Krebs vs. Arsenal

[Mencius]

Ok, I have been considering selling an AK I have (MAK90) and getting an "upgrade." I think I have narrowed it down to the Krebs 88 or the Arsenal SLR-101S. Do any of you have any experience with either? Thoughts on one or the other? Just stick with the MAK90 and use the extra dough for ammo and trigger/stock upgrade?

Btw, I am assuming both take standard AK mags?

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

the krebs is going to have better fit and finish out of the box than your average ak, the slr is also going to be a top notch ak with a milled receiver, stamped vs milled receiver is shooter preference so that is up to you.

if the over all fit and finish or strength of the receiver is not that big of an issue to you I personally would put the money into the rifle you have already.

And yes all rifles mentioned take your standard ak mag.

 

[Mencius]

if the ... strength of the receiver is not that big of an issue to you I personally would put the money into the rifle you have already.

Well, let's say I was at least a little bit concerned with the strength of receiver, go milled then? I have heard milled are stronger, but a little more brittle and likely to break and stamped are not quite as strong but more likely to bend than break.

 

[RatDrall]

getting an "upgrade."

No reason to spend that much money on an AK anymore, you can buy a Sig 556R that takes steel AK magazines, and comes from the factory made from new parts assembled right the first time.

Nice trigger, railed top for optics, a lot of reasons to go with the Sig over any AK out there.

 

[Inebriated]

I don't see an extra $300 on MSRP in the Kreb's. It's got a little better fit/finish, and some little upgrades, but the Arsenal isn't exactly suffering in that regard. If it were my money, I'd get the Arsenal and slap on the Kreb's safety. Of course if you're interested in the speedloader, then you're likely better off just getting the Kreb's.

No reason to spend that much money on an AK anymore, you can buy a Sig 556R that takes steel AK magazines, and comes from the factory made from new parts assembled right the first time.

Nice trigger, railed top for optics, a lot of reasons to go with the Sig over any AK out there.

Where's the facepalm button?

 

[Mencius]

Damnit, this is not an easy decision. Another bad part is that it is not like these things are sitting on the shelf side by side so I can go handle them a bit first.

Does anyone know that one handles the steel case ammo better/worse than the other? Or, for that matter, AK's in general using the stuff. I have seen a few different places saying it was ok and other say not. I realize putting the cheapest lacquer coated ammo I can find through a $1k+ gun is pretty ridiculous, but sometimes that is just what is out there.

 

[Rob G]

Does anyone know that one handles the steel case ammo better/worse than the other? Or, for that matter, AK's in general using the stuff. I have seen a few different places saying it was ok and other say not. I realize putting the cheapest lacquer coated ammo I can find through a $1k+ gun is pretty ridiculous, but sometimes that is just what is out there.

AKs were designed to shoot the cheapest, dirtiest steal case ammo you could find and to do so even when dirty. If you bought an AK at any price that couldn't handle the stuff then you have wasted money on an inferior AK. Anybody that tells you different doesn't understand the design of the weapon.

I've personally shot the some of the nastiest stuff available in my Arsenal AK and it's never, NEVER, malfunctioned, not even once. Not even at the end of a long day rolling in mud and putting over 1K rounds through it. I haven't had the opportunity to try the same thing with a Krebs AK (too much money for my taste) but by reputation they should be just as capable.

FYI, on the Krebs 88 rifle, that steel piece that looks like a magwell is not a magwell. It's just a steel plate on the right side of the rifle, and only on the right side, that helps you to line up the mag a little bit. You still need to catch the lip just right and rock in the magazine. I personally have a difficult time seeing how it speeds things up any.

 

[chris in va]

My friend has milled and stamped Arsenals. Both are very nice, but the milled is pretty heavy and only takes parts designed for milled receivers...ie trunnion etc.

Get a stamped, be done with it.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

Well, let's say I was at least a little bit concerned with the strength of receiver, go milled then?

I've heard people say milled can crack though no matter how hard I look I can't find one that has cracked, I have seen a stamped with loose rivits before but it was made in the early 60's and suprisingly (for how it looked) it shot just fine.

personally I like milled for the weight and in comparing stamped and milled ak's (ones I came to posses while in the sand box) from the same manufactuer in similar overall condition I found the milled to be slightly more accurate (very slightly).

a stamped receiver will last you the rest of your life, a milled will last your great grand children the rest of theirs. your call, if you dig it I say go for it but remember odds are if either rifle ever had a problem it probablly wouldn't be in your life time.

 

[481]

I'd go with the Arsenal. Milled AKs don't weigh all that much more and built (literally) like tanks.

 

[WinThePennant]

At this point in time, I'd buy whatever AK you can get your hands on!

 

[Mencius]

Called Krebs today. Looks like they are out of rifles at the moment. Surprise, surprise, right? The lady said she did not know when they were going to be getting any in again based on the importer, etc.

However, she said they did get some VEPR's they are going to do their work on and be selling in the next few months. She claimed they are going to be modified to accept standard AK magazines and be in 7.62x39.

This seems like a pretty decent development. I realize they are somewhat heavier, but I really like the idea of the thicker, stronger receiver. Not that I would wear out the other, but I do like the idea of the strongest AK I can get my hands on.

I guess it goes without saying, but I put my name on the waiting list...

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

here's one on gunbroker: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=322716180

with a buy it now of 2400.....

 

[aka108]

I don't know much about the Krebs but from the picture it looks like a dolled up Saiga much like the stamped Arsenal's are today. I own two stock Saigas and like them as they came. I doubt making them look like a "AK" would make them shoot any different. I did purchase a Arsenal SA M-7S from a dealer in Las Vegas about 15 years ago. He sold the gun to the original purchaser who returned it within a week and traded for a AR since he wanted greater accuracy. Cost me 700 bucks including a Kobra red dot sight, case, a slew of magazines and shipping to my Florida FFL. Seems like the new version from Arsenal is in the 2,000 dollar category which to me is way overpriced.

 

[jason41987]

mensius.. to ensure ill have a quality AK in the future, and to avoid these outrageous costs, ive purchased a parts kit instead... though i dont have the tools to assemble it yet ill pack the parts in grease and store them in a box for the next 6-8 months when i do have the parts... though honestly i cant imagine any legislation against firearms coming from these recent events as the second amendment was specifically intended for us to be allowed to own military equipment, and these simply look military, i think we'll be fine... but better safe than sorry

 

[Mencius]

In all honesty, the recent events don't have any bearing on my getting a new rifle right now. The wife was going to "get one for me" (tell me to go pick out one) for Christmas any way. It might not have been an AK style if the recent news had not happened, but I was going to get something.