The_Pretender
Member
My little odyssey began back in March, when I purchased this rifle at a gun show. I had wanted an AK type rifle for a few years now, and was tired of the cheapy looking WASR's they always wanted $500-$600 for.
When I saw this one it stood out because of the wood furniture and grip. The metal also looked older if that makes any sense. It didn't look like anything else in the room. The guy selling it said it was USA made, (probably because U.S.A. was stamped into the grip) but it clearly had the Romanian factory mark, Year 1964. $650 out the door.
I bought it and couldn't wait to get to the range. I finally had the rifle that would fire no matter what. ...And all the damn thing did was constantly fail to feed. I didn't realize I bought the most reliable paperweight in the world. :banghead:
I tried different mags, different ammunition, dozens of forums and took it to a gunsmith, but he thought it was shot out. It clearly hadn't been used all that much, so I was a little unnerved and felt like I had been wasting my time and money.
What was interesting though, was that the wolf military surplus, the ones with the green case and the red ring, were the only rounds that never had a single issue. Everything else jammed at some point.
I took it to another gunsmith, and he said that it was a parts kit, and whoever put it together didn't bend the receiver properly. Anyhow, he fixed it all up, gave it an amazing new paint job, fit the stock in flush (it had a gap) and test fired it with all the different ammunition I brought him. No problems.
9 months and $250 later I finally have my own little Kalashnikov. I might get a different pistol grip, but I am undecided. I like the thickness of the current one, but it really does need to be refinished.
So without further ado, I would like to share my joy with you all. The pictures certainly don't do it justice.
When I saw this one it stood out because of the wood furniture and grip. The metal also looked older if that makes any sense. It didn't look like anything else in the room. The guy selling it said it was USA made, (probably because U.S.A. was stamped into the grip) but it clearly had the Romanian factory mark, Year 1964. $650 out the door.
I bought it and couldn't wait to get to the range. I finally had the rifle that would fire no matter what. ...And all the damn thing did was constantly fail to feed. I didn't realize I bought the most reliable paperweight in the world. :banghead:
I tried different mags, different ammunition, dozens of forums and took it to a gunsmith, but he thought it was shot out. It clearly hadn't been used all that much, so I was a little unnerved and felt like I had been wasting my time and money.
What was interesting though, was that the wolf military surplus, the ones with the green case and the red ring, were the only rounds that never had a single issue. Everything else jammed at some point.
I took it to another gunsmith, and he said that it was a parts kit, and whoever put it together didn't bend the receiver properly. Anyhow, he fixed it all up, gave it an amazing new paint job, fit the stock in flush (it had a gap) and test fired it with all the different ammunition I brought him. No problems.
9 months and $250 later I finally have my own little Kalashnikov. I might get a different pistol grip, but I am undecided. I like the thickness of the current one, but it really does need to be refinished.
So without further ado, I would like to share my joy with you all. The pictures certainly don't do it justice.
