AK help

[Ron-Bon]

I just put an AK-47 on layaway and I will get it out the day after Christmas....cant wait This will be my first firearm purchase that isn't a pistol.(I'm only 22 so until last year, firearms didn't appeal to me much anyway because I couldn't get one.)

I need advice because sadly, I don't even know my way around a rifle as much as I would like to

I believe its called a Century Arms...has anyone heard that name before? Is it hard for a begginner to field strip and AK...should I clean it before I shoot it? Please help me.

Anyone's assistance/advice will be greatly appreciated. Also, is there anyone in the same boat as me?

 

[Rubber_Duck]

I believe its called a Century Arms...has anyone heard that name before?

I have one, the Century Arms WASR, and I LOVE IT!

This is my WASR-10:

Is it hard for a begginner to field strip and AK...should I clean it before I shoot it?

Not hard at all, in fact, AKs are the easiest rifles to use. Yes, you should clean it before shooting it. Clean it with brake parts/carb cleaner, then lube with automatic transission fluid and you're all set.

 

[SHusky57]

A manual should come with the gun. There are videos on youtube. A peasant with a 2nd grade education can learn to maintain and operate an AK in about 10 minutes. It's ridiculously easy to strip and clean. And yes you should clean it before you shoot it. Firearms are coated in cosmoline which acts as a preservative, and you will need to clean it out before you shoot.

 

[wyocarp]

This is a very simple gun to strip and clean. As far as cleaning before you shoot it, it can't hurt and is probably a good idea. Between now and when you pick it up, you should be looking around for ammo. I've recently bought as much as is possible but it seems to be getting harder and harder to find bulk ammo. Personally, that is the only way to enjoy shooting one of these.

 

[SHusky57]

I would recommend CLP or Remoil for cleaning and lubing... but as Tactical_Rubber_Duck said, transmission fluid or motor oil will work in a pinch. But you shouldn't be in a pinch, so spend $5 on some Remoil.

What are you paying for your WASR-10 if you don't mind me asking. Mine was $350 about 2 years ago.... I am curious what they go for now. I would like to get another one; but I figure prices are way inflated right now.

 

[WardenWolf]

Welcome to the AK world. They're very easy to take down. Most can be taken apart entirely without tools, although if the gas tube lever is stiff it may take some pliars. You WILL need to fully disassemble and clean it, as most are packed with cosmoline (brown vaseline-like substance) to preserve them. I recommend some kind of degreaser like LPS Electro Contact Cleaner to cut the cosmoline. Then oil it all down with American oil.

Just search for disassembly videos on Youtube. Romak-3 instructions will also work, as they all come apart the exact same way.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

^^^ Stock up on magazines as well.

 

[Ron-Bon]

Thanks so much you all. It's coming with two 30-round mags and I also bought a couple of 50-rounders at a recent gun show in Hampton. Can someone give me a ballpark figure for some ammunition because I want to stock-up before Nobama has a chance to pursue/renew this assault weapon ban that I hear so much about(although I doubt that the American will let that fly)

 

[Ron-Bon]

SHusky57 : Mine was $588(after tax). From what I've been told they used to go for much cheaper but in Virginia where I live, the gun shops can barely keep them in stock. I know it's because of the impending ban, but I'm sure that rising crime in our area and fear of domestic terrorist attacks may play into the rise in demand also

 

[Mojo-jo-jo]

Congrats! An AK-variant is a great and fun to shoot weapon. On to your specific questions:

Century Arms is a large arms importer and re-manufacturer. Here's what they do:

U.S. Federal law 18 USC 925(d)(3) prohibits the importation of military surplus semi-automatic (or automatic, for that matter) rifles. In order to "get around" this law, Century buys the rifles from the foreign government or their wholesaler (say, Yugoslavia or Romania, both likely in your case), sets up shop somewhere outside the USA--I believe frequently Canada--and "de-mills" the rifles, usually by cutting up the receivers and barrels (importation of barrels was prohibited as well in 2004). Century then imports the disassembled parts--now considered a non-firearm because the receiver has been destroyed--into the USA and then rebuilds them with new US-made receivers and barrels, as well as enough other US-made parts to satisfy 18 USC 922(r) in their Boca Raton, Florida facility.

... I bet you're now scratching your head saying, "Well, that's stupid! Why not just import it as-is, or just convert it to semi-automatic and then import it? That's the most convoluted, ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" It is. Frankly, it's utterly ridiculous, but it is the US law. Thank your nearest federal government representative for the additional cost and lower quality, as well as loss of all collector value in your rifle.

The problem herein is that Century is interested in volume, not quality. They have absolutely no quality control in their manufacturing process, and they seem to employ a large number of drunken and drug-addled monkeys (my apologies to monkeys for this slight) for their manufacturing operations. I would STRONGLY recommend carefully examining the rifle before accepting delivery. Look especially for canted front sight assemblies and/or mis-aligned gas ports--these are common problems with Century AK-variant rifles. I have personally had two Century AK-variant rifles with severely mis-aligned front sight assemblies (the second was a warranty replacement, shipped direct from Century Arms, they finally got it right on the third attempt). That said, rifles from Century can be great shooters, it just seems to be luck of the draw. But I digress...

The Kalashnakov rifle was originally designed for Russian conscript "farm boys" with no education or mechanical experience to be able to successfully operate and maintain. It's probably the most "soldier proof" front-line rifle in the world today. You can find all kinds of information on how to field-strip on the Internet, and you will find that it takes a only a few seconds and no tools. It has few parts and is incredibly easy to maintain (you'll probably end up saying "That's all that's in there?!?" when you take it apart). While certainly not an elegant aesthetic design--that said, I love 'em; beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder--nor a particularly accurate rifle, it is utterly reliable in nearly all conditions. It's a fun shooter with practical applications as a SHTF (S- Hits The Fan--if you're not already familiar with the lingo) rifle, as well as adequate for small/medium game at shorter ranges.

You should thoroughly inspect and clean ANY new-to-you firearm before shooting. Some may be full of packing grease and machining residue, others may have an unsafe condition that you want to find BEFORE shooting it!

 

[7.62shooter]

Welcome to the Dark Side!!! Congradulations on purchasing an AK. You will be very glad you bought it as they are an absolute blast. Although everybody has already answered all your questions i guess ill just restate it all in my own words.. The AK is as simple as a rifle can get. They are notriously reliable and pack a pretty big punch. As others have said just go to youtube and search AK 47 field strip. Now you should definaltly clean your gun before you shoot it. Just lube up the bolt carrier and the areas inside the receiver on which the bolt carrier slides. Also be sure to run something through the barrel just to be sure theres nothing causing an obstruction. Century builds are the most common AK rifles in the US. Theres tons of them and overall they are very good. They arent as refined as some other ak rifles but just as reliable. Alot of the rifles that century puts out do have slightly crooked front sights. Mine was this way but once i got it sighted in i can make head shots on silouttes at 200 yrds. AKs are alot more accurate then most people give them credit for. You will need to purchase an ak sight tool in order to sight in your rifle. Its just a $8 piece and you can buy it at midwayusa.com. You have to use the sight tool to drift the front sight post. Again look online as how to do this. Im sure you will thoughly enjoy your rifle. Just give it a good clean then shoot the hell out of it! Honestly i think im beginning to like AKs more than ARs... Anyways report back after you get your rifle and let us now how it is! Have fun and be safe!.

 

[wyocarp]

What makes it beautiful to me is that it goes bang. I love that quality in a gun. While shooting this past weekend, I had numerous rounds that my ar wouldn't shoot. The firing pin hit the primer but the bullet didn't leave the case. Every one of those I took and put in my ak and they all fired the first time. My ar didn't load rounds numerous times. The ak fired every time without a hitch.

I can't imagine that we don't have soldiers wanting to carry the ak instead of the ar.

 

[Almond27]

I dont think it is a necessity to clean them at first unless they're soaked in cosmo hell the only place that seem like it had cosmo was the bolt and I just shot it and let it run out, then took a toothbrush to remove excess I probably do need to oil my rails though.