A well worn AK question - but I need some good advice.

Hokkmike

Hokkmike

Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2006
Messages
3,965
Location
Snack Capital of the US
I was thinking about buying a HIGH END and reliable AK, preferably in .223/5.56 so I could consolidate my ammo.

I might offer a classic lever gun in trade. But, I am wondering these days which would be better to keep.

Please don't say "both". I know that is the logical answer but being retired I need to limit my spending. I just don't want to trade the same amount of gold for the same amount of silver.

My question is two fold:
#1. Is the idea of the trade-off in as I described guns palatable in your mind?
#2. Is there an AK (not AR) in the desired caliber worthy of owning?
 
Hokkmike said:
I might offer a classic lever gun in trade.
Click to expand...

Don't.
I know you said that "both" isn't an option. But, if you want the AK, then either trade something else off or save up some funds until you can buy what you want. To be totally honest, I'd prefer the lever gun given today's political climate. They aren't coming after "obsolete" lever actions (yet) but AR's/AK's/etc. are high on the anti's want list.

From a reliability standpoint, an AK just works; they don't seem to have many problems (admittedly I have very limited experience with them). Then again, I can't ever remember having my 1894, 1892, 336, or 99 ever jam up either and I've put a lot of rounds through all of them. Probably not what you want to hear, but from my view it's six of one, half dozen the other in terms of function. The AK has a higher capacity, obviously, and will shoot faster. The "classic lever gun" is only going to appreciate in value, and while it may not hold 30 rounds, it'll still do the business should it be called on.

Mac
 
Two questions and I'll answer the first: no. Don't trade a classic levergun for an AK if you can help it. At least I wouldn't. I did it once and still regret it. Nothin wrong with an AK, I kinda like them, but it'll never carry as nice as a good ol'lever.

Second, there are several decent 223 AK pattern rifles out there, but as mentioned above, lay in a good quantity of mags for your specific firearm. Aks are nowhere near as easy to swap mags around in as an AR pattern rifle, there are lots that work, but each gun is it's own thing. So test out mags and sell off any that won't reliably operate in your chosen AK.

All that said I'd have a very hard time spending the bucks it takes to get a quality AK in 223/5.56 compared to a 7.62x39, especially with the proliferation of ar pattern rifles out there. If you don't want an AR, no complaints from me, but the rifle and the cartridge fit together. And the AK is just so much more suited to x39 in my opinion. Especially in a classic configuration. Aks can get really heavy really quickly, so plan out your optic choices and mounting options before you plunk down the bucks for a high end AK. And show us pictures when you have it together!
 
My first reaction was to say no don't sell/trade the lever action. I think that the lever gun is a more desirable firearm but if you keep it and it just sits in a safe for the rest of your life and is never or very rarely shot then why have it. I am a strong believer in shooting and enjoying the guns you own so if you will get far more enjoyment and use out of a AK in .223 trade away.
 
Hokkmike said:
I was thinking about buying a HIGH END and reliable AK, preferably in .223/5.56 so I could consolidate my ammo.

#2. Is there an AK (not AR) in the desired caliber worthy of owning?
Click to expand...
Have you considered a Galil Ace in 5.56? It’s an AK derivative (internal guts are just like an AK) that is a further evolution of the traditional AK. On the plus side, it uses AR mags. I have a Gen 1 and highly recommend it. I find it superior to every AK I own.

As to pure AKs, the best seem to be in no order: Arsenal Slr106 or Sam5, FB Radom Beryl, Zastava M90, WBP Jack 556, Saiga 556 (may require conversion), and Vepr 556 (also may require conversion).
 
Hokkmike said:
I was thinking about buying a HIGH END and reliable AK, preferably in .223/5.56 so I could consolidate my ammo.

#1. Is the idea of the trade-off in as I described guns palatable in your mind?
#2. Is there an AK (not AR) in the desired caliber worthy of owning?
Click to expand...
Before you answer question #1, I think you should address question #2 first.

If you find an AK that answers question #2, then you can move onto question #1 but IMO only if you find that AK you would enjoy shooting.

As to question #1, if you don't end up finding an AK you enjoy shooting, then I wouldn't consider question #1.

Hokkmike said:
I might offer a classic lever gun in trade. But, I am wondering these days which would be better to keep
Click to expand...
I would recommend you keep the classic lever action.

Hokkmike said:
being retired I need to limit my spending
Click to expand...
If you are trying to save money, have you considered 22LR option?

Depending on how much you shoot, just in savings from ammunition cost difference between .223 and 22LR, you could probably pay for the purchase price in short time - https://www.classicfirearms.com/lon...category.cfm/sportsman/ak-47-rifles/of3/22-lr
 
The Saiga .223 with the plastic Saiga mags worked really, really well from what I knew of them years ago, they had to be imported with a sporting stock so it could be a headache and expensive. My saiga was top notch and wish I'd kept it. I paid $400 for it 12 years ago and imagine they are scarce and probably way north of $1K by now.

I have traded down before just because I wanted something and didn't want to lay out cash, I usually always regretted it. You scratch the itch but it leaves a scar, best analogy of the day :D. If you have a cherry collectible lever, I'd probably hang onto it, especially if I didn't already have my sights set on something I was drooling over.

On the other hand, if you don't get any use out of the lever gun and will use the AK74 pattern carbine and aren't gonna sweat the loss, go with your gut.
 
A lever gun is worth X. A high end AK is worth Y. Can’t really go wrong with buying, selling, or trading unless you look SOLELY at X and Y. Go a little bit bigger picture on this… you have a gun you like but you found something you think you want more. Figure out what your gut says and roll with it. Before making any trades though, try to shoot the gun, or at least something very similar.

AND I just happen to have experience in EXACTLY what you’re considering. I had a Winchester 357 octagon barrel that was extremely nice and well taken care of. Worth roughly a grand at that time. I traded it for an Arsenal slr107 (I think that’s the model I had, was a Clinton ban era 223 AK) and it came with a handful of extra mags. The AK was worth roughly 1400 at that time. I think I have about $100 difference, so I came out well. Couldn’t ask for a better built AK but I still wasn’t happy with it. I quickly traded it away for a stag model 2 and a bunch of gear (including 5.45x39 upper) worth about the same as the AK and still wasn’t happy. Traded all that away for a Japanese Winchester 94 and a Ruger 77 in 243 and was happy again. Then I got talked out of both rifles and ended up with a pile of cash that got wasted on an old bass boat.

Moral of the story is this… you have what you have because you like it. You wouldn’t have kept it if you didn’t like it. You wouldn’t be worried abbot about trading it if it was just a piece of metal with some wood bits on it. The grass is always greener on the other side, but it’s usually greenest over the septic tank. WATCH YOUR STEP. Don’t fall into something you don’t want to be in.
 
AKs do have a certain bad-guy cool, but you pay a big premium for it today. Too much in my book.

WASRs in x39 are now like $800, for rattle-traps that too often comes defective from the manufacturer. The "military-grade" stuff like MAK-90s and Arsenals cost well over a grand. They run fine, but they'll also get out-shot (at the very least matched) by a $600 "sport" AR that runs fine too.

I bought a $400 Romy a decade ago, and wasn't very happy with it then. At today's prices, I would be way out on it.
 
Last edited:
I agree with everyone, don't trade a classic for any AK. If you want an AK then save up for one.

The issues with magazine compatibility has always plagued the 223/5.56 AK's. That was one of the reasons I never bought one years ago.
 
d2wing said:
High end AK. Is that like a high end Yugo?
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with AK's, regardless of what the haters might say. Lever guns are something special too, no reason to trade one for the other, unless you just have a ton of lever guns and really want an AK. In that case, why not? AKs are fun to shoot and great for home defense.
 
Only you can determine what you wish to keep. Your guns, your choices and all that. I am an AK guy, i have several in different flavors from 7.62x54 down to .22lr and everything in between so all I will offer is my take on them. My 5.56 AK is an older Romanian SAR III imported during the ban. The only change I did to it was have the barrel threaded. Using run of the mill bulk ammo, it shoots just as accurate as my AR's and has no noticable recoil just like my AR's. Magazines were an issue but not any longer, at least for now. The originals are spendy, like $100 each but there are German imports under the name AC Unity you can get for $10 each if you buy a stack of them and have proven flawless and fit multiple AK pattern rifles. I will say AK are not pretty, they are not polished and gloss blued like lever guns, the stocks aren't deep stained and finshed. They are utilitarian by every deffinition. The price has shot up for sure. Not sure I would ever pay what the current asking prices are and I really dig them so there is that. All that said, early Romanian guns are very reliable but are not as refined as others. Polish 5.56 AK's are nice but spendy. The Isreali 5.56 AK based rifles are the most refined but mags are special. But then Glock mags don't fit in Sigs iether. All that said, the least expensive route are US made AK's but an import AK will always outcost and have a better track record than a domestic one.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Zastava sells a nice .223 that uses standard AR mags. Its built on the RPK receiver and is HEAVY, however. The smaller hole down the middle of the barrel doesn't help either.....
Click to expand...
Zastava previously made the m85 militery rifle, which as you said, uses stanag. The newer commercial m90 uses a propriety AK 556 mag.
 
tarosean said:
I'll be the "bump in the road" if you do not shoot your lever why not? Have you ever shot/owned an AK? That Bolt takes some getting used too.
I have a Zastava M90 but its just a "fun" gun. ( I have passed down all my lever guns)
Click to expand...
Add me to the "bump" list.

I dont have either, tho I have had a few of both. They are very different creatures, if you dont really LIKE one or the other no reason not to switch.
 
Keep the lever and build up the stock pile of ammo for that rifle. As you said you are retired as I am and I don't plan to fight off an invasion of anything that would require high capacity magazines that may or may not work properly on the AK because it is .223. People get a false sense of security shooting off a 30 round magazine and may honestly make everyone run away, but in my experience one well placed aimed shot with a lever gun is better that 30 rounds fired off and everyone hits the ground but get up later because not a single shot hit the target. With the lever action there will be a target with one hole for sure.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
Need Ak purchasing advice
Replies
2
Views
316
strat81
S
N
  • Locked
I want to buy an AK
Replies
22
Views
938
MAUSER88
M
C
  • Locked
I want an AK!
2
Replies
37
Views
2K
nalioth
N
P
  • Locked
AK-47 vs. AK-74
Replies
12
Views
3K
Prince Yamato
P
G
  • Locked
ak 74 question
Replies
12
Views
759
GlockNation
G
Back
Top