Private security in Iraq - choice of weapon AK47?

Graphite is the right choice for Arctic/extreme cold environments, though. Graphite doesn't freeze - any liquid lube eventually will.

That's what I thought, however apparently graphite, which contains lead, causes a galvanic corrosion reaction with aluminum.
 
Besides the availability and price etc. the 7.62X 39 carbines blend in better if that matters...

Blend in? How would that be? Private Security, even with locals sticks out like a sore thumb. I can guarantee you that not one single company was worried about blending in or the look of the rifle. At the end of the day, it was a question of what you could legal get and register. I went through it in Iraq. What I wanted, and what was available were two entirely different things.
 
I am the seargent of a 3 man tactical response force at one of Canada's largest shopping centres. I am a master of ninjitsu and 3 other martial arts which allows me to wear the special boots for climbing walls. I choose the AK-47 to help me watch over your pathetic lives like a GOD.

Wow! Could you tell me more about this elite unit? I wonder if I could apply for the next Selection intake? I sure hope I don't get Returned To Mommy after going through your "Hell Weak"!

;)
 
Agreed. My first go I tried using Graphite powder, and it didn't work so bad, but I read certain articles that made me realize that it was a no-no.

Is Graphite powder not really practical for desert conditions? I was under the impression that was the best solution...but I've been out of the game for longer than I care to admit!

The thinking back when I was current, was that graphite would provide low friction for the action to cycle, but because it wasn't a liquid, would not trap and suspend sand particles on the contact surfaces.
 
That's what I thought, however apparently graphite, which contains lead, causes a galvanic corrosion reaction with aluminum.

Graphite does NOT contain lead. However, the galvanic corrosion thing is correct. It can corrode stainless, and aluminum in the presence of moisture.
 
Graphite does NOT contain lead. However, the galvanic corrosion thing is correct. It can corrode stainless, and aluminum in the presence of moisture.

Fair enough. I don't know much about metallurgy, but I thought I recalled something about lead, been a couple years since I read the article...

Either way, I switched back to CLP overseas, and never had a failure to feed/fire.
 
Blend in? How would that be? Private Security, even with locals sticks out like a sore thumb. I can guarantee you that not one single company was worried about blending in or the look of the rifle. At the end of the day, it was a question of what you could legal get and register. I went through it in Iraq. What I wanted, and what was available were two entirely different things.

Gottcha,
No choice then.
 
I think there are two reasons:

1) Export permit - it is not easy and fast to get US export permit if the company is not US. Other governments like the German one does not like to allow weapons to be delivered to some places. Most of the time, contracts might not be well planned out, and they need weapons right the way and you go out to buy whatever it is available.

2) Ak are super cheap versus AR and othe western weapons are expensive. You can get surplus AK at a fraction of the cost of a new western weapon. It is all about profitability.
 
Wow! Could you tell me more about this elite unit? I wonder if I could apply for the next Selection intake? I sure hope I don't get Returned To Mommy after going through your "Hell Weak"!

;)

roflcopter....you won't even make it through the secret handshake portion.
 
It comes down to price and import regulations. Armour Group was using AKs for a while until they got their M4s. Private companies sometimes have trouble getting things into the country and you have to pay the bribes in Afghanistan and it takes forever for things to get there. Armour Group which is now G4S will give their PSD guys M4 but their Ghurkas get AK47 with 1 mag. This is a business so they are going to cut costs.
 
It comes down to price and import regulations. Armour Group was using AKs for a while until they got their M4s. Private companies sometimes have trouble getting things into the country and you have to pay the bribes in Afghanistan and it takes forever for things to get there. Armour Group which is now G4S will give their PSD guys M4 but their Ghurkas get AK47 with 1 mag. This is a business so they are going to cut costs.

Private companies sometimes have trouble getting things into the country and you have to pay the bribes in Afghanistan and it takes forever for things to get there. Armour Group which is now G4S will give their PSD guys M4 but their Ghurkas get AK47 with 1 mag. This is a business so they are going to cut costs.

Armour Group which is now G4S will give their PSD guys M4 but their Ghurkas get AK47 with 1 mag. This is a business so they are going to cut costs.

but their Ghurkas get AK47 with 1 mag.


Holy s**t, PMC Ghurkas, should they haver their kukri knives or some form of lesser local kinfe, to blend in?
 
AK in country

Think about it.
You and your team of self proclaimed tier one operators are doing some work overseas and you " accidentally " murder a bunch of civilians because in your uneducated opinion they looked like they didn't appreciate having their country invaded and occupied.
If you wasted these " insurgents " with a 5.56, there would be evidence that a bunch of trigger happy, closed minded hacks had done the deed.
Using an AK means you can walk away virtually guilt free and head back to the Green Zone to smoke weed and drop E.
This is all hypothetical of course.
Blackwater.jpg
[/IMG]
 
Think about it.
You and your team of self proclaimed tier one operators are doing some work overseas and you " accidentally " murder a bunch of civilians because in your uneducated opinion they looked like they didn't appreciate having their country invaded and occupied.
If you wasted these " insurgents " with a 5.56, there would be evidence that a bunch of trigger happy, closed minded hacks had done the deed.
Using an AK means you can walk away virtually guilt free and head back to the Green Zone to smoke weed and drop E.
This is all hypothetical of course.
Blackwater.jpg
[/IMG]

I think if you jumped a goat or a cammel and had an ak 47 slung over youre shoulder, and smoking some opium or what ever is legal there... and then wasted some local terrorists, you would blend in beautifully, and no one would bat an eye.G:
 
It would be interesting to know why they pick AKs over something else. I don't have the answer to that. I do know, speaking from having ARs, AKs, VZs, a Daewoo, and an M1a, that an AR is hard to beat. The accuracy is better than anything I can think of (except the Daewoo) and there are a million accessories. I'm not even an AR guy, the platform makes sense, but I like VZs. Guess that is why I visit this site. Here in the U.S. everyone uses an AR for just about anything, from hunting to home defense. AKs are readily available common and cheap here, but just don't seem to be held in the same regard as an AR. Personally, I don't suscribe to the AR not being suitable for the conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan, as the Israeli's would rather carry an AR than their own Galil. While here in the U.S., the Galil is highly sought after since they have not been imported since the early 90's. Huh, go figure. It seems like everyone always wants something they can't have I guess. Canadians have a better weapon in the VZ than an AK, and you guys' can own SBR weapons. While here in the U.S. we have to fill out an application to the ATF and pay a $200 tax stamp.
 
It also depends on the country`s firearms importation laws for civilians. Iraq for example banned the importation of certain firearms for civilians later on in the war. The abundance of AK`s means less hassle with the country at hand and all the other reasons above.
 
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