SAR-1 or WASR10 hi-cap?

[have2rotties]

So, given the choice which would you choose? I had a couple Norinco MAK-90's about 8 years ago, how do they compare to those?. The SAR-1 is priced a little higher than the WASR10 hi cap. Is the SAR-1 worth the extra $40.00? Any advice would be great.
Thanks,

 

[SteelyDan]

I can't provide a comparison to the MAK, but can comment on SAR-1 vs. WASR-10 high-caps. The SAR is designed to accept high-cap mags, but the WASR is not. Some WASRs are single-stack only, while others have had their mag well enlarged, by Century, I presume, to accept high-caps. So the first thing is to make sure you're getting a high-cap model, if that's what you want and you're buying a WASR.

A minority of people report that the expanded mag wells in the high-cap WASRs causes excessive side-to-side mag wobble. It doesn't seem to be a common problem, but common sense suggests it may happen occasionally. Otherwise, I think there is virtually no difference between the SAR and the WASR. Actually, there were reports, more common a year or two ago, that the WASRs tended to have better furniture and accuracy than the SARs.

I ordered an SAR a couple years ago, and the dealer mistakenly got me a high-cap WASR. There was a little trigger slap (easily fixed), but overall I've been delighted with it. Just a ton of fun. If I had it to do over again, I'd probably order an SAR, but I think the difference between the two models is practically nil.

 

[goon]

I wouldn't pay the extra $40.
They are usually priced almost identically, and they are even sometimes mixed up by people who aren't familiar with the differences.
The overally quality on the WASR usually looks a little better to me, but who really cares about that?
It is an AK, not an end table.
The real point is that you should buy one of them.
They are cheap to shoot and they anger the antis like no other gun could.
What's not to love?

 

[femoralis]

I know very little about AKs, but I was fooling around with a hicap wasr in a gunstore once, and I somehow managed, when attempting to re-insert the mag, to get the mag completely stuck in the mag well. I would not budge. I may have just done something weird, but I wonder if the magwell was not properly cut out. Very embarassing.

 

[NevadaPistolero]

Ive owned both models, the mag in my WASR was actually tighter fitting than my SAR. Thats basically the only difference in the 2. I sold my WASR recently but I still have 2 SAR 1s, each in different configuration. If you get either one make sure there 2003 models. I liked my WASR just as much as my SARs so its really a toss up. Id go for the SAR anyway, just my 2 cents worth. BTR, its no big deal locking up an AK mag in the well, Ive did it myself. Good thing is you can always get them out without hurting anything. A little practice will help out big time.

 

[goon]

Getting the mag stuck seems to be easier with a stamped gun.
Let me guess...
You missed the part where the front of the mag latches and caught the bottom of the reciever instead, right?
No biggie.
I have done it too, but both the gun and the mag are built of steel.
They are tough, so all you gotta do is put a little horsepower into it and yank it back out.
I got some new Polish mags a couple weeks ago, and a couple of them are a little out of spec.
They work well, but they are very tight in insertion and even tighter coming out.
The remedy?
Push mag release and ROCK FORWARD with all I have.
It works.

Now get your butt out there and get an AK while you still can.
AIM has Polish steel mags at $69.50 for 10 and they have their synthetic Polish mags on sale for $9.95 each.
What are you waiting for?

 

[outdoorman63]

i have the wasr

i wouldnt pay extra..my friend did and i think my rifle is as nice or better than his...as for magwell...no slap frpm side to side on mine....maybe i got lucky who knows....money saved is money to put towards your next purchase

 

[MiniZ]

I like the SAR because it has the "dimples" in the receiver. Not a big deal, but it looks a little more "correct".

I would have no problem getting a WASR though, if the price was right.

 

[LynnMassGuy]

There is some great info on Romanian AK variants here...

http://linx310.nothingbutguns.com/model.htm

 

[DMK]

Some of the newer SAR-1s with the laminated wood are pretty nice. I saw a rack of about 6 of them at a gunshow recently. If I didn't already have a SAR-1, I would have bought one of them for sure.

 

[goalie]

I got my laminated stock SAR-1 for a tad under 300 bucks. It has shot more than that amount in ammo without one failure of any kind. It can shoot open sighted 2-3 inch groups at 100 yards off the bench, and hit paper plates offhand all day at that range with Wolf ammo.