Are chinesse AKs junk?

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whm1974

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Ok I know a person who has a MAK-90 for sale. He had it for around ten years and say's he only shot around ~400 rounds though it. He has also change it from the thumbhole stock to standerd AK looking stock and grip. it comes with carrying case, two 5 rds, and two 30 rds mags. and some ammo. he wants $350 for it.

Another person I know says all chinesse made guns are junk and shouldn't pay very much for one, if I buy one at all. He also mention that changing from thumbhole to normal stock/grip may not be legal.

Now is this a good deal here? Is the other dude full of it? and since he mention it, I'm wondering if I would be buying an illegal rifle.

-Bill
 
Changing the thumbhole stock to a normal PG and stock is legal IF he added enough (6) US parts to make it considered US made and no subject to import restrictions. If the muzzle is bare and not threaded, then it is only 5 US parts needed. $350 is not a bad price if it's in good shape. Chinease AKs are not junk.
 
Another person I know says all chinesse made guns are junk and shouldn't pay very much for one, if I buy one at all. He also mention that changing from thumbhole to normal stock/grip may not be legal.
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This person has no idea what they are talking about. :)

There are tons of very well made chinese firearms. The AKs and SKSs are just two very good examples.

As 1911user said, changing the stock on one is legal but parts count applies.
 
Well I did ask him if he still had the orginal parts and he said he did. So I could play it safe and put the thumbhole stock back on.

-Bill
 
The MAK-90s are awesome firearms, esp the milled ones. My uncle has one and in terms of fit and finish, it is noticeably better than the Romanians. Also slightly more accurate. If you don't want it for $350, I'd love to have the money for it. I say jump on it.

And and it isn't hard to get your parts count up either. I believe you could add a US made FCG like the TAPCO G2 and that counts as 3 parts (trigger, disconnector, hammer). Add a US made handguard set and get 2 more. A Mojo ghost ring would probably count as another part and if that doesn't, a US made muzzle device would. That would be 6 parts right there.
 
That would be 6 parts right there.
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But how much would that cost me? I can buy a Yugo underfolder for around ~$500, and I want an underfolder. If the total cost come up to that I would buy the underfolder instead.

Another note. While I was looking for more info on the Mak 90, it seems there was a slip up and some of the mak 90's are very easy to convert to FA. And they are very illegal because of this.

What are my odds of runing across one of these rifles? And what do I look for?

I'm starting to have 2nd thoughts....

-Bill
 
whm1974 said:
But how much would that cost me? I can buy a Yugo underfolder for around ~$500, and I want an underfolder. If the total cost come up to that I would buy the underfolder instead.

Another note. While I was looking for more info on the Mak 90, it seems there was a slip up and some of the mak 90's are very easy to convert to FA. And they are very illegal because of this.

What are my odds of runing across one of these rifles? And what do I look for?

I'm starting to have 2nd thoughts....

-Bill
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You can look in the AK section of ar15.com and there is a thread showing the one you are worrying about. They are not common and very few made it past the distributors before being recalled and cut up. Check the link out. What they are is receivers that had the 3rd hole (for autosear pin) drilled and then filled with a rivit on each side. A semi-auto only AK only has holes for 2 pins (trigger, hammer) drilled.

They aren't that easy to convert either. Several parts have to be replaced among other things; it wouldn't happen by accident.

You'll be happier just buying the Yugo; why fight it? Your friend could put the thumbhole stock back on the mak-90 then list it for $350 on a few gun boards; he'd get it.
 
I have both a stamped and milled Norinco MAK-90. I bought them new in '93 and '94. Haven't had any complaints with them. They both are "AK accurate" at 100 yards, and they have fed/shot everything I've given them. My stamped one has only had about 300 rounds through it, though. The milled one is 2000+ rounds. I have heard of some of the milled ones getting the feed ramp dug out and grooved with 5000+ rounds through them.
 
By the time he adds enough US parts for the PG and normal stock, he'll be easily within $80 of the Yugo he really wants. Also fitting a new US stock to the mak-90 could be fun with the 1.6mm thick receiver (most stamped receivers are 1.0mm thick).
 
I really like my MAK. Adding new furniture was pretty easy with help from a dremel tool. The Ultimak and Leupold red dot top off the package nicely.
MAK90.png
 
Chinese products in general are quite variable in quality, and a lot of that comes from quality control practices. If you pay them to put out a good product, they can. Seems like the same factory can put out complete junk, or stuff that ranges from great to poor, or everything shiny. The Poly-tech stuff generally seems to be good quality. The MAK stuff seems to vary a bit. When I worked in the shop we brought in a dozen, and I picked the best one for my personal purchase. Most of them were serviceable, but some had crooked sights and whatnot.
 
1911user said:
You can look in the AK section of ar15.com and there is a thread showing the one you are worrying about. They are not common and very few made it past the distributors before being recalled and cut up. Check the link out. What they are is receivers that had the 3rd hole (for autosear pin) drilled and then filled with a rivit on each side. A semi-auto only AK only has holes for 2 pins (trigger, hammer) drilled.

They aren't that easy to convert either. Several parts have to be replaced among other things; it wouldn't happen by accident.
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It doesnt matter, they ARE a machine gun WITHOUT anything being done to them. They dont have to be converted, the ATF says they are a machine gun right now. You probably know this, but for everyone else this needs to be clear.

Luckily, they are very rare.

OP, if the MAK already has a pistol grip and normal stock, did your friend add the US parts to make it compliant? If so, you wouldnt have to spend anything else. If its already got a pistol grip and normal stock but needs US parts, you're looking at $45 for a fire control group and pistol grip, and you'd still need one more US made part. You could change out the handguards or buttstock. A tougher way to go would be the gas piston, but you could use an imported buttstock and handguards. The easiest would be a magazine floor plate, but then you can only legally use magazines with US made parts.
 
You'll be happier just buying the Yugo; why fight it? Your friend could put the thumbhole stock back on the mak-90 then list it for $350 on a few gun boards; he'd get it.
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Well the Yugo underfolder is $500+taxes and whatnot. He's asking $350. Of course if I end up changing parts then the Yugo may be the better deal.

OP, if the MAK already has a pistol grip and normal stock, did your friend add the US parts to make it compliant? If so, you wouldnt have to spend anything else.
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Don't know, I'm not sure if he even knows that this is required. How many people get busted for this? I'm talking regular people not dealers and importers.

The easiest would be a magazine floor plate, but then you can only legally use magazines with US made parts.
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This is so stuiped. If I used the wrong magazine I'm now a felon?

-Bill
 
whm1974 said:
This is so stuiped. If I used the wrong magazine I'm now a felon?
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If the mag floorplate was used to get the US parts count, the answer is, "Yup."

And, as you say, it is really stupid. But then again, being stupid rarely stops BATFE (and many other regulatory agencies, as well).

Forrest
 
In that case I would be better off buying a WASR-10 or that Yugo underfolder that I want anyway.

-Bill
 
Just went through this dilemma...

Mak 90 at a show for $350 + tax. etc. BUT - the safety lever was a bit bent. I figured $40 for a FCG, and about $100 for the stock set to be US to get the 6 parts and be very "safe". So, with shipping - easily $150. Then that is $500. My wife said "look around". I found a Yugo M70 for $450, and bought it. BUT, the Mak90, if it is in excellent condition is a decent buy at $350 - a real deal at $300 or less. When I bought my SA 85 thumbhole, they were $175!!!!!
 
whm1974 said:
Don't know, I'm not sure if he even knows that this is required. How many people get busted for this? I'm talking regular people not dealers and importers.

This is so stuiped. If I used the wrong magazine I'm now a felon? YES, those were called floorplate and follower guns

-Bill
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You may not like it, but you need to understand the "US parts" count and how it makes currently available AKs legal. This is an end-run around not being able to import the rifles directly. Loopholes have very specific requirements. In this case, it requires enough US parts so that it is considered "made in the USA" and therefore not subject to import restrictions.

<scary worst case scenario deleted>

Just buy the Yugo you want and sleep well at night. Buying a factory built rifle and not modifying it should be a good defense if ever questioned. If you do change parts, understand what is US made and what isn't to keep the rifle legal.

I'd also advise your buddy to convert his rifle back (or get the US parts in it ASAP) since it has been directly discussed on a firearms website for all to see.
 
I've had my Norinko MAK-90 for six or seven years and have had no problems with it. Mine is a 5.56 and even though some accessories are more expensive I like the fact that the ammo isn't and is readily available.
 
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The Chinese make a high quality AK variant. The market seems to believe this as well, since the prices are creeping upward(remember the days when you almost couldn't give away a MAK 90?).

However, it sounds like you really want an underfolder, so the Yugo is probably the best route to go for you, especially considering the price.
 
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