Help on my first AK purchase

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KYamateur

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I have never owned an AK 47 and am planning on purchasing one in the next two weeks. I was going to get a WASR at my local gun shop but they sold it the morning I decided to buy it. It did not have canted sights and gas block and the mags fit well. However, I am weary of ordering one I can't put my hands on. I will have to purchase my AK online because local stores just don't have any. Anyone have suggestions on what or where to buy from.

I have been looking at this offering from Atlantic Firearms http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/com...k47-7-62x39mm-rifle-wood-detail.html?Itemid=0

Any and all help would be appreciated. Please don't tell me I should only spend $600 for such and such brand but not offer anywhere that actually sells them.

Thanks
 
As mentioned, the Yugo O-PAP and N-PAP rifles are very good values, and can be found for under $600 at many online retailers (though the O-PAPs seem to be drying up). Converted Saigas are also very good values and very high-quality AKs (such as the BAK-132 and BAX-132 rifles sold by Atlantic).

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/com...-bax-132-7-62x39mm-rifle-detail.html?Itemid=0

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/com...2-black-poly-rusian-ak47-detail.html?Itemid=0

The rifle you linked (built off a Polish parts kit) looks like a nice build, and Atlantic is one of the better companies on the internet to buy AKs from.
 
+1 on the Yugo PAP. Only thing it doesn't have is a chrome lined bore which a WASR does.
 
Get the Vepr with the full cap AK mag conversion. RPK receiver, chrome lined bore, outstanding fit and finish. $830 from Atlantic.
 
I prefer Saigas, even at inflated prices. If you aren't interested in having to "restore" it, you can get them already converted by Century and I think Atlantic might offer somet they do, but I'm not positive on that. The N- and O-Paps are great as well.
 
I currently own an Bulgarian SLR-95, it has to be one of the best AK copies made. Of course they don't make them anymore but if you could find a used one... You could take a look on gun broker and see if there's a good used one for sale.

Another oldie but goodie is a Norinco MAK-90, hard to believe that they once sold for about $150 bucks! They were pretty good for a stamped receiver AK.
 
If a large magazine is a primary objective, how about an Atlantic Arms rifle? How about a Zastava AK (47) at Atlantic Arms?
Classic Arms in Deer Trail NC has both the AK-47s and AK-74 (Waffenwerks).
 
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Anyone know more about those BAX and BAK rifles Atlantic has? Are they just converted Saigas? What is the quality of conversion?
 
I've got a cheap Century GP1975 that I have been shooting for 5 years or so. It isn't a high dollar competitor, but it shoots well. I'm around the 4000 round mark and still going strong with acceptable accuracy (for an ak platform).
 
Anyone know more about those BAX and BAK rifles Atlantic has? Are they just converted Saigas? What is the quality of conversion?
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They are converted Saigas. There is a discussion about them at akfiles.com where the Altantic rep weighs in about the rifles, as well as some owner experience.

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176896

Bottom line is that, since they are built off of Saigas, they are very good rifles (it's very hard to botch a Saiga conversion). Atlantic is very open that these are not intended to compete with high-end Arsenals, and that the finish is a standard Saiga finish. As such, they are good rifles for the money, and Atlantic is a very good company to deal with.
 
I think I will get one of the converted saigas or the polish ak from Atlantic. I like the looks of the O Pap but they don't have a chrome lined barrel. I know it probably isn't that big of a deal but they just seem easier to clean.
 
i have to agree with CoalTrain49 on that one mil surp 7.62x39 is going to get short. if you reload it's no better just try and find .310 123gr bullets anywhere:cuss:
 
Inter Ordnance makes a decent AK and since it is made in the USA there are no pesky compliance issues to worry about when you want to add aftermarket parts like foregrips, vertical grips, rails, and stocks to it. Inter Ordnance products also carry a lifetime warranty.
 
Inter Ordnance makes a decent AK and since it is made in the USA there are no pesky compliance issues to worry about when you want to add aftermarket parts like foregrips, vertical grips, rails, and stocks to it. Inter Ordnance products also carry a lifetime warranty.
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Really? IO Inc. is usually considered one of the bottom-of-the barrel AKs, and US manufacture of AKs (especially regarding the quality of most US-made barrels) is not typically highly respected.

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178872

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1901512&postcount=10


.
 
A WSAR at a gun show so you can inspect it before buying is IMHO the best bang/buck. A well converted Saiga would be my second choice.

"Premium" AKs always make me think sow's ear --> silk purse.

I suspect Americans can "tighten" 'em up enough in "quality" to make them unreliable.
 
Fishbed: Kind of like how Kel Tec isn 't really respected on a Glock forum and yet tons of people buy and shoot them.

The only issue I have had with my IO AK is that I broke one of the polymer mags. I cantacted them through their website and told them that I liked their rifle but I managed to break one of the poly mags by trying to load 31 rounds into it because I'd lost count. They asked for my address and shipped a used but functional steel mag to me for free.

There are also a couple of reviews of their rifles on Youtube that seem to be pretty positive. I can't speak to their earlier rifles that were basically built from imported parts but the rifle I bought that was made here works very well.

I'd buy their products again with no problem.
 
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A WSAR at a gun show so you can inspect it before buying is IMHO the best bang/buck. A well converted Saiga would be my second choice.

"Premium" AKs always make me think sow's ear --> silk purse.

I suspect Americans can "tighten" 'em up enough in "quality" to make them unreliable.
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Take a Rifle Dynamics or Kreb's AK and tell me they've hindered reliability one bit. The bulk of the newer American-made AK's and AK parts are to bring the rifle into the 21st century. New handguard/rail systems, new gas block/front sights, new brakes, barrel options, stock options, optics mounts, mag systems. grips, triggers... They're not playing with the actual design.
 
Fishbed: Kind of like how Kel Tec isn 't really respected on a Glock forum and yet tons of people buy and shoot them.
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And yet few will argue that any Kel-Tec is superior in quality to a Glock. Kel-Tecs sell because they are cheap.

Not trying to diss your choice in an AK at all - just relaying a common opinion of IO. The company did no favors for themselves with some of their cheesy claims that their rifles were better than Comblock originals (claims they've since tried to scrub the internet of), and their whole fiasco where they failed to accept responsibility for selling dangerously out-of-spec AK74 barrels.

Personally, I just feel better spending less money for a proven rifle like a O-PAP/N-PAP or a Saiga.


.
 
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Fishbed77 said:
And yet few will argue that any Kel-Tec is superior in quality to a Glock. Kel-Tecs sale because they are cheap.

Not trying to diss your choice in an AK at all - just relaying a common opinion of IO. The company did no favors for themselves with some of their cheesy claims that their rifles were better than Comblock originals (claims they've since tried to scrub the internet of), and their whole fiasco where they failed to accept responsibility for selling dangerously out-of-spec AK74 barrels.

Personally, I just feel better spending less money for a proven rifle like a O-PAP/N-PAP or a Saiga.
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To be frank, I don't care what the internet commando crowd that has never even owned one thinks. The fact of it is that the same elitist types that trash budget AR15's also do the same thing to any AK that doesn't say Arsenal on the side of it. Same goes for Glock owners who think every other sidearm in the planet is inferior and CZ owners who think Tanfoglio is junk because they're cheaper than actual CZ's and do the same thing.

There are always going to be snobs who hate and trash any sub $1000 rifle. I've even seen people trash the SKS as cheap junk rifles on AR forums.

All I know is that my IO AK works flawlessly and has had zero issues so far. IO's lifetime warranty is also a plus. Most of the complaints I have read were about mixed parts guns that they imported and assembled like Century does.
 
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