AK Choices Help

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guyfromohio

guyfromohio

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All of these are in my price range. All are available. All brand new unfired. Which do I choose?

I'm looking for 1) reliability 2) build quality (no bent sights) 3) accuracy.

A) CIA WASR-10 wood furniture...chrome lined barrel $569
B) CIA Zastava NPAP M70 wood...does not list chrome barrel $599
C) CIA 39 Classic... Made in USA. Wood furniture...does not list chrome $679


Thoughts?
 
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the wasr has a bad rep as being weakly made and having problems. google it. but a lot of people like it.
the npap is Yugo and you have to use Yugo furniture if you want to change it, well made.
the c39 some like and some do not. brand new release by cia.
I would say to keep looking. the money you have is enough to buy most akm's for sale.

this is the rifle I am looking at http://www.jgsales.com/yugo-m70b1-a...-synthetic-stock,-grenade-sight.-p-62682.html
thinking about this to go with the m70ab2. the m70b1 is
well made, 1.5 mm stamped receiver makes it heavier and to me sturdier. my 2 cent.

in my opinion a chromed lined bbl is not a big deal, as you will not, probably, be shooting corrosive ammo.
 
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The WASR's have improved in quality by quite a bit to being what many consider a good AKM variant. It comes with a Cold Hammer Forged Chrome-lined barrel which is a plus if you decide to shoot corrosive. JGsales has WASRs right now for $500 that comes with a 75 round drum.

NPAPs have a great reputation for fit and finish, but as previously mentioned you have to find Yugo specific furniture. Also the barrel is not Chrome-lined. There are debates out the yin-yang as to how important this is. Personally I'd rather have Chrome-lined.

The early C39v1s did have non-chrome-lined barrels but most do by now. I think the v2's have started coming with nitrided barrels which many herald as better than chrome-lining. Time will tell. But look at the serial number on the v1's the chromed has an extra letter in the serial number, I think it might be a C, but be sure to look that up as my memory on the letter might be wrong.

Some considerations that you didn't mention, Century just released the RAS 47 which is a lot like the C39 but with a stamped receiver so it will be lighter. It also comes with a side rail mount whereas the C39 will need to have one mounted unless you want to put the optics elsewhere, like putting a railed gas tube on the front.

Also Palmetto State Armory is going to be making an AKM here in the next month or two so if you have patience that would be an option. I haven't heard solid specs on it yet, but the price tag is going to be in the neighborhood of $600. I am pretty sure that it will have either a chromed or nitrided barrel, but that is subject to new info.
 
Good info! I'm reading with interest. I really want your standard iron sighted wood AK variant....the best one I can get without paying too much just for the sake of paying more. I'll likely never modify it in the least.

Also....these are the three that are on sale at my LGS right now. I'm a handgun/shotgun guy, but I have an itch for a AR/AK type rifle just because I don't have one. S&W M&P Sport on sale for $569 too, so I'm also tossing that idea around.
 
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Then I'd go for a WASR. It seems like a good solid entry AK rifle with wood furniture. Just in case you decide to go gun barbie (we all do it. :D )and accessorizing, standard furniture and parts will work on it. Another consideration is that a lot of people believe that eventually import will be banned on these rifles, Wassenaar Agreement be damned. Just curious what are they going for at your LGS?

Just a note to add, until my wife was put in the hospital for pregnancy issues, I was going to get a WASR for myself.
 
Convert a Saiga you can still find IZ132 sporters for $575+ $100 for conversion and you get a brand new AK with chrome barrel that didn't come from a part kit. And also of course its a Russian AK on a high quality RPK receiver and its fairlt lightweight, the Yugo will be heavy.
 
Really any of them you listed are good.... Personally I like the WASR (& Have one), but the New Century C39s are nice but from what I've researched I would get the C39v2 the latest version over the original. They fixed some issues....

The Yugo will be good, but no chrome lined barrels. They didn't chrome theirs.

Which takes me back to the WASR. From the prices listed it looks like your buying at a gun store, which is how you want to buy a WASR. The 20.00 +/- you MIGHT save by ordering on line & transfer is well worth being able to see it, pick it out, check it over.....

I say WASR after inspection.
 
The $500 Npaps cannot be beat in the price range. Fit/finish is far better than Century. Corrosive x39 is quite hard to find and usually MORE expensive than new production ammo, so lack of chrome bore isnt much of an issue.
 
I would go WASR. They are not like they used to be.

The N-PAP's have had piston-staking issues and weak recoil springs causing premature wear and bending of the bolt carrier from hitting the rear trunnion. They also use proprietary furniture so if you are someone who likes to customize or upgrade guns it isn't the one for you.

The C39 although looking good is unproven and based on Century's track record of building guns I would be hesitant to trust them. If I were you I would wait a few years to see how well they turn out.
 
i wouldnt even consider century at any price range, their quality control has always been pretty hit and miss
 
@Justin... So what would you recommend? Once I go above this $600-ish mark, I think the return diminishes. Again....wood and iron sights. No mall ninja fighting systems. Classic wood, open sights, readily available for purchase new, $600 range.
 
You'll be served well with a WASR. Especially considering you can check it out before buying.
 
honestly, i'm a fan of the 5.56mm, external ballistics i believe to be much better than 7.62x39, ammo is cheaper, easier to find, better ammo and magazine commonality on this side of the pond.. if you dont mind a short rifle.. this would be pretty cool

this one uses AR-15 magazines and i believe it also includes a functioning last round bolt hold open and bolt release button on the side

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/com...ng-rifles/pap-m85-pistol-detail.html?Itemid=0
 
you know.. for the price he mentioned he could easily buy an AK63D or polish AKM parts kit, a receiver, and the tools to build one himself for under $600 and have an AK built aas well as he wants it to be with the parts he wants to be on it too, with whatever finish he likes as well.. all he'd need is the riveting tools and the toth tools barrel tool for pressing in and populating the barrel, with a few basic hand tools and he could just build his own

if he goes that route.. id recommend a slow rust blued finish on the metal and some brand new refinished wooden furniture to make the final product look absolutely stunning.. if done right, you could make even the arsenal stuff look like crap when compared
 
No interest in a build. Maybe later, but not interested now. I've read a few statements on THR that corrosive ammo is hard to come by now. Am I to understand that the current available steel cased stuff is non-corrosive? I can get Tula for $280/1000 all day long.
 
Here's some wood and iron sights....

Obviously I've refinished the stocks. If you get one, I'd be glad to tell you how if you aren't a wood worker. If you're near central Ohio, I have a special mix stain that I have just under a gallon of, I could spare some.....
 

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I would set aside a few bucks for a recoil pad for your new gun. Not because of the kick, but to extend the length of pull a bit. I might be doing it wrong, but I think the standard WASR stock is way too short - it's almost like shooting a youth rifle. Adding another inch or so to that would be very helpful.
 
I only have experience with the WASR, after seeing it jam many times I would not recommend it. It looked like an AK but it sure didn't live up to the reputation of one.

Tim G.
 
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