century arm sar 1

[sniperatheart]

guys what can you all tell me about these rifles from century.
are the AK variants should i stay away from them?

what are they selling for am thinking of getting one of them, but will wait till i hear some oppinions on here.

 

[trueblue1776]

you can do better, but most of them work.

 

[BADUNAME13]

Buy it, and shoot it. If it runs well... shoot it till it comes apart. (I'll be ~ 10K about the end of the week...)

If not, have them send you another that works.

That is IF you plan on TRAINING with it.

If you just want a toy to stroke... and take care of, and plink with a little: spend the $500+ on an Arsonal.

 

[Hokkmike]

Mine's OK so far. Not bad, not good - OK. But, it is fun to shoot and play with.

 

[TIMC]

Mine has always been fantastic! I have had is since 2002 and never had a problem and it has always shot well for an AK. I replaced a lot of parts getting it the way I want but that is half the fun. I have seen the Romanian SAR 1's go for around $400 - $500. As far as I know they haven't been imported for a few years. Most of what you see now are the WASR rifles.

 

[MAUSER88]

Buy it. It's the only AK on the market built on a true military receiver.

 

[gunlover_06]

ok tell me what i need to look for on this gun, any special markings that will tell me it's built on a true military reciever, any other info would be appreciated.

 

[skypirate7]

Unlike the WASR's, SAR's are built on true milspec receivers. In fact, the only difference between a true military Romanian AK and the SAR is that the SAR wasn't drilled for the full-auto sear.

WASR's were civilian receivers made for low-capacity magazines, and after they were imported to the USA, their magazine wells were cut out (often roughly) to accept hi-capacity (well, standard) AK-47 mags.

For this reason, SAR-1's usually demand a premium over WASR's... especially since SAR's aren't imported anymore.

 

[DMK]

In fact, the only difference between a true military Romanian AK and the SAR is that the SAR wasn't drilled for the full-auto sear.

And the cheap crappy trigger parts and the cheap crappy plastic pistol grip that Century Arms put in them and the fact that they cut off the bayo lug and never threaded the barrel and that it has completely different forend furniture without the vertical handgrip.

But other than that, it's exactly the same.

 

[1 old 0311]

Gun snobs don't like them, but then again MOST of them don't even own weapons. The SAR1 is a very good rifle. As reliable as any AK. Make sure the sights are not canted.

 

[skypirate7]

And the cheap crappy trigger parts and the cheap crappy plastic pistol grip that Century Arms put in them and the fact that they cut off the bayo lug and never threaded the barrel and that it has completely different forend furniture without the vertical handgrip.

I was referring specifically to the receiver. You find me an AK that is LEGAL with original European furniture and trigger components and doesn't cost a fortune. All newly imported AK's have a specific parts-quota known as the "10 parts rule."

Anyway, if you want a milspec receiver (the core of the gun) then get yourself a SAR-1. Then you can drop in any U.S. made trigger group, furniture, etc. Lots of people customize their AK-47's, but you can't change the receiver of your gun.

Think of it this way:

1) You can get a muscle car from the 1960's with worn upholstery and chipping paint. But you can easily restore it and pimp it out to be a real beauty. What matters is that you've got a sweet 1960's muscle car with a good engine and chassy.

2) You can get a pinto with a clean interior and nice paint... but it's a pinto.

But you know what, let the market speak for itself.

New WASR's are going for $295-350.
Used SAR's (if you can find them) are going for $400-500

 

[TIMC]

Anyway, if you want a milspec receiver (the core of the gun) then get yourself a SAR-1. Then you can drop in any U.S. made trigger group, furniture, etc. Lots of people customize their AK-47's, but you can't change the receiver of your gun.

Customizing them is half the fun but it sure rubs the traditionalist the wrong way. I say if you bought it do what you want with it. Mine is just the way I want it now.

My little SAR 1
daytime duty


Night work

 

[DMK]

I was referring specifically to the receiver.

I know you were. I was just poking fun at the statement and making a dig at Century. Hence the big SE grin.

btw, I LOVE my SAR1.

Got lucky with no canted sights. Made a few mods: Demeled the rear sight opening a bit wider, flat black Gunkote finish, threaded muzzle, Ironwood pistol grip, Romanian wire folder, and a FSE trigger group. It's still crude, but that's part of the charm.

 

[skypirate7]

I love my SAR-1 too.

I couldn't help but notice you put in a FSE trigger group. That's exactly the same trigger group I installed in my SAR-1. I know lots of people are fans of Tapco G2 trigger groups, but when I tried to install the G2 in my SAR-1, it wasn't a good fit. It wasn't fitting in the trigger well properly. It was also a rough, gritty pull and I wasn't satisfied at all. Needless to say, I returned it to Tapco for a full refund.

Upon further investigation, I found out that the Tapco G2 seems to be modeled on the Bulgarian trigger groups. The FSE trigger group is modeled on Romanian trigger groups. There is a difference.

The FSE trigger group installed perfectly in my SAR-1 and I'm very happy with it. Strangely, few people know about FSE trigger groups. Tapco did a good job advertising the heck out of their projects but they don't always have the best stuff. Although I'm not even sure who sells FSE trigger groups these days.

That's a nice wire stock you've got on your SAR. Mine still has the original glossy wood stock. I think it has a very classic, elegant look. I get comments from people with WASR's at the range all the time. Don't get me wrong, WASR's are good rifles for the price... but if given the choice, everyone would get a SAR over a WASR.

And to think that three or four years ago they sold for the same price.

 

[gunlover_06]

guys thanks for all the replies i haven't seen this SAR1 yet other than in pictures, but i did ask the guy who has it if it was a sar1 or wasr and he said it was a SAR1 from century.

so i guess my next and maybe most important question is is it marked SAR1 on the reciever so i can check it to make sure it is truly what he says it is.

 

[PMATULEW]

SAR-1 MARKINGS

Yes, they're pencil etched on the receiver in a shaky hand "SAR-1"

Look for canted sights (front, rear, or both) and plan on changing out the FCG to deal with the trigger slap.

 

[TIMC]

I would wonder about pencil etched?

SAR 1
7.62x39MM

Is stamped into the receiver on mine not etched.

 

[AK103K]

The etching on mine is the import stamp. It was carved in with a pen and not a stamp.

Mine was a little rough, had some slap, and has some slight cant to the front sight. Replaced the trigger with a RSA, popped an Ultimak rail and Aimpoint on it, and it shoots fine, dot or irons.

 

[DMK]

I would wonder about pencil etched?

Mine has the electro pencil etching too. It looks very amateurish, but Century is known for such markings on their guns. Mine's a 2001 though (the year is stamped just to the right of the serial number with part of it under the dust cover). I understand the SAR1 quality got a little better after that.

Upon further investigation, I found out that the Tapco G2 seems to be modeled on the Bulgarian trigger groups. The FSE trigger group is modeled on Romanian trigger groups. There is a difference.

The FSE trigger group installed perfectly in my SAR-1 and I'm very happy with it. Strangely, few people know about FSE trigger groups. Tapco did a good job advertising the heck out of their projects but they don't always have the best stuff. Although I'm not even sure who sells FSE trigger groups these days.

That's interesting. I never tried any other AK parts as I was happy with the FSE part. I only went with them because always loved the FSE trigger parts in my FAL. First Sons Enterprises parts were very popular with FAL builders at the time.

Looking at their website it seems they don't even sell the AK trigger parts anymore, just FAL parts: http://www.fseusa.com/

 

[TIMC]

Mine has the electro pencil etching too. It looks very amateurish, but Century is known for such markings on their guns. Mine's a 2001 though (the year is stamped just to the right of the serial number with part of it under the dust cover). I understand the SAR1 quality got a little better after that.

I'll buy that. Mine is a 2002. I know Century is nototious for pencil etching thier imports. I have a couple other guns that they scribbled all over.

AK103K,

I like the camo job! Interesting look.

 

[AK103K]

Thanks,

Thats winter layoff, bored and dangerous with excess paint, fleck dot gumbo.

 

[dogngun]

I have owned 2 different SAR 1's, both veru good shooters, no problems with either, solid AK type semi-auto rifles, usually a good price. Buy it now.

Mark

 

[SeNNebogen]

SARs are pretty decent rifles after you fix the trigger slap. Some of the WASRs can be troublesome. I'm sory I sold my SAR and I was gonna pick up a WASR just as a beater slap around rifle, but from what I've seen think I will pass.

I allready have two Arsenals in 7.62 anyway.

 

[skypirate7]

That's interesting. I never tried any other AK parts as I was happy with the FSE part. I only went with them because always loved the FSE trigger parts in my FAL. First Sons Enterprises parts were very popular with FAL builders at the time.

Looking at their website it seems they don't even sell the AK trigger parts anymore, just FAL parts: http://www.fseusa.com/

I bought mine from an online store about a year ago. It wasn't FSE, it was another company selling it. I forgot the price but I think it was around $30.

I just tried looking for the receipt but I couldn't find it. I even went through my email inbox and couldn't find any record, expect an email where I was writing to my cousin back in April 2006 about my new AK trigger group. I wish I still had a copy of the receipt so I could tell you what company still sold FSE AK trigger groups.

Somebody was asking about the SAR-1 markings:

On the left side of the receiver, there should be the serial number. It will be S1-XXXXX-YEAR (where S1 stands for SAR-1, XXXXX is the individual serial number of your rifle, and the year will be the four-digit year in which your rifle was produced). Mine is a 2002. The last year for SAR-1's was 2003 though there *might* have been a few 2004's (though I haven't heard of any). If you see a SAR-1 marked "2007" I would be highly suspicious.

Below the serial number, it should say:

SAR-1
Cal. 7.62x39mm

On the opposite side of the receiver (right side) it should have import markings saying that it was imported by Century, made in Romania, etc.