Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Not necessarily an AK or SKS, but the gun that suits your material conditions. As materialists, we know that social and material conditions determine our options for strategy and praxis. For example, for a proletarian in the US to purchase an $800 AK pattern rifle or SKS (especially if it’s in 5.45x39 or 7.62x39) for their first or primary rifle simply because they like the aesthetics and origin of the gun is often times anti-materialist and pointless. An analysis of the of the US will reveal that one can acquire an AR-15 pattern rifle for under $500 and an optic for ~$100, as well as that 5.56/.223 is by far the most prevalent and cheapest intermediate cartridge in the country, both in stores and in usage by other people. That paired with the ubiquity of AR parts and mags makes the AR-15 quite literally “the people’s rifle” of the Unites States.

AKs, AK parts, and AK ammunition are more archaic and expensive, not only requiring more money to acquire them but also making finding ammunition and spare parts for your rifle in a potential domestic conflict far more difficult.

Now, I will admit that in AR-ban states, an SKS with AK mags may be the best option for a semi-automatic rifle in an intermediate cartridge.

A material analysis will determine what the best guns to equip progressive and proletarian forces of a country are. I’m not policing or telling you what gun to buy, but I am recommending people to approach the situation materially and not ideally. If you happen to want to buy a Makarov, Tokarev, Mosin, or whatever as collectors pieces and have a surplus of money, then whatever. But relying on these weapons, particularly in the US, should be resisted.

  • footfaultsEnglish
    13·
    8 months ago

    This is a serious topic, not one to be flippant or liberal about.

    I’m being serious.

    If someone already bought 4 spam cans of 7.62 and have an AK are you going to turn them away from your group, because they didn’t properly consider their “material conditions” and failed to buy the AR and Glock starter pack?

    By all means if you want to post an overwrought justification for “buy an AR and Glock because they’re common” you are absolutely not bringing anything novel to the table here.

    What matters is training with your firearm on a consistent basis. Not posting “who’s supposed to buy what to be in my imaginary militia”

    I can count with one hand the number of people that I know are involved in left wing groups, who shoot some sort of competitive shooting activity consistently, in my region of the country. I can count on five hands the number of discords, forums, and other wastes of time where people post about gear they want to buy, or have bought, or argue with one another about. Now I guess we get to add this one to that list.

    I will take any left wing shooter regardless of their equipment, who consistently shoots a competitive activity, over the Perfect Material Analysis Loadout that sits in a safe or just gets shot on a flat stationary range once a year.

    • sushimvtOPMEnglish
      11·
      8 months ago

      If someone already bought 4 spam cans of 7.62 and have an AK are you going to turn them away from your group, because they didn’t properly consider their “material conditions” and failed to buy the AR and Glock starter pack?

      Of course they shouldn’t be turned away- but they simply made the inferior decision. That’s why it is every comrade’s duty to educate their comrades as best they can so they don’t make the inferior decision.

      By all means if you want to post an overwrought justification for “buy an AR and Glock because they’re common” you are absolutely not bringing anything novel to the table here.

      It sure sounds like I am (unfortunately).

      What matters is training with your firearm on a consistent basis.

      Training is absolutely of the utmost importance, but training with an inferior gun for you and your comrades’ material conditions is, again, not ideal. Living in the US and dropping a ton of money buying an AK or Mosin and training with them on a regular basis does NOT necessarily mean that you are doing the right thing.

      I can count with one hand the number of people that I know are involved in left wing groups, who shoot some sort of competitive shooting activity consistently, in my region of the country.

      That sounds like a problem that you and your local comrades should solve.

      The dissemination of important education shouldn’t grind your gears.

      • footfaultsEnglish
        21·
        8 months ago

        inferior decision.

        Do you actually talk to people in real life? That kind of value judgement is not going to make you a lot of friends.

        Like do you talk to someone who didn’t buy what you think is the superior decision that way?

      • footfaultsEnglish
        11·
        8 months ago

        Living in the US and dropping a ton of money buying an AK or Mosin and training with them on a regular basis does NOT necessarily mean that you are doing the right thing.

        That’s an incredible statement. Buying the wrong equipment is such a terrible flaw, that training with it, still means you are not doing the right thing? Did I read this right?

        • sushimvtOPMEnglish
          11·
          8 months ago

          Yes, dropping $1k on an AK or Mosin in the US in 2025 is indeed such a terrible flaw that training with it would not reverse it. What would reverse it? Selling it and using that $1k to get an AR, red dot, 6 mags, and a few boxes of 5.56 so that you can actually be an asset to your comrades and community.

          • footfaultsEnglish
            11·
            8 months ago

            such a terrible flaw that training with it would not reverse it

            This is so dumb. I am outta here. Good luck