Problems/Fixes for WASR-22?

[Shade00]

Ok guys, bear with me. I know the WASR-22 is not a high quality piece (most of the WASR's aren't), but I am thinking about getting one. Why? Well, it's priced within my budget, and ammo is too. Furthermore, the wife wasn't excited about the prospect of having an AK-style rifle PERIOD, so it was a tough go convincing her about even a .22. So, that said, I would like to hear some experiences with these rifles. What kind of problems do they have? FTEs? Parts falling off? What tricks are there to make them "reliable?" Also, are any magazines available that hold more than 10 rounds? I did some searching and just could not come up with satisfactory answers.

I appreciate thoughts/comments as they come. Honestly, I would prefer to go with a GSG-5, but those are just too expensive. The only other option would really be a WASR-2, since 5.45x39 is cheap enough, but those aren't available anywhere. Unfortunately, no real AKs for me right now.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

How about "All the guys on THR said the dedicated .22 AKs are junk so unfortunately I'm going to have to get an AK in the original caliber and a .22 conversion kit"

 

[Shade00]

Haha, don't think I didn't try that. The .22 AK is basically the ultimatum piece: it's that or no AK at all. I don't want to risk her wrath by sneaking in a real AK either.

 

[MRIman]

I love mine.
Some have problems,some don't!!!
I'd bet 75% of the ones with problems just need
a 100% cleaning(that means everything!!)
Link with lots of answers to your questions:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=4&f=79&t=104896

 

[lions]

The .22 AK is basically the ultimatum piece: it's that or no AK at all.

Just how much does she know about guns? When you say .22 does she think .22lr or .22 caliber? There are AKs that shoot the .223. I always look for loopholes!

 

[Shade00]

Thanks for that link MRIman. I will be perusing that thread in depth later.

lions, unfortunately she's a little more on top than that. She shoots with me often and claims the S&W Model 32 as her own. When I pitched it to her, she of course asked if that was the same ammo as the P-22 uses... I had to say yes, since the ammo cost factor is a very convincing argument.

I would love to hear some more detailed experiences. MRIman, could you share some more?

 

[Domino]

I know that this is probably not what you want to hear but I think you would be MUCH better served (and so would she) if you guys just went with a good old Ruger 10/22 and modded it to look like an AK. The gun is proven, accurate, reliable, and there are hundreds of accessories that are good including high capacity magazines. Probably the most convincing mod out there is the Krinker Plinker...

http://www.krinkerplinker.com/

But you could just as easily get a TAPCO stock and a couple of Butler Creek steel lips magazines and you would have a fine little carbine. Your money but I promise you that the results would be much much better than some sort of unproven rifle with shotty at best workmanship and almost no support or accessories.

 

[elmerfudd]

For the price of a Krinker Plinker he could buy a WASR22 and a 10/22 and a couple bricks of ammo.

As far as there not being accessories, you can use AK accessories on them and there are probably more accessories for the AK than even the 10/22.

 

[MD_Willington]

It's rimfire, stick anything (within legal reason) on it... 922r is for centerfire stuff...

Have fun!


PS - GSG is coming out with an AK .22LR

 

[sarduy]

I have a Solution!

Haha, don't think I didn't try that. The .22 AK is basically the ultimatum piece: it's that or no AK at all. I don't want to risk her wrath by sneaking in a real AK either.

well....order a simple ak, .22, 5.45, 5.56, 7.62X39... then if you get a 5.45 or a 7.62x39 just open the box in your kitchen table and say..."DAMN THIS PEOPLE...SINCE THEY LOOK THE SAME, THEY SEND ME THE WRONG ONE, A 5.45,5.56,X39 FOR THE SAME MONEY! OHH WELL THEY LOOSE, I GOT THE REAL DEAL FOR LESS MONEY."

hehehe...it worked once for me

 

[pgeleven]

well....order a simple ak, .22, 5.45, 5.56, 7.62X39... then if you get a 5.45 or a 7.62x39 just open the box in your kitchen table and say..."DAMN THIS PEOPLE...SINCE THEY LOOK THE SAME, THEY SEND ME THE WRONG ONE, A 5.45,5.56,X39 FOR THE SAME MONEY! OHH WELL THEY LOOSE, I GOT THE REAL DEAL FOR LESS MONEY."

+1. simply brilliant

 

[chrissmallwood]

Ive had a wasr22 for a couple months now and I really like it. When I first got it it had some issues such as failing to eject or feed properly. After cleaning the whole thing and running a couple hundred rounds through it most of my problems have gone away. The issues I have now seem to be ammo related since I mostly just run fed bulk pack through it and thats when I have issues. It may not be perfectly reliable like my 10/22 but its a whole lot more fun and surprisingly just as accurate.
Here is a pic of it after I fiddled with a bit.



I had a guy next to me at the range back up when I pulled it out saying that he didnt want to be next to the muzzle blast when I fired it. He thought it was an actual AK.

 

[kBob]

How does this Wasr-22 compare to a Ceiner .22 LR adaptor in an actual AK? Accuracy? Reliability?

-Bob Hollingsworth

 

[Shade00]

Nice gun, chrissmallwood. I like what you did with it. I have heard about people having mixed reports with the Federal stuff. I've never used Federal, just Remington. Also, there are other 'tweaks' I read at the link posted earlier about tweaking the ejector screw and Loc-titing it in place, as well as changing the top cover. I just picked up an SKS today, so the WASR-22 may have to wait a little while, but I am thinking more and more that I'll be picking one up.

 

[MRIman]

I would love to hear some more detailed experiences. MRIman, could you share some more?

Let's see.
Stock had no finish on her. Fine by me as I can add color and finish it myself. Gun was covered in wood "dust" and cosmo. 100% cleaning is needed,this means pull the firing pin as well.
The bolt carrier "stop" is a chunk of plastic that is "fitted" into the receiver. After the first 50 rounds(CCI Stingers),the block shifted up @ 1/10",this prevented taking off the receiver cover. Took me 20 min. to get the bit*h off. Needed to bend it over the receiver to get it off.
I counter sunk a screw through the block into the butt stock. That will never happen again. I think the Stingers were a little to hot for the recoil spring assy.,so you might stay away from them. The "fix" I did is under the cover so it can't be seen.
Also hit the FCG(fire contol group)with some 1500 grit to smooth her out.
She now has a very nice trigger pull.
The finish was typical of most Romanian guns,fair to good at best.
This is fine by me as well,as it will get blasted off and refinished very soon
anyway. Just waiting to put a muzzle brake on her(looks not function).
All in all it's a great gun for the $250 I have into it. If I could get another
one at $229 I would,but for $300+ now,i'll wait for a used one to show up.
Like most all Romanian guns,it's not a "perfect" gun out of the box,but if
you have the time and some tools,you can make them 100% and have
fun working on it as well.

Good luck on your choice.

MRI

 

[Shade00]

Thanks. You're right, the $300 price tag these command online seems a bit steep at first blush. I'll probably stick it out until the next gun show and see if I can find one there a little cheaper; if not, I'll probably be ordering from J&G.

And hey, she doesn't have to be pretty... just functional (for me at least). The furniture I can deal with, and I can do the tweaks that are needed. I just don't want to get myself into too much. The problem is that I know GSG's AK-22 will probably be $500, and there are no other options in the .22 range. Oh well. Take what you can get, I suppose.

 

[chrissmallwood]

Thanks shade. I painted the stock that was on it black and I am going to put it on my saiga that I converted. I made the mag myself by putting the stock mag insert inside an E German mag and cutting it to fit. Its still only ten rounds but it looks better. MRIman, on mine the bottom of the bolt had a bunch of rough tool marks on so I took a stone and smoothed out the bottom of the bolt and also the hammer where it rubs against the bolt.

 

[Sgtanderson]

I don't know much about .22 Ak's but I know a fair amount about wives. Somtimes its better to ask for FORGIVENESS Than to ask for PERMISSION. Buy what ya want,don't tell her till ya have to. The "make-up sex" will be great after the fight is over.

 

[chrissmallwood]

Ive did that before. I bought a 12ga shotgun once and I left in my gun case for a couple months before I showed her and she just thought it was one I already had.