Looking to get AK, $750 budget. Ideas?

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dcarch

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So, I'm looking at getting an AK-47 (or a AK-type clone) in the near future. My budget stands at around $750. What, in your opinion, is the best rifle that I can get with this amount of money? I've heard good things about the Arsenals, but I've never seen one in person. I shot a WASR this week, and was not terribly impressed. What would be some other good options available?
Thanks! Have a nice evening!
 
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I'd look at the "for sale" ads here and elsewhere. You can often find package deals on good guns with ammo, mags, sights, slings, etc. You could find Arsenals, Vectors, Saigas, Yugos, Bulgarians, Polish etc. that are all good guns/builds. That's how I got my Vector with a half dozen mags, bunch of ammo, and sling.
 
Very good list here: http://gun-deals.com/index.php?dealtype=arms&category=1&subcat=5

Only buy Century (CAI) guns from a place that has a excellent return policy. CAI has pushed some real turds out the doors over the years and has a rep for being pissy about accepting returns from customers. Just google 'Tantal keyholing' for more info about one example.

The Saigas make a good AK starter kit, or you can get them pre-converted from Arsenal.

BSW
 
There are alot of variables when it comes to AK's and when buying them. Do you want a fixed stock or folder ? 7.62x39 or 5.45x39 ? Is your budget $750 total or do you have some wiggle room to account for shipping and dealer fee's if you buy off the net. $750 puts you just in the price range of the Arsenal SLG21-73 from Atlantic Firearms with shipping or transfer fee's.
 
I have an Arsenal SGL-20 (now 21), and I paid $699 for it. The folks who advocate modifying Saiga's would probably say I overpaid, but it was good to go out of the box, with nice finish & furniture. I never looked back, and still consider it money well spent.
 
I have several rifles and I must say the AK is the least favorite of them all. Short sight radius and other than looking cool from 5 feet away as a shooter it is not nearly as accurate as many other choices; SKS included.

Having said that.....no burning at the stake please..

Centerfire systems http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/Centerfire-Systems-Inc/centerfire_spring2b/2011051101/ has several choices in you price range. The people I have talked to there know their stuff and are shooters also. When ordering from them if you have particulars just tell them and they will do there best to fulfill your request IMO.

Also once upon a time I thought I had a problem with a weapon (AK) and called them (more for technical support) and after explaining a few things to me and saying, if it was not right after my fix to send it back and they would make it right. CS from them on that occasion was right on and worked like a charm. What ever you chose good luck and have fun.
 
Classic Arms http://www.classicarms.us/ has Saiga rifles already converted to AK form factor for $499. You would be hard pressed to purchase one and convert it yourelf for that amount. I've had good experience dealing with Classic.

With the remaining cash from your 700 you can buy a full case of ammo and still have money left over for dinner.
 
SB Outdoorsman: I like the fixed stock, and I'd prefer one in 7.62x39.

Philpost: Like I said, I think Arsenals are good. Can you still get them for $699?

Sky: Actually, the AK I shot the other day was quite accurate. I was hitting 2 liter pop bottles at 75 yds every time, and it was the first time I shot an AK. Hadn't heard of CS before. I'll look them up.

Zoom6zoom: The Classic Arms guns look nice. Have you owned any of them? Are they comparable with Arsenals?
 
zoom6zoom said:
Classic Arms http://www.classicarms.us/ has Saiga rifles already converted to AK form factor for $499. You would be hard pressed to purchase one and convert it yourelf for that amount. I've had good experience dealing with Classic.

With the remaining cash from your 700 you can buy a full case of ammo and still have money left over for dinner.
Click to expand...
That is a really good deal, though I wouldn't say that is converted to being a true AK. In my opinion, the Saiga AK platform is the best one on the market right now. (However-the VEPR platform does show some significant promise, but currently it seems to be a purely sporting version and I have not seen any TRUE conversions, such as with the Arsenal SGL series.)


Pros for BASIC Saiga or Saiga Convert(Including base model and pistol grip/buttstock/hi-cap mag conversions only)

*Made in Russia and imported by a company that is NOT Century. Can't remember if its RAAC or Legion-Izmash. Remember-WASR's and such are still put together by century.
*Great accuracy for an AK.
*Many different calibers-.223, .308, 5.45x39.5, 7.62x39
*All calibers PERFORM WELL in the system, unlike .223 WASRs.
*Great value. For $350+dealer fees+shipping you can have the base model, and then you can convert it and add whatever pistol grip or stock you want. Add a bullet guide and it can take standard AK magazines.

CONS:
*Not really a true AK, in the sense of it unless you also do the gas tube conversion, which I assume is hard or expensive judging by the fact that few do it. However, if you do NOT wish to do that you can still swap out the plain handguard and put on one with rails/grip/cappuccino machine etc.
*If you don't want to do work then there is....


SGL-21/31/41 Series Pros:
*So far they have 7.62 and 5.45, and now .410 gauge.
*Built from the Saiga Platform
*Professionally done, not garage made.
*A true AK-100 series clone. Gas tube modification is done and it has the AK-74/100 series muzzlebreak.
*Great bargain, best build AK on the market.

Cons:
*Some people say price...IDK. I disagree. Save for a bit of time and get it. Its performance will be unmatched.


ALSO, something to be considered is that both the Saiga and the Arsenal have a rail on the side that lets AK specific optics mounts to be slid on and off. With a good one, such as K-Var's KV-04S scope mount, you can zero your scope and take it on and off and it will remain zeroed. I like this feature-a lot.

IMO, the arsenal is the best buy out of them. Also, it is PERFECT for your budget.
 
I've actually been looking for the same thing (AK around your price range) for a carbine class from Tactical Response and have settled my search on an Arsenal or a Vector or maybe even a Krebs if I'm feeling like spending that kinda money :cool: but I'm leaning heavily to the Arsenal.

Something that I'm personally looking for is a folding stock. Arsenal has a great side folding stock on the SLR-107 series and the SGL21-94. It is patterned off of the Russian AK-100 series (I believe) and is interchangeable with the Russian triangle stocks (think AK 74). I have heard that the Arsenal folding stock is just as stable as a fixed stock, so my thought is if they're the same price, might as well get a cool folding stock that works just as well as a fixed stock and can make the gun smaller if needed.

Classic Arms is just like a gun store. They sell guns they buy from other people, they are not a custom gun maker or even a production gun maker. The majority of their AKs (unless otherwise noted) are Century WASARs. The rest seem to be other Century offerings, with a few other manufactures thrown in at times.

EDIT: Oh, didn't know that Atlantic Firearms offered discounts for THR members, I may be buying from them soon...
 
Telekinesis,
Yes, that is the AK-100 series folder and it is amazing, from what I have heard. I was going to buy one, however my concerns were length and height. I use a scope on my AK, and I was not sure if the stock would let me get as good of a jaw weld.

My feeling is the same about the Classic Arms guys tbh.
 
Cal-gun Fan,
I held the AK-107UR (the Krinkov version) and the stock felt just about the same as a fixed stock AK. About the only optic I would use on an AK would be a red dot sight over the gas tube (thinking Ultimak with an Aimpoint) so I'm not sure how length and height of the stock would work for a magnifying optic. Though I do think the receiver mount that puts a rail over the dust cover is way too high to get anything approaching a good cheek weld.

And I think Classic Arms should learn to quit shouting at us. It gets annoying after a little while...
 
You are well into used/surplus territory here for 750.00. Polytech, old Russian, ect. Vz-58's are wonderful guns but you will loose almost universal parts interchange. With 750.oo for an AK and money tight these days, you should really be able to cut a deal. Good luck and buyer beware.
 
Telekinesis said:
Cal-gun Fan,
I held the AK-107UR (the Krinkov version) and the stock felt just about the same as a fixed stock AK. About the only optic I would use on an AK would be a red dot sight over the gas tube (thinking Ultimak with an Aimpoint) so I'm not sure how length and height of the stock would work for a magnifying optic. Though I do think the receiver mount that puts a rail over the dust cover is way too high to get anything approaching a good cheek weld.

And I think Classic Arms should learn to quit shouting at us. It gets annoying after a little while...
Click to expand...
I use a KV-04s mount with TMS low scope rings. Not a cheek weld, but I can get a jaw weld. I use a Leatherwood CMR 1-4x scope. It works pretty well with the Nato-Length stock.
 
That might be something I need to look into. I'll probably still stick with the aimpoint though. I really like the years of battery life on those things, along with not having to have one specific cheek weld. I do like the magnification of your setup, but I see the AK as more of a close in weapon rather than something for several hundred yards. (not saying you shouldn't practice at distance, I just think in my situation if it is ever used "for real" it'll be under 100 yards, so I want it set up for that.)
 
Telekinesis said:
That might be something I need to look into. I'll probably still stick with the aimpoint though. I really like the years of battery life on those things, along with not having to have one specific cheek weld. I do like the magnification of your setup, but I see the AK as more of a close in weapon rather than something for several hundred yards. (not saying you shouldn't practice at distance, I just think in my situation if it is ever used "for real" it'll be under 100 yards, so I want it set up for that.)
Click to expand...
Yeah, I completely understand. I thought about putting an Aimpoint or similar thing on mine, but I shoot at the range a lot and liked the magnification. I'm hoping to try to get some good accuracy out of the rifle for grins with good ammo, so that should be helpful.

The years of battery life is really awesome. Not sure how long the batteries in the leatherwood will last or what kind are in the Aimpoint. The leatherwood has an etched reticle, so when I'm in the woods and such I usually turn off the red dot.
One of the only reasons I chose it was the reticle-its nice and fast. Don't know if you've seen it, but its got a circle with a nice accurate 1MOA dot in the center. (Its really weird...its a nice simple reticle but there are very few scopes that have this with a 1MOA dot.) The glass is ok, its not a Leupold or anything but for $350 its no slouch. Plus you can shoot with both eyes open on 1x if that is important to the buyer.
 
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