Speaking as one who has actually shot at 500-yard distances (USMC Parris Island, using an M-14 with only iron sights, under favorable weather conditions, from a prone position, and carefully taking my shots), I can confirm that it is a challenging thing to hit a target at that distance. You have to gauge wind, control breathing, focus intently, not jerk the trigger but squeeeeeeze... and every element has to come together, to even get on the target board.

Your average AK-47 is a loose fitting rifle that (IMHO) simply doesn't have the kind of build that would make it a good sniper rifle at long ranges...and the 7.62x39 round is also inadequate for that distance. It's POSSIBLE but UNLIKELY that the dude had the rifle tuned with floating the barrel, but since AK barrels are either pinned in or screwed into the receiver, this is unlikely. And that particular round after leaving the muzzle at approx. 1,600fps (feet per second) is going to lose velocity at a rapid rate, and at 200 yards lacks much penetrating power.

AK's (and their earlier rifles the SKS) are more for close-in combat or urban combat. Very effective at 50 to 150 yard ranges, but not much beyond that.

When I heard that the would-be shooter was at about 500 yards with an AK-47, I realized that even with a scope, hitting anything accurately would be mostly a matter of luck. Florida in general, and West Palm Beach in particular (I've visited there several times) is a rather windy place. At 500 yds the winds would do incalculable things to a ballistic trajectory, and unless you have a fine-tuned rifle, know sniping methods that most humans don't possess, and have trained for such a shot for many hours, that shot would be mostly impossible for an AK rifle and that particular ammo.

Your mileage may vary, others may have different opinions, but take all that as you will.

Speaking as one who has actually shot at 500-yard distances (USMC Parris Island, using an M-14 with only iron sights, under favorable weather conditions, from a prone position, and carefully taking my shots), I can confirm that it is a challenging thing to hit a target at that distance. You have to gauge wind, control breathing, focus intently, not jerk the trigger but squeeeeeeze... and every element has to come together, to even get on the target board.

Your average AK-47 is a loose fitting rifle that (IMHO) simply doesn't have the kind of build that would make it a good sniper rifle at long ranges...and the 7.62x39 round is also inadequate for that distance. It's POSSIBLE but UNLIKELY that the dude had the rifle tuned with floating the barrel, but since AK barrels are either pinned in or screwed into the receiver, this is unlikely. And that particular round after leaving the muzzle at approx. 1,600fps (feet per second) is going to lose velocity at a rapid rate, and at 200 yards lacks much penetrating power.

AK's (and their earlier rifles the SKS) are more for close-in combat or urban combat. Very effective at 50 to 150 yard ranges, but not much beyond that.

When I heard that the would-be shooter was at about 500 yards with and AK-47, I realized that even with a scope, hitting anything accurately would be mostly a matter of luck. Florida in general, and West Palm Beach in particular (I've visited there several times) is a rather windy place. At 500 yds the winds would do incalculable things to a ballistic trajectory, and unless you have a fine-tuned rifle, know sniping methods that most humans don't possess, and have trained for such a shot for many hours, that shot would be mostly impossible for an AK rifle and that particular ammo.

Your mileage may vary, others may have different opinions, but take all that as you will.