Best Milled AK for $700 or less?

[Strykervet]

I'm an AR guru. I haven't owned an AK in ten years. But the one I regret selling was my SLR95, Arsenal, Bulgarian milled receiver with a chrome lined Steyr barrel. It was a really nice rifle by any standards. The NHM91 Match, the $250 NIB AK74, none of them were like this baby.

So now my wife's friend, she's seeing or engaged to this SF guy. She doesn't want to blow the surprise by asking what he likes, but asking around she gets the feeling this would be a good neutral present for him. She looked into a pistol, but not knowing what he likes, save "I don't like plastic frames" doesn't help much, and leaves out a LOT of newer firearms, plus she has no clue as to the calibre he prefers, whether he would carry it or what he would use it for --and she is too unexperienced to purchase used and not get taken. So this is where I come in.

But I have little knowledge of the AK market these days, what is good and what isn't. I do know a milled receiver is superior, and I do know that SLR95 is a great rifle. So do any of you experienced AK nuts out there have any other suggestions for quality milled rifles with good barrels for $700 or less? New or used. Not looking to modify an import like the Saiga (and looking for better quality) it needs to be in military configuration already, but the thumbhole stock is okay as that is an easy fix. So a ban era milled rifle is okay IF it is good quality like the SLR95. 7.62x39 is the highly prefered calibre, but I bet 5.56 would be okay if that were an option to consider. Not 5.45 though.

Is IAC a good company with regards to AK's? I don't know much about AK manufacturers and importers these days. This was a brand on Atlantic Firearms. I appreciate any advice!

 

[atblis]

I do know a milled receiver is superior

It's not. I don't know what you'd get that'd be better quality than a Saiga. The only thing IMO that's markedly better than a Saiga is a Valmet or real Galil.

If I had to get an AK, I'd probably get this.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.a...+Arsenal+SGL21+Saiga+7.62x39+Rifle&groupid=11

 

[JHenry]

your going to have a tough tough time finding a decent milled reciver ak for less then $700. The SA M7 is running at $1800 right now(super nice but really over the top price wise) and most generic milleds will runs upwards of a grand, your best bet will be going stamped.

 

[JDGray]

Skip the AK all together, save another $100, and buy one of these
http://www.czechpoint-usa.com/products/rifles/762-x-39-mm/sa-vz-58-military/

 

[valnar]

+1 on the Vz.58. If he doesn't know about them, its something he wouldn't buy for himself. He'll end up liking it better than an AK.

 

[JHenry]

vz 58s are nice and all but id rather get the icon first and the vz 58 later(although i would get one)

 

[JDGray]

Love my VZ58! Top notch quality, milled reciever, accurate!! Some will argue that even the Century VZ 2008, isn't a bad rifle either at a lot lower price.

 

[rooter]

I do know a milled receiver is superior

It's not. I don't know what you'd get that'd be better quality than a Saiga.

I've owned several AK's variants, both milled and stamped. I have only retained two over the years. Both are milled and I wouldn't trade them for any stamped variant, even @ 2:1. Milled receiver AK's are of much higher quality.

Patiently look for a milled Bulgy or Chink.

 

[JHenry]

milled are nice and retain heat better, but for $700 youll be lucky to get a high end stamped receiver. In that price range a middle quality stamped ak is about what your looking at

 

[JohnnyK]

Golani.... it's in 5.56 milled and a bad ass gun! also you can get a good one for around $600

 

[seasmoke]

Never been into 'Eastern Bloc Ghetto Blasters', but many good reviews for these...

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct876.aspx

From what I've read.. internals are 'as new'

 

[Googleplex]

I would be wary of Century Arms imports. They can be questionable. The vz. 58 would be the best choice.

 

[Googleplex]

Sorry, just saw how old this was. Whoops.

Never mind! My computer is drunk.

 

[seasmoke]

Century(CAI) does not build. They import/de-mill and have others do the building.



http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct624.aspx

another CAI 'build'

 

[RobGR]

CAI does do builds, like the Golani, which is very hit or miss. If you get a Century, make sure you've inspected it, knowing what to look for, or trust the person who's selling it to you. Then there's the "Certified" Henderson Defense Century builds which have a good reputation. Some firearms are built entirely in Romania and never hit the workbench at Century, like the Draco.

Century makes milled AKs (like the Golani) and I would not trust buying one blindly on the internet. Here, the one posted above, that's a build from various parts, probably a US barrel that isn't chrome lined -

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct876.aspx

Chrome lined original barrel is a big factor when considering an AK.

And do not pick up an IO Inc AK, garbage by all accounts.

Arsenal AKs are gtg but far more expensive. Vector arms also has good feedback, but the one I handled had a really tight receiver, thought it could potentially lead to issues. But it was a great looking firearm, great finish and wood furniture. I have not handled an IAC, looks good though.

SF? Are they in California, San Francisco? Not sure where you are located but gun laws here stink, but he will need a bullet button on it. The Solar Tactical Gen II BB is the best in my opinion. If it has a folding stock, it will have to be fixed unless there is a muzzle attachment to compensate for the length, 30" overall in CA. Henderson Defense and Atlantic modify the firearms for their CA customers.

 

[RobGR]

Get him an M&P 15-22, doesn't matter what you shoot, they are great plinkers and fun for any gun enthusiast. Cheap ammo, great customer service from S&W and great price as they always seem to be on sale now. Haven't found an AK-22 I could or would recommend.

 

[RobGR]

So, went over to Henderson defense and there it was, a Century MILLED "Certified" AK47 -

http://www.hendersondefense.com/store/pc/Century-MILLED-Certified-AK47-50p79.htm

But, not good, it has a US-made barrel (not chrome-lined), that's a big negative in my book personally.

That's about the cheapest milled ak you'll find. If you do decide to get it, make sure if you do order one that they use a Solar Tac Gen II BB.

 

[BananaClip]

Milled:For 7.62x39, I'd go 1960 Polish... For 223, I'd go Golani Sporter...

Stamped:For 7.62x39, I'd go Saiga... For 223, I'd go SLR106fr...

 

[RobGR]

Again, don't know where you are located, these guys have some great prices - http://www.classicarms.us/about.htm

pffffttt, if I lived in NC, I'd be all over that Draco. They have the same milled Century AK for $100 less.

 

[dprice3844444]

get him a ruger government model

 

[wally]

CAI does do builds, like the Golani, which is very hit or miss. If you get a Century, make sure you've inspected it, knowing what to look for, or trust the person who's selling it to you

Absolutely! CAI makes some good ones and some bad ones, buying sight unseen greatly increases the chances of having one of the bad ones dumped on you! CAI has customer service that makes EAA look fabulous.

I've a Polytech and an Arsenal milled receiver AKs. Despite the gunshow and Internet "wisdom" of them being "better" I see zero evidence of this on the target. Although they are heavier if you think this is a plus.


The original AK design was a stamped receiver, the milled was a production expedient as Soviet stamping technology wasn't up to the task initially. As told by "Tales Of The Gun" on the History Channel: milling out a 2 lb receiver from an 8lb casting was horribly inefficient, even by Soviet standards of the time.

 

[M1key]

Bulgarian Arsenal SLR-95s are still around in the $700 range. I had a clean used one for sale @$600 with no takers...

M

 

[Maverick223]

Skip the AK all together, save another $100, and buy one of these [...] [Czech VZ.58 link omitted]

+1, they are milled, lightweight, have a usable safety, and are quite accurate (largely due to the short stroke GP). IMO it is a significant improvement on the AK.

The only thing gained by a milled AK variant is weight...a feature they can keep.

 

[porterdog]

I've been big into the AK lately; went from none to two in about 8 months, spent over $2k.

The Century 'Polish 1960' that's available on the mass market now has good to very good feedback, overall. It's really just a parts kit gun with American receiver and barrel, but people seem to like them and the price is right.

The VZ 58, particularly one of the Czechpoint guns, is also very well regarded. I want one, and I'm snooty about an AK/AK variant.

Depending on your timeframe, if you stalk the classifieds at TheAKForum (dot net) and/or ar15 (dot com?) you can find a great parts gun built on a good American stamped reciever. Shop carefully and you can score the product of a known-good builder and an earlier un-issued parts kit from when they still came with barrels. I have a Polish underfolder I bought this way; it's a jewel.

 

[atblis]

The VZ 58, particularly one of the Czechpoint guns, is also very well regarded. I want one, and I'm snooty about an AK/AK variant.

It's not an AK variant (not even remotely).

http://www.hendersondefense.com/store/pc/Century-MILLED-Certified-AK47-50p79.htm

I have a Henderson "certified" Century gun. I am not sure what they certified about it. Total pile of crap.