Are the Poly tech ak's worth it

[kart racer]

Looking at ak's and wondering if the polytech's are worth the additional expense.I have an sks and would like to find a decent/reliable ak to add to it.I would really like to keep it between 300-550 if possible.At the shooting range last week me an a another guy had a blast trying to outshoot one another.He had an ak I had my sks and we we were taking turns at 100yds w/clays.

 

[beerslurpy]

Two words:

VEPR

Arsenal

The rest dont really distinguish themselves in terms of quality much. The VEPR are built off the RPK receiver and the Arsenal are milled (except the new new ones that are stamped).

 

[clange]

1) Any AK should be reliable, from the WASRs to the POLY. The difference in quality is usually a difference in fit and finish, and sometimes accuracy. Stamped, milled, doesnt really matter IMO.

2) IMO i dont really think the Polys are worth the money, but then again i'm not into pre-ban collectables either. They're one of the nicest AKs, but you can get similar fit and finish from guns that are a lot cheaper.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

Actually the myth that VEPR's and Arsenal AK's are somehow in a high class than other imported AK's is just what it sounds to be...a myth. Arsenal AK's are very nicely made, and because they are made in the US most of the part legality game is made irrelevant, but because of the extremely high prices Arsenal charges, I would be hesitant about investing in one.

As posted above - *ALL* AK's are very reliable, but in terms of accuracy I would say that some of the best are the Hungarians, some of the Chinese models (I don't have much experiance with Chine AK's outside of my 86S, but some of the Norinco's are notoriously well made and very, very smooth), and almost any other carefully built AK. When I say "carefully built" I would certainly include the Bulgarian kits Arsenal uses, and also kits dozens of other companies build off of and use - the only AK's you need to scrutinize are the ones built by large company's who built as many as possible as fast as possible switching parts from different countries and different era's ad hoc. Just about any AK you can find that was built to military spec's will be of high quality and will be competitive with any other rifle at the range (other military rifles) out to about 300 to 350 yards (of course the rifle is only as accurate as you are - too many shooters are quick to call rifles "inaccurate" because they can't make 5 shots within a quarter sized group - most of the time it's the flesh and not the metal).

I think you should go above all of your friends and get an AK-74 instead of a 47 and blow everyone away showing them how great the 5.45x39 round is compared to the 7.62.

 

[WillBrayJr]

Take alook at what Vector has to offer. Very good quality with a 5 year warranty without alot of money. Their like $450.00 to $550.00

 

[clange]

Actually the myth that VEPR's and Arsenal AK's are somehow in a high class than other imported AK's is just what it sounds to be...a myth. Arsenal AK's are very nicely made, and because they are made in the US most of the part legality game is made irrelevant, but because of the extremely high prices Arsenal charges, I would be hesitant about investing in one.

There are two 'arsenal' companies. Aresnal USA and Arsenal Inc. Arsenal Inc imports complete rifles from bulgaria, and they are top tier. Arsenal USA does the builds on their receivers. Used to be very good, but they've had some quality control issues recently. You cant go wrong with an Arsenal Inc rifle, but they are pricey.

I think you should go above all of your friends and get an AK-74 instead of a 47 and blow everyone away showing them how great the 5.45x39 round is compared to the 7.62.

Thats what i'm doing. I'm having a AKS-74 built from a bulgarian kit. Should run me about $700 when its all said and done. Now i just need to find some ammo for the thing. Everyone is out of it, or wants ~$130 a case.

 

[clange]

I don't have much experiance with Chine AK's outside of my 86S, but some of the Norinco's are notoriously well made and very, very smooth

Some of the MAK-90s are just as nice as a polytech, just with a stupid stock and no bayo lug or muzzle threads. May even be from some of the same factories, but i dont know enough about them. The MAK-90 i just sold was very nice.

 

[Destructo6]

IIRC, the Polytechs were considered the best of the Chinese AKs.

 

[wally]

I'd say get the cheap Romanian AK in 7.62x39 first, then if you like them go for "better" later. My Romanian shoots as good as my Polytech or Norinco or Clayco or Madii, none are tack drivers -- expect 6-8" groups at 100 yds with most factory ammo.

I just got a milled Arsenel USA, haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. It is clearly better looking than all the rest I have, but I'm not really expecting it to shoot much better. There was a show on the History channel "AK vs. AR" showing the plus and minus of each. Most telling was some slo-mo video images of the guns firing -- the AK flexed so much its amazing it doesn't just break in half! With the barrel flexing that much 6-8" groups seem pretty darn good!

I just got some Silver Bear "Match" 7.62x39 ammo. When I get a nice calm day I'll try all the basic AK and SKS variations I have and see if groups get closer to what US shooters expect from any of them.

--wally.


Edit: Forgot to mention, I don't advise ording a Romanian AK sight unseen as many have crooked rear sight block or front sight. I had to look at half a dozen to find the two I ended up with (one normal stock, one side folder). I really perfer the Romanian wire side folder stock. Its solid, althouh it looks pretty crappy at first, it really works well. Normal AK stocks knock off my hearing protectors when I try and get a check weld, the wire dips down out of the way and works the best for me. Beware of the Romanian or converted Saiga with the "US" plastic side folder. The stock looks good at first, but is very flimsy when extended -- much worse than the Fiberforce side folders for the SKS.

 

[Kaylee]

What are Polys running these days, anyhow? Given that the feature set than made 'em so valuable '89-'04 you can now get in rebuilds from all sorts of Eastern European "parts set" kits on US receivers, I don't see why they should command a premium anymore.

-K

 

[kart racer]

The one's I've seen around here in Charlotte have been 700-1200.00.I know very little about ak's and just can't see paying that much for one.

 

[NevadaPistolero]

Hey Kaylee...how are you doing??? Handle a PolyTech and work the action....then do the same with a few other brands mentioned. The reason a PolyTech has held its worth for so long is because they are the best. There blued not parkerized. Action is very smooth. Great wood and very accurate. I own 2 preban AKs...a PolyTech and a Norinco factory 66. Well actually just sold the Norinco it was in .223. I have a Polish underfolder thats a piece of work....absolutely beautiful gun. If dont want to spend the $900 on up on a PolyTech get a MAK 90 Chinese AK...some were made at the PolyTech factory....Number 386 I believe it is. Any way those are great guns also. The only people you hear bad mouth a Poly AK is someone thats never owned one or only buys lower end guns. Im starting to read alot about the Vector AKs not beineg as nice as there were supposed to be...canted sites, stuff like that. Never seen or heard of a canted site on a Chinese AK. I was lucky and bought my PolyTech from a friend...$625, almost like new, original box and mags. Check out the EE at AR15.com, theres always a lot of AKs for sale there. You can get some pretty good deals.

 

[mainmech48]

IIRC, the only significant difference (perceived workmanship levels aside) offered by the Polytech version was that the FP was changed to a spring-loaded, inertial type somewhere along the line. It may have been limited to the .223 versions, but I don't think so.

The only practical advantage that I can think of for such a modification is to reduce the possibility of 'slam-fire' with non-milspec commercial ammo due to more sensitive primers.

Is that worth the difference in price by itself? Up to you. If the one you're looking at seems to be significantly above the average level of fit and finish offered by the competition, I might go for it.

"Pretty" is as it does, IMO. Unless an AK could show me the better-than-average accuracy to go with the cosmetics, I'd go with what's solid and inexpensive.

 

[rick_reno]

It depends on what your reason for buying one is - is this a collection you're building and you want a Polytech? I don't think you're likely to see a good return on your money, the Poly's are at or very near the top of what they're likely to ever bring. If you want a nice, shootable AK that works great - sure, they're one of the choices. Many others that are equally good shooters have already been mentioned.

 

[pete f]

I know it is not a AK but my valmet uses ak mags and is very accurate 2 inch groups if i can hold it that tight made by finns who cared

 

[Hkmp5sd]

The Poly Tech "Legend" was the top-of-the-line imported AK prior to the '89 cutoff. It had high QA during manufacturing, used a machined receiver and parts and was configured to the specs of the original AK-47. They even produced a "National Match Legend".

Here's mine:

 

[akviper]

FWIW, mainmech48 hit it right on. As long as milspec ammo was used most all aks did fine. When people started using commercial soft primer ammo, slam fires became a problem. I'm referring back to a Kokalis article from many years back. The 5.56 version was the worst. Poly Tech used spring loaded firing pins that could use any ammo. This was pretty common knowledge before the 94 ban but faded away. Spring loaded firing pins could be retrofitted to Norinco and other rifles. I'm not sure what current manufacturers are doing with their pins.

 

[Texian Pistolero]

For years I believed that "milled" reciever was superior to "stamped".

Then recently,

I have read that the Swedish Valmet,

(arguably the leader in quality standard)

has gone fron MILLED to STAMPED!!!!.)

time to cut the crap.

An AK is an AK is an AK is an AK is an AK....

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