AK selection

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Krzyshng

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I'm in the opening phases of researching my next purchase and thinking of going the AK route. Problem is the shear number of variants and converters/importers. Its a confusing market out there with models with similar names being totally different.

Ideally I'd like as close to an original military pattern ak as possible and looking to spend around 700-1000:

Wood furniture. Not a fan of the wire varieties so if I pickup something like that it would have to be standard so it can be changed later.

I'd prefer the 7.62x39 for ammo consolidation as I already own an SKS.

Ones that I've been looking at are:

Zastava PAP www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct1185.aspx cons to this one is that the front trunion is narrow so when they converted it to take standard mags it could be dangerously weak?

Interarms Polish underfolder www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct997.aspx cons are american made barrel/receiver and the wire stock.

Polish tantal www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct875.aspx cons are 5.45x39 and wire stock. I am a lefty so an ambi safety would be a plus.

Arsenal SLR 107 www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct1154.aspx cons are slightly higher cost and I'm unsure how much of it is original Bulgarian.

Any other suggestions or information that could help? Thanks.

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Wow, why do aks cost so much? Isn't their millions maybe even billions in circulation? Is it all down to 922 compliance upping the end cost?
 
check out an M70AB1 (yugo wood stock) It's has a reinforced front trunnion designed for grenade launches, the bolt & carrier group is stainless steel, and it's an all around solid rifle. takes standard mags, and has a thicker barrel; chrome lining varies.
 
I'd go with a personally inspected Romanian (WSAR) to get one with a straight gas block and front sight base, or else get a Saiga and convert it. Spend the rest on ammo and extra mags. The cheap (~$9) surplus mags won't cheap and available forever.

Buying "fit and finish" on an AK always makes me think "sow's ear --> silk purse". Love the AK for what it is crude, rugged, accurate enough, and about a reliable as a firearm can get.

I've got a milled receiver Arsenal that I got right after the ban expired just because I wanted a milled receiver having missed out on the pre-ban milled Polytech, and I wasn't sure how long the ban would stay expired. While its clearly my best looking AK, it don't shoot significantly better than the rest.
 
wally said:
I'd go with a personally inspected Romanian (WSAR) to get one with a straight gas block and front sight base, or else get a Saiga and convert it. Spend the rest on ammo and extra mags. The cheap (~$9) surplus mags won't cheap and available forever.

Buying "fit and finish" on an AK always makes me think "sow's ear --> silk purse". Love the AK for what it is crude, rugged, accurate enough, and about a reliable as a firearm can get.

I've got a milled receiver Arsenal that I got right after the ban expired just because I wanted a milled receiver having missed out on the pre-ban milled Polytech, and I wasn't sure how long the ban would stay expired. While its clearly my best looking AK, it don't shoot significantly better than the rest.
Click to expand...
Well said.
 
Good Lord...the prices have become absolutely crazy.

In 2005, I bought an Arsenal SAM-7 A1R for $900. The same rifle (without the rail) goes for over $1600 now. What??

Long story short. In 2009 I was laid off (along with a whole lot of other folks at the time) and had to sell my rifle. At the time it seemed like keeping the water running and eating were more important than the AK.

Right now, Classic seems to have a very good buy on a particular AK. Poilsh Radom made reciever and Radom made Chrome lined barrell. The rest of the rifle is made from a mixture of Romanian and Polish parts kits (along with the requisite # of American 922 parts). Appears to be wooden furniture. Price $549.

Any opinions?

Gunner
 
I like AKs for what they are but I did this same thought exercise recently. For $1000 you can have a nice AR but the Bulgarian AKs are definitely nice but too much money for me.

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checkmyswag said:
I like AKs for what they are but I did this same thought exercise recently. For $1000 you can have a nice AR but the Bulgarian AKs are definitely nice but too much money for me.

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It's two schools of thought.
You can either hit what you're aiming at with the AR.
Or you can kill every BG in the room with the AK.

However, over $500 dollars for a quality AK, and you've lost me. Other than Arsenal.
 
If you can find one, a SAR-1 might be a good option. Mine ran me about $550 new at a LGS. They come with chrome lined barrels and are very close in appearance to the original Soviet AK, but be prepared to spend some money for 922r parts.
 
WASRs are probably your cheapest option and they're as reliable an AK as any other. It's not the prettiest thing out there but then again if you saw what my Arsenal looks like (it's been well used) you'd know that a lot of AK guys aren't real hung up on pristine looks. That having been said if you want to buy once and be done with it I'd find an Arsenal SLR-107. They're right at 1K, so top of your price range, but they're reputed to be the smoothest AKs out there. They also come with chrome lined bores and brakes as well as the polymer side folding stock which is a high end upgrade.
 
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