Need help deciding on a AK

[Expertowgunner]

Ive owned a wasr 10-63, a rob arm vepr k, chinese mak 90, and the polish tantal in my few years of collecting rifles and have sold them all (almost always because of financial reasons). Im now looking to get back into the ak game and im having trouble finding the best ak for the money. First and foremost i do plan on getting a saiga later on but right now i want the best and most cost effective g2g ak available. Ive been checking out the Arsenal SGL series of aks but ive heard that they are overpriced for what they really are, but i dont want another century ak either (owned a few century products and have been disappointed). That seems to dramatically limit my choices down to the remaining mak 90s out there and the rare egyptian aks that were imported in. Ive got around a 1000 bucks cash and i want to get a rifle, about 6 mags, and anywhere from 500-1000 rnds for it. What is the best route for me to take besides converting a saiga which i have neither the tools or time to do it.

 

[nalioth]

After the best option (converting your own Saiga), IMHO the best option is going to be the WASR.

Make sure you buy it from a place with a good return policy (in case it is one of the rare ones that is afflicted with the legendary WASR maladies).

WASRs aren't manufactured by Century - only imported by them.

Any other choice you list is going to cost more (in some cases - a lot more) due to the market and marketing - and you're really not going to get the extra $$$ worth of functionality out of them.

 

[rogertc1]

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/ak_firearms.aspx

 

[Expertowgunner]

I called around local gunshops here in springfield mo and all they had were wasrs in stock, nothing else except for one shop that had a lancaster milled ak for 650 in mint condition. ive heard some good stuff about them, are they a decent ak?

 

[Rmiller31]

How much were most of the wasrs? I live just outside of Springfield.

 

[Rmiller31]

There is a gun show this weekend you might take a look at. I never find good deals there but you might be able to talk someone down if you found a nice one.

 

[Expertowgunner]

didnt even ask, most of the time they are about 500 bucks for one around here and i can get one shipped to my ffl buddy for 425 anyway. i dont mind wasrs for what they are, i just have the money to get something better right now

 

[Expertowgunner]

the real irony of all of this is my dad had a nice slr107c and decided to sell it. he got screwed for lack of a better word trying to sell it at the very same gunshow at the empire fair grounds for 650 cash for it and like 8 mags, considering they no longer carry that model and they originally went for 1200 new. i would have bought it at the time but i was broke, a day late and a dollar short

 

[Expertowgunner]

i had bought a wasr 10/63 new back in june of 09 and i wasnt very impressed. Mag wobble, poor fit and finish, lackluster accuracy (good enough for plinking or maybe hd but wasnt nearly as good as my dads arsenal or the vepr i owned). i would buy one again for a cheap price but im not paying anymore than 400 for one, they just arent worth it in my mind. again i do plan on someday getting a saiga but for right now i want something thats good out of the box with little to no tinkering involved