AK help

[HOLY DIVER]

i'm an AR-15 Guy and i realy don't know allot about AK's but i was at a local shop and saw a few AK's that caught my eye 1 was a wasr i think? i remembered seeing on this forum they were not the best AK. sitting beside it was POLY-TECH the price was much more $750 the wasr was $450 is the POLY-TECH a high quality AK?thinking about doing some trading with him

 

[Breakmyfootoff]

There's really nothing wrong with the WASR as long as you know what to check for. Make sure that neither the gas block or front sight are canted, and check magazine fit. Aside from that, an AK is pretty much just an AK. I have a WASR that I purchased for 499.99 and have several thousand rounds through it with not a single failure of any kind, it produces 3 to 4 inch groups at 100 yards with the cheapest military surplus ammo I can find. I suspect slightly better groups could be had with better ammo, but I've never tried any.

 

[dfariswheel]

The reason the Polytech is more is because the Chinese rifles are no longer legal to import and people are willing to pay more to get one.
The Polytech's were good quality AK's, higher on the quality scale then the lower end WASR rifles.

The WASR rifles are imported as single stack magazine rifles and converted by the importer to double stack magazine. The conversion can sometimes be rough, and WASR's have had problems with misaligned or canted sights.
The Polytech was imported as a double stack and there were not many problems.

In any case, whether to get the Polytech depends on the price and on the condition. A worn or corroded Polytech may not be worth as much as a new WASR.
Inspect it carefully, especially the bore and chamber. It was hard chrome lined but if it wasn't maintained, it could be pitted.

 

[mshootnit]

check the WASR for front sight cant. Lock in a few mags to see if they latch and release. With permission dry fire the rifle after checking to ensure its empty. Keeping the trigger depressed rack the bolt sharply to feel if the trigger "slaps or nudges your finger. If it checks out on these things and otherwise looks ok it is probly good to go. Now if you are willing to part with Polytech money, go to gun broker and wait for a nice slr-95. Or go with a new Arsenal rifle.

 

[Inebriated]

You've got answers on what to look for, so I'll just vouch for their quality.

In my opinion, WASR 10/63's are really the best thing until you up your budget for a milled AK. I don't think there's any reason to shell out the money for a stamped AK when you could get milled for about the same price. I've also never seen an issue with a good quality WASR. Of course there are poor ones, but if you pick the right one out, then you're good.

 

[ifit]

since your new to aks, i think the wasr 10/63 is the best place to start i think the price is right i our present time. but for the poly tech that you mentioned for $750 check and see if its a pre-ban and if it is, that is a steal. i myself will get a 1063 soon

 

[M1key]

Got mags?

The WASR takes standard combloc mags and the Polytech takes Chinese ones. They are a little different. You might have a little trouble finding them.

M

 

[HOLY DIVER]

so the WASR takes standard AK mags and the Poly tech does not? think i'm leaning toward the wasr.still havn't ruled out a saiga....but darn.... red jacket gets $650 2 convert 1 of those things i'd have well over $1000 in it then.do the WASR rifles come with a chrome lined bore and chamber?

 

[hank327]

Got mags?

The WASR takes standard combloc mags and the Polytech takes Chinese ones. They are a little different. You might have a little trouble finding them.

This is wrong. All 7.62x39mm Kalashnikovs use the same magazines. My AKs, Chinese, Russian, Hungarian, all will accept mil-spec surplus magazines regardless of country of origin. As an example, my Chinese AK accepts with no problem the Hungarian, Chinese and Bulgarian military surplus steel mags I've used in it. The polymer Bulgarian Circle 10 "waffle" magazines are a tight fit however.

It is the Chinese 5.56mm NATO AKs that have proprietary magazines and perhaps that's what you were thinking of when you posted.

so the WASR takes standard AK mags and the Poly tech does not?

HD, the WASR and the Polytech will both use the exact same magazines as long as the Polytech is chambered for the 7.62x39mm round. Military surplus steel magazines made in the old (and still Communist China) ComBloc countries are the best quality mags you can get for the price. Stay away from commercially made magazines like those from Tapco as they are just not of the same quality as the milspec ones. There are a couple of high quality polymer AK mags out there but they are much more expensive than the surplus steel ones. You can buy almost three surplus steel mags for the price of one of the high speed/low drag polymer ones.

 

[Philippe]

A Poly for that price is a steal if its in great shape. Take it and run!

 

[Inebriated]

so the WASR takes standard AK mags and the Poly tech does not? think i'm leaning toward the wasr.still havn't ruled out a saiga....but darn.... red jacket gets $650 2 convert 1 of those things i'd have well over $1000 in it then.do the WASR rifles come with a chrome lined bore and chamber?

If I were to spend any real money on an AK, I'd most likely go with an Arsenal SGL21. Somewhere around $900, if I remember correctly, and it's a very nice rifle. I haven't ever used a Red Jacket AK, but I would feel absolutely confident buying an Arsenal over an RJ.

EDIT - I was close... $825 on their site. http://www.arsenalinc.com/usa/product.php?productid=1&cat=21&page=1

 

[M1key]

This is wrong. All 7.62x39mm Kalashnikovs use the same magazines. My AKs, Chinese, Russian, Hungarian, all will accept mil-spec surplus magazines regardless of country of origin. As an example, my Chinese AK accepts with no problem the Hungarian, Chinese and Bulgarian military surplus steel mags I've used in it. The polymer Bulgarian Circle 10 "waffle" magazines are a tight fit however.

It is the Chinese 5.56mm NATO AKs that have proprietary magazines and perhaps that's what you were thinking of when you posted.

Did I say they wouldn't work? I said they were different.

All AK mags can vary, regardless of manufacturer. Chinese mags would not lock up in my Romanians without some fitting.

I would stick with Chinese mags for Chinese AKs.

Mag on the right is Chinese.


M

 

[hank327]

Did I say they wouldn't work? I said they were different.

All AK mags can vary, regardless of manufacturer. Chinese mags would not lock up in my Romanians without some fitting.

I would stick with Chinese mags for Chinese AKs.

Mag on the right is Chinese.


M

Sure there are some minor manufacturing differences in some AK magazines. For instance the Yugos have that follower that holds the bolt open. But those minor differences do not affect functionality. As I mentioned above, my Chinese AK has functioned perfectly with whatever steel magazine I've inserted regardless of country of manufacture. No fitting required at all. I've been shooting AKs since they were first imported into the US back in the 1980s and this is the first I've heard of Chinese AKS being magazine sensitve.

Can anyone else corroborate what M!key is saying?

 

[Shear_stress]

Can anyone else corroborate what M!key is saying?

I've never heard anyone recommending Chinese mags only for Chinese AKs, with the exception of the .223 mags already mentioned. Sure, I can see how some Chinese mags may not lock in without some fitting to a Romanian rifle that most likely had its receiver modified or made in the US. But that has nothing to do with whether European mags will fit Chinese rifles.

 

[M1key]

Collectors like original mags. Shooters probably couldn't care less...

If I was buying a "no longer imported" AK like the Polytech, I would try to find some original mags,

M

 

[sarduy]

this is simple...

get the $750, buy the wasr-10 for 450 and use the extra $300 to buy 10 mags and 1000 rounds of ammo

 

[HOLY DIVER]

still need 2 know...does the wasr-10 have a chrome lined bore and chamber...if it does think i'll go with the wasr-10.if it does not prob will go with a saiga

 

[M1key]

They should be...

Call the shop and ask them. They can easily check.

M

 

[Shear_stress]

still need 2 know...does the wasr-10 have a chrome lined bore and chamber...

Yes it does. So does the Poly-Tech.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I stumbled into a Polytech ak a while back. They are nice, fit & finish. But it shot the same as any other ak (With surplus ammo, anyway).....

I sold it, Now have a WASR.... I am just as happy with it...

Im in the camp of an AK is an AK is an AK..... Others disagree......

 

[Al Thompson]

HD, check these guys out. They are just over the NC line near Charlotte:

http://www.classicarms.us/

 

[skipbo32]

if you have $750 to spend on an AK, then get an Aresenal SGL21.

 

[bri]

if you have $750 to spend on an AK, then get an Aresenal SGL21.

+1. The SGL21 is a new AKM, straight off the Russian assembly line (less the compliance parts that are swapped out after import, which are still new and top-quality).

 

[BP Hunter]

I have had my WASR for about 2 weeks already. Now I love it more than my M4 for its simplicty, reliability and ruggedness. Now, I want to get an arsenal AK. If you have the money for it, don't buy the WASR, buy an arsenal online.