Best Overall AK on the Market

Arsenal is always a good choice. I don't know if they are "the best" but they are really really well made. My buddy bought an Arsenal and that gun has changed a lot of people views on the accuracy of the AK platform.

I know many folks will disagree with me on this, but there is definitely a point of diminishing returns that you hit pretty quickly with AKs. You can spend a lot of money to tune and customize them all you want, or buy a high end brand, and you will still not have gained all that much.

I agree with C-grunt in that Arsenal is almost alway a good choice, be it their Bulgarian milled or Russian stamped (Saiga) AKs. Actually, any well-done Saiga conversion will be a very good rifle.

You can certainly spend a lot more money on a Krebs Custom, etc., if you want to, and will definitely get a slick, nice-looking rifle, but functionally, it will work pretty much the same and be as reliable as a well-made production-line gun.

There are plenty of lower-end AKs that I would avoid, though (IO, Hesse, etc.).

The preban Chicom AKs were the best before the Arsenal SLRs.

Saiga's.

You can get into the price/quality issue all day long though.

Finnish M62S

If you aren't sold on an AK per se, look for the Vz.58 from Czechpoint.

WALKERs210 said:

A simple question, or maybe not so simple. Of all the different Importers offering AK's and disregarding the prices what would be the general thought as to the best AK using quality parts, workmanship, dependability. I have seen some weapons that have been bashed then on next page praised. So who has the most consistent AK.

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In my experience, the milled Arsenals are probably the most consistent AKs. The extra weight of the milled AKs (they go about a pound and a half or so heavier than stamped units) is nice to have as it dampens the already gentle recoil of the 7.62x39 round enhancing controllability even more. Of course, there are those who'll complain about that little bit of weight and then go on to slap four and half pounds worth of accessories on their favorite AR. All of their parts are new manufacture. (the receivers are hot die forgings with brand-new Steyr chrome-lined barrels)

I've got six milled Arsenals (3 SAS M7s, 2 SA M7 Rs and a SA M7 A1) and all are well finished (the baked on epoxy finish is tough and evenly applied) and very accurate rifles (the iron sights routinely yield 2" - 2 1/2" groups at 100m).

While it's not technically a member of the AK family, IMO the Sig 551 brings the best or the AK and Ar platforms together. AR style ergonomics, optic mounting and upper/lower receiver design combined with an AK style long stroke gas piston and 2 lug rotating bolt. Hard to beat from a design standpoint IMO.

The newer Sig Sauer rifles have (from what I've heard) resolved the QC issues that the early 556's had. It's just another option worth considering.





Swiss made 551 SB (technically a Canadian legal PE90 Classic Green Carbine)

As far as bang for your buck, I would have to agree that the Norinco ak's were/are the best value.
No more expensive, generally, than WASR's, or other cheaper ak's, but they were all properly built and used thicker receivers and barrels.

I would say after a saiga the law of diminishing returns set in. it seems that American gun makers cannot stand guys getting a good battle rifle for 3-400 bucks think also the norinco M 14 they have to fiddle with them to get the rifle to 1000 and then tell you the $4.99 ammo is no good try the 21.99 ammo

I have a old Arsenal SA M7S and those were well built with a lot of attention to fit and finish. Also have two stock Saigas which are mass built and inexpensively finished. The Arsenal holds a slight edge on accuracy. If I had to carry one around all day, the Saiga is much lighter. Either povide the same level of shooting enjoyment. Really depends upon how much you wish to spend.

The best sights goes to the Sig 551 A1 rotary rear sight. I ve handled the 556 model and like the sights. The weak design was the mag release button that be accidentally press causing the mag to drop.

WALKERs210 said:

In the early 90's I worked at a Pawn/Gun shop, had access to just about anything that one could want. Never had any real interest in the AK platform, but I did appreciate the SKS and how a cheap rifle could and would function so well. In the last couple years I have owned two AK's one being a Maddi that seemed to be a very decent build, don't remember who imported it. I recently decided to go ahead and start looking for an AK hence for this post about which is not so much BEST but a better choice. 481 your post has really solid information and will defiantly sway my choice. Thanks to all for their input.

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Glad I could help. There are a lot of good options out there- the VEPR series offers an especially robust stamped receiver (1.5mm) and is known for being quite accurate. I have one of those (done by Krebs with an baked epoxy finish, -74 brake, and a skeletonized stock) also- it is a very nice rifle.

I recently got an early import Maadi and it is a thing of beauty. Also my Chicom AK is sweet. If money is no object though I'd go with an Arsenal with all the Kreb$ goodies.

Top 2 on my list is Arsenal and Polytech AK's.

Isn't this sort of like asking what's the best disease to contract, rabies or syphilis?

I recently purchased a Norinco MAK 90. It is stamped with a square cut receiver. The receiver is 1.6mm thick compared to most ak 1mm thick receivers. I plan to add pistol grip and stock instead of the thumb hole and make it 922r compliant. I've heard from more than one person that the MAK 90's and the norinco type 56's are some of the best out there. If you get a MAK 90 make sure you get a square cut receiver. That elk make things slot easier when going to change out stocks.

Sent from my mind using ninja telepathy.

I have almost a dozen AK platform rifles currently, and have owned almost double that over the years and learned a lot of lessons through trial & error + wasting a lot of money in the process. The 3 of them I would mention here for reliablity/accuracy ("go to guns")....

Arsenal, undisputedly great rifles. However you can do the same things they do to an Izhmash Saiga for far less money yourself and educate yourself on the platform in the process.

Vepr, a bit more weight but so far I've been in love with the two I have, they're with me for life, just like my Saigas.

Zustava PAP m92, when I first got it I had some feeding and reliability issues. Widened/Polished the feed ramp, polished the receiver rails, tuned the bolt carrier, now it's one of my favorite to shoot...just tons of fun.

You're going to run into tons of opinions from blowhards talking up all sorts of different AKs primarily because it's what they own, and they're proud of their toy... However don't let this sway your opinion. Find some friends with different AK variants, ask to see them/shoot them. Pay attention to quality of construction, materials used, reliability, accuracy, etc.

However at the end of the day....for your first AK I would suggest starting with an Izhmash and build from there. You might find this informative...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCtuNP10__c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gir2YgAmOL0&NR=1&feature=endscreen

Best of the best?

Polish Archer.

Isarelie Galil, Valmet M62/M76,Polytech Legend,Polytech folder,Norinco type 56 or 84S in that order and yes I own them all!

VEPR: AK action, RPK specs!

Another vote for milled Arsenal.
This one is a fixed up original SLR95 from Bulgaria, but, the milled Arsenal guns from Nevada are excellent as well.

If you see a Sig 556R, run. They are crap... period.

To the OP, your question is pretty simple. The best AK is just about any foreign AK with A CHF, CL barrel. If you get a good one, it'll be just as good as any other AK. A good WASR is every bit as good as a good Arsenal. Anyone who says otherwise, is wrong. However, you threw in the word "consistent" and that changes things. I would not hesitate to buy a WASR if I could inspect it first. However, I would buy an Arsenal online, without an inspection and would be fairly confident that it would be issue-free. That said, if you think Arsenal owners don't have some of the same complaints as WASR owners, you are mistaken.

Lastly, I have owned several VEPR rifles and have gotten to the point where I don't even bother inspecting them when I pick them up from my FFL. They are always straight as an arrow and tight. VEPR rifles are the superior mass-produced AK variant.

Also, there is no distinctive advantage to a milled AK. If you want a heavy AK, get one that's heavy where it counts - the barrel.