AR vs AK! What Side Are You On? .223 50 Grain vs 7.62x39 122 Grain Hollow Point Ballistic Gel Test!

Published on November 16, 2021
Duration: 14:23

This video conducts a ballistic gel test comparing a 50-grain Federal American Eagle .223 hollow point from an AR-15 platform against a 122-grain Tula 7.62x39mm hollow point from an AK-47 platform. The test measures projectile velocity and examines terminal ballistics, including fragmentation, expansion, and penetration depth in ballistic gelatin. The presenter, an experienced firearms instructor, provides insights into the performance differences between the two calibers and platforms.

Quick Summary

In a ballistic gel test comparing an AR-15 firing 50-grain .223 hollow points and an AK-47 firing 122-grain 7.62x39mm hollow points, the .223 averaged 2875 fps and fragmented extensively with less penetration. The 7.62x39mm averaged 2353 fps, also fragmented, but demonstrated greater penetration, reaching approximately 19 inches.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & Setup
  2. 00:32AR vs AK Test Overview
  3. 01:03Ammunition Details: .223 vs 7.62x39mm
  4. 02:21Velocity Testing: AK-47 7.62x39mm
  5. 03:09Velocity Testing: AR-15 .223
  6. 04:15Ballistic Gel Test: AR-15 .223
  7. 05:12Ballistic Gel Test: AK-47 7.62x39mm
  8. 05:55Gel Test Results Analysis
  9. 08:48Wound Channel Comparison (Top View)
  10. 10:22Projectile Recovery & Measurement
  11. 11:34Overall Performance & Conclusion
  12. 12:18Viewer Poll: Team AK or Team AR?
  13. 12:25Final Thoughts & Outro

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the average velocities of the .223 and 7.62x39mm rounds tested?

The 50-grain Federal American Eagle .223 hollow point from the AR-15 averaged 2875 feet per second. The 122-grain Tula 7.62x39mm hollow point from the AK-47 averaged 2353 feet per second.

How did the .223 and 7.62x39mm hollow points perform in ballistic gel?

The .223 round fragmented extensively, creating a large wound cavity but with less penetration. The 7.62x39mm round also fragmented and expanded, showing greater penetration and a wider initial wound channel.

Which firearm platform, AR-15 or AK-47, showed better penetration in the gel test?

In this specific test, the AK-47 firing the 122-grain 7.62x39mm hollow point demonstrated greater penetration, with the largest projectile piece reaching approximately 19 inches, compared to the AR-15's .223 round which stopped around 10.5-11 inches.

What was the presenter's opinion on the performance of the AK-47 round?

Despite being an AR fan, the presenter found the performance of the 7.62x39mm hollow point from the AK-47 to be 'super impressive' and 'devastating', noting its significant fragmentation and penetration.

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