Good sub $1000 AK variant?

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CoyoteSix

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Hello again folks! :D I've contracted the AK fever and am looking into A new 7.62x39 rifle. I've got a Yugo SKS but it just doesn't get the gun haters upset enough. :rolleyes:

So I was wondering what the best $400-$600 AK is? It probably also worth noting that I REALLY don't want to convert a stock Saiga! :banghead:

Thanks again :D
 
Buy any one of the already converted saigas. Im very happy with mine.

Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk 2
 
Yep, the SAIGA is a great base gun to begin with. Depending on who did the conversion - and how far they took it, will dictate the price.

Other choices - if you can still find one; the Century-subcontracted Yugo M70AB1 or 2 (fixed or folder respectively), or Century-sub'd "Polish Milled". ANy of these are getting great reviews. My M70AB2 is as good my PolyTech.

Depending on tastes, there are also the Hungarian-based "AMD"s - but their numbers are thinning as they are some of the few "new" sub-$600.00 AKMs out there along with Romy WASRs and M-10s, and the SAIGAs.

ETA: stick to 7.62x39 for readily available ammo and mags.
 
I like both my TGI built FEG AMD-65 and my Interarms built Tantal (WZ. 88). I'd heard a lot of horror stories about the Century Tantals (though some say those problems have been fixed now but at the time it was still very much a problem) so I went with the slightly more expensive Interarms build. It has been 100% reliable and I like the tough parkerized finish. I have zero complaints about either gun. Some people don't like the wire stocks because they can't get a cheek weld but you rapidly learn to adapt to the system and it hasn't been an issue. Also some people think the foregrip on the AMD-65 prohibits or makes difficult the use of 30 round mags...it doesn't. I've never had any trouble getting a 30 round mag in the gun.
 
Classic has converted Saiga's with extra mags, case and other stuff for $599. I have not handled these, but a converted Saiga is the way to go. With a Saiga the heart of the rifle (barrel, receiver and trunnions) comes straight off the Russian military assembly line, and someone changes the plastic furniture here. With almost any other AK, the furniture comes from Yugo/Romania/Poland/Bulgaria/wherever and Century puts it together with a barrel made by the lowest bidder.

http://www.classicfirearms.com/
 
Sub 1000 would definitely be an Arsenal SGL-20. My buddy picked one up a year ago for 700 but they run about 750 now. Its easily the best made AK I have ever fired. Pretty darn accurate to.

Those converted Saigas from the link above would be my second choice.
 
I don't personally know about the M+M M10s, but they look good. They look like they were imported as complete rifles. Skip anything that has US made barrel.

Arsenals look nice, but they are no more accurate or reliable than nicely converted Saiga. This one looks real nice:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=677112

At the end of the day it is an AK, they were designed by a genius to be manufactured by monkeys, maintained by baboons and used by apes.
 
The Romy WASRs and M-10s have new factory chrome-lined CHF barrels in factory-made recvrs.
 
I don't personally know about the M+M M10s, but they look good. They look like they were imported as complete rifles. Skip anything that has US made barrel.

Arsenals look nice, but they are no more accurate or reliable than nicely converted Saiga. This one looks real nice:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=677112

At the end of the day it is an AK, they were designed by a genius to be manufactured by monkeys, maintained by baboons and used by apes.
Click to expand...

And to convert a Saiga correctly, you'll be spending the same as an Arsenal.

I got my Arsenal for $849 to my door (including shipping/FFL) earlier this year from Bud's. I say go that route, if the price is the same.
 
The M & M M-10 looks good to me also.

I developed a healthy respect for the AK platform via an unrequested SE Asian vacation via our "Uncle Sam" in 1969. We were issued M-16 A1 (A2s came somewhat later) jamomatic, finicky, clean constantly rifles.

AKs that were carried by (fill in the blank, still hate them) our foes were highly prized as carry weapons. (just do not get caught carrying one by any brass that mattered).

I have been a long time AK guy. Recently bought the Waffen Werks 74'. The CoGun Sales M-10 is very appealing. I am deciding on whether to buy this rifle myself.

Now...Aloow me to add this. Kentucky Gun Company has a Delton AR-15 "type" 5.56 rifle for $630.00 including shipping. Since my time in the service of our country, I have never once considered buying one of these AR "types".

However, I have read nothing but positive reviews for this rifle. At the price, it is dirt cheap.

Anyhow...I probably have not helped, as I am torn between each of these rifles. Wish now that I could afford both.
 
I know there are a lot of WASR haters but my 10/63 was flawless. It just worked everytime and accuracy was more than fair at 2-3 MOA. I dunno about the 10 but I'd buy another 10/63 without a question.
 
Romanian SAR-1. I don't know what the current prices are, but I picked mine up 3 or 4 years ago for $350 slightly used
 
Recently grabbed one of the M-10's. First AK for me, so take this with a grain of salt, but I like it. The finish is a bit rough, but for $660, shipped, taxed, transferred and with eyes, ears, a soft case, 4 30 rd Tapco mags, a sling and a buffer I think it was a good deal. Still haven't shot it yet, but that will get taken care of in the next week.
 
Just for those who might not know...

Kentucky Gun Co. has M & M, M-10s in "Desert Sand" furniture for $582.00 (I think) with free shipping!!

Gunner
 
Man i am kicking myself for selling my arsenal slr105 for so cheap a couple years ago.
I guess i should have kept it and made some money off the deal. Oh well.
 
Yep, the SAIGA is a great base gun to begin with. Depending on who did the conversion - and how far they took it, will dictate the price.
Click to expand...

This is a consideration. I bought a converted Saiga from Atlantic and the conversion was done by Tennesee Guns. The conversion is great and it works flawlessly but members of the Saiga forum will openly ridicule who did the conversion because it wasn't done by one of the "cool" gun shops. Strangely I was even ridiculed for the KVAR furniture on it by people who had KVAR furniture on theirs? In reality there is little that you can do wrong with the conversion. I personally think you should find one with the G2 trigger group as it gives a much better trigger pull and with furniture you will like so you don't spend money swapping it out later. I switched to the G2 with a Hogue grip and Mako stock. I have the stock Saiga front end with the tri-rail standard style foregrip. I couldn't ask for more now but I would have saved some money by getting it set up the way I wanted in the first place. The Saigas are more accurate than some of the surplus AKs and they are actual Russian made AKs. I really like mine.

BTW, I'm not bashing the Saiga forum. There is a WEALTH of knowledge about Saigas and AKs in general on that forum. Like any forum for a specific weapon though there are people with preferences. No matter how nice your RIA 1911 is you won't get a lot of fan mail on a 1911 forum from guys with Wilson's and Le Baers even if the RIA works just as well. I'm just saying, pick the one set up the way you like and don't worry about getting a specific type just because its "cool". The extra money is better spend on ammo.
 
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if you can find a wasr 1063m built at the cugir factory, this is a good ak for the money, and dont have to worry about any stinkin conversion and will run side by side any converted saiga/arsenal. i bought one for less then $500 bucks and pretty accurate right outa the box
 
the Russian veprs are probably the best ak you can find. IMO a good bit better then even arsenal.
 
Does anyone know if the WASRs are still plagued by the same problems they had 10 years ago? (Ex. Crooked front sight)

Also, do the VEPRS take standard AK mags?
 
I think better than they used to be.

Trust me on this, ok? I am certainly no GUN SNOB. I would like to share this with you though.

About 2 months ago I went to one of the larger gun stores in Ft. Worth, TX. They had a ton of brand new WASRs.

Man!!! Rough, rough, rough!!! Reciever and barell looked fine (sort of) I mean, they both "looked" like they were a painted on finish. The reciever probably was, though the barell (I guess?) was blued.

The furniture was the absolute roughest that I have ever seen. I know, its an AK, its not supposed to look pretty. Then you are in luck, because these did not.

The kicker is...they wanted between $600-$700 per rifle, depending on (and as they seemed to all be the same??) which rifle you selected.

If it sounds like I am anti WASR...I am not. I actually think they are kinda cool, in an ugly, base AK sort of way. I would, have, and will buy one.

Hope I have not turned your nose. I just wanted to let you know what I saw 7-8 weeks ago.

Gunner
 
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