Best Underfolding Kalashnikov

What is the best (accuracy/quality) Kalashnikov on the market?

  • Bulgarian

    Votes: 11 14.9%

  • Romanian

    Votes: 2 2.7%

  • Yugoslavian

    Votes: 44 59.5%

  • Vector Arms

    Votes: 7 9.5%

  • Century Arms

    Votes: 1 1.4%

  • Norinco

    Votes: 12 16.2%

  • Other (please specify)

    Votes: 10 13.5%
  • Total voters
    74
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clevland11

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Sep 28, 2008
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Since I received so many helpful suggestions on my last purchase, I figured I would once again take a dip into the collective think tank.


I am now in the market for a new underfolding rifle. For various reasons I am seriously considering purchasing a new ak/m70 and have been considering the pros and cons of each manufacturers. From what I've gathered, Norincos and Bulgarian rifles aren't of the highest quality. Most have recommend Century Arms/Yugo or Romanian but I am still unconvinced of their superiority.

Are their any opinions out there on the quality/realibility of any of these brands?



What I was considering buying:
pix2051900609.jpg

A Yugo m70AB underfolder


or


pix1727425671.jpg

A Romanian Ak47 underfolder

or even


pix1980496890.jpg

A Vector Arms underfolder (which I know little about)
 
I voted Norinco,hope it covers Poly's as well.
Next would be the Vector,an older matching one.
Most all of the builds now are from mis-matched parts.
Yugo's are nice for the cash,but i'm fond of a chrome lined bore.
But when it comes to the "bang for the $$",Romie's are not that bad.
I've owned 11 Romie AK types,all have been worth the money spent.
 
I handled a Romanian underfolder at the shop a few days ago. I wasn't impressed with the quality; it's basically a WASR with an underfolder bolted on.

FWIW, I just ordered a Yugo myself. If nothing else, you get flip-up night sights for the same price as any other underfolder, and I haven't been able to find any negative reviews on 'em...
 
I prefer fixed stocks or those with an adjustable LOP so I sold off this NORINCO 56S - 1

NIBtype56S-1.jpg
 
Last edited:
If you actually want to shoot it get a side folder (triangle or solid NOT wire). The Russian/Bulgarian sidefolders are very comfortable to shoot and lock up as tight as a fixed stock.

Underfolders look cool, but suck for actual use. BSW

7.62 folder (SLR107FR)
fieldstripped.jpg

5.56 folder (SLR106FR)
151986557-L.jpg
 
Tactical Ninja said:
I handled a Romanian underfolder at the shop a few days ago. I wasn't impressed with the quality; it's basically a WASR with an underfolder bolted on.
Click to expand...
Which makes perfect sense, since the Romanians are now exporting WASR underfolders.

The MD-65 (romanian military underfolder) is an excellent rifle.

I'll agree with BSW, though. Underfolders suck to use (but they're KEWL to look at).
 
back when they were being imported norinco made one of the best aks considered superior mainly because of the thicker receiver and were talking pre 1990 here, but given todays prices on the norincos in an underfolder version you could probably buy 2 or 3 of the cheaper romanian or yugos for what you would spend on 1 norinco in good condition.
would also choose the polish underfolder over the yugo underfolder while its built from a parts kit like the yugo is, the parts was probably in great condition to begin with, and should have the crome lined bore.
while the romanian and yugo may be the most common and cheapest to find right now doesnt really make them the best.
 
Try shooting one before you buy it. Ike the other guys have said, underfolders suck to shoot.
 
my favorite ak other than a krink is the yugo underfolders, i thought i liked my mak until i shot my dads yugo underfolder, i am still trying to pry it away from him!:)
 
Thanks for the responses everyone. I was wondering why the underfolder has such a bad reputation (performance wise). I have fired a century arms underfolder and I wasn't completely disappointed by its performance. Is a sidefolder really that much more stable? Do underfolder's typically come loose when firing? I am relatively inexperienced when it comes to rifles so please help me understand the problems associated with this design.
 
I can't give you an opinion of the others listed, but I am more than satisfied w/my Vector Underfolder. I've put around 1000 rounds through it w/out so much as a FtF. I've heard others say they were crap, but i love mine, and it's my first line rifle.
I also have an NHM91, and I'll stack the underfolder against it easily. Even w/ the longer barrel, I thing the Vector shoots a touch more accurately. Of course it could be operator error.
 
Is a sidefolder really that much more stable? Do underfolder's typically come loose when firing?
Click to expand...

Underfoldering stocks will get loose after a while and become far less stable than sidefolders. Not that a sidefolder can't or won't have a slight bit of wobble, but its nothing like the sloppy wobble of an underfolder. A milled receiver helps, and both types of stocks will have a bit less wobble due to the rigidity of the receiver.
 
If you actually want to shoot it get a side folder (triangle or solid NOT wire). The Russian/Bulgarian sidefolders are very comfortable to shoot and lock up as tight as a fixed stock.
Click to expand...

I love my Arsenal SLR-106FR. It's a very nice rifle.
 
My Yugo M70 is currently my favorite underfolder... but I haven't finished building my Polish or or my MD63 yet...
 
Ok, I'll bite...

What's wrong with a wire sidefolder?

I found them considerably more comfortable to shoot than the underfolder I used to own, and the lock up is like a Swiss bank vault. The underfolder rails actually hurt, vs. the gentle curve of the wire sidefolder.

Nowadays, you even have a choice of either the Romanian pushbutton or East German lever-actuated wire sidefolders.

My SAR-1 w/Romanian wire sidefolder:

sar1walnut.gif
 
My Polish is the only underfolder I have owned. So I think that it is everthing I need as well as expected. My other is an Arsenal SLR 95 and these are hard to compare with each other. I also like the Polish because it looks and feels like an AKM.
 
Is there really a noticeable wobble in the underfolding stock? I've shot one before and didn't see too much of a difference compared to my saiga. Are underfolders a waste of money?

post-5340-1171210800_thumb.jpg
 
I had a vector underfolder with polish parts and a stamped nodak spud reciever. I found it a very good carbine. I would highly recommend one, if it has the chrome lined european made barrel. I'm told some of the newest ones don't. However, I sold it and bought an sas m-7 classic. This carbine has a milled receiver, heavier barrel, heavier everything. It's just a class act.
 
Is there really a noticeable wobble in the underfolding stock? I've shot one before and didn't see too much of a difference compared to my saiga. Are underfolders a waste of money?
Click to expand...

There is some up and down movement but not for me when I shoot it. I'm getting 3 in groups regularly with one of my handloads so far. I suppose it's a waste of your money if you don't want one. For me it's not, if only because I like the compactness of the carbine with the stock folded. It'll fit in my backpack.
 
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