Now I'm looking at AK's

[LkWinnipesaukee]

Hey guys,

With the almost certain AWB in the future, I was looking at some AK-47s. Problem is thers so many. What are the differences between them all? Bulgerian, Romanian, Russian, Chinese, etc? Anyone have recommendations? Also whats the price range of all the rifles? I was thinking in the $3-500 range.

Thanks

 

[Plink]

The Bulgarians have forged receivers. That makes them some of the best built and most durable ever made. The rest have stamped receivers. In all actuality, I doubt you'd notice much difference in the field though. In fact I sold a Bulgarian pre-ban near the end of the ban simply because it was worth twice what I paid for it. I kept an Egyptian and Romanian for myself and I don't regret it a bit.

I think the Romanian guns are a good value, affordable and easy to find. There isn't much difference between the different countries of origin as far as accuracy or reliability. If I was in the market for another AK, they'd be my choice.

 

[Loanshark]

Check out the Saiga offerings. Top of the line quality, bottom of the line price. I will warn you... you can't have just one!!!

 

[kennedy]

romainan SAR-1 best bang for your buck

 

[Shear_stress]

The Russian, Chinese, Bulgarian and Yugoslavian variants are really nice guns.

On the other hand, I've had very good luck with an el cheapo Romanian GP-WASR bought on sale at Dunham's. It's a recent production gun, and the finish seems much improved over earlier WASRs I've seen. Plus, they toss in a Tapco single-hook trigger group as part of the deal now. Just make sure you handle it before you buy it.

 

[cslinger]

VEPR or Arsenal nuff said.

Chris

 

[LkWinnipesaukee]

When you say handle it, what should I be looking for?

 

[Shear_stress]

When you say handle it, what should I be looking for?

There was (and may still be) a problem with canted front sights and gas tubes. Not a showstopper, but annoying to some. Also, there still seems to be a variation in finish quality.

 

[MartinS]

We have two Romanians, rough little darlings who love to get dirty and get loud. When checking one over speak quietly to her while looking down at the top. The front sight, the front gas block (the metal that sits on top of the barrel forward of the top wood), the rear sight and the top dust cover should all be on the same straight line, more or less.

 

[Mooseman]

I always hear warnings of canted front sites. Is that problem correctable? Cheaply?

 

[Glockfan.45]

When you say handle it, what should I be looking for?

I too have a GP WASR (Romanian imported by Century). The front sights were not canted, however I do have the gas piston problem. When you pull the charging handle back if you do not do it hard and fast enough the chamber will stay open on account of the gas piston hitting the tube. It never has affected reliablity, it does however make a nice bolt hold open . Finish was kind of rough but I sent it off to Investment Grade Firearms to be parkarized, and I striped and refinished the wood myself. Now it looks as good as an AK from Arsenal but without the $800.00 price tag. All said and done $475.00 (including sending it to IGF) got me one solid, reliable, good looking rifle, with the aformentined Tapco trigger, two 30 round mags, a bayonet, and a mag pouch, sling, and cleaning kit.

 

[MachIVshooter]

When you pull the charging handle back if you do not do it hard and fast enough the chamber will stay open on account of the gas piston hitting the tube. It never has affected reliablity, it does however make a nice bolt hold open

I wouldn't trust it enough to stick my finger in there!

I have a Romanian WASR that I picked up for $300 with one 30 rounder and one 75 round drum. Definitely not as nice as a Ruskie, but a fun shooter nonetheless. The furniture was rough, but a few minutes with 200 grit sandpaper and 4 or 5 coats of semi-gloss acrylic made it much nicer.

 

[1 old 0311]

Cheap? Get a WASR hi-cap. $300-$325 range. Work great. Guaranteed money maker? Yugo M70AB2 underfolder. 10,000 kits were imported. Only half sold as complete rifles. $419.00 from www.classicarms.us These will soon be worth a LOT more.

 

[PAC 762]

The Bulgarians have forged receivers. That makes them some of the best built and most durable ever made. The rest have stamped receivers.

Not really. Bulgarians make/made both milled and stamped receivers, as do Russians, Yugoslav, chinese, and others. Milled rifles are nice to look at, but add a lot of weight and there is no noticable accuracy difference. There is also less aftermarket stuff available for them.

I would say that the bulgy and hangarian rifles have the nicest fit/finish. Followed by polish and russian. Then all the rest. Romanians work fine, but lack refinement. Especially the WASR's.

 

[Coronach]

I always hear warnings of canted front sites. Is that problem correctable? Cheaply?

A few years back they went through a phase where that was common. It might still happen, but I've heard a LOT less about it recently. Of course, those rifles are still out there on the used market.

It is pretty easily correctable. the best part is that you can see it during a pre-buy checkout (unless you order it online, of course).

I would not worry about it.

Mike

 

[Spencer]

For your price range, a WASR-10 Hi-Cap.

For AK-47s in general, get an Arsenal or a VEPR. The best of the best.

 

[infrangible]

+1 for the saiga. I got one in .223 for $275 the did a pretty simple conversion on it, which cost me about $90. just as nice as the guns costing twice as much, if your willing to do the conversion.

Not to be a pic whore, but here is an example.
Mine is the one on the bottom. Top one is my buddies. has a tapco folder and izhmash scope mount ( and ugly bakelite grip(IMHO))

 

[aka108]

Arsenal is probably the finest of the AK's so far as fit and finish go. Think they have temporarily stopped production of the milled recievers and are going stamped for regular production runs. Vector out of SLC, UT puts together a nice AK for about 500 bucks. Good furniture. If you simply want an AK type action the Saigas are great for the money but if you want it to look like an AK you'll have to do a conversion.

 

[El Tejon]

Arsenal M-7s are still in stock (the under folders). Solid weapons.

Bought a couple, not that I like underfolders (I don't), but need trading stock after the next ban.

 

[Tarwater]

I can't speak for any of the other kinds, but I had a Romanian one a while back and it was an absolutely great rifle. $350 new, no complaints whatsoever. The furniture was kind of rough, like someone else said, but I actually think they look better that way. I really wish I still had it, but it's incredibly hard to say no when a pretty Romanian begs you to sell it to her

 

[dglockster]

While you are doing your research, don't forget to visit http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/index.shtml. Excellent information and tutorials with pictures. Basically for Romanian AK type rifles but the principles apply to most AK rifles.