AK-47 Questions & Help to purchase

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I am new to the AK world. I have read many reviews. Everything is good or bad in someones opinion. I have been getting confused rapidly.
I have narrowed it down to a few. Please help---
First; a Yugo M70 AB2 (AK-47) Who is best manufacture Co. ?

Second; Inter Ordinance AK-47s
I have read some "bad" comments about them--Jams, sloppy work, etc.

Does anyone out there have any experience or knowledge of either of these
firearms ?
jvlk

 

[Natkenyon]

You should probably stay away from Century made guns, the company has badly made guns and on top of that terrible customer service.
I don't know of any other manufacturers of the Yugo.
The Inter Ordinance aren't supposed to be the greatest either.
Lancaster, Krebs, and Saiga built AKs are supposed to be good though.

 

[SpentCasing]

Century subcontracts out thier Yugos. They are well made. If you dont mind supporting Century they are good to go. Otherwise I do encourage most people to go the Saiga route. You should check into that.

 

[Moose458]

The Yugo M70 ab2 underfolder is good to go. My Century Yugo is one of my favorite AKs. I highly recommend them. Too many people bad mouth Century Yugos that don't actually have one.

 

[Natkenyon]

I've read that Century has inconsistencies in their firearms they do sometimes have good guns though.

 

[Wishoot]

Get a Saiga and convert it.

 

[PGroenewold]

I like my converted Saiga as well. If you have basic tools, a couple spare evenings, and any mechanical skill whatsoever, it's easy to do and the 922(r) parts aren't that expensive. I have a Tapco G2 fire control group on mine, and it provides a surprisingly good trigger pull. While the forearm of the Saiga looks a little unconventional, I think it's an affordable way to get a true Russian-made AK variant - plus you get the satisfaction of doing it yourself. I didn't really answer your original question, but figured I'd throw my comments out there anyway.

Good luck with whatever you decide to purchase.

 

[migkillertwo]

my century wasr-10/63 has been 100% reliable. I always hear that inter-ordnance is worse than century, but I have no experience with them.

 

[NOLA-5.56]

hello all, first post on THR.

two questions. anyone got an opinion on the MAADI?

also, are there any reputable websites that cater specifically to potential AK buyers? as opposed to the regular sites like gun broker. I'm looking to buy my first AK (with my tax return), and I've read enough bad reviews on Century to know to stay away from them. I've got no problem spending a little extra for a higher quality weapon.

anyway, any and all feedback is appreciated. (i don't mean to hijack this thread, but some other forums get REALLY mad at you when you double-post topics)

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

My .02.
The older century WASR 10's were hit and miss. I have a wasr 10/63 (current/recent) century WASR and it is a solid, no frills Civilian AK. I did buy them in person and inspect first, but I really didnt reject any. I think a lot of what you hear about Century is from a few years ago. But I always like to inspect used guns, and surplus guns are used.

If a few hundred dollars is NOT a lot of money for you, then you'll probably be happier with a siaga, arsenal, etc. However, If you want to pay 65% and get 95% (-5% for finish) then the WASR is a good way to go, imo.

I would buy another......

 

[Tommygunn]

I have a wasr 10/63 (current/recent) century WASR and it is a solid, no frills Civilian AK. I did buy them in person and inspect first, but I really didnt reject any. I think a lot of what you hear about Century is from a few years ago. But I always like to inspect used guns, and surplus guns are used.

+1. Look over the particular gun you want and make sure the front sight and the gas piston tube are on straight, not canted. That was the main problem they used to have. Newer ones are generally good to go. Mine has been 100% reliable.
They are ugly and the wood looks like it started life as a shipping room pallet in 1971 but if you want a utilitarian gun not a "beautiful" gun they do work fine.

 

[gatorjames85]

Stay away from IO. I had one and after a trip back to the LGS and then to the factory, I got rid of it.

 

[buttrap]

You have to keep in mind that the older CAI guns with the canted sights and such where originaly made that way in Romania. All Centrury did was install the made in USA trigger group parts in the receivers. I get the impression they figured its a AK so for what they where intended to be used for it was more of a looks vs works issue.

I kind of like the older SAR-1 and 2 guns as they where real service guns torn down and set in new Cugar AK receivers with out the full auto sear holes. Pretty much as close to the real service deal as you can find.

The Norincos are decent guns if you can find one. Very well finished with decent wood and a heavy RPK receiver vs the standard AK receiver.

As for a close to real Russian type thats the Maddi as they are made on russian tooling. Pretty they sure ain't vs a lot of others but in a AK if you want looks well get somthing besides a AK anyways.

 

[nalioth]

I kind of like the older SAR-1 and 2 guns as they where real service guns torn down and set in new Cugar AK receivers with out the full auto sear holes. Pretty much as close to the real service deal as you can find.

Nothing was "torn down", they were manufactured on the same assembly line as the military guns using military parts.

They just didn't have their full-auto capability enabled during their manufacturing process (just like the Draco pistol).

 

[buttrap]

Later ones were but the early ones where made from dismantled parts kits. Its very obvious with the used and refinished parts on some of them.

 

[BananaClip]

If you are on a tight budget like I always am, then your best bet is to check if your local gun store has "more" than one of the same AK in stock.. That gives you an advantage.. You can (If the store owner lets you) pick the best out of the bunch.... That's what I did with my first AK purchase...Good luck on your AK journey..

 

[Averageman]

I have had 3 AK's
One I reworked myself at home, a Century from "back in the day."
Although I put some small time and effort in the rifle I sold it in frustration falling in to the AK's are crap crowd.
10 years later wanting to try again I went to Atlantic Arms.
http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/
I purchased a RJ132 AK47 "type" rifle that was acually a Saiga reworked to a AK configuration. These rifle are built in Louisiana by the folks at Red Jacket Firearms. ( Sons of Guns show)I got a fairly good AK that had all of the bugs worked out by a professional.
FCG was improved, cant worked out, decent furniture and it has yet to fail to fire in about 1200 rds. It consistany shoots a 3.5 inch group at 100m. In my opinon it is one of the best buys for your money out there.
Since then I have purchased one more AK an AK103, it has AK 74 look with AK 47 internals.
http://www.ak-103.com/
It too is a great rifle. It has yet to give me a problem with about 900 rounds through it. shoots slightly better than the RJ132, but I bought it used for about the same money I spent on the RJ132.
When I had questions about my used AK 103 I wrote the builder and within 24 hours he had copntacted me on the phone to discuss the rifle with me as the SECOND owner. He obviously cares about what he builds.
Since then I have done some mods on both of my rifles.
On my RJ132 I installed a Ultimak scout mount rail that replaces the gas tube with a gas tube and a rail combination.
I also installed a Bushnell TRS-25 red dot sight. This is an inexpensive and good value in red dot scope that when used with the Ultimak allows you to co-witness your iron sights.
I also installed a US Palm "battle grip" pistol grip to replace the stock AK. It is more comfortable and allows easy carry of a boresnake.
I have also modded my Safety to be quieter and easier to employ.
I am doing many of the same mod's on my AK 103, a little at a time and enjoying my rifles as I learn and shoot them.
BTW, if you are willing to devote some time to work your AK's you may soon prefer them to AR's. As a retired Combat Arms Soldier I definatly prefer my AK's to almost any of the AR's I carried in the Military.
I guess my point is, go with a good base model AK and build it a little as you go. They are great rifles and you can do most of the work yourself.
Thanks
A/M

 

[Buck Kramer]

Go to your local gun shop and see if they know any builders in the area. The guy in my area will do the build for $100 and paint park it for $60. You can save a pile of money if you can find a builder and the quality is far above that at Century. This is one of the rifles he built for me...

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

Classic arms is selling converted Saigas for $499:

http://www.classicarms.us/

This is not a bad price, even if you have the technical inclination to convert it yourself.

Siaga's and Dracos are made on the same assembly lines as mil-spec commie weapons. However the trim (stock, muzzle device, bayo lug) is changed to make them importable. Getting one of them and changing the trim will yield a better result than getting anything imported by Century which replaces the hear of the weapon (barrel and receiver).

 

[Brockak47]

I have a century wasr 10/63, never had any major problems with it, plus they are not too expensive. honestly I think any make of AK you go with you won't be disappointed

 

[Shawn Dodson]

An informative article by Gabe Suarez - "Getting into the Kalashnikov Game 2010" at http://www.warriortalknews.com/2010/09/getting-into-the-kalashnikov-game-2010.html