Ak-47

[longhorngunman]

I'm not saying the WASR isn't a good value. They are just cheap guns, very dependable, reliable, cheap guns. Heck for around $300 they even have chrome lined bores, can't beat that. And they are accurate enough for constant torso shots at 100yards, with my AR though I'm sighting in at the melon . And yes the newer ones wood ain't too shabby, just sand it down and apply a few coats of Tru oil. Like I typed unless their on sale at the gunshow, probably Aim, or CLassic Arms will give you a good deal on one. And if it is Fubared they will gladly exchange it for you.

 

[BigG]

The wood on AKxx is usually built for somebody about 4'10" tall and very crude. Looks like it was finish shaped with an ax. They are good and reliable guns but power and beauty are not things that jump to mind when I think of them.

 

[shattered00]

Alright, I am still a bit confused, as there is a lot of information to take in all at once having no prior knowledge about guns in general.

I would get an AR except for the fact that they seem to be much more expensive.

Anyway, I called Global Trades(the place I linked to http://www.globaltrades.com/ssr-85c1.html) and they sell that gun for $400. I have no clue how to tell the difference between an SAR-1 and this WASR that most people say is the bottom of the line. Is this gun at global trades like an SAR-1? Man do I feel like a moron.

It says it has a stamped receiver, which one person mentioned didn't make much difference in terms of accuracy unless I was going for an AK over $700. Is this true? I want one with a double column magazine. Would it fit those type of magazines? The lady who answered the phone didn't know anything or else I would have found out from them. http://www.globaltrades.com/ak_parts_general.html

Maybe the reason I think they are beautiful and powerful is a) I know next to nothing about guns and calibers/power and b) the AK is the first rifle I ever shot. Don't lynch me for thinking that this gun kicks ass and looks good all a the same time .

Also, on the Arsenal website, it has guns that say Ban style or no Ban style. I am a bit confused about this? Does it relate to the having to have American parts on guns or what? Plus, these guns seem quite a bit out of my price range. At least the ones that have the wood look to them.

On the Vector arms sight, the gun that is the 5th from the bottom is the look I am striving for. Is this an SAR-1? I like the orange wood finish better than the blonde finish that is on the Global Trades one, but I am willing to forgo this minor detail if I have to.

I apologize again for the probably redundant questions.

 

[Father Knows Best]

Also, on the Arsenal website, it has guns that say Ban style or no Ban style. I am a bit confused about this? Does it relate to the having to have American parts on guns or what?

"Ban style" means a gun that was imported during the Clinton gun ban (aka the "assault weapons ban") time period, i.e., 1994-2004. It has a pinned on muzzle brake and no "accessory" (bayonet) lug. The "no ban" guns were imported after the sunset (expiration) of the Clinton ban. The only differences are that the "no ban" guns have a threaded muzzle with either a muzzle cap (protects the threads) or a screw-on flash hider, and they have the accessory lug.

My Arsenal SA M-7S is a "ban style" AK, so it has a pinned muzzle brake and no accessory lug. I'm fine with it that way.

 

[jbweld]

Saiga???????

Surprised no one recommended it. I know they are not being imported anymore, but you can find one if you do a little searching. I think the Dunhams here still has one in the rack. Think they are 230 bucks in 7.62X39. Alot cheaper than a wasr and better quality. You can always upgrade to the evil features at a later date. You could also go the Yugo sks route, get some ammo and still have money left for a mosin, K-31 etc...

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I have a WASR as does my brother. Hellacious trigger slap, but no canted sight blocks and both readily accept standard capacity magazines. We did Dremel the edges of the magazine wells when we polished the Fire Control Groups. Other than that, the only modifications I've made so far to mine are problems inheriant with all AKs if you ask me--sights and grip. The sights don't do it for me so I put a Mojo ghost ring sight on mine and it works alot better for me. And the pistol grip feels like a spatula handle to me so I put a TAPCO M249 style grip on and it is much more comfortable. The rifle still cost me less than $400 as it is now and is accurate enough to hit gallon jugs from the sitting position at 150 yards with Wolf ammo if I do my part.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

I have no clue how to tell the difference between an SAR-1 and this WASR that most people say is the bottom of the line.

The SAR-1 was produced and imported as a double-stack rifle. I believe they also came with the bayonet lug and a threaded flash supressor.

The WASR is a "sporting" version of the AK, designed and imported as a single-stack AK. Once in the US they are milled and two magazine stabilising strips welded intot he receiver to accept double stack magazines. WASRs are NOT inported with bayonet lugs or muzzle brakes. They are added later by Century, the importer. Not all WASRs have the lug and slant brake. SARs are nolonger made/imported, so their prices are rising to the point that you might as well go with a higher end AK. On the low end, the WASRs are it.

Now, mine came with a nice, even finish on the metal (a flat black, not a glossy deep blue like commercial guns), with only a "witness mark" where the safety drags on the receiver. The milled mag well needed a little file work to remover small burrs. It would fit magazines just fine, but I don't like sharp metal burrs where my fingers might go. A little cold bluing had the deburred areas looking like the rest of the receiver.

The wood was shaped and fit very well, but comes with no finish. You can stain, oil or shellac it for cheap without trouble.

Trigger slap, yes, they slap. It's not a defect in the rifle, but rather a defect in the Century-made parts installed to get the US-made parts count up. For details on what causes it and how to fix it, go here: http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/slapfix.htm it's a very easy fix.

Mojo sights are good, but I think the best sights for an AK is one of the Kobra variants: http://www.tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/bstkobra.html

 

[longhorngunman]

Shattered 00, if you can get the Global Trades AK for $400, i'd probably go that route. The quality is probably worth the extra $60-70 over the WASR in my own opinion. I've talked with the owner of GT at the gunshow here in Austin before, and there "sale" price was $460 before taxes. His main selling points was that their recievers are 1.6 mm thick compared to the typical Ak reciever of 1.0mm thick. So structurally it should be a little stouter(not that the 7.62*39 is a magnum load to begin with), also the parts besides the reciever are made in Bulgaria(which is generally considered good AK quality) and the owner said his chief engineer used to run the machinery plant where the Bulgarian Ak's were made, for what that's worth.
The versions that are considered "during ban" AK's have no extra goodies on them, the post ban guns have all the "evil features" back on them, bayonet, slant brake, etc. You better get a "during ban" version, according to liberals those guns with the "evil features" is what drives perfectly sane people into "babykillers". BTW that last part was just sarcasm. Everybody wants "evil goodies" on their gun.

 

[shattered00]

Alright, what does the typical SAR-1 come with in terms of accessories. Flash suppressor, bayonet lug, sling, brake muzzle, 2 30-round magazines and anything else or none of these things or what?

The cheapest I can find a 2003 SAR-1 without canted slights and good wood finish is 399 and that is without tax. What should I do guys?

 

[MechAg94]

That $400 gun from Global Trades sounds like a good deal. I have seen them at shows in Pasadena, but I never saw prices that good.
I just bought a VEPR K that is a damn good gun ($550). However, for you first one, I would stay as inexpensive as possible.


If you change your mind all together, buy a Field Grade M1 Garand from CMP and have an even more powerful gun (with less capacity).

 

[clange]

Shattered, thats a little high for a SAR. Most SARs come with little to no extras. I have a NIB one i picked up a couple weeks ago and it came with 1 30 round mag, 1 10 round mag, and a sling. That was it. They dont come with, nor can they accept without modification, a muzzle brake or bayonet.

That $400 gun from Global Trades sounds like a good deal. I have seen them at shows in Pasadena, but I never saw prices that good.

While global makes the best US receiver on the market now, their completed guns have had some problems. A search on ak47.net or gunsnet.net will yield a few examples. For under $400 i'd get a SAR or a wasr over a global, unless you really want the nicer finish.

 

[deputy tom]

The cheapest I can find a 2003 SAR-1 without canted slights and good wood finish is 399 and that is without tax. What should I do guys?)end quote.

So did I on 9/11/05 and I bought it.$399.00 plus tax and Instant Check fees. Then it was home to de-drease,remove the burrs,etc.Can't wait for a range session.tom.

 

[shattered00]

Alright guys, I found a SAR-1 2001 model NIB for 330. I pounced on the deal and it should arrive(free shipping) in about a week. I am more than excited. First rifle ever!!!!

 

[benEzra]

Awesome. My SAR-1 is a fun gun.

I have no clue how to tell the difference between an SAR-1 and this WASR that most people say is the bottom of the line.

The most obvious difference is that the SAR-1 has a deep oval dimple on each side of the receiver (like a real AK) that position the magazine. WASR's have flat-sided receivers because they were originally imported as single-stack guns.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Ditto on that. My SAR-1's a 2003er.

I'm surprised nobody has posted this yet: http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/model.htm It's the best resource for American AK owners on the entire 'Net.

I've only had two problems with mine. First, the "finish" on the wood was horrible. It got refinished using LOTS of sandpaper and boiled linseed oil. Second, the trigger slap. Fixed that by removing some excess mass off the back of the disconnector.

Aside from that, the only problems I've had are shooting it a lot, not noticing when it heats up, and burning myself on the thing. :banghead: