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View Full Version : Larry Vickers AK class Chino CA 2011 or how I learned to love my AR



tac40
25 August 2011, 10:52
I was able to get down to Chino CA to attend the Larry Vickers AK class. The class was filled with students from various backgrounds including LEO, DOD personnels, celebrities and civilians. The course itself was a basic AK class with some elements of movements, pistol transitions, and historical insights. Mr Vickers knowledge base is vast and his experience shows through. Mr Vickers's AK, AR, & pistol classes are deserving of your attention.

The first thing I got out of the class was how I really love my AR. The AK is a soild and reliable work horse but difficult to fine tune due to the many Soviet block versions out there. Some AKs worked and well some did not. Some mags fit and others did not, you get the picture. Overall, The AK is a weapon that works and can keep working, accuracy is ok at best, the ergonomics are not friendly for speed and lastly it's affordable rifle unless you want an above average AK from Rifle Dynamics or Arsenal where you are paying money close to an AR.

The manual of arms is totally different from the AR. The AK at the class were 7.62X39 and the 5.45X39. I was surprised by two classic versions of the AK showing up at the class, a Galil and Valmet, both in 556/223 caliber. Mr Vickers had his opinions and experiences with the AK, he prefers a "slick" version, keeping it basic without the RDS or rails. As for me, the sights on the AK was not in my best interest. Some of the students did modified their AK and I got a chance to shoot them, they were the best for accuracy. Mr Vickers did add this comment which stuck in my head, "if you want a carbine that is fast and you can work with get an AR".

Some of the students did bring their AR which we got to play with during the breaks. The ARs were a LaRue 308 with a 18"bbl and the other 2 were Centurion Arms uppers, Very nice and accurate. Some pics I took.



http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1404.jpg Larry Vickers

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1423.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1461.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1475.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1488.jpg

tac40
25 August 2011, 10:56
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1402.jpg
An AK 7.62X39 with an AKBC


http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1411.jpg
An AK 5.45X39 with an AKBC-this was a test model, I got to use it and like all BCE devices, this was nice.


http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1506.jpg
AK with a RDS and rails


http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1525.jpg
Prone shooting

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1583.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1606.jpg

tac40
25 August 2011, 10:58
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1766.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1767.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1768.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1769.jpg

Mag change by Mr Vickers

tac40
25 August 2011, 11:01
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1638.jpg
AK with AKBC

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1640.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_2003.jpg
A second AK with a AKBC

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1811.jpg
Note the flash from an AK without a muzzle break or comp

tac40
25 August 2011, 11:04
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_2319.jpg
My two favorite versions of the AK, a Galil and Valmet-I want.......

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_2092.jpg
LaRue 308, very nice set up, it shot smooth.

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_2305.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_2313.jpg

tac40
25 August 2011, 11:07
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1436.jpg
Centurion Arms equipped AR

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_2325.jpg
Second AR with Centurion Arms upper

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_2087.jpg
Mr Vickers with a Saiga 12 gauge shotgun

TripleBravo
25 August 2011, 18:58
I love the title of your post.

I've never liked the manual of arms for the AK...probably why I don't own any.

tac40
26 August 2011, 08:17
Many of the student were experienced with the AK, but their speed in reloading, picking up the sights and recovery from each shot were significantly slower then an AR shooter. I liked shooting the AK for fun and understand the Soviet military doctrine for it's use. Using an AK in CQB for a novice, I suggest the 5x45 caliber. The AK I ran for class was my buddy's 5x45, BCE put a proto-type comp on it and it made using it sweeter. The class had some VIPs show up and they managed to shoot the 5x45 with the proto-type comp. needless to say they walked away smiling.

The drills ran by Mr Vickers were typical basic carbine drill movements and watching the AK go throught the drills made me appreciate the AR platform. Because there were variations to the AK, meaning each former communist country had a slight difference in their AK, not all mags and parts fitted properly. The AK sights were rudimentary and difficult to pick up quickly compared with a standard AR sight.

I watched the class AK plummer fix several AKs with nothing more then a hammer, file and screw driver, this speaks volume for the AK in it simplicity. But I also saw him throwing parts away because he couldn't use it in another AK. The AR is a lego set which you can swap out uppers, trigger parts and stocks. The AR can be a CQB machine or a long range shooter. Given the right caliber like 6.8, 6.5 or 300 blackout, the AR can keep up with the 7,62X39. This is just my opinions and observations from the class.

JohnnyRambo
26 August 2011, 08:55
Nice write up and pics! That was a fun course.

tac40
26 August 2011, 12:17
JR, did I get a pic of you?

JohnnyRambo
26 August 2011, 21:58
There is one shot of me but I am way down the line, standing up. Looks like it was taken while we were sighting in our rifles.

I was at the #1 spot at the beginning of the firing line. Would love to see pics if you got any of me.

My email: John@Calegalmags.com

Shark
27 August 2011, 00:46
That was a great class! It was also the fourth time out with my AKMS w/AKBC. I love that rifle! :)

tac40
27 August 2011, 08:57
JR, got it, I took pics on both sides of the line. I'll get them out this weekend.

tac40
28 August 2011, 19:56
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1876.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1884.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1696.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1516.jpg

tac40
28 August 2011, 19:59
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_1533.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_2228.jpg

http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/horseplay/Larry%20Vickers%20AK%20class%20Chino%20CA%202011/IMG_2222.jpg

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