Polish Tantal 5.45 sound off

[fireside44]

Was looking at one of these for a truck/vehicle gun. My FAL is a bit too long to cut that duty and the PARA is out of my price range. J&G has the Tantal listed (yes, Century Arms) for $400 dealer cost. My FFL only adds his transfer fee so this is an affordable option for me right now, especially considering the price of surplus ammo for 5.45.

Just wanting some feedback on your experiences. Save the general Century Arms warnings and stick to discussions of your Tantal. Of course pictures would be great too. Other suggestions for a truck rifle/carbine in this price range will also be considered.

Thanks.

 

[Pilot]

I bought mine as a kit before the barrel ban. I have two of them, one I had built up on a U.S. made receiver and the other I still have in unbuilt kit form. The built one shoots great. I've added a detachable pad to the butt of the stock as the LOP is too short for me, but with the pad it works great. Accurate and reliable and very handy. I like the 5.45 round also. Sorry no pics.

 

[fireside44]

I have two of them, one I had built up on a U.S. made receiver and the other I still have in unbuilt kit form.

Seems all the kits are pretty well sold out as far as I can tell.

Anyone else shooting a Tantal?

 

[HorseSoldier]

I've got one of the ones Krebs built a while back, before the ATF stormtroopered foreign barrels out of the equation. Runs good, great accuracy, length of pull on the stock is too short for my tastes but workable (and better if you've got armor on).

The only issue I see personally, is wondering what you're expecting a "truck gun" to be capable of, since 5.45mm is pretty light as cartridges go unless you're only concerned with two legged problems and game/varmints/etc coyote size or smaller (unless approx. 0.22" cal projectiles are deer legal where you're at.)

 

[fireside44]

The only issue I see personally, is wondering what you're expecting a "truck gun" to be capable of, since 5.45mm is pretty light as cartridges go unless you're only concerned with two legged problems and game/varmints/etc coyote size or smaller (unless approx. 0.22" cal projectiles are deer legal where you're at.)

Yes, two legged problems and varmints out to 100-150 yards. I am relocating to rural Texas soon and have been looking for something to fill the vehicle gun role along with satisfying my thirst for a new, cheap to shoot autoloader.

 

[noyes]

Great rifle , wicked round , accurate ...bad picture tho , get the 1:8-inch twist for the Russian ammo

 

[fireside44]

Great rifle , wicked round , accurate ...bad picture tho , get the 1:8-inch twist for the Russian ammo

Do you mean the $130/1000 surplus or do you mean wolf? I am unfamiliar with communist surplus. What is the best ammo for say a NIB Tantal?

 

[noyes]

 

[wally]

Do you mean the $130/1000 surplus

Yes the Russian $130/1080 rounds surplus is the best ammo for it, but remember that its corrosive ammo. Flush your rifle with hot water (very easy with an AK), dry, clean and lube normally after every outing.

I only shoot Wolf in mine if I'm not sure I'll be able to clean properly afterwards.

 

[Dodgeit]

The ones from CAI are crap as usual. The bbls are for .223 Ak's just chambered for 5.45, so you have a round that is .221 going down a .223 bbl. They have catastrophic FTEs because of the large bore and rough chambers.

Mine is currently in pieces (bbl removed from trunion and receiver) waiting on CAI to send a replacement bbl that is also bored for .223 and chambered for 5.45 so that I can put it back together and sell the POS for a loss.
:banghead: :banghead:

 

[fireside44]

The ones from CAI are crap as usual. The bbls are for .223 Ak's just chambered for 5.45, so you have a round that is .221 going down a .223 bbl. They have catastrophic FTEs because of the large bore and rough chambers.

I thought that was only the case with early versions and that newer models had this problem corrected?

 

[Zanad]

have you ever looked at the siaga 5.45? up front costs are lower(around $375) with better than average accuracy. the only draw back is that it doesnt have a pistol grip and only accepts proprietary mags(unless you buy your mags from pro-mag or mod you gun to accept ak-74 mags) and 922r complience issues with hi cap mags.

 

[fireside44]

have you ever looked at the siaga 5.45? up front costs are lower(around $375) with better than average accuracy. the only draw back is that it doesnt have a pistol grip and only accepts proprietary mags(unless you buy your mags from pro-mag or mod you gun to accept ak-74 mags) and 922r complience issues with hi cap mags.

I wanted the folder for compactness as a vehicle weapon and I don't want a project. Nothing against projects, I just have a bunch of other unfinished ones laying about already.

Looked around for more info on the keyholing and supposed barrel discrepancies and didn't find much else besides early models *supposedly* having problems related to barrel diameters. Most reviews I've read on it seem to reflect pretty satisfied owners, especially considering it's a Century!

 

[Dodgeit]

I thought that was only the case with early versions and that newer models had this problem corrected?

Not according to Steve @ CAI

 

[fireside44]

Not according to Steve @ CAI

Tell me more. What does Steve say?

From the reviews at J&G sales is where I found mostly satisfied customers. A couple of complaints, but not bad for the most part.

 

[Dodgeit]

The bbl mfg is still the same, with the same blanks. There are 2 different mfg of the kits into rifles CAI and somebody else. So maybe the J&G people are talking about the other mfg.