AES-10b = Opinions wanted!

[leadcounsel]

What are your opinions and experience on the Romanian AES-10b rifle?

I've found one for $475 with one mag, face to face, in apparently very good condition. Good deal?

What are things to look for, outside of the normal AK47 stuff?

 

[CnRnut]

I've got a pair of them,and both are built just fine.
I'd check for FSB/GB strightness,but even if it wasn't
perfect,I jump on it at that price. Give the bore a look at,
but again,this is a good price,JUMP on it.

 

[Z-Michigan]

It's a great price. The things to look for are same as any AK, especially a WASR or SAR - canted sight base, otherwise mostly fit/finish issues that don't affect function. That gun is a WASR quality authentic (semiauto) RPK, and that makes it a pretty rare bird. I'd get it.

 

[grilledcheese]

I bought one from Classic Arms a few years ago. The beastie was full of metal shavings and cosmoline and required a great deal of clean-up, and the furniture required finishing, but I've never had a failure of any kind. Worst I can say about it is a hint of trigger slap, which would appear to be a rarity with these rifles. I like the old girl quite a bit, actually.





Jeffrey

 

[leadcounsel]

Here's the pic. Anyone else wanna weigh in?

 

[Z-Michigan]

Yup, that looks like an AES-10B.

 

[leadcounsel]

I see these are $700 on Atlantic Arms. Any difference in the models? Is $700 overpriced or a fair deal?

 

[Z-Michigan]

They were in the $450 range for a while then supply dried up, now some are back in the pipeline at a higher price. Some or all of the new ones have wire folding stocks that look awkward on an RPK. Question is how much do you want to spend extra for "new" on something that only has WASR finish level anyway?

 

[Jeremy2171]

That's an AES-10 NOT a 10B. The 10B's were actually RPKs and the 10's used lighter barrels with the bipod clamped at the rear.

Here is my 10B after some minor upgrading...

 

[leadcounsel]

Well, unfortunately I waited too long and missed the deal...

 

[EVEgreen2001]

Is it possible to build one up using WASR (minus the barrel) parts? It's pretty much a long-barreled AK isn't it?

 

[Z-Michigan]

Sort of, but not exactly. The 10B version is basically a semiauto RPK. The trunions are different and you need to use an RPK receiver to build on. It might be possible to use a US-made RPK style barrel with an AKM type kit if you just want the look and don't care about lack of authenticity (I'm not sure of this - there may be other part incompatibilities I don't know about).

 

[ifit]

for another $200+ dollars you could get a brand spankin new aes10b from jg sales, these are built at the cugir factory and built like a tank

 

[EVEgreen2001]

That would be a really neat thing! I'm not too concerned with authenticity, just accuracy and durability. I just recently saw an AES 10 at a loal pawn shop for almost $550. I can't get it this time, but I would hope to find one at a gun show coming in March.