Good point about the corrosive ammo. To be honest, I don't have a great deal of knowledge about 5.45 price trends, because all mine are in 7.62. My comment about price was based on a visit to MidwayUSA, but I didn't notice at the time of posting that the similarly-priced box of 5.45 has 25 rounds, not 20. Good catch.No it's not; the 5.45 is significantly cheaper, but not made domestically and difficult to find locally. It is also mostly corrosive IIRC. I would stay away from it until it (or at least brass) is made in the US.
intimidated by getting into ak's.
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Quentin
Member
Wow, that WASR setup you're selling for $400 looks pretty hard to beat, sarduy!
OP, definitely give that one some thought...
Edit:
I also would not stray from 7.62x39 unless you're sure you want 5.45.
OP, definitely give that one some thought...
Edit:
I also would not stray from 7.62x39 unless you're sure you want 5.45.
Maverick223
Member
Additionally it is from a reputable retailer. I have seen him at local gun shows and have friends that have bought his kits and had good service.
axeman_g
Member
You are getting alot of info here... and alot of noise. You want a WASR, you are just having a hard time settling for something "everyone" has told is a POS. If you want to feel more secure then do the following...
I would personally suggest the WASR package from classicarms
or
I recently purchased a used Henderson Defense Rom G Ak47. I did alot of looking around and really like was these guys are doing. They offer a "certified" WASR package for $420. They go over the gun thoroughly, checking for Century Value Added Features like canted sites, or bad bolts.
http://shop.hendersondefense.biz/product.sc?productId=78&categoryId=4
My good shooting buddy just got one of these in the fall and he really likes it. It is a fun little shooter. It is nicer then WASR10 I have seen at gun shows. They also have a great selection of higher quality built guns.
Just a suggestion, if you want a good autloader for a good price go with a WASR from one of these two places. If you want something a little nicer... I would still buy from these two places.
I would personally suggest the WASR package from classicarms
or
I recently purchased a used Henderson Defense Rom G Ak47. I did alot of looking around and really like was these guys are doing. They offer a "certified" WASR package for $420. They go over the gun thoroughly, checking for Century Value Added Features like canted sites, or bad bolts.
http://shop.hendersondefense.biz/product.sc?productId=78&categoryId=4
My good shooting buddy just got one of these in the fall and he really likes it. It is a fun little shooter. It is nicer then WASR10 I have seen at gun shows. They also have a great selection of higher quality built guns.
Just a suggestion, if you want a good autloader for a good price go with a WASR from one of these two places. If you want something a little nicer... I would still buy from these two places.
Hizzie
Member
The AMD-65 rocks. True that is has the least amount of recoil compared to any other AK variant. It is also the loudest. I pretty much shut down the range for a couple of minutes everytime I break out the AMD. Everybody just stops and stares.
AcceptableUserName
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ok, heres my plan of action. going to try and get a local retailer to match classic arms 389 per WASR. i offered a local retailer 800 plus bg fees and tax for two WASR's. we'll see what they say.
if not, there is a LIGHTLY used VZ 58 for sale and a Vector underfolder. both are around 6. good, price, good rifles?
if these local options dont pan out, im biting the bullet on FFL transfer and doing the classic arms deal. they seem like good people.
im an AK noob, but i dont think paying over 425 at the MOST for a new stock WASR is a good idea. agree?
if not, there is a LIGHTLY used VZ 58 for sale and a Vector underfolder. both are around 6. good, price, good rifles?
if these local options dont pan out, im biting the bullet on FFL transfer and doing the classic arms deal. they seem like good people.
im an AK noob, but i dont think paying over 425 at the MOST for a new stock WASR is a good idea. agree?
Gunfighter123
Member
There has been reported problems with VZs made up in the US --- the best info is here;
http://www.czforumsite.info/index.php?board=67.0
EDIT --- Agree that at this point in time , $425 or so is the most for a basic WASR.
Mossberg88
Member
WASR. 10 bucks at your local hardware store to redo the wood and give it a personal touch. as for mine, the only time it has never fired when it was supposed to was due to a bad primer on an Egyptian 7.62.
For less than the average price of a WASR (Pinto) you can get a Saiga (Cadillac). Pintos are for those that don't mind relative lack of overall quality
for about the same price.
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AcceptableUserName
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how much would I spend converting the Saiga to accept standard AK mags? and a stock with pistol grip, either fixed or folding...
Saiga 7.62x39 $299
Stock $25-$45 depends on which you want
Pistol grip $10-$25 depends on which you want
Trigger parts $25
Retainer plate $5
Recycled factory trigger guard Free
Drill bit + tap $5
______________________________
Total Sub $400 easily if need be
Stock $25-$45 depends on which you want
Pistol grip $10-$25 depends on which you want
Trigger parts $25
Retainer plate $5
Recycled factory trigger guard Free
Drill bit + tap $5
______________________________
Total Sub $400 easily if need be
nalioth
Member
To repeat the umpteen-dozen threads already out there answering this question . .AcceptableUserName said:
You'll spend as little or as much as you like.
I've done several conversions for less than $100 in conversion parts (including the bullet guide). You'll see some folks spend twice what the base gun cost them on the conversion.
hogshead
Member
I want one of them Craftsmen Lifetime Warranty AKs like atlanticfire was talking about.
AcceptableUserName
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what about a norinco mak 90? better than WASRs or the same? and can i change out that stock?
hogshead
Member
Yea, but no lifetime warranty.
AcceptableUserName
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i did hear REALLY good things about the vz 58. are people just having a lot of problems with them now? i could get one for about 575 used but in good shape with 2 mags, sling, box etc
nevermind different gun. shows how much i know, i thought it was an ak variant
nevermind different gun. shows how much i know, i thought it was an ak variant
Maverick223
Member
Limited experience, but I was really impressed with the VZ-58, though I would stick to a Czechpoint or a CZ-USA version (Century has had a few turds IME).
hogshead
Member
Hard to beat a Norinco.
nalioth
Member
The "good things' you heard were referring to the Czech-made Vz58s. They are superior to the AK.AcceptableUserName said:
Avoid the Century jobs at all costs.
Seattle206
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Yeah I think Norinco is over looked here. They are some of the best AK's we have. Fit/finish is much better than any wasr. its 100% true commie made like a real ak and not some wasr, or a hacked up saiga.
1.5mm thick receiver, chrome barrel. the whole rifle is based off an AK, except for the stamped receiver. Notice the fat ak barrel unlike the pencil barrels on the akm, wider fsb, 45 degree gas block.
I'd take a mak90 over anything century makes or a saiga that hasnt received a $400 make over.
1.5mm thick receiver, chrome barrel. the whole rifle is based off an AK, except for the stamped receiver. Notice the fat ak barrel unlike the pencil barrels on the akm, wider fsb, 45 degree gas block.
I'd take a mak90 over anything century makes or a saiga that hasnt received a $400 make over.
Utah_Jay
Member
My first choice would be Saiga since that is what I own. Just finished converting it. I paid $350 for the rifle and $110 in conversion parts including the bullet guide and extra magazine. They are very solid rifles.
2nd choice would be the Norinco Mak90. I am hoping to add one to my collection soon. They are nice rifles if you can get comfortable with the thumbhole stock.
2nd choice would be the Norinco Mak90. I am hoping to add one to my collection soon. They are nice rifles if you can get comfortable with the thumbhole stock.
My formerly owned MAK 90 which I bought new in the box could not shoot as accurately as either my vepr or any of my saigas and it did not have a nice chrome lined gas block as the others did. They work well enough but sometimes they have odd flaws like a bullet guide that is not high enough on the front lip to allow proper feeding of hollow points or improperly heat treated bolts that crack and stop functioning. Not kidding.
http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1178380
I have yet to see one reported manufacturing flaw like such with any Russian
AK. Its much rarer, and I would have to fairly account for the fact that only Saigas and Veprs were imported as complete
Russian AK products and only these two brands would serve as a basis of manufacturing quality comparison.
To be relative, the Russian sks rifles formerly imported are considered as the best sks among the sks owners community in America.
This is considering that Chinese, Romanian, Yugoslavian, and Albanian were also imported and closely compared.
Overall Chinese made AK weapons are good but not in the same league. And Romanian are the most problematic. I seen too many SAR's
and WASR's with canted sights, canted gas blocks, improper rivot hole positioning, or noticably uncentered axis (yep off center) and that's not even
Century Arms doing that is right from Romania. Century only has their hand in cutting the magwell crooked so the mags might not insert properly and they mess this up too often.
On a saiga there isn't anything to cut. The magwell comes from the factory in a double stack width and only a few holes are needed to be drilled.
No hacking required. I sold my only MAK 90 to buy another Saiga and
I have no regrets.
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AcceptableUserName
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can i change the stock quickly and easily on a mak90 like i can on a WASR or is that illegal due to compliance stuff?
Yes, it does require paying attention to compliance parts when
you change the stock to pistol grip. The MAK90s that are slanted in the rear
pretty much need an iron wood designs wood stock stock and are not compatible with most common AK stocks without some amount of modification.
you change the stock to pistol grip. The MAK90s that are slanted in the rear
pretty much need an iron wood designs wood stock stock and are not compatible with most common AK stocks without some amount of modification.
atlanticfire
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