NYS-Legal AK74 Questions

[Snowblind]

As you might have guessed, I live in New York State, and am looking for a NY-legal AK74. In the year or so since I've become a gun owner, I've poured over NY state laws time and again to ensure that I was following every law to the letter, and am well aware of what is/isn't legal as far as semi-automatic weapons in NY.

What I do have questions about, though, is the difficulty in acquiring a NY-legal AK74. How much would I expect to pay for something like that? Where should I look? I've seen a number of AK copies in a few dealers around where I live, but it's always the same case- in a store with hundreds of AR-15's and AR-style rifles, there might be one or two AK-style rifles, and usually not 'truly' an AK but just that, an "AK-style" rifle like a Saiga or Vepr or a PSL clone.

The other issue is the magazines. I've seen a lot of people commenting on the low availability of high-capacity pre-ban magazines, or complaining about how the only available mags are re-sold for a substantial markup.

Anybody know stuff about this? Anyone stuck in the same place?

 

[mberoose]

Take your pick and bring around $900.

http://www.k-var.com/shop/home.php?cat=430

For what it's worth, the overall refinement of a new production Saiga will be miles beyond a so-called "real" AK. Trust me, I'm into that old beat up war-torn lookin AK stuff too, but it makes more sense to get something of quality.

 

[Snowblind]

While I'd love to get a true, vintage, classic AK, I'd be more than happy to settle for a Saiga, especially one of those, which really copy the look of the AK stock and forend quite well, (and probably are made to higher specs, no doubt), except for that I suspect it would be difficult to obtain legal high-cap mags for it.

Really is a sticking point for me... besides just looking weird with the short mag, an AK just doesn't feel right not having a full 30 rounds under it.

 

[mberoose]

There's always Gun Broker for pre-ban mags...there's currently a guy on there (in NY, no less) with 50 pre-ban 30 rounders available for $16 a pop.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Just get a 74 with a fixed stock and pinned flash hider/muzzle break. Problem solved. The next hurdle is pre-ban mags. If it's orange bake-lite, you're good to go.

 

[tyeo098]

Saiga 545.

 

[Rob G]

As Prince Yamato said, if you want pre ban mags just buy some bakelites, they're all pre ban. The East German ones in particular are easy to prove as pre ban since East Germany stopped being a country before the ban went in to effect.

As for rifles, I'd pony up for a NY State compliant SGL 31. You'll spend a bit of money up front but it'll be worth it.

 

[wnycollector]

I converted my 5.45 Saiga and picked up a dozen pre ban Russian plum mags for $10/ mag a few years ago. I would check out the EE over at ARFCOM for pre ban mags.

 

[Snowblind]

OK, so I spent all day touring my local gun dealers. Two of them had a few Saiga's in .223 and .308, one of them laughed me out of the store. >:/

Bottom line is, after some more homework, best option looks like the Arsenal SGL34. It's in the original 5.45, built off the Saiga with shiny new US-made parts, specifically built without a bayonet lug or threaded barrel to be NY-compliant, and won't break the bank. (I had budgeted about 1k for this venture, they go for $850 - $900 online, so that leaves room for any FFL fees).

Seems like the perfect choice. Still have more questions though. Does this thing accept Saiga magazines or does it use AK74 magazines? By my understanding the Saiga's won't properly take AK74 mags without installing a bullet guide. So if I wanted to nab some high-cap pre-ban mags, would I have to do some work on it to use them?

And the more important question... where would I best acquire one? K-Var Corp is out of stock. Atlantic Firearms seems like they *might* have one... anyone dealt with them before?

Oh, and thanks to everyone who's posted. You were quite helpful.

 

[Quiet]

The Arsenal SGL-34 uses AK74 magazines.
Arsenal installs a bullet guide as part of the conversion.

FYI.
Arsenal discontinued production of the SGL-34.

Atlantic Firearms is an excellent dealer, very reputable with excellent service.

 

[Rob G]

FYI.
Arsenal discontinued production of the SGL-34.

The SGL rifles are now being imported by FIME which is another Las Vegas corp registered to the same people who own Arsenal. By all accounts they're the same rifles and same level of quality, just a different name on the receiver.

As noted above Arsenal rifles have a bullet guide so they will take standard AK 74 magazines.

+1 to Atlantic Firearms being a great dealer. They're actually active on this sight and are great about customer service.