AK-47 or AK-74 or any other gun

What do you want to do with your gun?

Also do you want a pistol or rifle?

As a first gun, a Glock in .40 or .45 would be a good choice, for reliability, ease of use and ammo availability.

I would go with a shotgun

Based on what you've told us what you are looking for, I suggest you buy a Romanian AK-47 which can be had for under $400. A lot of people warn against them because if you don't know rifles and look at it personally you might get a lemon with poor finish and canted sights.

But I think you'll have a blast with it and can learn a lot, yes it can be a learning experience to have to fix these sorts of problems on your rifle.

I advise against the AK-74 unless you have a specific need for one (such as collecting, or plinking varmits at relatively close range).

It really depends what you want from the round. The AK47's 7.62 x 39 is more powerful, slower, and less accurate at longer ranges like a 30-30 Winchester round. The AK74's 5.45 x 39 is smaller, weaker, but more accurate, similar to the 5.56 NATO round used by our military.

Do you live in a house or an apartment? The 7.62 might over penetrate and pose a danger to people in adjoining apartments if you use it for home defense.

for purely home defense, a rifle of any kind might not be your best choice depending on where you live.

I'll just defer that role for a shotgun, but...

the AK-47s and -74s are more or less priced the same. You'll go over you budget by 100-200 bucks though once you factor in ammo and mags - even for a Romanian WASR or the cheaper Tantal builds for 74s.

The 5.45 round is going to be cheaper and possibly more accurate, and will at least have a better range. The downside to the ammo is that it is purely imported surplus at the moment, meaning that a change in the law could make your ammo either become scarce and very pricey until the prices come down slightly from American manufacturers picking it up (and even then, prices won't drop a lot), or make your AK-74 into a pretty paperweight or door stopper.

the 7.62x39 is accurate, but the range is not great, and there is noticeably more recoil. But, it will usually have a better ammo selection (it's also domestically manufactured/sold), is not bank-breaking in price for cheap steel-cased stuff, and there is pretty much a better and more excessive AK aftermarket for x39 models (mags, pieces, etc. are all cheaper and more widely available).

another thing to look into would be a Saiga, then convert it to an AK once budget allows.

To some of the above posters and in the other thread, and I mean no disrespect by this, the boy wants an AK, let him buy an AK. He might regret it later, but he'll have learned. Or he might like it, in which case, fine. If he catches the gun fever he'll be back in a few years asking which .22 LR, which bolt action .300, which AR-15 etc to buy.

Get an AK47 variant. The 7.62x39 round is more prevalent as well as the mags. The caliber is fine for plinking and self-defense.

Until your two threads get merged, I guess I have to post the same thing in both:

Get an inter ordnance AK. They're made in usa and are around $500

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.asp?Keywords=io

Most dealers just want too much for a wasr AK, but they're good guns too, just use gunbroker first: http://gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.asp?SearchResults.asp?SearchType=0&Keywords=wasr

I'd go with 7.62X39; it's the more common ammo by far. See if you can check out a Norinco SKS before you buy. You'll spend hundreds less, with which you can buy some ammo.

The downside to the ammo is that it is purely imported surplus at the moment, meaning that a change in the law could make your ammo either become scarce and very pricey until the prices come down slightly from American manufacturers picking it up (and even then, prices won't drop a lot), or make your AK-74 into a pretty paperweight or door stopper.

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Nope, not correct: http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catal...silver-bear-60gr-fmj-ammo/manufacturers_id/19

I would recomend the 7.62x39 WASR 10 (romanian AK). They are good cheap guns. I bought one a couple years ago, and it has a side mounted optic, folding stock, and synthetic forend and grip. All together I have about $700 in it. Make sure the one you buy has a chrome linned barrel and side rail mount. You may be unlucky and get one with bum sights, but if you do you can easily mount an optic with the side rail mount and a UTG scope mount. I would also plan on having it refinished after about 3000 rounds, becouse it will start to look like crap after a lot of use, dura coat is good for this.

ChronoCube - That ammo is imported from Russia. The only 5.45 that is not, is the Hornady TAP rounds, but even they use imported steel cases.

I'd go with the AK-74, if you want it and if you can find a good deal. The cheapest new one that I've seen is $520. Ammo is cheap for now, but could change. Depends on how many people start shooting '74s.

Also, an Romanian AK-47 would be fine too. Or even an SKS-D/SKS-M that take AK mags.

heres my 2 cents
if you think you will ever want to use it to hunt or take camping ever, go with an ak-47 if its just for home defense and range/target shooting a AK 74 will fit the bill.
One thing to take account is that just cuz you may not hunt now or camp you may want to in the future. things change trust me. And an AK-47/ 7.62x39 is a fine round for hunting, no matter what anybody says. So my opinion is ak-47. Besides if this is your first it prolly wont be your last. The AK style is good stuff. have fun, be safe, enjoy shooting sports!

ChronoCube - That ammo is imported from Russia. The only 5.45 that is not, is the Hornady TAP rounds, but even they use imported steel cases.

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Oh I see -- you mean that even though it's commercial and not surplus, it's still imported and could be banned -- is that correct? I was just thinking that it's commercial production rather than military surplus ammo.

Oh I see -- you mean that even though it's commercial and not surplus, it's still imported and could be banned -- is that correct? I was just thinking that it's commercial production rather than military surplus ammo.

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Yes, I believe that is what RP88 meant, like NORINCO ammo in 1994.:banghead:

You can never go wrong with an AK-47

Here's a nice AK (RPK) for $550. It has a heavy barrel and built-in bipod, and is built on a nice heavy premium American-made receiver.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=143072892

You may also want to invest in some Tech-Sights when you can afford it:
http://www.tech-sights.com/

I have the Norinco NHM-91, which is basically a Chinese RPK (it cost $600). I have shot 2" groups with it at 100 yards from the prone position (without bipod or any support). I like it far better than the smaller, light-barrelled AK-47s.

The finish is DuraCoat Multi-Color in my own pattern (not associated in any way with Crye MultiCam). I offer this service (sandblasting and refinishing) for $200 plus shipping costs here:
http://matuman60.tripod.com/mattmanncustomghilliesuits/id4.html

Kimber45acp said:

Get an inter ordnance AK. They're made in usa and are around $500

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I'm sorry, but they're not. IO is using a legal loophole to (legally) misrepresent the fact that the majority of the gun is made from foreign parts.

The 922r law allows this to happen.

Don't be fooled - IO's guns only have the 5 or 6 required US parts to "legally" call them "US made". They are made from AK parts kits, just like the majority of the other AKs out there.