, but it’s a LOT better than what the sub has. It currently has 77 line items and I was also able to create pivot tables to show different types of data (e.g., per make; per model; per make and model; issue make and count; issue make and issue count). This information shows details that goes against what the mods say. For example, the mods will shit on PSA AKs and the mantra is that they’re the worst of the bunch, but based on the subset of data I have in the spreadsheet (77 lines of issues), Zastava wears that crown – 37 issues compared to PSA’s 9 issues. Across the range of issues, the Zastava M70 has the highest count of issues (22). Faulty sights and firing pins are the most frequent type of issues.
The spreadsheet was generated from r/AK47 posts…from that sub’s own data! The information is revealing and each line item has a hyperlink of the source material, so there’s immediate transparency – the sub’s current issue tracking documents have NO transparency at all. Folks post bullshit information and the mods run with it without any type of validation.
The spreadsheet was hand-jammed. Nowadays, a reddit bot might be able to compile a report like this (I’m guessing – not sure on this). Or, maybe AI might be able to compile a report from posts that report issues.
When I told the mods that most of their claims were bullshit and showed them my spreadsheet, they initially laughed it off but later asked if I would be willing to work with them to better document issues, but they also said they didn’t want to track it the way I’d done it — meaning, they didn’t want to be transparent. I left them to their fuddery.
Secondly, it’s all frat-boy attitude at r/AK47. If you’ve an issue and asking for help, you’ll get assistance but you’ll have to wait for folks to stop laughing at your issue or your questions/concerns. Most folks there do not want to help – they want to laugh. And if you’ve a US-made AK and are asking for assistance, you’ll be ridiculed to death before someone comes along that’s willing to assist (those folks will more than likely own the same gun). Even simple questions that a new person might ask will get laughed at. It’s probably best to not mention that it’s a US-made gun unless it’s absolutely necessary.
To be honest, it’s the same at the AK Files forum, too. That doesn’t excuse the behavior, though.
So, if you own an AK and have questions, you should develop thick skin before asking at r/AK47 and AK Files. Or, search through old posts and send folks that had similar issues a private message in Reddit (or in the case of AK Files, a forum private message).
UPDATE (8/5/2025): Note that this post was initially posted years ago. When clicking the URLs, many of the source material has been deleted, either by the users (in attempts to hide prior posts) or by the sub mods.