want my first AK.... need opinions

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dubya450

dubya450

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So i bought my first AR last year and ive been wanting an AK ever since. Problem is, there are so many importers and versions im not sure where to start. I do like a Polish tantal ive aeen but know little to nothing about them. Can you guys help me out and give me an idea of what to stay away from and what a good AK is (and where to buy one) for ~800? Thanks ahead of time guys!!

Cory
 
What caliber? Fixed or folding stock? Wood or polymer furniture? What you want will play a large role in the buying process
 
Arsenal makes a great AK for about $800 in 7.62x39 (SGL-21) or 5.45x39 (SGL-31).

My 21 is my baby.
 
I picked up a kit of my choosing (Polish under-folder AKM), and barrel (US made, chrome lined) trigger (K-Var 2 stage) and stockset (MI quad rail, and Houge grip) and dropped the pile off at a reputable builder(Gewhere Werks) and got a absolutely beautiful weapon in return. It feels as tight and smooth as my BCM. I kinda wheeled and dealed and got everything but the grip for way below normal retail but you'd have wave a couple times what I payed for it to get me to think about selling it.
 
My twin brother got a Saiga 5.45 (15 cents or less a round :) ) and then converted it himself, very easy job if you are patient. Pretty much an Arsenal for less. Great gun! Made me an AK convert :D
 
You can buy an Interarms Polish Tantal for less than $800, so you don't have to worry about Century spotty quality (because Century Tantals have some substantial problems). Mine has been great...no complaints from me or any problems from the rifle. I purchased mine from Atlantic Firearms. Feel free to pm if you have a question about it.
 
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you could get lucky and find a good mak-90. Been nothing but pleased with my milled yet. The barrels and receivers are very beefy. at $800 you can easily find an unconverted stamped or milled(when you find them, i had trouble in my area). But beware replacing the stock can be pricey.

I prefer the chinese(they really are nice) but imo you want anything that was brought in as a sporter and converted(well that came in accepting double stack mags). Saigas are not bad at all, but look for some of the earlier bulgarian sporter imports(i hear theyre alot nicer than the chinese but i dont think ive actually seen one to compare)
 
You don't have to worry about Century spotty quality.
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ALWAYS worry about Century quality. There are TONS of unhappy Tantal owners. Here's one of the more infamous examples. Its Sturmgewehr from over at Military Arms Channel.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=561337

here's a snip
Sturmgewehr said:
Their customer service agent who told me that they would not cover my defective rifle under warranty referred me to a gunsmith they endorse. This gunsmith, named Keith Billado, used to work for Century and now has his own rifle repair business - a business Century backs apparently.

I called Keith, who is a nice guy, and spoke to him about my defective rifle. This gunsmith that used to work for Century, and one that Century gives referrals to, told me that Century knows the barrels on the Tantals are defective. He said they were the wrong bore diameter.

This infuriated me to say the least. Century knows the barrel is defective and they know it's out of spec, yet they refuse to honor my warranty and repair it.

So, to fix my defective rifle it will cost me another $175 in labor not including the cost of a new barrel which can cost me as much as $250 or so. So I'll have an additional $425 in this rifle making it a $900 Century Tantal.
Click to expand...
 
This thread is worthless without the OP elaborating.
Click to expand...
To the OP, you must decide what it is you want (caliber, make, etc) so we can help you narrow down your choices...

M
 
I bought a Century underfolder - three of the four magazines supplied don't work. Suggest avoid Century.
 
I was told the yugoslavian was the better type. But I do know saiga was a good brand,and they back it up. Now im curious about the arsenal brand.
 
The SGL-21 and 31 are the bread and butter of Arsenal's sales.

They're Saiga's sent to them in a different configuration than we would get (aids in the conversion), and they do everything you would normally do in a Saiga conversion, but generally better (no offense to anyone who's done their own conversion).

For what I was going to spend on a Saiga conversion, the Arsenal came out cheaper, and to be honest, I'm very glad I went that route. Very high quality rifle.
 
there is no way anyone could compete with an arsenal conversion. They change the handguards, buttstocks and pistol grips back to what they should look like(most conversions only do the grip and buttstock), along with changing the FSB and GB to allow it to hold a cleaning rob(bayonets im not sure on), and then refinish the rifle.

Im sorry but there is no way anyone is making a better saiga conversion for less money. That being said if you didnt want alot of the stuff changed back to orignal conifguration, than a basic converted saiga will do.

If you want to save yourself alot of headache, ordering an arsenal over the internet wouldnt be a bad option, but you could try and hunt around for an SLR-95(which to my understanding is the crem de la crem of post ban aks) but finding one for $800 would be difficult
 
at the 800$ range id heavily consider looking at a Vyatskie Polyany vepr . IMO that are the best thing going in the AK world. like saiga they are also made at a plant that builds arms for the Russian military.
but they are based off a RPK as opposed to a AKM. they feature several improvements with the trade off being they are a little heavier


tho ether way vepr or saiga/arsenal you cant go wrong
 
ALWAYS worry about Century quality. There are TONS of unhappy Tantal owners. Here's one of the more infamous examples. Its Sturmgewehr from over at Military Arms Channel.
Click to expand...

Let me clarify since I realize my original post was poorly worded. Get an Interarms Tantal because it's not made by Century. I wouldn't touch a Century Tantal with a ten foot pole given all the problems I've heard of. So what I was trying to say is, you don't have to worry about Century's POS quality control if you don't buy a Century.

I have been very, very happy with my Interarms built Tantal and I'd highly recommend them.

DSC01476.jpg

DSC01485.jpg

Once again, I'd recommend Interarms and NOT Century.
 
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