AK-GPWASR NEW AK WASR 7.62x39 RIFLE

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MechAg94

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AK-GPWASR NEW AK WASR 7.62x39 RIFLE

Anyone bought one of these rifles from AIM surplus? I have seen some around at local gun shows lately. I am already getting a VEPR K, but the $350 price makes it tempting to get a second one sooner or later.

Also, what is the difference between this and an SAR-1? I saw pictures of those on another thread, but couldn't find much else on them.
 
WASRs are kindasortanearlyalmostbutnotquite SAR-1s, which is a good baseline AK, assuming it was assembled correctly. The major difference between a WASR and a SAR is that, in its original form, the WASR could only take single-stack magazines (not standard AK magazines). Most WASRs have been converted to take AK mags, but two gotchas:

1. Not all of them have. Make sure you're buying a converted one if you want to use standard magazines.

2. Individual guns will vary in regards to how well the new magazines fit and function.

A good rule of thumb regarding both SARs and WASRs is that you should be able to inspect the gun before buying, or at least know that the seller has a sane return policy. I think probably this is overstated, with new-production guns- Century went through a fit where they just could not assemble the rifles properly, but they seem to have gotten over that.

Mike
 
I bought a WASR from Aim (sight unseen) a few months back. I'm perfectly happy. No, the wood is not finely finished, nor the metal, but it is not terrible by any means and shoots well. I did take off the wood, sanded it down fine, and applied about 9 coats of tung oil finish on it. It looks like a different gun, seriously the wood can be finished off to look very nice. I doubt I'll do anything with the metal though. I'd recommend them, as long as you understand you won't be getting a show piece or 1/2" at 100 yds. They're made to shoot, and shoot they do!
 
Thanks for the response.

Yeah, I was thinking more of an inexpensive gun that is useful for closer ranges or self defense, and fun to play with. I have other rifles for accuracy. The potential for magazine problems is a good thing to watch for, though the AIM surplus guns come with a package including 2 - 30 rd mags. Something to keep an eye on. Just the idea that it is cheaper that most of my pistols intrigues me a little though.
 
Oh, by the way, who sells SAR-1's? I did a quick search and came up empty. I guess I am not looking in the right place.
 
Not sure who has them now, if anyone. I believe the "new" ones kinda dried up, which would explain the increase in price and popularity of the WASR conversions (which used to be sub-$300 guns).

I got my SAR a few years back for $325. The closest I see now on a quick search is www.centerfiresystems.com who offers a WASR-1 conversion.

Mike
 
My brother and I each bought WASRs last year just before the AWB ended "just in case." They readily accept all standard capacity magazines, although fitting some of the polymer Bulgarian waffle mags required slight buffering of the mag well with a Dremel--a 30 second operation. Also, the rifles had alot of trigger slap which required 30 to 45 minutes of Dremel work with the trigger components to work out--or you could do as my brother did and spend around $90 for a Red Star Arms trigger group that installs in minutes and instantly gives your AK a trigger pull every bit as delightful as a professionally tuned Remington M700 trigger.
My brother and I also chose to add Mojo ghost ring sights and I installed a TAPCO M249 style pistol grip. With the Dremel work and these modifications added to the $320 price of the rifles, I was still under $400 and my brother was just over. The rifle was not plagued by canted sight blocks or other such difficulties some have had with the rifle and our rifles both came with targets depicting sub-5 inch 5 shot groups shot from a bench at 100 yards--which is pretty good for a rifle costing just over $300 with the difficencies in the trigger, and IMO, very poor AK sights.
Since then we have started to dress them up with the addition of folding stocks from ACE. I plan on purchasing a muzzle threading kit and a couple of compensators or flash surpressors at the earliest opprotune moment as funding will allow for this po' college boy. And my brother and I both plan on Ultimaks or similar to mount a red dot or reflex style sight and to replace the front handguards. For pics of the rifles you can check out my topic here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=152693
 
The WASRs are good rifles, IMO.
You'll want to hit the magwell with a file or stone to remove the burrs that Century left when they milled out the magwell. This usually takes care of any magazine problems (usually the waffle mags, if any, will be the ones to give you trouble).

As for the trigger slap problem, you can buy a trigger group, or go here Trigger Slap Fix for an easy fix.

You can easily finish the stock, or get an Ultimak synthetic set for fairly cheap.

Personally, I'm happy with my WASR. The finish wasn't nearly as bad as people led me to believe it woul dbe, and the trigger slap wasn't that bad either (still fixed it anyway), and had no problems with any magazines fitting..
 
Those side mounted reticle sights on tantal's site look good though I couldn't quite figure out how to order one. It looks like they block view of the iron sights though. I already have a Holosight on an AR so I might try a 4X or 6X instead.
http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/bstkobra.html

Thanks for the trigger slap link Cpl Punishment. I'll have to save the link to that site.
 
MechAg94, you have to email Tantal about price and availability, they'll email you back with ordering info.

It's not a big deal for the sights to block the irons as holosights are to be used instead of the irons, and the whole rail just requires a flip of a lever to pull it off, so you'd have almost immediate use of the irons if something happened to the holosight. Also, mout it too high and you'll have trouble hitting your target if you cant the rifle, and you don't get a good cheek weld with a high mounted scope.
 
That is a good point. I was thinking I would try for magnification if and when I get a scope mount. I would like to push the accuracy a little and I can always swap with my AR if I don't like it.
 
SAR-1s are all over the place online, but it took me forever before i actually saw one in person. Check out the equipment exchange at ak47.net here and there. You can probably find one for around 350-400.
 
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