Best AK/Clone for the money?

[50caliber123]

I've decided to get an AK to supplement my SKS and b/c its the most evil of all "assualt rifles." What is the best clone or version to get? I plan on using this for hunting, and only want 7.62x39, as I have a lot of ammo in that caliber and got my first deer with one of those rounds. It also needs to be the type that takes double-stack 30rd mags. Any opinions appreciated.

 

[GTSteve03]

I hear Arsenals are real nice, but I've never shot one myself.

Had a Saiga once, it seemed pretty high quality, especially for the price, but you'd have to convert it to have a pistol-grip and hi-cap mags.

 

[Mad Bodhi]

http://www.vectorarms.com/indexframe.html
They make some very nice ones for the money.http://www.arsenalinc.com/about.htm Arsenal is pretty much considered top shelf for ak type rifles.

 

[Father Knows Best]

Arsenals and VEPR's (from Robinson Armaments) are the best. Both are somewhat pricey. Figure $550-600 for a new VEPR and an equal amount or perhaps even a little more for a milled receiver Arsenal.

You can save a little money by buying used, of course. I have an Arsenal SA M-7S (milled receiver, 7.62x39, side rail, fixed stock) that I bought in like new condition for $395. It didn't have a scratch on it.

 

[AK103K]

Krebs Saiga conversion. I have one of his early AK103K's and love it. Great little rifle.

 

[coinshooter]

ARSENAL IS A real solid choice, I have a sam 5 in .223 and its great. Cheapest value is the WASR 10 UGLY but a good preformer.

 

[rem870]

I recieved a Bulgarian SLR100H a few years ago. I definitely prefer a milled reciever over a stamped one. I think that action feels alot smoother. I ordered it out of shotgun news from a place called Wholesale Gun Co. for $419. The SAR's that I have shot have been great guns mechanically, but I just think it is worth spending a little extra money and getting a better product.

 

[AKM]

Saiga's are actually AK 100 series rifles (as far as the action goes). Once converted (properly) they become very nice AK's.

 

[MartinS]

A Romanian WASR and spend the money you saved buying the cheapest variant on magazines and yet more ammo. Yes, some think them rough and dirty girls but some of us like them that way.

 

[Preacherman]

There are three ways you can go to get a high-quality AK.

1. Buy an Arsenal or Krebs gun. Both are superbly made and modified, set up as a quality rifle should be - but you'll pay for it. As mentioned above, if you can find one used at a great price, jump on it: but those I've seen for sale are seldom at a great price...

2. Buy a VEPR. These are not fully-standard AK's, despite being built on an RPK receiver. They are, nevertheless, very high quality, and are 90% AK. I have one, and like it very much.

3. Buy a Saiga carbine and have it converted to full AK configuration. The Saiga is essentially a "de-militarized" AKM, made in Russia on the same equipment used for military rifles, so it's a very high-quality "base gun". Conversions are done by a number of companies, and can range from a fairly low-cost "cosmetic" conversion right up to many hundreds of dollars for a custom-featured gun. Your money, your choice. I'm doing this right now to two Saiga's, and got plenty of good advice from fellow members of THR - see this thread for the discussion, and the eventual configuration.

 

[AKM]

There are three ways you can go to get a high-quality AK.

1. Buy an Arsenal or Krebs gun. Both are superbly made and modified, set up as a quality rifle should be - but you'll pay for it. As mentioned above, if you can find one used at a great price, jump on it: but those I've seen for sale are seldom at a great price...

2. Buy a VEPR. These are not fully-standard AK's, despite being built on an RPK receiver. They are, nevertheless, very high quality, and are 90% AK. I have one, and like it very much.

3. Buy a Saiga carbine and have it converted to full AK configuration. The Saiga is essentially a "de-militarized" AKM, made in Russia on the same equipment used for military rifles, so it's a very high-quality "base gun". Conversions are done by a number of companies, and can range from a fairly low-cost "cosmetic" conversion right up to many hundreds of dollars for a custom-featured gun. Your money, your choice. I'm doing this right now to two Saiga's, and got plenty of good advice from fellow members of THR - see this thread for the discussion, and the eventual configuration.

Saiga's are based on the AK 100 series of Rifles not the AKM series.

They incorporate the same Bolt/Carrier/Trunnion and Gas Block improvements of the AK-74 design, AKA the AK 100.

There is a difference.

 

[clange]

Best for the money is a WASR. The actual best is another matter.