Eastern Block AKs

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leitz

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In looking at suplus AKs from Eastern Block countries I am interested in feedback regarding which countries may have supplied better quality in their manufacturing and which are worse. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
Well, first of all, most of the "AKs from Eastern Block countries" are made right here in the USA from cut up rifles originally from "Eastern Block countries".

The WASR from Century and Arsenal's offerings are the only AKs currently available here that are made entirely in "Eastern Block countries". The Saiga is entirely made in Russia, but it doesn't come into the country in a military layout.

All the rest are made here with US-made parts (these parts vary), and it's gonna be the quality of the shop that puts'em together that you'll need to judge.
 
As far as the whole totem pole goes, you've got your Romanian imports from Century (WASRs), then those from Lancaster Arms and the like. About equal with those would be MAADIs and other more unique models, though they wouldn't be former Soviet bloc. Next up you have basic Saiga conversions. They run about eh... what, $600?... for a decent job from some guy who wants to sell his. Next step up are the stamped receiver Arsenals. At the top of the ladder you have Saigas that have been completely converted to look and function like an AK-100 series rifle, as well as milled receiver Arsenals. Beyond that, you're looking at rare pieces from before Bush 41's import ban and pre-86 NFA items.

I'd recommend a Saiga. Comes from the same factory where Mikhail Kalashnikov works. Made of brand new parts, not surplus. Doing a little work on them (if you have even a little bit of skill at a workbench) will render you the best AK for the dollar. Us snobs like Saigas because of the pedigree.

As for Arsenal, that's a little higher up the price ladder. If you want to get a milled receiver, knock yourself out... though there isn't a huge advantage in having a milled AK over a stamped one, save the parts seem to move against each other more smoothly. You'll be well served by a stamped model as well. I wouldn't call the milled versions worth the extra money, but to each his own.
 
Ingsoc75 said:
I thought any post import ban "assault weapon" (Saiga sporting rifles excluded) were assembled out of original/US parts.
No, there has to be a minimum number of foreign parts (from a list). US parts make up the rest, and when the numbers are what the law says they're supposed to be, the weapon is legally (but not really) considered "US made". WASRs and Arsenals (to name a couple) are all completely built overseas, and their importers rip out perfectly good parts to replace them with US made ones.

This 922r law is a great source of confusion of all kinds.
 
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