Battle Of The Budget AK
- Thread starter Robk13
- Start date
Ignition Override
Member
A brand-new, nib Zastava ZPAP costs about $990 with Buy Now on a famous auction website. Very attractive walnut or maple furniture.
The increase in 7.62x39 ammo prices might be suppressing rifle prices?
Many people are wanting the same price for many typical Romanians, which also can be quite solid and durable. Iirc
, they either were made from Romy milspec parts or more recently on the same tooling, and the older 10/63 has pretty hard wood.
The Romanian select-fire versions have been quite popular for exports to various countries.
The increase in 7.62x39 ammo prices might be suppressing rifle prices?
Many people are wanting the same price for many typical Romanians, which also can be quite solid and durable. Iirc
, they either were made from Romy milspec parts or more recently on the same tooling, and the older 10/63 has pretty hard wood.The Romanian select-fire versions have been quite popular for exports to various countries.
Phaedrus/69
Member
I think that's a reasonable conjecture. I was willing to deal with dirty steel case ammo when it was $.20/round but if I have to pay fifty cents or more for the cheap stuff I'd rather shoot my .300 Blackout.
Ignition Override
Member
Phaedrus69:
Remember in 2021, months before the start of the War on Ukraine, when the US State Dept declared that it would probably Not renew import permits on "Russian ammo imports" when the previously allowed permits reached their "time limits"? Whatever the terminology....
Within a few days of the State Dept's partially-vague ("....may not be renewed".or such) announcement, I clearly saw nib AKM prices drop about $200 on Gunbroker. It seemed like a few AKM-74s (5.45x39) went onto the Marketplace of AKfiles.
Remember in 2021, months before the start of the War on Ukraine, when the US State Dept declared that it would probably Not renew import permits on "Russian ammo imports" when the previously allowed permits reached their "time limits"? Whatever the terminology....
Within a few days of the State Dept's partially-vague ("....may not be renewed".or such) announcement, I clearly saw nib AKM prices drop about $200 on Gunbroker. It seemed like a few AKM-74s (5.45x39) went onto the Marketplace of AKfiles.
Phaedrus/69
Member
Yeah, I was pretty bummed that I didn't "pull the trigger" on a couple of cases of 6.5 G back when it was $200 per 1000 round case! Those prices are never coming back again I'm afraid. Not much point to getting the gun given current 6.5 G prices.
Those prices are never coming back again I'm afraid. Not much point to getting the gun given current 6.5 G prices.
I never got better than 1.5-2moa out of the wolf 6.5 Grendel ammo. I gave 3/4 of a case away after deciding it wasnt really even fun to miss cheaply.Yeah, I was pretty bummed that I didn't "pull the trigger" on a couple of cases of 6.5 G back when it was $200 per 1000 round case!
Phaedrus/69
Member
I guess I wouldn't have expected great accuracy but on an RDS-equipped carbine I couldn't do better than 2 moa anyway. But yeah, given a scoped bolt gun that would be unimpressive.
brunowbe
Member
That price may not be the same much longer.
Word is that Serbia may be restricting exports of arms and Zastava rifles may not be coming into the country in the future, I can’t remember if this is due to the conflict in Ukraine or due to trouble brewing once more in the Balkans. Anyways, the Serbian president made remarks threatening to stop the export of arms. Hopefully, this doesn’t start the process of price gouging due to a ban or potential ban.
My 527 was closer to 2+2.5 moa, my ar liked it better. Other guys had better luck with it, even using it for hunting, but imo you didnt really miss out lol.
JB111
Member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2022
- Messages
- 274
Zastava USA put out a statement on reddit basically saying that it is business as usual for the time being. If their dictator decides to stop ALL exports including those that go to civilians it would hurt their economy from what I read. Evidentially it is one of their biggest money makers. Also, a lot of people are forgetting a ban would include ammo. The price of 7.62x39 is already high, losing belom would not help things at all.
C-grunt
Member
PSA bought a whole combloc ammo factory and is setting it up in the US. They have said they should be ale to sell x39 ammo for near pre pandemic pricing once it's up and running. Even if they are way off due to inflation, it's still going to be fairly cheap by todays ammo standards.
brunowbe
Member
Saw the statement and it came across as they have no idea if this is happening or not, here’s an article with ZUSA’s statement in it. It doesn’t sound too hopeful.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2023/07/10/serbia-halts-arms-exports/
Ignition Override
Member
Setting up foreign tooling often requires supervisors from the other country to either instruct or watch quality control,
Technicians from Walther (Ulm Germany ) helped Canik in Turkey,
….as did Russians assisting Egyptian AKM production.
If you Now have the money within a “gun or ammo budget”, never put it off and allow a sudden problem to pop up——
Technicians from Walther (Ulm Germany ) helped Canik in Turkey,
….as did Russians assisting Egyptian AKM production.
If you Now have the money within a “gun or ammo budget”, never put it off and allow a sudden problem to pop up——
Phaedrus/69
Member
PSA (or the holding company that owns them) is really killin' it lately! Their AAC brand is great ammo at amazingly low prices compared to the competition. So far I've only used their 5.56 and .300 Blackout stuff but I hardly use anything else.
peacebutready
Member
I heard they were going to start making x39 ammo but didn't know they would be using foreign equipment to do it.
How much was pre-pandemic x39 about?
Anyone know when this ammo will be available?
citizenconn
Member
Avoid one of the best battle proven rifles in the world? Ok…
