Looking for an AK47 or 74

[Byrd666]

I'm looking to purchase an AK47 or 74 rifle and was wondering which one(s) y'all think would be the best buy. Not worried about a beauty queen but, I am worried about reliability, function, fit, and longevity. Parts and accessories could be included as well.

This will be mostly used as a defensive weapon but, occasional hunts, mostly feral hog and deer, varmints, and quite a bit of plinking will be included.

Thanks all in advance

-EDIT POINT-
AK47 is to be preferred

 

[OilyPablo]

Have you thought about a Saiga?

 

[Wishoot]

Have you thought about a Saiga?

This.

 

[nathan]

SGL 31, look no further.

 

[stubbicatt]

I've used the 74 to shoot prairie dogs and coyotes. I have used the 47 to shoot milk jugs out to 350, but I would think it would have a difficult trajectory to accommodate for small varmint sized targets.

Used to pull the .mil bullets and seat resized .224" 55gr Vmax bullets to great effect. At least one '74 was pretty accurate with these bullets.

 

[OilyPablo]

I would say if you can hit a milk jug at 350 yards with an AK-47, you are a good shooter. Or it took a bunch of shots . Really even at 50 yards an AK is not that great, not super repeatable - not like an AR. Good enough, but I don't expect to hit a quarter (.25$) size dot.

 

[mf-dif]

I'd get a 47. I like the 7.62x39 cartridge, and it's more readily available at retail stores for cheap. (IE: can buy it at walmart...never seen 5.46 there

Have you thought about an SKS?

 

[zoom6zoom]

never seen 5.46 there).

I've never seen 5.46 anywhere!

Centerfire has a great deal on the VEPRs right now. Build quality is fantastic and they are available in a number of calibers.

 

[TurtlePhish]

Centerfire has a great deal on the VEPRs right now. Build quality is fantastic and they are available in a number of calibers.

Yeah, VEPRs are awesome. They're pretty much Saigas with a pre-converted rear and really nice wooden furniture.

 

[OilyPablo]

They (the VEPRs) do look nice. Are the mags the same as Saiga?

 

[TurtlePhish]

I believe so, yes. Aside from having a standard trigger group, the other internals are identical to the Saiga.

 

[mohunter55]

i'd stick with something from arsenal. everything i have from them is top notch

 

[Trent]

Mohunter; If you're willing to pay the entry fee.

"which one(s) y'all think would be the best buy"

Arsenal might be the best, but if you just want a shooter, maybe not the best buy.

 

[Averageman]

The only limit is your wallet.
I too would suggest a Saiga, but you can do better with a custom builder doing the work for you on a Saiga.
I own Three AK's, one built by Red Jacket and one built by AK 103. Both are great for what they are and what I paid for them years ago. That price would have probobly increased by 1/3 now. The third is a Draco that I intend on making in to a SBR.
Have fun with it, little things you improve and customize along the way make all the difference.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Arsenal SGL21.

 

[Ignition Override]

Have you read about at least one batch of Century AK-74s sold with barrels having 5.56 bores?
Century even Realized that they were too large for the 5.45 bullets, but sold them anyway, with no customer info on this "glitch".

You might look up the problems with "Sturmgewehr", who had bad keyholing at 100 yards in his. He made some good Youtube videos of a few guns (i.e. the nice Czech Vz-58).
Century reportedly told him that he was about the only customer with such a 74 who would receive a free barrel replacement.

 

[ifit]

Cugir Wasr 1063m, why?
1. no conversion needed unlike some others
2. it aint no pretty boy ak47 unlike some others
3. has bayonet/lug
4. price
5. its accurate
6. does not have dimples
7. dont have to worry about gettin scratched
8. so i can put my slidefires stock on it

 

[stubbicatt]

I would say if you can hit a milk jug at 350 yards with an AK-47, you are a good shooter. Or it took a bunch of shots . Really even at 50 yards an AK is not that great, not super repeatable - not like an AR. Good enough, but I don't expect to hit a quarter (.25$) size dot.

Yep. It wasn't just me either. A CAI Yugo full stock, not underfolder, iron sights, 350 yards on a hillside. My shooting buddy Bill did the same thing with that rifle. I've repeated this with other rifles from kneeling. It really isn't that hard.

Another buddy has a college aged kid who I watched put 8 rounds in 16 inches at a measured 400 off sandbags with a Romanian AK I think it was. Was using Hotshot ammo, which I chronoe'd 5 rounds of, and while I don't remember the velocities now, 3 of 5 were exactly the same velocity. This was a CED chronograph.

 

[aka108]

For money, if you simply want a rifle with the AK action, I would suggest a Saiga and leave it stock as it comes. The Arsenal's are very nice but really just reworked Saiga's now. I own two Saiga's. One in 7.62x39 and one in 223. Also own a Arsenal SA M7S which I bought quite awhile ago. It may have a slight edge over the Saiga's in accuracy but not very much. All these things are getting too high priced. WASR's had asking prices of 750 bucks at the last gun show I went to. They were not exactly flying off the tables at that price but no one was backing off the prices very much either.

 

[Byrd666]

I've read some good and bad about the WASR models. Mostly on the bad side, but, a friend of mine that owns one has nothing but good to say about his. Which to believe. He also has a Saiga in 7.62 and swears by it, as far as an AK goes but, he gripes about the proprietary magazine of the Saiga and the non- interchangeability of them with other AK types of rifles. And with other manufacturers magazines.

 

[Sam Cade]

I believe so, yes. Aside from having a standard trigger group, the other internals are identical to the Saiga.

VEPRs are built by MOLOT on an RPK receiver with a slant cut rear, requiring non standard stocks.
Also, being built on the RPK receiver makes them much heavier.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Really even at 50 yards an AK is not that great, not super repeatable - not like an AR. Good enough, but I don't expect to hit a quarter (.25$) size dot.

I would rethink that statement a lil bit. The misconception on the Web is that of AK inaccuracy. Foolishness. Obviously, they've never seen an Arsenal 545 with Tech sights receiver mounted.

The AK was never meant to hit a quarter. It was meant to hit a dude in the chest at or under 300 yards. Does just fine, and in locales that render the Pretty Boy Rifle useless.

That's my $.02 to your $.25.

 

[Sam Cade]

They (the VEPRs) do look nice. Are the mags the same as Saiga?

They are pretty close but No.

 

[checkmyswag]

If I got an AK it would be a 223 model.

I don't associate AK with hunting.

Suppose I'd have to say whichever one you like but in 7.62X39 if you're hunting with it.

 

[meanmrmustard]

If I got an AK it would be a 223 model.

I don't associate AK with hunting.

Suppose I'd have to say whichever one you like but in 7.62X39 if you're hunting with it.

I'd stay away from straight walled cartridges in an AK. The reliability aspect of the design shines with the use of tapered cartridges.