best AK?

[akodo]

So, I have gotten the bug to get an AK. I have checked SOG and AIM, which seem to be rife with ones from romania. What should I look for, what should I stay away from? Are yugos good ones?

what's the deal with the STG-2000 type AK?

http://www.southernohiogun.com/aks.htm has a yugo RPK type, which is of course the 'squad automatic weapon version' except of course not auto, just semi. That thing actually perked my interest, is the bipod detachable? does the 7.62x39 get much benifit from a 22 inch barrel?

 

[possum]

i have a mak-90 that i llike alot but the est ak's that i have ever shot have been the yugo's and in paricular the yugo underfolders are my favorites.

i think the rpk types are more for looks and i would deifnetly have one if i ever found a deal on one, i really can't see any improvment in the performance with the extended barrel in essetially an ak platform but i may be wrong.

 

[Animal Mother]

what's the deal with the STG-2000 type AK?

The STG-2000 is just a WASR rifle with synthetic furniture. I myself went with a yugo underfolder, but to each his own. Watch out for some of the vendors out there that are putting WASRs out in underfolder configuration, they are not the same quality as the Yugos.

Ben over at http://www.classicarms.us usually has good deals deals on AKs.

Of course if I wanted the best AK I'd be hard pressed to do better than one of the AKs by Vector Arms, but quality costs $$.

 

[Kind of Blued]

If you really want the highest quality AK, there is a line of American made AKs that, from what I've gathered, are nearly impossible to come by.

I also went with a Yugo underfolder. I wanted either an underfolder or collapsible stock, and the one I went with was the best value (and basically highest quality) underfolder that I could find.

Its one of the few AKs that has a "model number" if you will. Its the M70AB2, sometimes called the "paratrooper" version, although I don't know if that has any historical merit.

P.S. If you ever need them, it has collapsible grenade launcher sight on the top front of the fore end...

 

[nalioth]

"Best" is subjective.

I've never had a problem out of my WASR10. Ever.

I've also never had a problem from my hand built Tantal.

Look around at gun shows. Find what you like. Go for it.

 

[Superlite27]

Stay away from Maadi's. The Egyptian ones are pure, unadulterated, 100% junk. I bought one because it was cheap. Hey, an AK is an AK, right?

Did I ever learn something.

I've replaced the bolt once, and the extractor twice. It still fails to extract, or "stovepipes" after about every three rounds......unless I literally dump lubricant all over the rounds in the magazine. Then it will fire fine untill I change magazines. If there isn't lubricant coating the round.......it will fail to extract. (Is it possible I replaced a bad extractor with a bad extractor.........with yet another bad extractor?)

I guess you do get what you pay for.

 

[Hoppy590]

il be honest, some wasr's are good, some require some tinkering. mine is a tinkerer. iv replaced the pin in the mag catch with a roled steel tension pin, because the old , tapered ?, pin wiggled loose, twice. a little sanding on the handguards to get them to fit right. some work on the mag well, and now she seems fine.

 

[BB93YJ]

Check out the goods that are offered by Red Stick Firearms. I have an AK103 version. Great weapon. http://www.redstick-firearms.com/firearms2/firearms.html

 

[SteyrAUG]

Right now the best ones going are the Yugo M70s and the Tantals.

 

[stubbicatt]

www.atlanticfirearms.com is a good place to start your search. Blaine there will take good care of you (usually).

 

[Cannonball888]

Lancaster 1.6mm Polish underfolder w/ polished carrier. Beautiful fit and finish and functions flawlessly.
Lifetime warranty.

 

[MJ]

The best one? That would be the one in your hand when the poo hits the prop.



Cheers
MJ

 

[geojap]

From those that are currently available, Arsenal AKMs are the best AKs on the market. You can also get nice Russian Saigas converted by Chris at AKUSA or Tony at Tromix. There are also lots of rifles that are no longer imported but which can be found on the used market, and they are very nice. These are all fairly expensive, however. You need to set your budget and then buy the nicest rifle that you can afford. When considering cost, Saigas are about the best deal going in AKs right now, even though their price has doubled in the last few years.

 

[aloharover]

Another nod for Arsenal.
But I am a big fan for the ones built in the garage myself.

 

[JA]

First off "best" is too broad of a subject due to the many models of AK rifles that have been imported in the last 30 years from a dozen different countries. Add to this the dozens of gunsmiths that have been assembling AK rifles for the last 10 years from US made receivers and parts kits or reworking AK rifles imported to the USA. Plus the dozen models of Romanian AK rifles modified to use high capasity magazines and Yugoslavian parts kits assembled by the importer Century Arms. It would take a book to cover all the above.
But the quality control of Romanian AK rifles went the way of dinosarus in 2004. The front sight,gas block,and/or rear sight are not inline on the barrel of a lot of the rifles. That is one,two,or all three can be leaning to one side. So that is the main thing to check on any Romanian rifle. Some of the Yugoslavian rifles are assembled from parts kits that are taken from used rifles. So your best bet is to go to your local gun shop and have them order a Romanian or Yugoslavian rifle for you if this is what you want that way they can send it back if it is defective.
As said before the STG is just a Romanian rifle with a German Wienger looking type stock set on it.
Due to the 22" barrel the 7.62x39mm cartridge will produce a little more velocity but with the cartridge loaded for 16" barrel rifles it won't be much more than 100fps or so. Where the longer barrel really pays off is the increased sight radius which will make shooting with the iron sights more accurate.

 

[jad0110]

akodo,

I don't mean to hijack your thread, but as a noob AK fan myself (yep, I got bitten too ), you and I might benefit from an "inspection procedure" of sorts when looking for that "best" AK.

Can anyone provide us a link or post a helpful step-by-step procedure for what specific inspection points to look at before buying?

 

[elmerfudd]

If you're looking for the absolute best, you want a Valmet. They're hard to find and very expensive though as they haven't been imported since the 80's.

 

[thebaldguy]

Here's a few things I look for:

Magazine wobble - A little is ok, but not too much. Compare a few to get an idea of what's too much. I've passed up ak's where the magazine wobble is like a hula dancer.

Fit and finish - This is NOT an expensive Weatherby rifle or custom rifle. Don't expect perfection, but the fit and finish should not be horrible or badly damaged. Compare a few ak rifles to get an idea. You can always refinish/replace the stocks.

Canted/out of alignment front sight/gas tube - This can be fixed, but try to find one that isn't bent/angled too badly. Find one that's straight not crooked.

If possible, manually cycle the rifle to check for excessive binding. Most will feel fine, but you don't want one that feels very rough or like something is badly catching. It may not be perfectly smooth, but you don't want something that feels too rough. Again, compare a few to get an idea.

By the way, I've seen prices for ak style rifles climbing up over the last few years. WASR-10 rifles may be your best bet for the dollar. Same with 7.62x39 ammo; 500 rounds now costs what 1000 rounds used to cost a few years ago. Shop around and compare for the best deals.

 

[H2O MAN]

Consider a pre ban Chinese AK (Norinco & Poly Tech).
These rifles have heavier chrome lined barrels and the stamped receivers are thicker than others.
You can also find them with milled receivers (Legends)

I have a NIB Norinco Type 56S-1 UF and this Poly Tech AKS-762 in MAK 90 trim. Excellent AKs!

 

[Z71]

My AK of course! My guns are always better than anybodys else's!

Just kidding! I only became an AK owner a few weeks back, don't know didly squat about them.

I bought a WASR, because it was cheap, and I had money burning a hole in my pocket! For a supposidly terribly made gun, it ain't too bad.

 

[nalioth]

Consider a pre ban Chinese AK (Norinco & Poly Tech).
These rifles have heavier chrome lined barrels and the stamped receivers are thicker than others.

I'd not advise the Chinese rifles for that reason.

The reason the Chinese Ak receivers are thicker is that they are made out of low quality soft steel, and the Chinese overbuilt them to compensate.

 

[H2O MAN]

The reason the Chinese Ak receivers are thicker is that they are made out of low quality soft steel, and the Chinese overbuilt them to compensate.

LOL! The Chinese built them to last and they continue to build them this way.

Chinese AKs are highly recommended.

 

[nalioth]

Chicom AKs were originally considered the bottom of the barrel as far as AK rifles were concerned, known for the soft bolts and very poor machining quality however with the advent of the 1994 AWB they were totally banned from future import, at that time the best AK ya could buy was the Mitchell arms imported Yugo "Amigo" basically a straight Yugo M70 minus grenade sights and with standard front trunions standard barrel prifiles etc.. the next best was Egyptian MAADI rifles (and they were BAAAADDDDD) but still rated above a Norinco 3rd was the Norinco AKs they did offer the only available (non NFA) milled receiver which gave em a leg up over the MAADI 4th were AKs made in the USA by B-West guns these I was personally involved in creating they were built from Chinese military parts sets and did not exhibit the spotty bolt hardness found in the commercial Norincos

It seems dstorm1911 (among others) disagrees.

 

[H2O MAN]

Thousands of satisfied owners are having an excellent experience with their reliable Chinese AKs.
.

 

[elmerfudd]

I didn't like my MAK90. It was heavy, awkward and accuracy was poor. I know that many people seem to like their Chinese guns, but I have not been impressed with them. My SAR3 and various Saiga's all shoot much better than my old MAK90 did and my Yugo SKS outshoots either of my friends Chinese SKS's by a comfortable margin.