Century Arms AK 47

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They have a history of problems related to sights being canted and other issues. Use the search function here and I am sure you will see what I mean.
It might be a great gun for you, or it could be a great fixer upper or it could be a real nightmare. It is really the luck of the draw with them.
I wouldnt buy one unless I could check it out first or you intend to send it out to have someone like Will @ Red Jacket or Jim Fuller @ Rifle Dynamics rebuild it for you.
You could do much better spending your money on an Arsenal AK and have something that shoots reasonablly well out the box.
Thanks
A/M
 
I bought a WASR 10/63 stamped 1967 from Century last year, came with synthetic furniture, 2 mags, oil bottle sling ammo pouch and cleaning kit for $435.00. Site and block were not canted, shoots great with no problems, so I guess I was fortunate, as I have heard it's hit or miss
 
You can check them for cant by disassembling the forestock and sitting the rifle on a level surface.
Once you have everything flat then take to carpeters squares and lay one on each side of the sight, then gas block, then frame. You can tell pretty quickly what you are dealing with.
If you are willing to put some time and work in to it these can easily be fixed. I would caution you though that some issues with the reciever and the magazine well issues can be make or break with these guns. You can have so much wobble in the magazine well that it may effect function.
If I were to buy one I would buy it in person, bring the squares and a magazine and check it out very closely.
I looked at two yesterday at a gunshow and unfortunatly they both had canted sights.
 
Averageman said:
You can check them for cant by disassembling the forestock and sitting the rifle on a level surface.
Once you have everything flat then take to carpeters squares and lay one on each side of the sight, then gas block, then frame. You can tell pretty quickly what you are dealing with.
If you are willing to put some time and work in to it these can easily be fixed. I would caution you though that some issues with the reciever and the magazine well issues can be make or break with these guns. You can have so much wobble in the magazine well that it may effect function.
If I were to buy one I would buy it in person, bring the squares and a magazine and check it out very closely.
Click to expand...
. . and just which "Century AK-47" are you referring to?

Century offers many models, from many sources.

Not all of them have the same issues.
 
As others have stated it's kind of hit or miss in terms of getting a good one. A friend of mine picked one up several years ago at a gunshow, and while we checked this particular model out very carefully at the time, he later found a small but deep crack in the wood stock. Sent a letter to Century Arms and they said send the stock back and they sent him a new unfinished one (had to keep all of the furniture from the original), which I finished, assembled, and fitted to his gun. Took a little bit of doing but it turned out just fine and there have been no other issues with the gun.
 
If you get a CAI AK-47 get a new one and make sure you look it over before you buy.
Got a WASR in 2008 before the price jump.
It has the canted front sight and the mag can wobble a tiny bit.
But it zeros good and the gun does not jam.
I have shot 4 new WASRs and they have good front sights and good mag wells.
New WASRs are a lot better than the old ones.
Just look it over before you buy.
 
If it's a wasr, they shoot generally well but not known for accuracy by any means. Make sure to buy plenty of tapco mags, they fill the mag well and take care of that wobble quite nicely.
 
.
. and just which "Century AK-47" are you referring to?

Century offers many models, from many sources.

Not all of them have the same issues.
Click to expand...
from naolith

Not sure exactly what model they were, they were marked century though. He had two distinctly different packages but both had dsitictly canted front sights. Averageman showed them to me at the show as I am wanting an AK. Both recievers were CAI.
 
Which model the OP is looking at will have a big factor. The Century guns have a hit or miss reputation, which comes from them building guns from kits. The WASR's are imported as complete guns and Century only enlarges the mag well to take standard cap mags. Any cant or other issues actually come from the factory in Romania where they are built.
If it is one of the models that has a US barrel or receiver, then it is a "build" and has more Century influence than the WASR's.

These guys are selling WASRs too: http://www.hendersondefense.com/store/pc/home.asp You're paying more for them to have weeded out the worst of CAI's foul ups.
Click to expand...

I will give HDI a big recommendation. They are here in Vegas and I have bought multiple guns from them. All have been issue free. Ron, the owner, is a great guy and has some of the best customer service going.
 
I think they may have stepped up the QC. I bought a WASR 10/63 a year ago and have been nothing but happy with it. Has a Tapco G2 trigger, so no trigger slap, mags fit nicely, and it shoots well. Steel surplus mags fit well, but I had do a little fileing to the back of the Tapco and Bulgarian plastic mags to get them to fit well.
 
I have a Century-imported Romanian SAR-1 from 2002. Fit and finish is typically a little rough on Century guns, but if you can inspect the gun in person to make sure the parts are all present and on straight, they will generally be as reliable as any other AK. I really like mine, and for the price I think it is a good value. Obviously, if you pay more then you will get nicer fit/finish, nicer sights, and better furniture, but if you check the rifle out and those things look OK to you, it should be a good rifle.
 
the wood WASR stocks do look cheap...look like pressed stuff they make furniture out of, just think a few months ago they were selling at twice the current price and people were buying em, now they are everywhere.
 
canted front sight

You should expect the front sight to be canted. From my experience it is a common problem, but not too difficult of a fix if you are a decent gunsmith.
 
CAI AK's should be purchased with great caution. Some can be good, most others are well... the opposite. Century's quality has improved over the years, but it still doesn't measure up to its competitors. You get what you pay for.
 
-G2 trigger
-Look down the barrel... at the sites and gas block
Lock a mag in and make sure it's good (Some wobble WILL be there)

Shoot 3 mags through it.

Avoid US made barrels.

And you'll be good.

I have over 19K through a WASR and know of half-dozen rental guns over 70K (Each)
 
I always laugh when I hear the usual BS on WASRs. When it comes to anything built in the last few years it's over-blown internet myth BS. If you order a WASR and get a really bad one, just send it back and get another. Tres simple, n'cest pa?

I have two identical 10/63s bought months apart and both have slightly canted sights yet zero and shoot perfectly with irons, have zero mag wobble with Tapco mags, a pretty good two-stage trigger, and as long as I keep my mag springs replaced every couple of years (I keep my mags loaded) I never, ever have a malf of any kind. One of them shoot Barnul ammo into 2" or less - as good as any Arsenal I've ever seen or read about. And the other shoots Barnul into 3" at 100, just like every other AK on the planet, even those costing hundreds more.

The internet is something else, ain't it? LOL.
 
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