Cheap AK: PSA GF3 or something else?

[WrongHanded]

I really like my new Zastava. Turns out I just like the AK design, so now I'm considering a second one.

Any thoughts on the PSA GF3? I know PSA sells blemished guns for $600 or less on occasion. And from Rob Ski's videos, it looks like the one he had was holding up okay. But I'm open to suggestions.

 

[MarshallDodge]

The good part about PSA is that they will support you if you have a problem. I have one of their blems from about 5 years ago. I've only put 200ish rounds through it but it has been 100% so far. Accuracy has been typical of an AK.

 

[brunowbe]

Romanian RH10 for $654.90 once you add it to your cart:

https://dahlonegaarmory.com/product/cent-arms-rh10-ak47-762x39-30rd-wood#product_detail

 

[Ignition Override]

brunowbe: Because they are Romanian, and post-2008 (WASR tightness and "cant" really improved then), the RH-10s are well-regarded.

This AKOU video is seven years old.
One minor flaw in a rivet is all he found after several hundred rds. Everything else indicated a quality fit and good grade of steel hardness.

If he went much past this modest round count, I don't see the video.

 

[JB111]

Like others have said, get a wasr. They cannot be beaten at their price point. There are some wasr's out in the wild with extremely high round counts. Battlefield Las Vegas has had specimens that go upwards of 100,000 rounds. I'm guessing they changed the barrels out at some point, but you get the idea. The furniture that they come with is garbage but easily changed out as it is a akm pattern. The front sight may be canted, but there is a high probability it will still zero.

Not that I am trying to talk down about the PSA ak's. I do believe they are the only US ak worth having, but it is not as proven as the imports. Also, imports are always at risk of going away at the drop of a pen, so it's best to buy them while they are available.

 

[Mars5l]

I say go for the cool hard Euro ones or maybe an Egyptian copy while you can. PSAs are cheap and available

 

[WrongHanded]

Well, I was trying to keep the price lower than a Zastava, because otherwise I might as well just buy a second Zastava. I was looking at the lower end as more of a beater. Seems like the WASRs are over $1000 in most cases.

 

[WisBorn]

At $600 I would think that it is a bargain. While volunteering as an RSO in SC, there was a PSA store 25 minutes from the range. The few guys that I talked to who had PSA 47s liked them.
One of the guys that came to the range frequently told me that it was the best $500 (few years ago) he ever spent.

I have no personal experience with the PSA 47s. Other than what I saw at the range. They worked!

 

[brunowbe]

Well, I was trying to keep the price lower than a Zastava, because otherwise I might as well just buy a second Zastava. I was looking at the lower end as more of a beater. Seems like the WASRs are over $1000 in most cases.

That RH10 I posted is made by Cugir (same that manufactures the WASR) and is considered a WASR variant and only imported by Century. For the price (it’s a quality import), it can’t be beat. I don’t need another 7.62x39 AK, or I would snap one up at this price.

Here’s more information on it:
https://www.kommandoblog.com/2019/1... parts included by Century Arms International.

 

[Ignition Override]

Also consider increasing one’s 7.62x39 ammo reserve if needed, due to the multiple factors which will continue to increase prices—

—even if there is Not a mass-tragedy , soon, which results in another buying panic.

In a panic, ammo prices seem to increase (or some ammo can’t be found) at a much Higher percentage than rifles.

 

[Plano11]

I had a GF3 and AK103 from PSA. They took most most surplus, but neither would fit my 3 bakelites. They also took the cheaper magpuls fine, but neither took the metal reenforced pmags.

There is nothing wrong with them as shooters. I wouldn’t worry too much about mags. If you are collecting mags then collect an import AK to go with them. If you just want “surplus” mags to work, all the Romanian and Polish steel on the market will fit, and even if you run into issues with them or with polymer, you can just file the mags to fit.

 

[WrongHanded]

That RH10 I posted is made by Cugir (same that manufactures the WASR) and is considered a WASR variant and only imported by Century. For the price (it’s a quality import), it can’t be beat. I don’t need another 7.62x39 AK, or I would snap one up at this price.

Here’s more information on it:
https://www.kommandoblog.com/2019/12/06/century-arms-rh-10/#:~:text=The CAI RH-10 is an imported AKM made,has compliance parts included by Century Arms International.

I appreciate you dropping the link to it. I'm in the browsing and information gathering phase, right now though. So I'm not ready to jump on any deals just yet, no matter how tempting.