$725 for WASR-10 $500 for N-PAP

[Kyle S.]

The WASR is $725 at Atlantic Firearms and I found the NPAPs for $500 at the local gun shop. I really like the WASR because its more of a standard ak and can take aftermarket parts. I also think it looks better than the NPAP. But for $725 I dont see how the WASR is that much more valuable. Does anyone know of a standard ak like the WASR that is less than $600 or should I just go with the NPAP? What do you guys think of this price difference? Is it justifiable?

 

[illinoisburt]

The WASRs are century imported, built by Cugir. $725 WASR is the older model with removable slant brake and bayonet lug. Newer model WASR have been neutered a little with a threaded cap spot welded over the threads (new $5 slant brake and dremel fix in short order), but no bayonet lugs. They are otherwise the same guns, albeit for around $525. So how important is a knife to you?

The Paps are generally regarded as decent military quality guns. Some furniture may not be direct swap, however they tend to have better QC on things like canted sights and mag wobble. I suppose it all depends on whether you intend to keep the factory stocks (usually matching blonde wood or black composite on either guns).

Either of your choices will be a good representative of standard foreign type AKs. I doubt you would find any significant performance differences. AK folks will tell you to stay away from US made rifles right now as they lack correct metallurgy and suffer from premature wear.

Now I will caution that if you haven't owned and shot AKs before there are a few caveats: accuracy expectations should be 4 to 5 inches at 100 yards, trigger slap and cheek slap are normal with the short length of pull and relatively straight stocks, feeding and ejection of ammo tends to be robust so soft points commonly get deformed tips and dented cases flying 20-30 feet are normal. Compared to ARs they do kick a little. None of this is bad. It's just what the guns are.

 

[wojownik]

For the WASR, your are paying a bit of a premium (worth it, IMHO) for an rifle that Atlantic will inspect before shipping (i.e., much less change of canted sights, etc), and excellent support from Atlantic if you have any issues. If you read up on Romanian WASRs, there have been issues over time (I have several Romanians, three of which are canted to some degree. My only quibbles with Atlantic is that their shipping costs are a bit high, and they are consistently out of stock of anyting I want to buy, almost always running out of stock as soon as a save up the change to get it.

For $725 from Atlantic, that's the way I'd go. Sportsman's guide has them for $724 (club price of $689). Bud's has them for $726, club price of $705. For the extra couple of bucks, think of it as an insurance policy against the occasional clunker from Romania.

Don't know much about the NPAP, but they have never really interested me for whatever reason. But, that's just me ...

 

[Jackal]

Paps are generally regarded as a better quality rifle.

 

[wojownik]

The OPAP is indeed regarded more highly than the WASR (thicker receiver, better finishing, etc.). The NPAP is a nicer finish as well, but I've heard of a few users that ended up with cracked receivers (yeah, perhaps they were putting their NPAPs through the paces, but there are issues apparently with the NPAP receiver at higher round counts ... like 5000. The OPAP is a thicker, solid rifle, if you can find one).

Also note that the WASR has a chrome lined barrel (which I don't think either the OPAP or NPAP has), and can also take standard AK furniture (for those of us who like to accessorize). The WASR is not so finely finished. But I beleive more options for optics with a WASR, if you go down that path.

The PAPs comes with some nice features like a bolt hold open built into the safety. The WASR is a standard AK.

Again, if I was to go down the WASR route, it would be through Atlantic. Even though their shipping rates bug me.

 

[rbernie]

Dear lord, it seems like only yesterday that WASR's were $289 pieces of junk that nobody wanted because of their poor build quality.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

Dear lord, it seems like only yesterday that WASR's were $289 pieces of junk that nobody wanted because of their poor build quality.

... and When WASRs were $289, they came with a combloc factory chrome barrel. Now they come with a barrel from the lowest bidder and are cobbled together from a parts kit. Who knows what a "WASR" really means nowadays. It's like buying a 1996 civic with "improvements" from a 19 year old -- who knows what the heck is under the hood.

AKs were designed by a genius to be manufactured by idiots and used by children. They all generally work fine.

If you want "quality" get a VEPR if you can still find one, they are imported as sporters to get around 922(r) and were put together on a military assembly line in Russia - it's basically the AK equivalent of a Colt 6920.

 

[wojownik]

Dear lord, it seems like only yesterday that WASR's were $289 pieces of junk that nobody wanted because of their poor build quality.

Amen to that. My first two Romaks were $199 each. And I kick myself almost every day for cheaping out and not getting more. Then I "splurged" a couple of years ago for Russian Legion at around $525. The economics have radically changed, sadly. Import restrictions means that WASRs, etc. need US barrels, compliance parts, US labor ... all shoving the price higher.

The OP is looking at a price band where there is not a lot of quality for the dollar. WASR and NPAP are probably the best bets in the sub $750 range. Say far, far away from the RAS-47 and certain other US builds (IMHO). The next price band is in the Arsenal kind of level - $1000 - $1300, or building our own from a quality kit and quality parts, with a quality builder ... which gets you to that price or higher.

I was looking at a Saiga conversion for $825 - thinking that was a relative bargain - but sadly that deal fell through. I may buy a kit and build my own AK-74, but the total sunk cost on that is going to be around $1350+. And then I pause and realize that I could build 3 AR rifles for that budget.

So, back to the OP's question - if you are going to run the rifle harder, the WASR is less pretty, but more conventional, and would have good support from Atlantic. If you want to save a few bucks for an occasional plinker, the NPAP should do fine.

 

[Coyote3855]

I have a WASR, my shooting buddy has an NPAP. No problems with either rifle and we shoot them a bunch. Obviously I prefer the WASR.