[MP-44]

How much work and material really go into these rifles? I notice that on a pretty regular basis Wally World has deals on there brand name centerfire rifle/ scope packages for the same price if not less than the SARs. When you put an SAR along side a Savage, Remington or even the Weatherby ( $399 recently) centerfire bolt actions at WM it looks like a lot more work goes into them. Are these SARs good deals or just the cheapest we can get an "asault rifle" so we think its a good deal? $300+ for a stamped rifle with a very crude wood & finish just doesn't seem like that great of a deal when compared to other firearms. Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with the SAR as I am considering an SAR-2 because it is the cheapest route to a civilian AK. Its just for what you are actually getting they seem to be priced high.

[12 Volt Man]

I feel like they could be less expensive. Century is probably making a fortune. I have felt like mine was money well spent. You will make up for the cost of the rifle due to the fact that the ammo is cheap!
The best all the work it required getting it how I wanted it. I spent a good two weeks of nights in the garage hanging out with my brother in law working on our SARs. We polished the feed ramp, and the sear. We protected against any future trigger slap problems. We installed and welded on muzzle brakes, and we bought some really cool krinkov style butt stocks. Then we polished up our bolt carriers so that that were shiney silver and to top it all off, we put truck bed liner on the hand guards.

I now have an "evil" black AK and it was a lot of fun putting it together. It is a gun I will never part with, this is why I say it was well worth the money.

By the way.........I think that the best deal going now is through JOEKEN firearms. www.joeken.com (http://www.joeken.com)

[Politically Incorrect]

I heard somewhere that you can buy a full auto AK for $50 in the Mid East.

Imagine the ammo and extra magazines you could buy with the money you saved on the gun!

-Tommy

[Zip06]

Its simple supply and demand. The SAR is a crude weapon but it is a good AKM clone and it is reliable. It functions perfectly and while it is no target rifle it certainly is representative of the AK's of the world. Does anyone think that the manufacture of a Glock plus a profit margin costs $500? I would bet the manufacturers price on the Glock does not exceed $75 at the most.

[telewinz]

PI is right, about $50 for used AK but then the AK is not a scarce commodity in the Middle East. Then again you can rent a nice hut for $4 a month, I guess alot of it is the availability of ANY currency, I bet most AK's are purchased with livestock or fruit and vegetables.

[Redlg155]

Overpriced?

In the world of Military Semi Auto weapons, No.

Profit margins of course are pretty high, but most likely relatively low when compared to a lot of manufacturers.

Century makes a lot on their USA parts and volume sales.


Good Shooting
RED

[Tropical Z]

They're fairly priced,but i'd rather spend an extra $175.00 on a VEPR.

[firestar]

I read an article in "The Atlantic" magazine about the link between the price of an AK and the the projected stability in a region. It was very interesting. The basic theory is, when the price of an AK climbs dramaticly, problems are coming.

It had a map of the world and the avg price for a AK in each nation. The cheapest was in Africa, I think it was Mozambique (it wasn't Somalia), and the price was $15.00!:what: The price varied greatly, in Israil the price was about $2000.00!

The article said that when the price climbs it can mean trouble but also when the price is very cheap ($15.00), it can lead to future problems because people that wouldn't normally have guns tend to get them and often small warlords or compeating tribal factions will escalate their fueds due to the suddenly available weapons.

All I can say is, I think $300 for a SAR AK is a pretty good deal (even though they are only semi-auto) because luckly we don't really need these AKs like some counrties do. We can buy them and shoot them for fun, we are not really getting them for a real reason like these people in other parts of the world who may use them to defend themselves against rival tribes or corrupt goverment etc.

Most of us would buy something better if it were for real use. I know I wouldn't try and save money on a gun that I was going to risk my life with. I would buy a PSG-1 and be done with it. I wouldn't fight in the streets like these crazy 3rd world bastards, I would be about 800m away and take pot shots.:neener:

[Zundfolge]

How much work and material really go into these rifles?

One if the fundamental misunderstandings about capitalism is that "work" and "materials" are (or should be) the determining factory in the market value of something.

Market values are determined by supply and demand ... with "work" and "materials" having little to do with it (and when they are a factor its usualy because they effect either the supply or the demand).

For example, there is zero work or material difference between an older "transferable" HK MP5 and a brand new non-transferable one, but since us civilians can only buy the Transferable one it causes the price go go from the $2500-$3000 that HK sells brand new ones to police departments and the military, up to $10,000 to $15,000.

[MP-44]

I realize it is supply and demand. Look at the WASR AK-47s. The only real difference is the opening in the receiver for the mag is smaller and look at the difference in price. My dealer has the new Saigas for $150 -$169 ( 20" & 16" ) and the only thing difference is no p-grip. I doubt it cost almost $200 for the grip. I just don't understand how someone can refer to $350 as a cheap beater gun. It would be better described as a gun that looks like it has already been beat right out of the box so it doesn't matter gun.

Are they charging for trigger slap? That would explain some of the extra cost:D

[gryphon]

To me, he only time something is overpriced, is if it costs too much that it doesn't sell.

The market will determine what is overpriced and what is priced right.

[firestar]

$300 for a AK is a good deal based on what they have been selling for in years past.

If all rifles cost $100 and you could have only 5 of them, most people would not choose an AK. I would take a Galil over an AK if price was same and I could only have one assult type rifle.

[earl_simmons]

If it were not for various gun laws, stores would be full of various semi-auto rifles. Relatively crude AK's would probably sell for $100, assuming that anyone would actually sell them when they could be selling shiny, new HK's, Steyrs, Valmets, FN's, etc.

[MP-44]

It just seems for the cost of SARs CAI could put a better finish and FCG not to mention wood. I guess its like K-Var and the waffle mags. No competition and they sold them for $50 and people said it was a good deal. When there was another source for the mags prices dropped to $9.99.

[MiniZ]

You are probably right MP-44. I have no idea what it costs Century to import the rifles, but the initial unit cost of each is probably pretty low.

However, they don't HAVE to make them better. "We" are buying SAR 1s like crazy at the current price. If we weren't, they would have to lower the price to move them.

[firestar]

At $300 a pop, I want several.

[Tropical Z]

Heres various receivers,with a SAR on the left and VEPR on the right.

[Dave R]

If they were over-priced, they wouldn't sell many. Or any.

Compare semi-auto rifles, and they look pretty good. I took one in .223 over a Ruger Mini and several other options. What else have you got in semi-auto centerfire? Remington 7600? BAR? Garand? M1A? Other AKs?

One advantage of a military rifle is that they are made to be reliable and durable, in addition to inexpensive. A SAR (once any Century assembly issues are dealt with) should outlast a commercial semi-auto, and should be more reliable.

Granted, the Saigas do look like a great deal.

[MP-44]

Oh, just admit it. We are willing to pay $300 + for such a crude weapon because it takes a large capacity mag & has a pistol grip. If you opened the box of a new $350 Winchester and saw a fit and finish like an SAR you would have a stroke.:evil:

[firestar]

Fine! I like the fact that it is considered "bad" and someday they might ban them so get em while you still can!

[pinetree64]

I had a SAR-1 for a couple months. It was $320. Hi-cap mags were $34 for 4 new. Ammo $70 for a 1000. I was a fun gun. It just doesn't fit into my style. I sold it last week. My rifles are hunting guns. I prefer to plink with handguns.

tjg