The distance between the front and rear sights is so short as to make engaging targets at distance much more difficult than would be the case if you were wielding just about any other rifle in the field at the time the AK47 was introduced. Not the design specifically, because the rifle has a functional rear notch and post front, but rather the sight radius. The main complaint about the AK47 has always been its rather crude sights.

Therefore, the rapid follow-up shots provided by a semi-auto rifle aren't nearly as important as you might think when it comes to getting hits on target. If there is even more than one bad actor (unlikely), they will be spread apart, probably moving fast or hiding behind cover, and you may only get one shot at them at a time. In an actual gunfight where you need a rifle (and we're talking private citizens in defensive shooting situations here, not military engagements), you will not have eight bad guys lining up in a row like you see in 3-Gun competition. How could an AK47 possibly be beat by a lever-action rifle? The common sense answer lies in both the sights and realistic target engagement scenarios.

Apart from a Williams Gun Sight rear ghost ring and Galco side saddle, his personal rifle is factory stock. Tarr didn't have to look far for a Winchester '94. Of course, the Winchester is much slower to reload than an AK and holds fewer rounds, but this exercise was all about shooting. This is all about putting rounds on target. Suppressive fire? Ability to reload quickly? That's not what we're talking about here. According to Cooper, out to 25 yards, the AK47 was faster (one round per target), but beyond that, the Winchester '94 lever-action with ghost ring sights held its own. 30-30 lever-action rifle against an AK47.

I remember reading years ago how he pitted a Winchester 1894. He also promoted the use of ghost ring sights on other platforms as well. Cooper used them on dangerous game rifles in Africa, put them on his scout rifles, and transferred the concept to shotguns intended for anti-personnel use. One fact about him which may not be as well known is that he is the main reason most tactical shotguns on the market are equipped with ghost ring sights. He is also well known for loving the 1911, hating the 9mm cartridge and developing the scout rifle concept. the idea that holding it with two hands will allow for faster more accurate defensive shooting. He is perhaps best known for promoting 'The Modern Technique of the Pistol,' i.e. John Dean 'Jeff' Cooper is an iconic figure in the gun world.

Winchester model 1907