Best AK-47 that isn't a Saiga...

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Carolina Kalash

Carolina Kalash

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I am really wanting an AK47, and i would love a saiga arsenal, but for the price of those, i might as well get an AR-15. And i know theres plenty of videos and how-tos on the internet, but i don't think i could convert a saiga sporter without screwing it up, so what's one of the better AK clones out there? I would prefer an actual 7.62x39 AK47, but i guess i could settle for a 5.45 AK74 if i had to...
 
Vectors are nice if you can find one. Honestly it's really easy to convert a saiga and it's the real thing & current production. There's not much to screw up. I debated whether or not I could do it for a while and finally took the plunge on a S308. Afterwards I laughed about doubting myself and converted a s12. They are easy.
 
I have a Vector underfolder that I really like. IIRC it is built on a Polish kit. It's pretty accurate for an AK (and I have XS Big Dots on it, not really made for accuracy) and runs no matter what I do to it. I believe they also have a fixed stock version if you don't like the UF.

In my opinion, I think of the price of an Arsenal as "a high quality AK vs a low quality AR". The Arsenal you can throw around, beat on, get muddy, and even walk on and it will still run fine. I don't think you'd have as much luck if you tried that with an AR at the Arsenal's price range.
 
The Bulgarian's make a very good AK. Arsenal imports them, or used to, from K-Var.
 
"In my opinion, I think of the price of an Arsenal as "a high quality AK vs a low quality AR". The Arsenal you can throw around, beat on, get muddy, and even walk on and it will still run fine. I don't think you'd have as much luck if you tried that with an AR at the Arsenal's price range."

still, AKs are supposed to be cheap, imo there is no reason ANY gun should cost that much...
 
Every AK EXCEPT for the Saiga's are going to be identical. Loose, somewhat accurate, and reliable with good mags. The Saiga's are tighter and can be very accurate, and like the other poster said, you really can't mess one up. Seriously, if you've ever used a power drill, you can do this. Just have some very good metal drill bits rated for hardened steel.
 
I don't think you'd have as much luck if you tried that with an AR at the Arsenal's price range.
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Which Arsenal model's price are you referring to?

A Colt's 6920, which is essentially the "gold standard" for AR-15 pattern rifles, is selling in the low-mid $900s currently.
 
Cal-gun Fan said:
....I'm not sure how to reply to that, honestly. I'm really not.
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well, that's my belief... now if was filthy stinkin rich, i wouldn't give a rat's ass what a gun cost...

but when yur like me and struggle to make a little money here and there whilst submiting several job applications weekly and for some reason still can't get hired, you'd understand where i was coming from...
 
I understand where you're coming from, but bad financial situations don't correlate to what something should cost. What about people, also hard working, who have worked very hard to develop a certain skill and put out a fine product that is worth more than the average item?

Its common sense...some things cost more than others because they take more work to make.

EDIT: Your question has a simple answer. If you don't want to buy an Arsenal, you have two real options. Convert a Saiga, or buy a WASR 10/63. I don't mean to be rude, but no matter how many threads you post, some magical new AK will not be invented...
 
My recommendation would be on an older Norinco model, either fixed or folder. Top notch quality and a 1.5mm receiver over the standard 1.0mm usually encountered.

Price on these when they pop up from time to time would rival a top of the line Arsenal, so not too sure if it fit the bill for you.

As for the budget minded, a WASR with uncanted sights is still an AK and is very hard to beat value wise.

Don
 
Cal-gun Fan said:
I understand where you're coming from, but bad financial situations don't correlate to what something should cost. What about people, also hard working, who have worked very hard to develop a certain skill and put out a fine product that is worth more than the average item?

Its common sense...some things cost more than others because they take more work to make.

EDIT: Your question has a simple answer. If you don't want to buy an Arsenal, you have two real options. Convert a Saiga, or buy a WASR 10/63. I don't mean to be rude, but no matter how many threads you post, some magical new AK will not be invented...
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well i mean if it's something that takes precise, well trained workers alot of time and care to make, that's one thing, but big companies like Izmash churns out 100s if not 1000s of these guns every day, and i know they have to be imported and all that other mess, but still...
 
The market dictates what something costs...not what someone "feels like it should cost".
 
I don't know the intricacies of the situation in Russia, but Izmash is a GIGANTIC factory with laborers who are most likely underpaid, and I'm not sure, but the Russian government may/may not own, subsidize, or have a stake in Izmash. If not, then they, and other countries, certainly have big, fat contracts with them.
Arsenal is a small company in America. That means they pay American wages and are dealing with the American economic situation, which as you pointed out, could be better.
 
well anyway, from what i've seen, the WASR-10s or Bulgarians seem to be the best way to go for me, they still cost a little more than what i want to pay, but might just have to deal with it... i'm guessing my best bet would be to order one off the internet right? i know JG sales has some decent deals on WASRs but i dont think they have any bulgarian AKs...

edit: i just looked and they have a selection of WASRs but no bulgarians...
 
If you could have your gunstore get a WASR 10/63 in and inspect it before you buy it, that would be best, that way you can inspect it and check everything out first.
 
forget the saigas, and look into the current cugir aks types as cal-gun suggested. was also gonna order me a 1063 then the m10 showed and decided on that. saigas were not for me, as i have 4 cugir type variants total and never had a problem with them. this is my latest romy variant
036-3.jpg
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Honestly finding a truly cheap AK anymore isn't really all that easy to do. Your best bet would probably be to buy a WASR 10/63 from Henderson defense. They "certify" theirs which means basically they look them over and make sure they don't have canted sights, messed up magwells, or any of the other things WASRs have had problems with in the past.

Your only other real chance might be to find one locally at a gun store or something. I occasionally see used WASRs and AMD 65s show up at my local gun store in the sub $400 range.

For the record a WASR is a solid gun. The fit and finish isn't fantastic but that's something you can work on yourself over time.
 
Which Arsenal model's price are you referring to?

A Colt's 6920, which is essentially the "gold standard" for AR-15 pattern rifles, is selling in the low-mid $900s currently.
Click to expand...

I was referring to the lower end Arsenals, as I was pretty sure at the time (and later confirmed) that the OP was trying to keep costs down. I was thinking about something like a SGL 21 with fixed stock etc. I've seen them going for around $700 (sometimes a bit less) locally. I wasn't aware that the Colts were going for that little though. I may have to look at picking one up soon...
 
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