AR/AK ignorant. WASR-10?

[mrcpu]

My kids and I were wandering through a local gun shop today. I have never really handled an AR, but I've been eyeballing gettin ga SAIGA an dmodifying it. Yesterday, I got to play with this really nice armalite AR, and so I'm starting to see the attraction.

SO anyway, there's a bunch of AK-ish looking guns there, one in 7.62x39, one in .223 or is it 5.56, and the guy is showing me how easy it is to break down and such...

SO anyway, the tag says "Century WASR/10", and he wants 425 for it. WHich
seems high, although he has scope mounts and such available.

Are these good "starter" kits for getting into AR? O rshould I just go with the saiga and get one that's converted? I am not a handyman with tools, so while breaking it down to clean it is no problem, I doubt I would ever do anything other than add on stuff that bolted on trivially.

I have to make a decision, before I drive myself crazy with all the options. But I don't want to be throwing money away.

Usage would mainly be target/plinking, 100-150 yards tops, and I would probably have to scope it, as the old mk I eyeball just isn't picking up the front sights as well as I would like.

 

[SigfanUSAF]

If you're not a handyman, don't buy a Century.

 

[AK103K]

I have both a converted Saiga and an Armalite AR, so I solved that dilemma.

Krebs Saiga conversion

Armalite M15A4(C)

I also have a Century SAR1 and a WASR10, both of which have been fine for the most part. The SAR has slightly canted sights and needed the trigger replaced, due to trigger slap. My WASR has been trouble free. The difference between the WASR and SAR is, the SAR was made to accept a 30 round mag, the WASR was designed to take a 10 round mag, so it could pass ban restrictions, and then was converted to take the 30 round mags once here. If your looking at one, I'd try a couple of mags in the gun and see how they fit. Some wobble is OK, but you dont want a lot. This can be a little deceiving, as mags differ and all AK's will have some wobble with some mags, so dont get to crazy worrying about it, it just shouldnt be to sloppy.

$425 does seem a little steep, but that may depend on where you are and things have gone up a bit since I last bought one.

If you go AK, I'd stay with the 7.62x39.

If you want to add an optic, I'd go with the Ultimak rail that replaces the upper handguard and a good red dot.

If you want to go with the AR, I'd get a "double" flat top model, it lets you have pretty much any option you might want. I personally would only buy an AR from one of the bigger, better known makers. I wont buy another "kit" gun either.

Good luck in your quest, you'll probably end up with a couple of both in the long run, as they are all addictive.

 

[1911JMB]

425 isn't too bad, but it certainly isn't great.

If you do get one, make sure you take it apart and clean it before you shoot it. There will be a bunch of metal shavings they never cleaned out.

 

[Mike U.]

425 is too much for a WASR10.
Now, if he's including scope and mount, and they are fairly decent, then that's another thing.

Also, if you do buy it, DO clean it thoroughly before taking it out to shoot. They really didn't clean these out all that well, if at all, when they shipped them.

And finally, before you lay down your hard earned money, check the rifle out to make sure it has a straight front sight block and gas tube assembly.

 

[mrcpu]

AK -- That site on that saiga looks really far forward. Really far... Never seen one like that.

THanks for the cleaning tips, I'm leaning towards skipping this deal. classicarms has them for 150 cheaper, and I can't see an obvious difference.

I'm still ogling AR's though as well, and I may just throw in the towel, and go buy a hipoint carbine, and be done with it. A vast majority of my shooting will be indoors, and pistol caliber rifles or rimfire are the limits...

But I can't help wanting one...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The WASR-10 shouldn't cost you more than $359 with 2X30 round mags, sling, cleaning kit, bayonet w/sheath and a pouch.

*EDIT*
The price I quoted above is the OTD price from a shop, not an online price. You can get them online for $299 but then have to add S&H and FFL transfer fees.

 

[69Chevy]

Im going to second that WASR price. Dunhams has them regularly for $300. I have shot them and they do what they are suppose to, but I wouldn't buy one myself. For $425, you can get a better quality AK if you look around.

 

[AK103K]

mrcpu,

The sight on both rifles is an Aimpoint red dot. On the Saiga, its mounted on a Ultimak rail, which allows the sight to be mounted forward, out of the way, and low enough to still use your iron sights through the Aimpoint. Personally, I think its the best set up going if you want to put an optic on your AK, or any other rifle of this type for that matter.

I havent seen any WASR's with sight cant, and most all I've seen have had a decent finish on them. The newer ones also have the laminated stocks and some accessories with them. Mine is an early one with the old style SAR stocks, no bayo lug or threaded muzzle. Its finish is a lot better than my SAR's was. If the finish really bothers you, good paint is cheap.

I own AK's across the board price wise, and they all pretty much shoot the same accuracy wise. They all seem to work about the same. Dont expect some major difference in the way they shoot or work between the lowest and highest priced models. Trigger slap is or was probably the biggest complaint, but you dont hear as many complaints as you once did, so I think they may have addressed that. Its an easy fix if you do happen to get one that has it if your the least bit handy. My SAR had it, my WASR didnt. My Arsenal SSR-85C broke a disconnector shortly after getting it, so more money doesnt necessarily mean better parts inside.

 

[Geno]

Dunhams sells WASR-10 high caps for $299.00. It comes with a very, very nice leather sling, and 2, 30-round magazines. It has no bayonet lug, ergo no bayonet. My WASR-10 is quite nice, and it shoots very accurately. Dunhams also sells additional 30-round magazines for $24.99, which is a basic rip-off. AK magazines are as common as toothpicks. If you pay in excess of $15.00 for one, you are over-paying.

 

[Hokkmike]

I JUST bought my WASR-10 for $360.

 

[Shear_stress]

Bought my WASR when Dunham's was having one of their weekly sales. The fit/finish of my gun is much better than past WASRs (some of which looked like eighth-grade shop projects) and reliability has been perfect.

However, I would not spend four and a quarter on one.

 

[tnieto2004]

WASR-10 is a good gun .. I have one I trust 100% .. Many people will tell you not to get one mostly because they are bottom of the line AK's .. but they have been amazing to me .. I wouldn't pay more than $350 for one though

 

[mrcpu]

THanks for all the advice guys.

Havent' decided what to do, but I know a lot more than I did.

 

[Colorado Fatboy]

I picked up a SAR-1 a couple of months ago used for $325. Came with 3 30 round mags, 1 20 round mag, sling plus a cheapie scope and mounts.

If you go over to www.ar15.com you will find alot of useful information for both the AR and AK.