AK Choices Help

[Fishbed77]

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.

Newer WASRs (built over the last 2-3 years) have built up a reputation for being very good AKs. Not the prettiest by far, but well-made and reliable. The chrome-lined, cold hammer-forged barrel is also a plus.

 

[MartinS]

WASR's can be good. Are you going to be able to inspect the weapon before buying?
Go here for the dope on Romanian WASR etc....

http://www.novarata.net/Linx310/model.shtml

 

[lxd55]

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.

yep it is not corrosive. most if not all corrosive ammo is military
surplus. you can get 1 k for 264 shipped. till midnight feb 5. today.

http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b4019d59d328072f53726e23b&id=128139953a&e=aaaa55bfe3

 

[justin22885]

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.

another reason why my AKs are 5.56 caliber, i never have to worry about not being able to find inexpensive, clean ammo

 

[MIL-DOT]

Newer WASRs (built over the last 2-3 years) have built up a reputation for being very good AKs. Not the prettiest by far, but well-made and reliable. The chrome-lined, cold hammer-forged barrel is also a plus.

Yep, what he said. They are very solid guns, and can sometimes be found for $499,delivered. The new solid-wood stocks are fun and easy to re-finish into something that looks fantastic. You could go with some amber-yellow stain, or some more typical red-brown stain, then get a $6 bottle of Tru-oil and rub that in for a couple days. The stuff is idiot-proof, and you'll be amazed at how nice they can come out.
When staining, be sure and do a few coats, because the stuff absorbs in and the color lightens considerably, then make sure to let it dry well before applying a finishing product.

 

[krupparms]

I bought Norinco AKs when they were bringing them in at $360.00 ea.
Wish I had bought more! I still have 2 downfolders, (1-7.62 & 1-.223). And 1-.223 w/Choate stock on it. The Norincos have chrome barrels & are still running fine. I have owned Maddi, WISR, & Century AKs & a few others. I would get one in .223 NATO & a chrome or nitride barrel. First .223 is easily cheaper & more available than 7.62×39mm. Second, a chrome or nitride barrel is nice as you never know! You might only be able to get corrosive ammunition to shoot in an emergency. Unlikely but can happen. I don't plan on getting into anything that I would NEED my AKs! But if I DO! I want something I can depend on. And get ammunition for! Just a few thoughts. Good luck!

 

[guyfromohio]

A few more choices to consider:
AT47 Underfolder for around $600
Arsenal SAM7 Underfolder for $1200
Sig 556 gen 2 $1000

Thoughts? Leaning towards the Sig. Have read that the ATI is garbage. Don't know if a $1200 AK is the right way to spend money. Am I wrong?

 

[justin22885]

for the price range you've listed you could buy the tools, the receiver, and the parts kit to build your own and get a better quality finished product than anything from CIA

 

[wally]

Thanks. Prices listed above are the LGS sale prices.

With anything that passes through Century Arms its worth paying a bit extra to inspect it before you buy.

WASRs are just fine as long as you cull out the ones with cock-eyed front sights, gas blocks, and rear sight blocks.

Even better if you can find a CUGIR made one which have minimal Century input.

for the price range you've listed you could buy the tools, the receiver, and the parts kit to build your own

I'm afraid that ship has sailed a good while ago. Parts kits are no longer cheap and now don't include barrels. If you've no experience with riveting, I'd forget about it. The current Shotgun News has a nice "Build an AK Pistol" article to show you what you'd be up against.

 

[justin22885]

you dont need experience with riveting, simple riveting tools and jigs dont cost much, many parts kits are still inexpensive, i believe the AK-63D kits are the best value right now, and green mountain makes some great barrels that dont cost very much

ill trust my own experience in building my own over anything shotgun news says, and toth tools sells simple hand tools that will do everything you need, rivets, headspacing and installing the barrel, installing the rear sight block, handguard retainer, gas block, front sight block, theyre still so they take well to any kind of finish you want to put on them and tons of furniture choices, can even get an AK builder trunnion which gives you a built-in ACE modular interface for folding stocks and buffer tube adapters

 

[Fishbed77]

A few more choices to consider:
AT47 Underfolder for around $600
Arsenal SAM7 Underfolder for $1200
Sig 556 gen 2 $1000

Thoughts? Leaning towards the Sig. Have read that the ATI is garbage. Don't know if a $1200 AK is the right way to spend money. Am I wrong?

You might want to check out MAC's (Sturmgewehr's) videos on these rifles. Basically he's had 4 or 5 of these rifles or variants, and every one has had problems.

For $1000, an Arsenal SLR-107 is going to be a much better rifle IMHO.

 

[wally]

you dont need experience with riveting, simple riveting tools and jigs dont cost much

Fer instance, where can I get some inexpensive simple riveting tools and jigs? As a do-it-yourselfer I've never encountered any and would like to have an option better than the cheap "pop rivets" for quick repairs.

At the end of the day the quality of your rivet work will largely determine the quality of your AK build.

You'll need a press and gauges to headspace the barrel. Not an easy thing to do if starting with an empty room and a limited budget for parts and tools.

 

[shep854]

From my poking around on the Internet, it seems that CAI got their act together in '08 and the WASRs really improved.
I just bought one at a LGS, and it is right & tight-- the magwell has just enough looseness to easily insert and remove magazines, and out of the box, I was ringing a steel plate at 100yd with only a bit of Kentucky windage.
I added a Tapco folder and surplus Romanian handguard, as well as cutting a bolt hold-open notch with a Dremel: