Buying an AK and not getting JUNK.

There are hundreds of thousands of WASRs here in the USA.

The more of any product you make, the more likely you are to make a lemon.

The more of any lemons you produce, the more folks hear about them (nobody cares when the item works as it should, you know).

In other words, the "failure level" of the WASR is vastly overrated.

Do a search, you'll find more info than any of us would possibly be willing to type... again.

Atlantic Firearms is good in my experience, but it never hurts to shop around.

I agree, Nalioth.

Why would people listen to or read the good reviews when the handful of bad reviews are so much more fun?

The Interarms Tantals are well made (and have the original barrels).

So there are no inherent issues with a wasr?

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They are roughly finished and sometimes the front sight is canted. Which is easy to identify in 2 seconds if you look before buying (as in not mail order). And the wood can be finished much nicer if you have moderate wood-finishing skills.

Frozen North said:

So there are no inherent issues with a wasr?

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WASRs are entirly made in one of Romanias military AK factories. The issues present on WASRs are also represented on other factory-produced AKs *cough*Arsenal*cough*.

Frozen North said:

I hear Century international get their teeth kicked in allot. is this an avoid?

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Again, you need to do your homework.

Century manufactures guns from parts kits. It takes bids from jobbers and gives the project to the lowest bidder. It is these weapons that give Century it's reputation.

Century does not manufacture the WASR, it only imports it and makes it 922r compliant.

CAI 74 are now the best bang for the buck. They should be good to go. Make sure you do a good cleaning and shoot at least 200 rds . If theres problems like mag wobble, jams and all sorts of kinks, then call CAI, THey are good on returns. THey even have UPS pick it up at no charge.

Okay, personal Experience: I bought a Yugo M70AB2 (Century Arms) AK47 back in 2007. It had a under-folding stock, flip up night sights, along with a Grenade launching sight, the foregrip being made of black synthetic plastic. From my experience, It was a very nice rifle. very tight and smooth. never once had a problem with it. in fact it is one of the nicest AK's i've come across. It's unfortunate that i sold it due to harsh economic times, But I'm waiting to buy another one again. WASR's are Junk. they're cheap for a reason. But if i had a choice, #1 YUGO M70AB2, #2 Russian made AK 47, #3 Bulgarian Ak 47. But everyone has an opinion. But I'd look into it if I was you.

I have a Yugo M70 AB2 also and I got no complaints. The little bugger shots very well and is worth the money IMO.

So I should Give century a pass because they hire bad contractors? I dont want to do the rifle shuffle and spend an hour on the phone with excellent costumer service. I dont much care about federal import laws either. I am looking for something that will go bang.

I have had bad experiences with CIA myself... or say their contractors.

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I don't see how Nalioth's post #8 could be any more clear. Based on the statements I underlined, are you trolling?

Your best options currently are:

1. Buy a WASR for $400ish from you favorite retailer, Atlantic Firearms, Aimsurplus, LGS etc. If you buy it at the LGS you should be able to see if the front sight is canted.
1a. If you don't like the WASR you receive send it to Rifle Dynamics for a $300.00 WASR upgrade which will correct all the common problems and install their rear sight.
2. Buy a Saiga and convert it yourself. Or send it to your choice of smith for conversion.
3. If you want a side folder, then consider an Arsenal, its the only reason I would.

I bought a Ak-74 from Centerfire made with a Nodak spud reciever and a G2 trigger its been a real good shooter out of the box ,not as nice as some but much better most.It came with Ugly plastic but with some add -ons its come along nice.

http://s1000.photobucket.com/albums/af123/riddleofsteel/?action=view&current=100_6727.jpg

Don't discount just finding a great AK in a gunshop if you shop around. During the height of the Obama madness I bought a Norinco folder for 400.00 in mint condition. Trigger is better than most good AR's and it is a top quality AK.

After my mods. before I get a load of junk remember this is my rifle not yours and I still have all the original parts.

http://s1000.photobucket.com/albums/af123/riddleofsteel/?action=view&current=ak001.jpg

I have a 1988 WASR 10/63 and love it. I, too, was worried about poor quality and, like you, I hesitated getting one because of all the horror stories I read about them but then I started reading all of the positive things people were saying and I ended up buying one. I'm glad I did because it's easily one of my favorite guns -- (And I've had quite a few)

AK's are built like tanks but even tanks can break down. It's more likely you'll get a good AK than a bad one and really the only issues I've known to plague AK variants are canted sights and canted gas blocks which can both be fixed relatively easily.

As stated before, problems with WASRs are vastly overstated. Those problems also seem to be corrected as of the last few years from what I can tell looking at gun show/shop examples. I own a WASR bought in '07, no canted sights, mag wobble is negligible, 100% reliable. Check one out yourself before you buy and you will be fine, I would be willing to bet that you would be fine ordering sight unseen as well. Considering CAI has good CS, you have little to lose. Or you could spend much more money and receive very few real gains IMO.

Take it or leave it, hope this helps.

Yes and its easy to fix

So I want to check it for loose magazines (wobble).

A canted sight is twisted to the side?

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Yes. The AK design doesn't have a long mag well like the AR to support the mag (because AK mags don't need extra support) so there will be some play in it side to side, you just don't want excessive amounts of wobble.

Yes. The front sight, gas block or both just may be cocked off to one side. As you look down a shouldered rifle it will be blatantly obvious.

If you get a Saiga you can modify the magazine well to accept standard AK mags or you can modify the mags themselves. I'm not sure how it's done but it probably won't be hard to find out.

Frozen North said:

So I want to check it for loose magazines (wobble).

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The term "mag wobble" has been thrown about so much the its original meaning has almost been lost.

First off (as mentioned), all Kalashnikovs have 'mag wobble', in that their magazines flop from side to side (front-to-back movement should not exist). If a magazine that moves from side to side bothers you, the AK is probably not the rifle you want.

The "mag wobble" that everyone is warning you about is not this slight movement, but the condition where the magazine flops so far one way or the other that it causes the rifle to malfunction. Some early WASRs (more than 10 years past) were afflicted with this, due to Century's angry beavers laying into them with reckless abandon during 922r-ization.

The haters have not let anyone forget the WASRs early issues, even though these issues haven't been seen in years.