Private security in Iraq - choice of weapon AK47?

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wherermykeys

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I don't want to start another 7.62 vs 5.56 thread here but I just finished watching a Nat Geographic documentary on private security firms in Iraq. I noticed almost all of them carried AKs with folding stocks. They focused mostly on British groups and granted, the Blackwater guys they showed were all carrying ARs but I was wondering why the love for the AK by the British guys? Some of them weren't even running optics...just plain old AKs with iron sights.

They can choose to run anything they want right??

btw, the documentary is called "Iraq's Guns for Hire".
 
the AK is not a bad platform at all.
plus you would have the advantage that when you fire, locals will confuse you with the insurgents....
 
Maybe because the Brits can actually shoot whereas anti-semitic, racist, steroid-juiced, homicidal rage monkeys such as Blackwater need toys to compensate?
 
deathvallymag.com

They have a forum; but from what I've read of the articles on there they use and wear what ever their employer says they should. Although it seems that depending on the contract they have some lee way.

FAL gets good reviews same as M4/ar15/etc.
 
FWIW, PMC firms dictate to their operators what they can and cannot use.

In A-stan some groups are told to use the SIG550, others the VZ58, and still others use M4 carbines. It depends on the outfit, what they invested in, and that company's policies. In some outfits they have an assortment of gear operators can choose from, but this may be the exception.
 
Claven2 said:
FWIW, PMC firms dictate to their operators what they can and cannot use.

In A-stan some groups are told to use the SIG550, others the VZ58, and still others use M4 carbines. It depends on the outfit, what they invested in, and that company's policies. In some outfits they have an assortment of gear operators can choose from, but this may be the exception.
Click to expand...

Now another FWIW, they could have been VZ58s...:redface: I know I should be able to tell the difference...I just assumed they were AKs...
 
In a few books I have read, they said it was local purchase. It is hard to get import permits for weapons so they just bought what was available.

Shawn
 
wherermykeys said:
I don't want to start another 7.62 vs 5.56 thread here but I just finished watching a Nat Geographic documentary on private security firms in Iraq. I noticed almost all of them carried AKs with folding stocks. They focused mostly on British groups and granted, the Blackwater guys they showed were all carrying ARs but I was wondering why the love for the AK by the British guys? Some of them weren't even running optics...just plain old AKs with iron sights.

They can choose to run anything they want right??

btw, the documentary is called "Iraq's Guns for Hire".
Click to expand...

Be weary the AR kool aid. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a well maintained AK.

I would also carry one, without optics, in a place like Iraq where dirt is fine and everywhere. There is the ability to take mags/ammo from locals and you attract a fair bit less attention with the AK than the AR. Dependability is the uttmost when lives are at stake.
 
Some are using the new serbian assault rifle, the zastava m-21. Pretty much a galil, but with regular AK style sights. Fantastic rifle Ak's are :).
 
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