Are the Romanian Aks sold by classic arms a decent deal? I've been looking around and they seem to be the best price. There is also the Yugo rifles, but I don't really know much about them- not enough to make a decision. Should I pay more for the Yugo? Atlantic has the romanian with accessories for 439. Any advice or input appreciated. I'm not sure what kinds of questions I need to ask.
I want to buy an AK
- Thread starter nutty7462
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LeibstandarteAdH
Member
Atlantic is a little high, go with classicarms. For a first AK, the current romanian ones are not the SAR's of the past, they are made even cheaper in terms of wood, fit and finish and all. But even with century, if you get something that if functionally broken, they will fix it/make it function as it should, that has been the case in all of my catastrophic century AK flaws.
I would say go with a fixed stock Yugo M70, its the best deal for the money going right now at $429 shipped. Fixed stock yugos are not as common and are very robust.
I would say go with a fixed stock Yugo M70, its the best deal for the money going right now at $429 shipped. Fixed stock yugos are not as common and are very robust.
mb419
Member
+1
The romanians are all right for a first AK, if you don't want to spend alot of money, but I would spend the extra bucks and get a Yugo. Reinforced receiver and slightly heavier, but I think an overall better version of the AK.
The romanians are all right for a first AK, if you don't want to spend alot of money, but I would spend the extra bucks and get a Yugo. Reinforced receiver and slightly heavier, but I think an overall better version of the AK.
dstorm1911
Member
The Yugo is worth the extra $$ And is my recomendation hands down, Classic is a great company to deal with as well
The "Romanian" AKs sold by Classic are actually WASR rifles purpose built for export to the USA they have almost nothing in common with a Romanian AK which is actually a Mil spec AKM pattern rifle reassembled here in the states on a USA made reciever as military grade AKs are machine guns and cannot be imported intact the Romanian AK sold by Atlantic arms is one of these true milspec AKs which is worlds better quality than the commercial assembled and imported by Century arms WASR rifle (its a rifle assembled to look and function like an AKM from parts that did not meet military quality requirements was never assembled as an actual AKM but rather as a sporting rifle from the beginning) many folks erroniously use the word "Romanian" to describe WASR rifles this leads to much confusion as people new to AKs don't generally understand that there are actually real Romanian military grade AKs also....... This perpetuation of mis-information by those who should know better has led to alot of prospective AK buyers being misled as the WASR rifles have a horrible reputation while the true Romanian AK generally built from a never loaded or used "G" parts set are of very high quality....... the ones sold by Atlantic Arms are actually built right here in Goodyear AZ by Lancaster consulting, the wood is carefully re-fitted the metal is parkerized as a base for Moly resin paint finish for a double protective coating thats fully military spec they are built on the best reciever available and backed by a no hassle lifetime warrantee....... a WASR .......... none of the above
You will get much more accurate info on AK-Files as opposed to THR as the folks who will be answering your AK questions there are AK builders and collectors, the info usually found on THR tends to be more towards Commercial sporting type rifles with the membership having very limited AK experience so ya tend to get more info based on what was read in a magazine etc.. versus hard hands on information from folks who live and breath AK pattern rifles........
http://www.akfiles.com/forums/
The "Romanian" AKs sold by Classic are actually WASR rifles purpose built for export to the USA they have almost nothing in common with a Romanian AK which is actually a Mil spec AKM pattern rifle reassembled here in the states on a USA made reciever as military grade AKs are machine guns and cannot be imported intact the Romanian AK sold by Atlantic arms is one of these true milspec AKs which is worlds better quality than the commercial assembled and imported by Century arms WASR rifle (its a rifle assembled to look and function like an AKM from parts that did not meet military quality requirements was never assembled as an actual AKM but rather as a sporting rifle from the beginning) many folks erroniously use the word "Romanian" to describe WASR rifles this leads to much confusion as people new to AKs don't generally understand that there are actually real Romanian military grade AKs also....... This perpetuation of mis-information by those who should know better has led to alot of prospective AK buyers being misled as the WASR rifles have a horrible reputation while the true Romanian AK generally built from a never loaded or used "G" parts set are of very high quality....... the ones sold by Atlantic Arms are actually built right here in Goodyear AZ by Lancaster consulting, the wood is carefully re-fitted the metal is parkerized as a base for Moly resin paint finish for a double protective coating thats fully military spec they are built on the best reciever available and backed by a no hassle lifetime warrantee....... a WASR .......... none of the above
You will get much more accurate info on AK-Files as opposed to THR as the folks who will be answering your AK questions there are AK builders and collectors, the info usually found on THR tends to be more towards Commercial sporting type rifles with the membership having very limited AK experience so ya tend to get more info based on what was read in a magazine etc.. versus hard hands on information from folks who live and breath AK pattern rifles........
http://www.akfiles.com/forums/
W.E.G.
Member
Yugos are nice, but you will be stuck with the forearm hardware it comes with, as the Yugo forearm is considerably longer than all the other AK's.
Most of the time WASR's are OK, but there have been clear examples of some of them NOT being OK. If you know your AK's, you can probably avoid getting stung on a WASR. Look especially for canted front sights, and poor magazine fit. Assuming you have clue when it comes to AK's, a WASR can be a good bargain. I would avoid buying a WASR sight-unseen off the internet.
If you want to buy a "Romanian" AK off the internet, you might do better to shop for a SAR-1. These are Romanian imports from 2000 and 2001. The SAR-2 and SAR-3 also exist in 5.45x39 and .223 respectively.
Most of the time WASR's are OK, but there have been clear examples of some of them NOT being OK. If you know your AK's, you can probably avoid getting stung on a WASR. Look especially for canted front sights, and poor magazine fit. Assuming you have clue when it comes to AK's, a WASR can be a good bargain. I would avoid buying a WASR sight-unseen off the internet.
If you want to buy a "Romanian" AK off the internet, you might do better to shop for a SAR-1. These are Romanian imports from 2000 and 2001. The SAR-2 and SAR-3 also exist in 5.45x39 and .223 respectively.
1 old 0311
member
For a knock around rifle the WASR , from Classic, is a great deal. The Yugo underfolder is a SUPER deal. Prices on them will keep going up.
dstorm1911
Member
W.E.G actually there are replacement custom wood available for the Yugo UF starting at around $69 in exotic woods of your choice as well as Ultimak front ends and synth forends etc.... More and more outfits are starting to make aftermarket stuff for the yugo's due to the popularity of the underfolders over the underfolders that were previously available from Poland, China, Hungary etc... the Yugos offer an UF thats actually shootable and as a result many companies are making accesaries to grab the new expanding customer base,
I love my WASR-10! I don't consider it a "starter" rifle or one to get while I wait for a better one. But I picked mine out and checked the magwell, for fit od magazine, and the bolt and bolt carrier for freedom from binding. I didn't care for the buttstock, and changed out the original for a longer one similiar to an RPD. Now the grip is good and butt doesn't sit on top of my shoulder when I look through the sights. Buy a sight tool, just in case. Now my WASR is a comfortable and reasonbly accurate rifle. The magazines fit well, with the sole exception of a couple of old chinese magazines which are a bit too loose, but seem to function anyway. WASR's usually have the AK side rail, which some other AK's don't have.
Trust me when i say "i know AK's." I have 3. One tantal, one vector classic, and a milled arsenal. Romanian AKs are some of the worst. polish, and yugo are good, but the best for the price is Arsenal inc. aks. save up and get one. They are accurate, and beautifly made.
nalioth
Member
I suspect you're referring to the commercially produced Kalashnikov variants produced by the Romanians.wisocki said:
If you get a Romanian military parts kit and build it on a good receiver, it's gonna be the same high quality as any military AK.
dstorm1911
Member
Wisocki, if your limited to 3 then you don't know AKs as well as you think, try 400 and have built over 7,000 in the last 20 years since I first started with B-west guns back in 1986......... a Romanian military grade AK has nothing in common with a WASR as far as quality, in fact I'd pose ya a challenge if ya can get here to Tucson, I'll put 3 polish rifles and 1 Romanian kit built in front of you with the trunion markings covered on all 4 and if you can identify the Romanian one without any furniture on any of em I'll give ya all 4......... if you pick the wrong rifle then you have to buy the Romanian at $550
I'm easy to find, just stop in at any gun shop and ask em where Storm is at they'll give ya directions
I'm easy to find, just stop in at any gun shop and ask em where Storm is at they'll give ya directions
possum
Member
the yugo uderfolders that i have experience with are very nice, worse case scenario you might want to chage the trigger out with a tapco but other than that they are good to go.
Ak47
I am looking at them as well, and posted a thread a few weeks back; got some excellent responses. Here it is: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=317136&highlight=ak47
Good luck!
I am looking at them as well, and posted a thread a few weeks back; got some excellent responses. Here it is: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=317136&highlight=ak47
Good luck!
tnieto2004
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I LOVE my WASR.. Been 100% reliable for a while now
dstorm1911
Member
Davepool, your right next door to the best ya can get in a Romanian military kit build!! Lancaster consulting out in Goodyear, its the same outfit building the ones being sold by Atlantic arms but as your local to Lancaster themselves ya will get faster service............. literally as fast as ya can drive to good year..... and a lifetime warranty
If ya go to the local gunshows in Phoenix they will have a rep at the show and you can pick em out....
http://www.lancasterarms.com/Contact Page.html
You will get a better price at the gunshows or through Atlantic arms though as they list the internet prices high so as not to be competing with their own dealers etc... go by and see what they will quote ya for a price locally, if its still high then order from Atlantic
http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/
Possum, the Century Yugos already come with a TAPCO G-2 fcg so no need to change anything out unless you simply want to spend $40 to change one G-2 for another G-2, Century has never used their own FCG set in anything but the older WASR and SAR rifles The Yugo's by Century are a great bargain through Classic arms at $429, the finish won't be as nice as a Lancaster built Romanian military grade AK and they don't have a lifetime warranty but the Yugo is my personal favorite, the ones distributed by Century are not built by Century as they are farmed out, but none of us builders can even come close to matching the price, not even in the ballpark as we have to work with virgin parts sets involving alot of finish machining etc... since Century took the used parts sets off the market to build em themselves, we are paying $500 just for the parts alone while they paid $50 for the used parts sets they start with, the components are top rate just basic assembly rather than the hand fitting we do but.......... ya can't beat the price for what your getting that extra $100 over the WASR price (average of $329) is well worth all the extras ya get
If ya go to the local gunshows in Phoenix they will have a rep at the show and you can pick em out....
http://www.lancasterarms.com/Contact Page.html
You will get a better price at the gunshows or through Atlantic arms though as they list the internet prices high so as not to be competing with their own dealers etc... go by and see what they will quote ya for a price locally, if its still high then order from Atlantic
http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/
Possum, the Century Yugos already come with a TAPCO G-2 fcg so no need to change anything out unless you simply want to spend $40 to change one G-2 for another G-2, Century has never used their own FCG set in anything but the older WASR and SAR rifles The Yugo's by Century are a great bargain through Classic arms at $429, the finish won't be as nice as a Lancaster built Romanian military grade AK and they don't have a lifetime warranty but the Yugo is my personal favorite, the ones distributed by Century are not built by Century as they are farmed out, but none of us builders can even come close to matching the price, not even in the ballpark as we have to work with virgin parts sets involving alot of finish machining etc... since Century took the used parts sets off the market to build em themselves, we are paying $500 just for the parts alone while they paid $50 for the used parts sets they start with, the components are top rate just basic assembly rather than the hand fitting we do but.......... ya can't beat the price for what your getting that extra $100 over the WASR price (average of $329) is well worth all the extras ya get
possum
Member
alright well the one that i have shot had a tade bit of trigger slap which i haven't experienced with my mak 90, maybe it is a bad tapco trigger. something was up with it.
collateral
Member
My first AK was a WASR-10. There was absolutely nothing wrong with how this rifle performed, but the overall finish wasnt as good as I'd have liked.
I'd suggest spending a little more for the yugo M70 though.
I'd suggest spending a little more for the yugo M70 though.
dstorm1911
Member
possum, the Mak 90 uses a totally different FCG unless ya have swapped it out for a G2 which would be a massive mistake as the Chinese FCG is so much nicer than any of the cast USA junk, the disconector on the Norinco FCG is shorter than any of the Eurpean or USA ones and the hooks are shorter making for a shorter take up with a very crisp release the trigger face itself is also a third wider which makes for a much more comfortable trigger, I have crates full of the Norinco double hook triggers and use em in anything that doesn't get a Red star Arms FCG, I do use the G-2 Hammer and a Century disconector (need a center mount which the Century is and a small hole so no sleeve needed for less free play in the Axis pin) it only takes a few seconds to correct the too tall Century disconector (the cause of trigger slap, from the bolt carrier hitting it) a couple minutes with a hone stone to polish the Disconector hook and the hammer hook shelfs and ya got a glass smooth trigger.........
The TAPCO G-2s quality level fluxuates greatly thats why I won't use em, when I figure in my time to fix them and bring em into spec plus purchase price of FCG itself it comes out to about the same as a red star arms FCG so....... go with the best right from the beginning and be done with it, the customer is extremally happy and I got less time wasted that can go towards another build.....
if your G-2 is showing signs of trigger slap pull the disconecter and profile the top of it (the hook) ya can actually take it down quite a bit without effecting function as its not supposed to contact anything but the hammer, also check to be sure the disconector doesn't have debri or anything else under it causing the spring to be disabled, this can creat trigger slap as well since the springs job is to cusion the disconect as the hammer pushes past the top of the hook...... if its locked up or the spring is to stiff it will cause trigger slap to varying degrees
The TAPCO G-2s quality level fluxuates greatly thats why I won't use em, when I figure in my time to fix them and bring em into spec plus purchase price of FCG itself it comes out to about the same as a red star arms FCG so....... go with the best right from the beginning and be done with it, the customer is extremally happy and I got less time wasted that can go towards another build.....
if your G-2 is showing signs of trigger slap pull the disconecter and profile the top of it (the hook) ya can actually take it down quite a bit without effecting function as its not supposed to contact anything but the hammer, also check to be sure the disconector doesn't have debri or anything else under it causing the spring to be disabled, this can creat trigger slap as well since the springs job is to cusion the disconect as the hammer pushes past the top of the hook...... if its locked up or the spring is to stiff it will cause trigger slap to varying degrees
rockinrussky
Member
My first rifle is the WASR-10 and I've had no problems with it. The finish and furniture is not the best to say the least but the rifle itself has functioned without a hiccup. Heck, since I put a decent holographic sight on it its been giving me a consistent 2 inch grouping at 50 yards even with the Wolf ammo. Now, in retrospect knowing what I do now I would definitely spend a little extra on a Yugo, Vector or a Tantal (Arsenal is just way too expensive sorry). Its only an extra hundred bucks from what I've seen for the Yugos, but if you can't afford that a WASR should still work.
-Andrey
-Andrey
possum
Member
yeah my mak 90 trigger is stock ad it is very nice, it is even better than triggers on higher quality and more expensive guns. i am constantly amazed at how well it performs.
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