New Arsenal AK-74 - Impressive!

[vanfunk]

Hi All,
Lately, I've been on an AR-15 kick. I've been building receivers, ordering uppers, you know, taken by the general trappings of the hobby. Today I stopped by the gunstore to browse the racks, and found a new Arsenal SLR-105 AK-74 in 5.45x39mm. Now I'm not usually turned on by AK's, but this one was such a spittin' image of the real thing that I had to pick it up. I was immediately impressed with the smoothness of the action (my old SAR-1 always cycled like it had a fistful of broken clamshells and ground glass in the action). It came with sturdy polymer furniture, a nice powdercoated finish over parked metal, and a light trigger pull that was only mildly creepy. The stamped receiver kept it nice and light in the hands, like it should be (nothing wrong with those forged examples, mind you, but stamped is the way to go to keep the thing light and lithe). When I saw I could take it out the door for $439 and Wolf ammo was only $1.79 a box, I couldn't resist!

I retired immediately to my range to try the new beastie out. I field stripped it for a light lube and checked the chrome-lined bore for obstructions, and then let 'er rip. Recoil was very mild, equal to that of my favorite Colt SP1, and the offhand accuracy amazed me. Even with the crude AK sights I was able to go 16 out of 20 on clay pigeons at 100 yards (in the rain!). Detergent bottles were easy pickin's on the berm, and I could keep them dancing up the hill pretty easily rapid-fire. There were no malfunctions with the stinky Wolf ammo, and those little 60 grain pills sure did a number on the orange plastic Tide bottles I was shooting at. Off the bench, the little rifle easily kept 10 rounds inside of 2.5 inches. I put 120 rounds through it before I had to pack it up.

In sum, I am very impressed with this little Bulgarian popgun. Light, accurate, inexpensive, reliable, in an effective short-range caliber. What's not to like? I would resoundinly endorse this rifle to anyone looking at the Romanian SAR / WASR series of AK's. IMO it's an extra $100 well spent.

vanfunk

 

[cameramonkey]

Wow! This review couldn't have come at a better time. I've recently posted a question about which AK to get: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=115189
I've been debating between the Arsenal and the VEPR. You may have helped me sway towards the Arsenal. I like that it is considerably lighter than the VEPR. Plus, IMHO, it looks better. Thanks for this post.

 

[Boats]

Who'd you get it from for $439? I'm willing to pay transfer fees for that price.

 

[theCZ]

We need some pics here!

 

[vanfunk]

Hi Guys,
I got it at a gunstore called The Collector's Coin Gallery in Mass. They didn't have any more of them, so I'm not really sure what the price would be on another one. Sorry I don't have a digital camera (I have to wait for Santa), but the Arsenal website has a decent pic of the SLR-105.

Some people feel that the stamped receiver AK's are "cheap" compared to the milled examples. The original AK, of course, was designed to use a stamped receiver and I really like the reduced weight offered by the sheet metal reciever. The VEPR uses the beefier stamped RPK receiver that adds a considerable amount of weight to the weapon. I've just never felt comfortable with the balance of the VEPR and have been turned off by the non-standard stocks.

As to the caliber, I'm really starting to warm to the 5.45x39. Availability isn't an issue for me, as all the locals carry it. It's low recoil and muzzle rise make for very fast follow-up shots, noticably moreso than the 7.62. For plinking, it can't be beat IMO, and ammo is cheaper than even surplus 5.56mm.

The SLR-105(R) isn't going to replace my lovely AR's anytime soon, but I do feel it is a worthy addition to the battery.

vanfunk

 

[wally]

Milled vs. stamped AK....

On the History Channel's "Tales Of The Gun" it talked about the early milled recievers -- "an 8 lb casting milled out to make a 2lb reciever was ineffecient even by the Soviet standards of the day ...."

Milled recievers were done because they could make them in existing factories while tooling up for volume stamped production.


If the market thinks they are "better" and is willing to pay for them they will continue to be produced -- its the Capitalist way

I've both milled and stamped AKs, I'd not pay a premium for a milled. YMMV.

--wally.

 

[Billy Sparks]

I picked mine up Tuesday or Wednesday. This makes my second Arsenal AK, I really like them much more than any others that I have seen or played with. Lew Horton is the primary distributor of them.

 

[Gewehr98]

I've got milled and stamped AK variants.

The milled Bulgarian will repeatedly put 5 rounds into 2" at 100 yards. The stamped Romanian gun opens things up to between 3-4".

The level of fit and finish is markedly superior on the milled Bulgarian rifle, as an extra.

 

[natedog]

The original Kalashnikov had a stamped reciever with milled inserts in high stress areas, but then was changed to a milled reciever. It was changed again in the 60's to the AKM with a stamped reciever.

AK-47

AKM

I thought Arsenal only produced milled AKs. I don't even see a 5.45x39mm AK on their site- could you provide a link to the very model you got?

Am I confusing Arsenal Inc. with Arsenal USA again?

 

[wally]

The milled Bulgarian will repeatedly put 5 rounds into 2" at 100 yards. The stamped Romanian gun opens things up to between 3-4"

Comparing milled Bulgarian to stamped Bulgarian would be more to the point.

No doubt that Bulgarian guns/parts I've seen are better finished than the Romanian are.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=4&f=54&t=56018 only shows a few sub 2" AK & 762.x39 ammo combos at 50 yds, but they didn't have any Arsenal or Bulgarian guns in their list. Groups of 3-4" at 100 yds from the Romanian would seem a good bit better than average, and certainly better than any of my Norinco or Polytech guns will do. I've a Romanian that seems noticably more accurate than my other AKs, but I've not shot it at 100 yrds yet, or on a calm enough day to even worry about group sizes.

Personally, I'd have to actually see a 2" 100 yrd 5-shot group done from any AK to really believe it.

I'm open to 5.45x39 being more accurate than 7.62x39 is, but I've no experience with it yet. The Arsenal AK-74 is sure making me think about it though as its the best looking AK I've seen yet. I'm just not too keen on needing another ammo caliber to deal with right now.

--wally.

 

[VG]

The AK-47 had a milled receiver and was introduced in 1947.

In the late 50's or early 60's, the AK was modernized. One change was to switch to a stamped receiver, which was both lighter and cheaper, but there were numerous changes. This newer version was called the AKM.

After Vietnam, the Soviets introduced the AK-74, using a 5.45 mm round. There was great concern over the wounding effect of this rifle when used in Afghanistan. Of course the M16 did similar damage in Vietnam

I have never seen an AK-47 in civilian hands. Despite this, I see that folks here buy AK-47's all the time....I guess it's like Mitchell's Mausers WWII German postwar Yugoslavian Mauser "K98, model M48." With so many different countries and models there's bound to be some blurring of lines.

How did you like Collector's Coin? I buy most of my ammo and handguns at Four Seasons, but they are actually closer to my office.

 

[Gewehr98]

It appears that Wally don't know me very well here on THR.

That's ok. You can even call me a liar about grouping AK's into 2". Look at the handloading threads here, use the 7.62x39 and Handload as a search term. All said and done, I've got the witnesses and pics to back it up.

You probably wouldn't believe I've hit a golf ball, cold bore, at 500 meters with a rebuilt 98 Mauser, either.

 

[NMshooter]

I occasionally lust after a 5.56 Bulgarian, but my finances help me control the urge.

 

[wally]

I'm not calling you a liar. I'm just skeptical. You didn't say you were using carefully crafted handloads. Makes it easier to believe, but unless you've tuned the loads seperately to milled and stamped guns, the milled vs. stamped comparison is still not valid and definitley not worth generalizing.

I've shot lots of AKs with various factory/surlplus ammo and referenced a link of AK/ammo tests at 50 yds, none of which suggests that 2-4" groups from an AK at 100 yds will be common or easy.

As to the golf ball. I've certainly made shots I'd never bet on being able to repeat!

--wally.

PS the History Channel had a show about AK vs AR and showed slow motion firing of the AK and the AR -- the AK flexes so much its plain amazing it works at all!

 

[MAKOwner]

I think I saw that FAC had these in their newest mailout for $390 or so (whether they actually have them in stock is something else). Don't see anything on their webpage though (http://www.gunsnstuff.net/). Hmm....

Anyway, at that price that's an awesome buy, I was thinking dealer price was going to be closer to the $439 the original poster paid for one out the door. That's pretty damn sweet. Now if only they'll offer one with the correctly threaded front sight base for the same price... Can't believe they brought it to market with that turned down FSB, that would bother me.

Milled vs Stamped I'd take stamped everytime. The milled is worth exactly squat in the quality or accuracy department in my experience yet carries a rather large weight penalty and usually a pretty hefty price premium too. Screw that.... Even my low-grade SAR1 will match my good shooting buddies SLR95 all day long accuracy wise... They're smoother action-wise but obviously you can get a nice smooth stamped gun too...

I just built a homebuilt AK74 from a Bulgarian kit on a bent blank receiver. I love the quality of these bulgarian kits and guns...

 

[vanfunk]

Hi All,
VG - CCG in Stoneham has a good selection of firearms, often rare, unusual, off-the-beaten-path stuff. Carl at Four Seasons has to be the most helpful gunstore manager on earth. I do about 75% of my shopping at FS, 20% at CCG, and 5% at Roach's in Cambridge, mostly to see the ol' boys.

As to the original AK, in fact it featured a stamped receiver. Manufacturing exigencies quickly forced the change to milled receivers, and from thence back to the stamped with the advent of the AKM.

Anyway, I'm thrilled that Arsenal is now making stamped receivered AK's. I came close last month to buying an SLR-101(r) but was turned off by it's piggish handling qualities. Of course, I've been spending alot of time lately with a feathery Colt SP1, so anything over 7.5 lbs feels like a mortar to me.

I didn't really need another caliber either, but the 5.45x39mm is deliciously cheap, and heck, it just looks "neat". I'm hoping to be able to try the little "poison bullets" out on a couple of pumpkins later today .

Thanks!

vanfunk

 

[Longbow]

off topic

my old SAR-1 always cycled like it had a fistful of broken clamshells and ground glass

Ditto!
That's a very good, accurate description, indeed! Good job!

 

[Tomac]

I had 2 Bulargarian SLR-95s that would shoot honest 2" groups all day w/a 4x scope and Wolf ammo from a rest. Most accurate AKs I ever owned. I suspect the Steyr-style hammer forged bbl & milled receiver may have contributed to that accuracy. My current favs are my ORF-built AK-74 clones built on new/demilled Bulgarian AK-74 kits. The 300m gong is no problem with these.
Tomac