Contemplating a Kalashnikov

[jason41987]

im actually looking for a stereotypical old-school AK to add to my collection sometime after the more tactical AK-74 is built... im going to build a polish kit though with a new fixed rear trunnion... the polish is pretty AKM, except for that underfolder which i will be doing away with... so thats an option too

 

[Trent]

jason;

I took a MAK90 and fitted it with all the "tacticool" crap that was for sale on the market, after the original thumbhole stock split from recoil. (Junk, those things)

I put a new adjustable trigger in, ghost ring / crosshair sights, black plastic furniture, etc.

It sucks.

The plastic furniture on front melts and smokes if you shoot more than 30 rounds quickly. The adjustable plastic stock required EXCESSIVE dremelling to fit, and feels ... wonky.

The peep rear & crosshair front sites suck. I thought they'd be an improvement but the crosshair front site completely washes out when you sight the target. Requires constant eye focusing between target and front site, which QUICKLY fatigues your eye.

The adjustable trigger WAS worth it.

But even with all of that, PLUS handloaded ammo, it still shot minute-of-pie-plate at 100 yards.

I'll put it back to wood furniture someday. In the meantime it's been collecting a LOT of dust for the last 5 years.

 

[Inebriated]

^unless you want a grip or light up front, or don't want to ruin wood... there's no reason not to just have wood on there. That's the conclusion I've come to, anyway.

 

[Trent]

I agree, Inebriated.

On a couple of guns, I've taken to cutting a tin can and beating it in to shape, using it as a heat shield between bare-wood and hot-barrel. It only took ONE TIME, but I decided I wasn't going to set my front grips on my AK on fire again. Haven't had any issues since adding the "silver lining", even on multiple back to back 75 round drums.

 

[Inebriated]

K-Var/Arsenal handguards have that heat shield, and it does make a big difference. I have a MI rail on mine now with an AFG, and while it's comfortable, wood still handles heat better... and looks a LOT better. So while I prefer function > form, I'm having to resist just going back to wood for looks.

Looks like another AK for me lol.

 

[mortablunt]

segei mosin, i know you asked about the kalashnikov but you should also consider the vz58 from czechpoint. when i first bought my first ar15 years back i also wanted an ak type variant and was considering a saiga/arsenal, but found something way better and purchased a cz-usa vz58 before any of my aks, till this day is my favorite rifle out of all my ak variants.

@ ifit
The Vz58 is not a Kalashnikov.
______________
Romania, Bulgaria, and the like make good AK's.

Check out this guide before you buy. Unlike AR's, AK's seem to have more random quality levels in between rifles from the same source. Arsenal always makes a great gun, although a WASR-2 or WASR-10 can definitely be of service.

Buying an AK- Part 1
http://www.ak-47.us/Article_Detail.php?g=content1177009077

Buying an AK- Part 2
http://www.ak-47.us/WASR-10-004.php

Also, take a look at these forum posts about how to run a Kalashnikov. The most important bit of advice I can give you would be "It's not an AR; don't try to make it one."

http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=82429
http://mscg.yuku.com/reply/22683/t/Re-Basic-Kalashnikov-Skill-Set.html#.UCWVvqFlS1w

Another tip for if you buy one is to learn to use it lefty. Suddenly, 80% of ergonomics complaints are dead in the water. If you shoot the AK righty, then it would be more efficient to use either your index or middle finger on the safety switch and you ring finger on the trigger.

 

[Girodin]

^unless you want a grip or light up front, or don't want to ruin wood... there's no reason not to just have wood on there.

I like to be able to grip the rifle farther out than stock wood hand guards allow. I like something like the MI SS universal extended hand guard because it allows a grip that allows me a better grip on the weapon.

 

[Inebriated]

Whatever works for you. MI makes quality stuff. Mine has been great.

 

[TonyAngel]

Although I've shot a bunch of different AKs, I only have intimate experience with two.

One is my brother in law's Maadi. Total piece of crap. He bought it because it was cheap and he just figured that an AK was an AK. It does usually go bang, but whether it's gonna cycle is another thing altogether.

The other was my rifle. Forgive me if I get some of the details wrong because it's been a really long time. It was a Bulgarian model from Arsenal. I believe it was the SA-93. I think I got it sometime in the '90s. I paid $300 for it. I don't even think that it had a chrome lined barrel. It was the milled receiver version and I don't know if there was another. Maybe a good time reference would be that I was buying Norinco (I believe) ammo for $100 a case of either 1200 or 1400.

I do know that I kept the rifle for a good 15 or 20 years and put many cases of ammo through it. I think I might have cleaned it a few times. It never missed a beat. I don't know about accuracy. I never really tested it, although I was able to consistently hit a 10" steel gong at 100 yards off hand with it.

I wound up giving it to my secretary's husband a few years ago, because he liked it so much and he still shoots it like someone's chasing him. In hind sight, giving it to him may not have been the smartest thing to do, but what the heck. He's enjoying the heck out of it.

 

[Moose458]

I'll have to put my vote on a VZ-58 also. Love my AKs, but they don't compare to the CZ vz-58. All I've read about the VZ-2008 has been good too, and they are a lot cheaper.

 

[bluethunder1962]

Stick with american. Get him a ar10 to glare at.