JRA aks?

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Deus Machina

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Anyone have any experience with them?
Missing my 7.62x39s, Classic has been advertising them, and I'm having trouble finding good write-ups.
I'm hardly a gun snob, don't mind ugly, but do demand that things are straight and that a gun does what it's supposed to.
 
I’ve heard they hit or miss in QC. Their worst offender is the polish rifles they have, which are made from garbage. My advice is just buy a WASR.
 
Haven't heard anything bad about PSAs... I'll just look into saving up for one of those.
Or one of they ARs in x39. Then I could swap uppers if I felt like it.

Not a bad plan, however there has been some concern regarding 7.62x39 AR's that the case head size necessitates locking lug diameters that are small enough that they may not hold up well over time. I have a 7.62x39 AR-15 (not a PSA) that has ran fine but I've only put a few hundred rounds through it. FWIW, when Colt was contracted to build a 7.62x39 AR, they did it on the AR-10 platform rather than the AR-15 for this reason.

Just for me personally, I've never bothered with swapping uppers. If you typically use regular GI parts you can throw together a lower for around $100 or less. To me that cost is low enough that I don't mind every lower having its own dedicated upper. If you use a lot of really expensive aftermarket parts though then I can see where only having to buy them once for a single lower may be beneficial.
 
Not a bad plan, however there has been some concern regarding 7.62x39 AR's that the case head size necessitates locking lug diameters that are small enough that they may not hold up well over time. I have a 7.62x39 AR-15 (not a PSA) that has ran fine but I've only put a few hundred rounds through it. FWIW, when Colt was contracted to build a 7.62x39 AR, they did it on the AR-10 platform rather than the AR-15 for this reason.

Understandable, and that's probably how I would have gone about it.
Otherwise, the plan would be relatively simple: buy an extra bolt and inspect for cracking or wear every cleaning.

Just for me personally, I've never bothered with swapping uppers. If you typically use regular GI parts you can throw together a lower for around $100 or less. To me that cost is low enough that I don't mind every lower having its own dedicated upper. If you use a lot of really expensive aftermarket parts though then I can see where only having to buy them once for a single lower may be beneficial.

I figure that's what I'd do in the long run. But since I like building things when I can versus buying them complete, I figure I'd just start building or buying different uppers before getting lowers for them.
Call it instantly-gratifying layaway.
 
https://www.atlanticfirearms.com/products/cai-ak-47-wasr-10-7-62x39mm-rifle

The AR in 7.62x39 sounds like a fine solution, but if you’re looking for some diversity, I think you’ll really like the AK. The ease of cleaning, the surprising accuracy potential. I’m not going to say it’s better, but it’s certainly no worse. Plus the magpul furniture options give you some really ingenious ways to improve the ergos and functionality for minimal $.
 
Oh, I used to have an AK. A Saiga I bought when they were $200 and converted. Loved it. I could shoot it more accurately than most ARs at the local range (probably saying more about those shooters than me or the rifle, but it was accurate for an AK), and ended up selling it for more than I had in it during the panic when I needed rent money.
That's why I have a can or so of 7.62x39 looking to feed something.
And, my, WASRs got more expensive.
 
WASRs are the last “ Budget “ AK made(and nearly the last of the AKs to made in general) USA made AKs for the most part, fall apart and go blamo after a few 100 rounds. PSA G3 AK shows the most promise for an American made AK. But it’s still relatively unproven compared to commie made AKs in my worthless opinion.
 
I'm in the either a Wasr, or a PSA G3 crowd. The PSA is the ONLY US built AKM I would get, other then a kit built by a good builder.
 
I can't speak for their AK's, but I've had a JRA BM-59 about a year now, with around 500 rounds through it. The rifle has been absolutely flawless. Sorry I can't speak on the quality of their other rifles, but based on the one I own I would take a gamble with any of their other product offerings.
 
I'm hardly opposed to the smaller companies; as long as it functions well and has solid parts, I can fix cosmetic or minor problems.
The ones being advertised seem to be labelled 'J.R.A. Pioneer Arms'. JRA an importer for Pioneer Arms, or assembler for them? Or is it a line of theirs?
I is confussed.

Otherwise, if the current WASRs don't have the reputation for crappy barrels and accuracy they did when I was shopping around (like a decade more more ago), I'll just save up a bit and grab one.
 
WASRs are the gold standard now. Those of the last ten years were old, surplus parts that were more among the lines of not so great parts. Now since about 2016, WASRs are newly made and are the exact same as military issued. In semi-auto of course. Atlantic firearms does QC before shipping it out. I would replace the wood ASAP if you due get a Wasr as the stock wood is made from butter.
 
Now the issue with JRA is like I said, hit or miss. I’ve read about how a RPK of theirs was out of headspace, I’ve read where they overpressed rivets. They some are fine. The polish ones I believe are imported with American parts. But are 100% garbage. Falling apart within a few rounds.
 
Oof. Well, then WASR it is.
Unless Saiga is still available when I have cash to grab it or another one.
Didn't mind adding a feed ramp to use surplus mags, but my one complaint was needing to thread the barrel myself and modify the front sight block. And now I don't have a workshop to do that.
 
JRA seemed good and the rifle my son recently purchased from them looked nice. Unfortunately the botched the receiver. Rails out of spec, didn't line up correctly with trunion. Sent it back to have them fix. Instead of dealing with the rails, the moved the mag catch and very crudely machined the bolt carrier deeper. That created more issues than it started with. First round with customer service was pleasant. Second round, they were decidedly not. So off to the bench and machine shop to get fixed. Works okay now after added headaches and expense. Would not recommend them to others - too much chance of poor quality control.
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