In the second quarter of this year we are going to start manufacturing here in the US, http://rt.com/usa/225011-kalashnikov-ak47-us-production/
Never fired an AK but I do need something for when I cross paths with feral pigs. Wonder if they make a 3 round burst mode 7.62 version...
Where's LEAPup?! Just shot an AR15 for the first time a few weeks ago, I'll be getting one this spring.
No. The newer ones shoot something similar to 5.56. I forget the exact numbers. You can get them chambered in just about anything though. Saiga makes them in .308.
A real common and popular variation that's been around for about 40 yrs is the AK74 that takes the smaller 5.45×39mm cartridge. Here's a link describing it.
Not a big fan of the AK-47. The one aspect that makes it notable is it's ability to work under just about any grueling circumstance you can think of. It's durability and operation while filthy, wet, etc is quite outstanding. Hell, you can run the thing over with a jeep and it still fires well.
I live AR rifles. And the AK, I learned is the #1 battle rifle in the Globe for a reason. It works, and it's a bad ass. I own numerous ARs and AKs.