vanfunk
Member
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
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