Trade Question AK for AR

It depends on the receiver it has. If it's ITM, run away from it. They weren't properly heat treated.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_4_64/136520_Vector_Polish_underfolder.html

Vector generally made good AKs and the Polish parts are very high quality.

That said, underfolder AKs are way better looking than shooting. They look great but: the stocks are either wobbly or get wobbly (and there ain't much you can do to tighten them up) and the arms of the underfolder provide minimal support for shooting, plus the this steel is uncomfortable.

For a shooting AK I'd want either a fixed stock or a AK-100 type side folder.

BSW

This has potential to get ugly but THR keeps it mostly copacetic. I would say save up for the AK if possible. But AR's have become a dime a dozen and AK's not so much. I personally am weary of AK's simply due to my lack of knowledge on them. I do know that some were assembled by boneheads and can have all sorts of problems from being built out of misc. parts etc. (I guess AR's can fall in here too, but they seem to have more of a modular standard) Just do your homework and do whatever makes you happy. I would surely want to fire the AK first if possible.

Be careful of a person offering YOU the trade. Your probability of getting burned goes up exponentially when dealing with an individual.

I would sell the AR and get an Arsenal AK if it were me, and I was in your position.

I had a Vector Polish Underfolder. It was a very high-quality build. If that is what you want, go for it.

As others have pointed out though, the underfolder is cooler to show your friends than to take to the range. The cheek-weld is VERY awkward and not at all comfortable. Also the butt piece is not very comfortable since it is just a steel U. You could probably put some foam on the stock to enhance the cheek weld, but I think to really improve the comfort, you'd probably have to dress it up to the point that it didn't fold anymore.

I used to have a Vector underfolder. It was a very good gun, good fit/finish, reliable, and accurate. The only thing I didn't really like about it was the stock. It was a great rifle for being compact and easy to store, but the stock wasn't that great for actually shooting. I ended up trading it during the panic for a well setup/accuratized bolt rifle.

If I were to buy another AK, it would probably be something built with a AK-100 style folding stock. That's probably the best of both worlds in regards to having a folding stock that actually feels like a fixed stock when shooting. You can't really put a side folder on a gun set up for an underfolding stock. Once the receiver is set up for one stock, you're stuck with it unless you want to do a lot of work.

im going to agree with southside830 and quietsage, i dont buy AKs (prefer to build them) but if were to id either buy an arsenal AK, or id buy a saiga and convert it.. so my advice would be to sell the AR, then put it towards an arsenal and youll have one of the best made AKs you can buy

i also do not like underfolders and agree with briansmithwins, a fixed stock or left side folder is what id go for, never liked underfolders, and if you use anything besides a standard 30 round mag or a forward grip you couldnt close it anyway

You can get a very nice Waffen Werks AK-74 from Classic Arms for around $600, provided your at all interested in 5.45 caliber. Best deal going in the AK world. Fit and finish are top grade (even better than Arsenals).

^^^Waffen Werks '74s are currently listed at $799 on the Classic Arm's website

M

I might be an Arsenal fan boy but a Warren works is not in the same class as an Arsenal. You can't compare a Russian or Bulgarian built gun to an American made AK. Come on guys. I own 3 Arsenal slr106's and they are flawless.

i've owned two arsenals and one was a complete lemon. 12 inches left at 50yds. arsenal builds nice guns, but they aren't above the occasional slip up as some would have you believe. the saigas are quite nice, and i wouldn't hesitate to buy one at the right price.

the vectors i've seen were nicely done as well, although i'd pass on the underfolder.

http://www.classicfirearms.com/ak74riflewuspartsw1magonlycodeb

See, $600. Mine was perfect. Please tell me, what makes the Russian or Bulgy better than an American receivered rifle built on the same parts?? Waffen Werks puts out a top notch product. Simply better fit and finish than Arsenals, sorry if you dont agree, but its the truth. Anyone thats seen them will agree.

I stand corrected...and strangely drawn to them ugly woods...LOL

M

I "accidentally" sprayed carburetor cleaner on my Waffen Werk AK-74 and it did not remove or damage the steel finish. Try that with an Arsenal paint finish.

Here's my reasons I believe an Arsenal is superior to a Waffen Werks.

1. US made non CHF barrel vs Styer Cold hammer forged barrel. The Arsenal barrel is superior.
2. Arsenal rifles are made by countries that issue a very similar rifle to their troops. Waffen werks rifles are made by an American company with no such resume.
3. Resale value and prestige. Think Colt vs DPMS.
4. Authentic com bloc receivers vs American made recievers.
5. Kalashnikov himself has an office at the Ismash factory where the SGL Arsenal rifles are made. Come on now !!

I'm sure the Waffen Werks rifles are fine, but I prefer the superior Arsenal rifles. And make no mistake they are superior. That's my opinion on the matter. To each his own.

Southside830 said:

I would sell the AR and get an Arsenal AK if it were me, and I was in your position.

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This.

Any AR is a decent rifle, but Arsenal makes a fine AK. One that id dare say I would have no qualms betting my life on.

I'm going to add my two cents here...I may pay the price for my comments, but I speak to my experiences of owning an AR-10...(other shooters may have far different experiences and results than I have had.)

I own an AR-10 rifle and it has only failed to fire once, it stove-piped an empty round. Previous to this stoppage, it had fired 20 rounds or so. The chamber was clean, the ammo was very good. My concern is that I want a rifle that will fire everytime I pull the trigger. From my understanding, the AK's do not have the tight tolerances the AR's do. So, if you want to punch paper or use an AR for deer hunting or hog hunting it should be fine, however, for home defense or para-military use, I would opt for the AK's. Grant it, a good version of the AK-47.

The bottom line is that if you don't have a lot of money tied up in the AR, I would opt to trade/sell it if the primary use is for home defense or para-military use and look for a good AK-47 variant. I would most likely look at the CZ version of the AK-47. Heard nothing but accolades about it. If you are a purist the CZ may not be the weapon you are looking for.

Good Shooting!!!

as long as youre willing to get rid of your AR and get an AK, youre on the right path

Ditch the AR, go grab yourself an off the shelf Izhmash Saiga 7.62.x39 and use the opportunity to learn more about the platform while you move the trigger group forward and do the other tuning it will take to make it a proper rifle. That's all Arsenal does anyway, and it's what I did with mine;



Now, I own at least a dozen AK variants currently and have been through easily a couple times that over the years, and this is by far most favorite, most reliable rifle in my collection. It stands out above all my AR variants and basically everything else for what it is. I've beaten the crap out of it in more ways than I'd care to go into detail, and not only just keeps on running, it hits the mark every single time. I would trust my life to it any day, any where.

However the most rewarding part of it will be that you know you built it up yourself, and you understand it completely. You will come to rely on it without question, and you'll understand why you went through the trouble after you've put it through its courses. Either way, good luck on finding the AK for you.

jason41987 said:

as long as youre willing to get rid of your AR and get an AK, youre on the right path

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Hahaha!

I spit out soda when I read that!

ShooterGuy, if he already has an AR that he's getting rid of then he probably already has .223/5.56mm ammunition, so why not get a .223 saiga and convert that to an AK?