Paul Harrell on AR vs. AK Accuracy

Here we have the incomparable Paul Harrell — haters, please don’t cry too hard about his lack of eye protection — comparing the accuracy of AK and AR/M16 platforms.

As he says about AR vs. AK: “It’s been done to death but people seem to never tire of it, so here we are again.”

Unfortunately the audio sucks throughout the video, thanks to wind on his apparently-unprotected microphone.

He uses Winchester “white box” ammo, which is more affordable than some ammo but decidedly better quality than the cheap imported ammo most of us like to burn in AKs.

The rifles in the test are an M16A1 the AK is an M10 made in Romania. The M10, he observes, is a big step up from the actual AKs seen out there being used by insurgents in the real world.

After putting them through a series of tests it’s clear that for him, the AR works better. But then he changes it up but putting away the M10 and bringing out a WASR-10/63 to shoot a pair of groups at 300 yards.

He hit the targets every time, but the AK scatters them a bit. Who could’ve guessed?

Yeah, I know… just about anyone. But if you care about the AR and/or the AK, check out the video below. As Paul says, “Is it accurate enough? You be the judge.”

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.