Is an SAR worth $50 more than a WASR-10 & why?
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MisterPX
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Both Romanian. WHat you're paying for is the singlestack conversion vs. the OEM doublestack. 2 different receivers, the OEM double has the dimples for the mag, whilst the conversion WASR doesn't. IF you don't like wobbly mags, don't get the WASR.
The SARs I've seen have better wood, which isn't that big of a deal if you're going to replace it with polymer furniture for parts count. Also, the SAR3s have at least some mags (Weigers) that work reliably. I haven't heard the same about its replacement, the WASR3. A stock SAR won't have a threaded barrel but depending on where you are you can mod it.
jm
jm
So the only real difference is a dimpled receiver & an OEM double stack mag well? OK, that's what I thought.
The wood was nicer on the one I saw, and the mag was wood (or at least looked like it had wood on the outside of it). I don't really care about the wood as I can always refinish it or swap it out for polymer or nicer wood. Plus my WASR 10 doesn't really wobble much at all. Guess I got lucky.
The wood was nicer on the one I saw, and the mag was wood (or at least looked like it had wood on the outside of it). I don't really care about the wood as I can always refinish it or swap it out for polymer or nicer wood. Plus my WASR 10 doesn't really wobble much at all. Guess I got lucky.
The SARs are made at the same factory/arsenal (Cugir) as the Romanian military AKs for their own use, so they're pretty solid. I've read here and elsewhere that WASRs are made at the Sadu arsenal that is more or less reserved for export weapon purposes and is thought less of quality wise. I could have sworn some earlier WASRs were made at the Cugir arsenal too but maybe that is wrong.
I've got an SAR1 that I will probably never get rid of, it's a solid great shooter IMO. I wish I had not gotten rid of my SAR2 as well. But then again the few WASRs I've run into at the range and such were pretty darn good it seemed too (all standard 7.62x39 WASRs, haven't seen any WASR2s or 3s or whatever they're calling them), so...
It seems those shopping for WASRs have the same things to look out for that the SARs did, check for badly canted sights or gasblocks, etc. I've actually seen nicer looking wood on the WASRs of late, my SAR1 and 2 had the ugliest, thickest varnished crap on the stocks I've ever seen. Stripped and cleaned up nice for a DIY project though... I have also read of WASRs being inaccurate compared to other AKs, but I'm not sure I buy that. Kinda up to the individual whether it's worth $50 more or not...
I've got an SAR1 that I will probably never get rid of, it's a solid great shooter IMO. I wish I had not gotten rid of my SAR2 as well. But then again the few WASRs I've run into at the range and such were pretty darn good it seemed too (all standard 7.62x39 WASRs, haven't seen any WASR2s or 3s or whatever they're calling them), so...
It seems those shopping for WASRs have the same things to look out for that the SARs did, check for badly canted sights or gasblocks, etc. I've actually seen nicer looking wood on the WASRs of late, my SAR1 and 2 had the ugliest, thickest varnished crap on the stocks I've ever seen. Stripped and cleaned up nice for a DIY project though... I have also read of WASRs being inaccurate compared to other AKs, but I'm not sure I buy that. Kinda up to the individual whether it's worth $50 more or not...
The SAR variants tend to have just a bit better fit and finish.
Nowhere near as nice as, say, a Bulgarian SLR-95, but you can tell when comparing the SAR and WASR rifles. As for the wobbly magazine problem with the converted WASR rifles, some have reported luck putting in magazine guide plates in the same receiver location where the SAR would have the proper mag dimples.
The last WASR I handled had particularly sharp edges where the importer had dremeled out the single-stack magwell. Hopefully, they aren't all that way.
I just wish I had bought more SLR-95s, and actually, a couple more SAR-1s, when they first showed up at introductory prices.
I put new K-VAR wood on my SAR-1:
Nowhere near as nice as, say, a Bulgarian SLR-95, but you can tell when comparing the SAR and WASR rifles. As for the wobbly magazine problem with the converted WASR rifles, some have reported luck putting in magazine guide plates in the same receiver location where the SAR would have the proper mag dimples.
The last WASR I handled had particularly sharp edges where the importer had dremeled out the single-stack magwell. Hopefully, they aren't all that way.
I just wish I had bought more SLR-95s, and actually, a couple more SAR-1s, when they first showed up at introductory prices.
I put new K-VAR wood on my SAR-1:
ArchAngelCD
Member.
The wood on the WASR-10 isn't finished but save the $50 and do it yourself. I rubbed a little Cherry Stain into the wood (had it already so no cost there) and then put 4 coats of Tung Oil on (also had that already so no additional cost) and it looks great IMO.
I spent the savings on MORE AMMO!!!
I spent the savings on MORE AMMO!!!
hueytaxi
Member
Along with my M-44, I fired my SAR-1 for the first time last week on the 50 yd range. I have the scope/mount, but not mounted. I will need to drift the site slightly, but the 100yd battle setting had me just outside the orange ring on the std. 50 yd. small bore rifle target. Easily compensated to keep in the ring even at a fairly high rate of fire. That barrel will get hot!
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