Gonna Grab an AK, probably an Arsenal

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zephyr89

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So I just now have the expendable income to pick up a nice AK. I have done a lot of research, and am leaning very far towards either the Arsenal SGL21-61 or 71. My first gripe is how expensive they have become recently. I remember just over a year ago when you could get one for just above $600. Now They are going for $750-800. a few things:

1. Do you know of another AK that is as good or better for a similar price

2. Will the price on them drop soon? Should I wait to buy or will they only get more expensive?

3. How can I find the cheapest deal on one out there? I know about Davidson's Gun Genie, are there other big distributors with a similar lookup and price quote system? If so is there a search on a website that incorporates all of the distributor searches?

Thank you brothers.
 
Mostly what Arsenal does is take the imported Saigas, make them 922r compliant & convert them to the "assault" configuration. You could do this yourself for a fraction of the price or twice as much depending on the 922r parts and how you go about it. You would need a few tools to do it.

Price dropping soon? I doubt it.

Buds Gun Shop has them for about $750
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/36_930
 
I know about that, but I would not trust myself to do it. Would it be cheaper to buy the saiga sporter and have a gunsmith do it with similar parts to the SGL21?

Oh, btw, cheapest price I have found so far IS Davidson's through a local firearms dealer. $720 without fees, about $770 grand total. Can it be beat? All suggestions welcome.
 
1. No production AK that i've ever handled was as good.
2. I don't see any reason to expect the price to drop. I'm not aware of any legislation at the moment (with a chance of passing) that would make them unattainable but i'd grab one now just to be on the safe side. ATF has been known to make rulings out of left field based off some wacky new interpretation of existing legislation.
3. I don't know if they're the cheapest but all my Arsenals were bought through KVAR.

You can add a pistol grip, stock and bullet guide to a saiga for less than an arsenal but it will look very different from a real AK and lack the quality. Arsenal guns are an incredible deal considering what all you are getting.
 
Definitely go Arsenal! I saved for about a year and managed to buy one at the tail end of my freshman year, and am REALLY enjoying it over the summer!
Do you plan on using a scope? If so, I would advise against the Russian POSP/PSO scopes. They have bad glass IMO and bad reticles. I would suggest a Leatherwood CMR and the K-Var KV-04s scope mount.
 
I have hardly any mechanical ability/skill when it comes to firearms. I have built a few AR15 lowers by following a youtube video.

You can follow a youtube video to convert a saiga. It is SIMPLE.
 
Arsenal sells two different series of rifles. One is the Saigas that they import as sporting rifles and convert. The other are built in the states using Bulgarian parts imported from Bulgaria.

Get the one that has the features you want.

Mine is a SLR107FR. I've had it for a few years and still enjoy shooting it at our local matches. I've beat a few AR shooters with it too.

BSW
 
"The other are built in the states using Bulgarian parts imported from Bulgaria."

The SLR series Bulgarians have Bulgarian receivers and barrels so I'm pretty sure they import them in a legal version and then convert just like the SGL series saigas. The milled Arsenal AKs are built with a parts kit on an american receiver but i don't know off hand where the kits are from, possibly Bulgaria.
 
Arsenal may be importing barreled receivers but there are no internal signs of it having been converted.

Anyone know of any examples of Arsenal Bulgaria 'sporting rifles' that are available to base such a conversion on?

BSW
 
I saw a place online a few months ago selling imported "sporterized" bulgarian AKs but cant remember the link. I recall they only took single stack magazines.

To my knowledge AK kits can not be imported with barrels.
 
Arsenal rifles look and feel like quality. They don't have the wobbly, cobbled-together feel that a lot of AKs do. Mine is rock solid and I'm very pleased with it.
 
It's my understanding that Arsenal buys saigas from Izmash bulk in a configuration for conversion that is different from what is sold to the general public so i would assume something similar is done here. The 5.45 saigas I've seen don't come with a side folding receiver either. My point though is that I don't believe the SLRs are built from parts kits. Either way though, as long as they have real Bulgarian barrels, receiver, bolts and carriers they are close enough to genuine quality and reliability. Ecspecially since the EPA prevents american barrel manufacturers from doing a chrome plating job as well as russian and bulgarian.
 
they come with the correct handuard, gas tube/FSB, muzzle threads. Then Arsenal/KVAR installs a 2 stage trigger, bullet guide, muzzle brake, grip, buttstock.

Arsenal is a good AK. I would like to get another SLR-95 and convert using and Ace sidefolder and possibly an MPK2 siderail kit. That would be one solid AK.
 
It seems to me that some of the AKs I have looked at this last year have had problems with either sights being off and canted or the barrel was pressed in crookedly. I have seen many with the barrel cocked to the left due to barrel not being fully seated during pressing. I have picked up several with the intention of a purchase but have not purchased one yet. They sell for close to $500 around here at the gun shop for a WASP! Not what you are looking for but I am amazed at the price and the buyers who get one without really checking what they are buying. Their choice not mine.

Centerfire systems has the Saiga for $349 or the Bulgarian AK for $399.


I would want to handle any AK before purchase or have a company with a good return policy just in case. Just what I have seen mostly on WASP AKs. Maybe quality of putting them together has slipped a bit lately.
 
Sky, are you talking about experience with Arsenal rifles or just random AKs for sale (like WASR-10s)? I haven't heard about any of those problems with Arsenal rifles.
 
I just pick up the polish underfolder from Centerfire. It looks and feels nice, Haven't fired it yet, but it is as nice as a $500.00 AK is supposed to be.
I just wanted one, and since my gun store guy picked one up for himself, the price was right.
He suggested these for the money over the others. The tapco trigger is verry smooth. The rifle is well assembled and nothing seems out of wack. Will know more after a range trip. It came with 2 mags.
 
i bought this arsenal slr 101 several years ago for 500.00, it,s a milled reciever from arsenal inc las vegas navada. it came in a arsenal box with papers,sling and a scope mount. uses 30 round magizines. it eats any thing i feed it. i would not sell it for 1000.00. eastbank.
 

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I guess from what I hear, Arsenal is good if you don't have the capability of using a hammer, a center punch and a drill.

If you do, get a SAIGA and convert it. I love mine. I also learned a tremendous amount about the working of the gun having basically stripped it and rebuilt it.
 
they come with the correct handuard, gas tube/FSB, muzzle threads. Then Arsenal/KVAR installs a 2 stage trigger, bullet guide, muzzle brake, grip, buttstock.
Click to expand...

This is something the knee-jerk "convert a Saiga" crowd tends to forget. If you convert a Saiga to take high capacity magazines, which is easy to do, you have a perfectly serviceable gun.

If it's important to you, the Arsenal SGL is much closer in looks and features to an AK-103. Converting a Saiga to that standard (including welding over the FCG axis pin holes, replacing and reriveting the trigger guard, installing a threaded FSB and refinishing) will likely cost as much or more than an SGL and might also void the warranty. You also stand a poorer chance of getting your money back if you ever sell.

It all depends on what you what. If you want a purely functional gun, than converting a Saiga makes sense. If you want a more accurate replica of an existing rifle, than the SGL makes sense. If you want the pride of making your own AK-103 knock-off, that's great but you are going to be in it for at least the cost of an SGL.
 
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No the ones mentioned above were not Arsenal. I have only heard good things about the Arsenal AKs like most of us.
 
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