Deciding on an AK.

[MM1794]

I am in a pickle here, I can't figure out which AK to buy. Price is not a problem, and I'm looking for a top of the line, reliable, durable AK-47. Ya know, what they're known for!



http://www.k-var.com/shop/home.php?cat=355

I've decided on an Arsenal AK (Good choice?)

But I cant figure out, the SAM7-13 has a chroemd barrel and the SAM7-17 doesnt, but they are the same thing + the same price? Benefits of a chromed barrel?

But then when I've almsot decided I see the SGLR type Arsenal AKs. They're about 700$ but not a milled reciever. stamped. the Sam7-13 however is milled for $1550. + it comes with a 30rd mag and has a rail for optics.

basically i just want the best gun i can get, so what are you reccomendations? also can u clear up the chromed barrel confusion?

I have a huge gun collection and am looking on addign to it, im no expert though.

This AK i am buying is my bug-out gun for when the SHTF

 

[briansmithwins]

Hardchromed barrels will resist throat erosion and corrosion better. In theory accuracy will be worse, in practice (with an AK) you'll never notice.

Stamped receivers are lighter than milled and cheaper. They last just as long and are just as durable.

The Arsenal AKs are very nice. I've owned 2: a SLR106FR that I traded for a SLR107FR when 5.56 NATO prices got ridiculous. I've used both rifles at our local rifle match. BSW

 

[nalioth]

I'm looking for a top of the line, reliable, durable AK-47. Ya know, what they're known for!

The only "top of the line" AK exists in marketing gobbledygook.

All factory (and competently rebuilt) AKs are reliable and durable.

 

[MM1794]

would you reccomend a milled or stamped?

and agin, please, the SAM7-13 or the SLR types.

and im lookin for chrome lined

 

[nalioth]

AK Milled Vs. Stamped Receiver - THR

Ya know, if you search, you'll find that you're the umpeen-zillionth person who's asked this.
Since AKs don't change much, those older posts still contain valid info.

 

[zhyla]

The downside to buying an AK is having too much money left over.

 

[USP45T]

Since price is not a problem, you should add to your huge collection and just buy both.

 

[Girodin]

$1500 for an AK . I had a lightly used SCAR offered to me for $1700 not to long ago. 1500 gets a high end AR. I love AKs, I own a number of them in various calibers but $1500.

 

[Deus Machina]

Why even consider $1500?

For me, nothing to consider--grab a Saiga and convert it.

The best stamped AK out there, so good the only difference you'll notice between it and a milled one is the weight, and you can easily put anything you want on it for under $700.

 

[philpost]

I am in a pickle here, I can't figure out which AK to buy. Price is not a problem, and I'm looking for a top of the line, reliable, durable AK-47. Ya know, what they're known for!



http://www.k-var.com/shop/home.php?cat=355

I've decided on an Arsenal AK (Good choice?)

Arsenal is a good choice, looks, fit & function will generally be 100%. Yes, a WASR may be as reliable, but I've seen quite a few with wooden fixtures that look like they've come out of shop class. $1500 is really a bit much to pay for any AK, and the SGL's will do fine. With the money you save you could buy 4000 rounds of ammo. As someone else mentioned, there's really no advantage to milled - it wont last any longer, it's heavier, and it won't affect reliability or accuracy. BTW, their are other manufacturers that turn out a product comparable to Arsenal so you could look around, but I have an Arsenal SGL-20 that I really like.

 

[Moose458]

Since price is no problem, have you considered a CZ vz58. Not exactly an AK, but just as reliable and a great rifle. It also has a milled receiver, is more user freindly, and more fun to shoot, plus it uses the 7.62X39 round.

 

[bk1]

I was planning on a Saiga conversion thinking that with the feed ramp you could use milsurp AK mags. However, after doing some more reading, it seems that modifying each mag to fit is a requirement at least on a lot of them.

Can anyone shed some light on that subject?

 

[wally]

modifying each mag to fit is a requirement at least on a lot of them

Only on the Saiga .223 as AK.223 mags were never standardized.

Either buy the ~$120 AR mag adapter from Magnolia State Armory (requires milling the trunion) or get a bullet guide kit form Dinzag Arms and use Galil mags -- the new plastic Tapco have worked very well for me so far as have the steel surplus, but most of these (when under $20each) are not in great shape and my need a little repair work. The Orlite Galil mags that CDNN was selling for $8 before the Century Galils came out, did need some of the front molding removed, but its plastic and takes maybe two minutes per mag to do.

If you convert the Saiga in 7.62x39 or 5.45x39 you can use the surplus military mags, although both still will require the bullet guide.

 

[nalioth]

I was planning on a Saiga conversion thinking that with the feed ramp you could use milsurp AK mags. However, after doing some more reading, it seems that modifying each mag to fit is a requirement at least on a lot of them.

Can anyone shed some light on that subject?

Only on the Saiga .223 as AK.223 mags were never standardized.

Not even on the .223.

The mags that need "fitting" are the ones that are rarer than hen's teeth.

The available .223 AK mags (Weiger, Romanian Weiger clone/SAR-3 mag, Bulgarian Circle 10) all work fine with a bullet guide. Galil mags work fine with slight mods to them.

The use of milsurp AK mags may require adjustment of the rifle's mag catch or you can do as you read about, and grind each individual magazine. Grinding each magazine isn't logical, as you end up with mags that only you can use (they're ruined for other people's AKs) and you have a rifle that can only use those specifically modified magazines.

 

[noyes]

Pretty , polished AK's cost more ( the whole part and every part is polished with a little better fit ).
Real AKs only have the specific areas of the parts polished that need to be for function.

Thin stamped recievers flex more ( no big deal ).

The barrel crown , ammo choise and muzzle brake style and weight ( barrel harmonics )are the main items that effect accurracy.

 

[MM1794]

okay. could someone explain a saiga conversion? I prowl around on arsenal website but cant seem to find out what a Saiga is? is a Saiga conversion absolutely neccesary?

 

[nalioth]

okay. could someone explain a saiga conversion?

Quite simply, it converts a politically-dressed Kalashnikov



into an AK more in line with the inventor's aims:


In doing so, it restores the balance of the rifle, and gets rid of the truly horrid factory trigger.

I prowl around on arsenal website but cant seem to find out what a Saiga is?

Arsenal only recently got into the Saiga field. There are better sites to visit that are Saiga-specific. The importer's site is a good place to start.

is a Saiga conversion absolutely neccesary?

That is up to you. Do you want a front-heavy horrid-triggered "Klinton special" or an AK that is closer to Mr. Kalashnikov's desires?

 

[Strahley]

I love AKs, but there is no way I'd ever drop $1500 on one. That's like dropping $1500 on a Glock (and I love Glocks, too)

I'd buy this and convert it

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/SAI-762.aspx

Then with the money leftover, either buy a ton of ammo/mags, or get one of these to convert

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/SAI-308.aspx

 

[MM1794]

does anyone know if the CZVZ58 has a chromed barrel?

 

[wally]

The mags that need "fitting" are the ones that are rarer than hen's teeth.

The available .223 AK mags (Weiger, Romanian Weiger clone/SAR-3 mag, Bulgarian Circle 10) all work fine with a bullet guide. Galil mags work fine with slight mods to them.

Nalioth is the AK expert around here, but I've got Weiger and Circle 10 mags for my SAR-3 and they will not fit either of my two converted Saigas without modifying the either the mags or the Saiga front trunnion. OTOH if I remove the MSA mag adapter from the one I'm currently working on, they slip right in as the front trunnion has been milled for the AR mag adapter.

The metal Galil and new Tapco plastic Galil mags fit without mods to the rifle or mags. The circle 10 .223 mags are not particularly cheap or easy to find these days. The Tapco Galil mags are current production and can be found for $14 and AR mags $8.

Your photo appears to show the Orlite plastic Galil mag and if you look carefully you can see where the front plastic molding has been filed/ground down a bit to make it fit -- easy to do and maybe two minutes per mag if you go real slow

 

[nalioth]

does anyone know if the CZVZ58 has a chromed barrel?

You know, every one of your questions has been asked and answered here (and on many other forums).

Have you asked Uncle Google at all?

 

[duns]

To my mind, the basic AK is a crude, ugly, reliable, durable, reasonably accurate battle rifle. When faced with the same decision as the OP, I decided to go with the cheapest AK I could find. Maybe a $1,500 AK will last a bit longer than a $500 AK but will it last 3 times as long? I doubt it. How about accuracy? I'm not sure that the more expensive models claim to be any more accurate. Even if they do, the basic AK is accurate enough for me (it is accurate enough for terrorists and freedom fighters worldwide so it should do OK for me at the range). How about cosmetics? That is subjective. When I described the basic AK as ugly, that was an oblique compliment - it is more than ugly, it is sinister and that makes it more fun as a play toy (and it is a toy for most of us, we are not planning to go into battle with it or even use it for home defense). I chose an underfolder AK as I think they look especially evil (remember it's a toy so evil looking is OK!).

PS I like the receiver to be scratched and dinged and for the furniture to be unfinished wood.

 

[MM1794]

Should I get a SAIGA, can get them for like 500, or the CZVZ58, or the SAM7 or SLR? Im in a huge debate with myselft... the cz slr and sam are all chrome lined but im hearing alot about saigas?

 

[nalioth]

Unless you plan on shooting 40,000 rounds through your rifle in the first two decades after you purchase it, you don't need chrome lining.

Chrome lining is specced by militaries for longevity.

 

[aka108]

I have a Arsenal SAM 7S, milled reciever. Cost at the time I purchased it was 700 bucks. Also have a Saiga in the same cal. that cost 200 bucks when purchased. TheArsenal ismore finely finished but when it come to shooting they are the same. Both reliable but not built for small moa accuracy. As far as i can tell the Arsenals are Saigas converted to AK appearance at the Las Vegas facility. Arsenal may, from time to time build a run of milled units. Very funny company and the last time I looked at their site they showed a batchof discontinued models. Sort of like they are gonna do what they is goona do since they seem to sell it all no matter what.