Local shop has an actual Romanian AK for $450 and I'm thinking of getting yet another. Already have three (Yugo, Romanian pistol, Maadi) so it's not like I need another but it seems like a lot better deal than buying a crappy WASR put together by Century. It's used but the condition is great, wood is nice and the trigger pull is surprisingly good. Bore is shiny, can't tell if it's chromed. Worth getting?
Romanian AK price check, not a Century junk WASR either
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Rubber_Duck
Member
Do you have any experience with a recent WASR? They're not what I would call "crappy".
Neo-Luddite
Member
You know, just got a GP WASR 10/63 from AIM. By 'just got' I mean yesterday. It has a Tapco fire control and piston. The wood is bare-bones utility grade ugly. Fit seems OK, little mag wobble in 4 directions.
Chrome bore, threaded barrel & bayo lug. Came with a couple of mags, sling, oiler, etc--400 bucks.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/NEW_AK_WASR_RIFLE_w__Bayonet_Lug___Muzzle_Break.html
I'm no AK guy (my 'thing' is the M-1) but the current WASR offering looks (to me) like a real diamond in the rough. The kicker for me too was the price--and the receiver (left side) optic mounting point.
I'm just saying--maybe have a look.
Chrome bore, threaded barrel & bayo lug. Came with a couple of mags, sling, oiler, etc--400 bucks.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/NEW_AK_WASR_RIFLE_w__Bayonet_Lug___Muzzle_Break.html
I'm no AK guy (my 'thing' is the M-1) but the current WASR offering looks (to me) like a real diamond in the rough. The kicker for me too was the price--and the receiver (left side) optic mounting point.
I'm just saying--maybe have a look.
nalioth
Member
<SIGH>
For the umpteenth time:
Century does not build the WASR. They just import it and add parts toward 922r compliance.
All the wonderful fit and finish of the WASR are brought to you by the good folks in Romania who make .03 cents an hour.
I would not pay $450 for the rifle you describe.
I have seen a few WASRs recently and they are certainly functional but it is the very low end of the AK market in my estimation. Bought a Yugo AK from AIM a while back and quite like it, it is also a much more solid and well put together piece than any of the WASRs I have handled. Was considering buying a couple of them just to leave in the closet as an investment but saw this one instead. Dunno if the Romanians were happier with the .03 cents an hour in the past but the quality of the rifle I was looking at today looked to be well above the Century import WASRs I have seen. It does have a side optic mount though it lacks the kit (bayo, oiler, etc) that come with new rifles. Just was wondering what the going rate for a nice older Romanian AK was or if there was some reason not to buy.
Vegaslaith
Member
From what you described, the price seems fair given the current (impending) political climate.
If it's a G-code, might be worth it. WASRs are put together out of parts that didn't make the cut for the Romanian government, by labor who also didn't make the cut, and who apparently work in the vodka factory in the morning, and put AKs together in the evening.
The G-code rifles are assembled in the US out of parts kits from Romanian National Guard rifles. So the parts are ones that did make the cut, and the labor is a lot better.
But if it's Romanian built, just imported by someone other than Century, pass at that price.
The G-code rifles are assembled in the US out of parts kits from Romanian National Guard rifles. So the parts are ones that did make the cut, and the labor is a lot better.
But if it's Romanian built, just imported by someone other than Century, pass at that price.
That price for an SAR is on the mark in todays market.
The days of $230 SAR's are long gone,just happy I had a chance
to take part in them!!!
Check out Centerfire systems:
http://www.centerfiresystems.com/ak_firearms.aspx
If you do jump on the SAR,make sure the sights are stright,as well
as the gas block. Might also take off the top cover and pull the
bolt carrier to take a look at the piston,check for any "grind" marks.
Sometimes they would rub inside the gas tube due to the piston
being welded and not pinned. Check out the hammer when the cover
is off as well. Many SAR's had "soft hammers" and need to be replaced.
Good luck on you buy.
The days of $230 SAR's are long gone,just happy I had a chance
to take part in them!!!
Check out Centerfire systems:
http://www.centerfiresystems.com/ak_firearms.aspx
If you do jump on the SAR,make sure the sights are stright,as well
as the gas block. Might also take off the top cover and pull the
bolt carrier to take a look at the piston,check for any "grind" marks.
Sometimes they would rub inside the gas tube due to the piston
being welded and not pinned. Check out the hammer when the cover
is off as well. Many SAR's had "soft hammers" and need to be replaced.
Good luck on you buy.
jpwilly
Member
Lancaster Arms makes a nice Romey "G" for around $500. The finish is excellent!
sweetbeard
member
My wasr is awsome.. your junk LOL
doc2rn
Member
I like my WASR 3 as well. Got mine for $200 to boot.
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
It doesn't really matter HOW they get here, the fact is they ARE horrible.
I've got one that literally won't shoot inside 10-12 MOA at 100 yards.
It's THE worst rifle I have ever seen in my life.
supernac
Member
An AK is an AK.
nalioth
Member
I am sorry you got a bad WASR.TexasRifleman said:
With the numbers involved, there are bound to be some 'bad' ones.
Just because you got a bad one, doesn't make them all bad. Folks just like to dump on 'em because they're the low-cost kid on the block.
I have 3 and they all will whack the milk jug at 200m all day long.
guntotinguy
Member
My WASR's shoot as good as my Lancaster...my m70AB2 and SLR's...I must've got a few good ones,and as said in another post above,an AK is an AK.
+1 I have 2 and they will do the same...
+1 I have 2 and they will do the same...
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
Saiga .223's sell for almost $100 less than the average price for Century WASRs and I doubt you could find one of those that shoots 10 MOA.
The gamble with the WASRs from Century is simply not a good bet. I'm only talking about the junk from Century, not all WASRs.
That ANY exist that shoot this bad is an indication of the quality control out there in the market and reason enough to steer clear of Century WASRs. Whether there are good ones or not isn't enough to justify them shipping some this bad.
Lost cost doesn't necessarily have anything to do with it, the Saiga as a perfect example.
Century should be ashamed for selling this junk. It's borderline criminal in my opinion.
nalioth
Member
They're all "from Century". They're the only importer of the WASR.TexasRifleman said:
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
Then the possibility that you will get junk is too great and purchases should be avoided if that's the case.
I thought there were more than were imported by Century, sorry bout that.
No one should sell a rifle with as completely poor build quality and accuracy as the one they sold me.
It's just too much of a gamble considering.
I'm really glad people are getting good ones but with the bottom end being SO bad it doesn't seem worth the risk financially.
I'm still in the market for a good AK but it's turning out to be a much longer search than I thought it would be.
So let me ask this. A WASR is a Romanian AK but not all Romanian AKs are WASRs? Is that correct?
supernac
Member
WASR is the definition an AK; cheap, reliable, and can hit a man sized target at 300 yards. If you want more than that, then you dont want an AK.
So you got a bad one, and you think there all junk. What kind of car do you dive? By your definition its junk. Every manufacture makes lemons.
So you got a bad one, and you think there all junk. What kind of car do you dive? By your definition its junk. Every manufacture makes lemons.
nalioth
Member
You can read this page and see all the Romanian Kalasknikovs that have been imported.TexasRifleman said:
The only other "Romanian Kalashnikovs" are not. They are former Romanian Guards kalashnikov rifles, cut up, and sent here as parts kits. These have been rebuilt onto American receivers, with American parts. These rifles were also 'top of the line' production, not parts-rejected-by-the-military-but-okay-for-sportsman-Joe like the WASR.
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
Given the number of complaints specifically about the WASRs from Century the analogy to an OCCASIONAL lemon from Chevrolet does not fit.
The "lemon" rate for the Century guns is extraordinarily high, making a purchase of one a large gamble.
Getting a Chevrolet lemon fixed is also possible. Sending a rifle back to Century accomplishes absolutely nothing. Been down that road too.
All I'm saying is that the Century WASRs have too many turn out bad to be worth the financial gamble.
Neo-Luddite
Member
Yes, AFAIK.
From what I can gather, Century was spanked pretty bad on the quality control--esp. on the 'WASR-2' in 5.45 x 39--they were said to have had MANY returns. For 100 or 200 more bucks you can surely get a better rifle.
You hear the usual about how the WASRs are made from rejected parts, etc. No doubt, the furniture on the new WASR-10 I just bought is horrible---it looks to be old sandblasted 'recycled' stuff.
I'm not defending the thing--honestly I haven't SHOT it yet--but it looks and feels solid enough to me.
I did some reading up on the old Soviet-factory town in Romania (Cugir) where they make the things--it seems pretty grim and has massive unemployment, etc; the ones making AK's are fortunate, I guess.
No, I wouldn't want to bet my tail on my WASR--but maybe after a soild testing by my 'staff' (teenage nephews) it might pass muster.
I bought it from AIM and I'm confident if it's really out of spec they'll help me correct the problem.
From what I can gather, Century was spanked pretty bad on the quality control--esp. on the 'WASR-2' in 5.45 x 39--they were said to have had MANY returns. For 100 or 200 more bucks you can surely get a better rifle.
You hear the usual about how the WASRs are made from rejected parts, etc. No doubt, the furniture on the new WASR-10 I just bought is horrible---it looks to be old sandblasted 'recycled' stuff.
I'm not defending the thing--honestly I haven't SHOT it yet--but it looks and feels solid enough to me.
I did some reading up on the old Soviet-factory town in Romania (Cugir) where they make the things--it seems pretty grim and has massive unemployment, etc; the ones making AK's are fortunate, I guess.
No, I wouldn't want to bet my tail on my WASR--but maybe after a soild testing by my 'staff' (teenage nephews) it might pass muster.
I bought it from AIM and I'm confident if it's really out of spec they'll help me correct the problem.
nalioth
Member
TexasRifleman said:
1) Good news dies a quick death, while bad news lasts forever.
2) I wrote an essay on this for another gun forum a long time ago, but I can't find it now.
Just in a nutshell: There are not many gun owners with internet.
The number of networked gun owners who buy a good WASR are not gonna blog/discuss their experience. They may (if they're a dedicated blogger/discussion forum member) just post something like: "Hey, I got a new gun. It hits the target." Most networked gun owners don't post anything when they get a new gun that works for them.
The number of networked gun owners who get a bad WASR are gonna discuss/blog about it any and everywhere they can (for years).
This works for any item that is sold, not just guns.
Point is: the big hooraw is the output of a very very very small number of actual people, all inflated way-the-****-out-of-proportion.
Thank you, internet.
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