AKElroy
Member
OK, I will admit that I generally run the other way from the crowd with regard to just about everything. So when the entire free world bashes Century Arms, I am kind of inclined to check their newest offering.
A few years back, I picked up a "Polish" model 1960. This is an American milled receiver (by ATM) with a Green Mointain barrel, running a Polish bolt & carrier and other bits. It is smooth as butter, and it is accurate for an AK. being a CAI import, it had a few issues, namely a gas block that was slightly canted. This was an issue for the Ultimak I was using, and it caused the piston to drag ever so slightly. It functioned fine, but always bothered me, and would have eventually led to trouble. Mine came with pretty ironwood furniture, and out the door it was $600. Not bad, and I still like it.
When Century announced the all-American made milled "Centurion 39 Classic", I was interested. The reviews on-line were solid, so I picked one up on GB for $625.00.
My impressions compared to the Polish 1960 are these:
1. The spring, bolt and carrier are not nearly as smooth. They are nicely machined, and I am sure they will smooth out with use, but no comparison. The Polish carrier wins hands down. (In fact, I swapped it to the new gun).
2. The Centurion is straight. Nothing canted, everything dead level. I swapped the Ultimak, GG&G light mount and Aimpont 9000L, and all of it leveled easily to the receiver's reference point. The Aimpoint nicely co-witnesses nicely with the irons. Centurion wins here.
3. Muzzle brake: the chevron brake on the Centurion looks interesting, but I really prefer the no-nonsense look and shorter OAL of the cage brake. Those got swapped as well.
4. Trigger: Both are Tapco G2's, and I can tell zero difference between them. Both have a lengthy pull, both brake cleanly around 5lbs if I had to guess. Tie on this one.
Conclusion: if I could find a STRAIGHT Polish 1960, I would snap it up in a heartbeat if I could get it at a $100 discount to the Centurion. The quality of the stock furniture on the Centurion Classic probably makes it the better deal.
Bottom line: the best of both worlds would have been to have the Polish career group on the new build, but then they could not call it "American made".
I like them both, and i would recommend them if they can be found for reasonable money. For around $600, I don't know of a better bang for the buck.
Range report to follow. The Centurion is the black laminate, the Polish 1960 is the Red Ironwood.
Let's hope they don't break. CAI is generating more quality IMO, but the service reviews suggest they are the same old CAI with regard to customer service.
A few years back, I picked up a "Polish" model 1960. This is an American milled receiver (by ATM) with a Green Mointain barrel, running a Polish bolt & carrier and other bits. It is smooth as butter, and it is accurate for an AK. being a CAI import, it had a few issues, namely a gas block that was slightly canted. This was an issue for the Ultimak I was using, and it caused the piston to drag ever so slightly. It functioned fine, but always bothered me, and would have eventually led to trouble. Mine came with pretty ironwood furniture, and out the door it was $600. Not bad, and I still like it.
When Century announced the all-American made milled "Centurion 39 Classic", I was interested. The reviews on-line were solid, so I picked one up on GB for $625.00.
My impressions compared to the Polish 1960 are these:
1. The spring, bolt and carrier are not nearly as smooth. They are nicely machined, and I am sure they will smooth out with use, but no comparison. The Polish carrier wins hands down. (In fact, I swapped it to the new gun).
2. The Centurion is straight. Nothing canted, everything dead level. I swapped the Ultimak, GG&G light mount and Aimpont 9000L, and all of it leveled easily to the receiver's reference point. The Aimpoint nicely co-witnesses nicely with the irons. Centurion wins here.
3. Muzzle brake: the chevron brake on the Centurion looks interesting, but I really prefer the no-nonsense look and shorter OAL of the cage brake. Those got swapped as well.
4. Trigger: Both are Tapco G2's, and I can tell zero difference between them. Both have a lengthy pull, both brake cleanly around 5lbs if I had to guess. Tie on this one.
Conclusion: if I could find a STRAIGHT Polish 1960, I would snap it up in a heartbeat if I could get it at a $100 discount to the Centurion. The quality of the stock furniture on the Centurion Classic probably makes it the better deal.
Bottom line: the best of both worlds would have been to have the Polish career group on the new build, but then they could not call it "American made".
I like them both, and i would recommend them if they can be found for reasonable money. For around $600, I don't know of a better bang for the buck.
Range report to follow. The Centurion is the black laminate, the Polish 1960 is the Red Ironwood.
Let's hope they don't break. CAI is generating more quality IMO, but the service reviews suggest they are the same old CAI with regard to customer service.
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