AK Loyalists Won’t Admit It, but the Platform Might Be Finished in America ~ VIDEO

YouTuber Trench Grenade has officially kicked the hornet’s nest. His recent video claims the “American AK experiment is dead,” and judging from early reactions, he might as well have dropped a frag grenade in the middle of every gun forum in the country.

Whether you buy his argument or think he’s just poking AK fanboys for sport, the video forces a real conversation about where the AK platform stands in the U.S. today — and where it doesn’t.

Ammo Prices: The AK’s Last Big Selling Point Is Gone

If you grew up in gun culture anytime before 2020, you probably heard these two claims a thousand times:

1. “AKs are bombproof.”
2. “And they’re cheap to shoot.”

Those statements used to be true — until ammo economics in the U.S. flipped upside-down.

Trench points out that:

• 5.56 sits comfortably around 39–40¢
• 7.62×39 now averages 58¢
• 7.62×51 hovers around 70¢
• 5.45×39 has basically dead in the USA, thanks to import bans and dried-up stockpiles

This is the part of the video that really stings longtime AK owners. They watched 7.62×39 go from the cheapest centerfire rifle round in America to a cartridge that’s now almost as expensive as .308.

And if you’re a younger shooter just coming into the sport? You simply never lived through the “10 cents a round” era. You only know the modern reality: AK ammo is often more expensive, less available, and less diverse than 5.56.

That alone shifts the platform calculus for new buyers.

Build Quality Rollercoaster: American AKs Are a Gamble

One of the most brutal — but honest — parts of Trench Grenade’s argument is his take on American AK build quality.

He doesn’t say all American AKs are trash.

He says the range is too wide.

And he’s not wrong. American shooters have seen it all:

* Rivets that look like they were set by a blindfolded apprentice.
* Headspace issues that show up by round 200.
* Barrels canted just enough to make zeroing a nightmare.
* Parts kits that arrive missing… well, “parts”.
* Rifles that need professional tuning before they even run straight.
* Dust cover fitment that feels like a loose car door.

AK buyers today must really know who made their rifle and how it was built. The variance between a well-executed AK and a rushed one is massive. Meanwhile, the AR world turned into a predictable machine: if a company is even moderately reputable, their rifles usually work out of the box. No mystical “trunnion alignment” lore required.

This doesn’t mean AKs can’t be good — far from it. But it does mean that the average, inexperienced shooter buying their first rifle is more likely to roll the dice when choosing an AK.

The AR Platform Dominates Every Corner of the Market

Trench’s biggest point lands hard because it’s not emotional — it’s practical.

In 2025, the AR platform absolutely dominates nearly every measurable area:

• Parts & Upgrades

AR-15 parts are everywhere.
Online, in stores, at gun shows, lying in your buddy’s toolbox… you name it.

AK parts? You can find them, but half the time you’re also searching for the right version, the correct variant, or a gunsmith who knows what to do with it.

• Accuracy & Performance

Even budget AR barrels commonly shoot tighter than many AKs.
Match ammo options for 5.56 and .223 Wylde keep getting better.

AKs hit “minute of man” at practical ranges, and that’s fine — that’s what they were built for. But most American shooters today want more out of their rifles than Cold War battlefield doctrine.

 • Accessories

If you like:

• freefloat rails
• LPVOs
• night-vision capable setups
• modern triggers
• modular stocks
• advanced suppressor mounts

…the AR platform lets you build exactly what you want with minimal headache.

The AK world has made improvements — but the AR still wins on ease, availability, and price.

A Balanced Note on PSA (No Fanboying, Just Facts)

Throughout the video, Trench briefly mentions Palmetto State Armory while talking about U.S.-made AKs. He doesn’t bash PSA, nor should anyone lump PSA in with the worst examples of American AK builds.

But let’s keep it level-headed:

• PSA is a major player because they’ve invested in making AKs accessible and reliable
• They’ve had hits (AK-V, GF3, SABRE AK) that earned real respect
• They’ve also had growing pains like every manufacturer in the AK space

The point here isn’t to crown PSA king of AKs or pretend everything they touch is sacred. It’s simply to acknowledge that they are one of the few companies trying to keep the AK platform alive domestically, and their presence matters in this conversation.

No more, no less.

Live Inventory Price Checker

	PSA AK-104 Triangle Side Folding Rifle w/Pinned and Welded Spiked Extended Booster, ALG Trigger and PSA-SLR Solo 11" Rail	Palmetto State Armory	$ 1199.99
	PSA AK-104 Triangle Side Folding Rifle w/Pinned and Welded Spiked Extended Booster, ALG Trigger and PSA-SLR Solo 11" Rail	Palmetto State Armory	$ 1199.99
	PSA AK-105 Rifle w/Pinned and Welded extended booster, PSA-SLR 11" Rail, M4 Stock, Toolcraft Bolt, Trunnion, and Carrier	Palmetto State Armory	$ 1299.99
	PSA AK-102 Rifle w/Pinned and Welded extended booster, PSA-SLR 11" Rail, M4 Stock, Toolcraft Bolt, Trunnion, and Carrier	Palmetto State Armory	$ 1199.99

Is the American AK Actually Dead? Or Just Evolving?

Trench’s conclusion is strong: he says the AK experiment is “dead” in the U.S. But many shooters are going to push back hard — and they should.

Arguments that support Trench’s claim:

• Ammo is no longer cheap
• Imports are drying up
• American builds are inconsistent
• ARs are cheaper to feed
• ARs are easier to accessorize
• The U.S. ammo ecosystem overwhelmingly favors 5.56

Arguments that push back:

• The AK is still one of the simplest, toughest rifles ever made
• U.S. manufacturers are improving
• PSA, Zastava, and WBP offer viable, reliable options
• The AK has cultural staying power — people love them
• PCC-style AKs (like the AK-V) have opened new lanes for the platform

The AK may not be the “everyman rifle” it once was, but calling it dead feels like a stretch when thousands of shooters still run them and companies continue releasing new models.

So Let’s Settle It the Only Way Americans Know How: With Debate.

Here’s the big question:

Is the American AK experiment truly dead, or is it simply shifting into a niche role while the AR dominates the mainstream?

Could a large U.S. ammunition manufactuer come out with a low price AK round that would reignite the market? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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