So I am going to buy an AK....

[valnar]

Too bad you bought all those mags! A CSA Vz.58 would be an awesome upgrade from the AKM. You should be fine with any of the mentioned AKMs though. I have 4, a SAM7R, Draco-C SBR, SAR-1, Milled MAK-90, and the Vz.58 is the highest quality, lightest, most accurate of the bunch. Have fun picking!

Agreed.

I believe that 7.62x39 is right on the edge of acceptable use for long-stroke piston. Anything bigger and it's just too much moving mass. Most operating systems have their sweet spot, with the obvious example being straight blowback in lighter calibers. This might even be true of direct impingement. Dunno. I assume this is why short stroke pistons are fairly popular today, because it can be tailored to the caliber requirements without giving up too much in accuracy.

 

[Paul Kersey]

Czechpoint VZ58. There is no substitute.

 

[d2wing]

There is or rather was, Saiga.

 

[brunowbe]

I’ll throw a completely different option out there, Galil Ace Gen I or II. It’ll outperform a standard AK and still be an AK derivative. If you want traditional military look, get Gen I. If you want a free floated barrel with a handguard that allows for a ton of attachments, go Gen II. IWIs build quality is top notch and ahead of any of the current AK producers available to us in the US. Takes regular AK mags and allows for easy optics mounting without needing to buy anything extra.

Only downside is price. You will likely have to spend at least $1500 to get one.

 

[WrongHanded]

I just made the decision. It's a Zastava ZPAP M70 with dark walnut furniture. Thanks for the input everyone. I'll let you know when it arrives.

 

[kopcicle]

Don't ya just love spending someone else's money ?

 

[jdc1244]

I just made the decision. It's a Zastava ZPAP M70 with dark walnut furniture. Thanks for the input everyone. I'll let you know when it arrives.

Looking forward to pictures and a range report.

 

[C-grunt]

ZPAP is a great rifle. Take some pics when it arrives.

9 Hole Reviews just posted a great video on the AK74. In it they cover how the P setting on the rear sight works. Give it a watch.

 

[JB111]

I just made the decision. It's a Zastava ZPAP M70 with dark walnut furniture. Thanks for the input everyone. I'll let you know when it arrives.

Good Choice. I believe you will like it a lot. I have 2 of them, both run like sewing machines.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I’ll throw a completely different option out there, Galil Ace Gen I or II. It’ll outperform a standard AK and still be an AK derivative. If you want traditional military look, get Gen I. If you want a free floated barrel with a handguard that allows for a ton of attachments, go Gen II. IWIs build quality is top notch and ahead of any of the current AK producers available to us in the US. Takes regular AK mags and allows for easy optics mounting without needing to buy anything extra.

Only downside is price. You will likely have to spend at least $1500 to get one.

Funny, I was just going to say this! I'm not sure if the Galil "counts" as an AK, certainly among purist AK guys it wouldn't. But it's among there very best AK-ish guns out there.

I just made the decision. It's a Zastava ZPAP M70 with dark walnut furniture. Thanks for the input everyone. I'll let you know when it arrives.

I look forward to hearing your feedback! While I'm not a huge AK fan that's definitely a good one. I'll be curious to hear what kind of accuracy you get out of it once you've had a chance to wring it out.

 

[Ignition Override]

Paul Kersey:

My Czechpoint VZ has been superb, 3,300 rds. total.

The proprietary magazines are presented by other enthusiasts as the only obstacle…but I’m Not fighting in Bakhmut Ukraine…too old, although healthy..

With such a high quality gun, plus No canted sights, mag fit or firing pin issues (my friend’s PSA Gen4-5 AKM) ....the mag “thing” is not a “thing”. —-Keep perspective—-

Luckily this reality has limited increases in demand , and naturally prices.

 

[BreechFace]

@WrongHanded the below will pay dividends in your rifles abilities:

1. Find an ammo that groups well with your gun.
2. Set a target at 100m
3. Set your rear iron sight elevator at 300m
4. Place your POA at the base of your target, so your rear sight and front sight level with one another and parallel to the bottom of the target.
5. Adjust your elevation so that your POI is ~9-10" above the base of your target (POA)
6. Adjust windage.
7. One can further verify POI matches POA when using the elevator with shooting a distances cooresponding to the elevator setting.

Adjustments on AK:
Windage = 1mm of movement L/R = 10.25" at 100m, make a witness mark on your drum and front sight so you can see how much you move it from original when making adjustments.
Elevation = 1 Full turn of post = 7.75" at 100m

Now your rear elevator when on the battle sight setting "P" or "ᴫ". With your sight at this location one can aim at the "belt line" and make hits from belt line to base of neck out to 300m, without changing POA on the target, always at the belt line.

If one wants to make a "point shot" at a known distance one can change the elevator to 100, 200, 300, etc. and be dialed into a smaller point of impact. At this point your POA will be your POI if the distance from target matches your elevator setting.

The "P" or "ᴫ" setting is where conscripts are told to leave their rifle so they eliminate battle freeze when engaging targets from 100-300m. This is a different philosophy from US doctrine.

The best thing one can do with an AK is establish a very good zero. The above is how I like to set my zero on AK's.

 

[mshootnit]

@WrongHanded the below will pay dividends in your rifles abilities:

1. Find an ammo that groups well with your gun.
2. Set a target at 100m
3. Set your rear iron sight elevator at 300m
4. Place your POA at the base of your target, so your rear sight and front sight level with one another and parallel to the bottom of the target.
5. Adjust your elevation so that your POI is ~9-10" above the base of your target (POA)
6. Adjust windage.

Adjustments on AK:
Windage = 1mm of movement L/R = 10.25" at 100m, make a witness mark on your drum and front sight so you can see how much you move it from original when making adjustments.
Elevation = 1 Full turn of post = 7.75" at 100m

Now your rear elevator when on the battle sight setting "P" or "ᴫ". With your sight at this location one can aim at the "belt line" and make hits from belt line to base of neck out to 300m, without changing POA on the target, always at the belt line.

If one wants to make a "point shot" at a known distance one can change the elevator to 100, 200, 300, etc. and be dialed into a smaller point of impact. At this point your POA will be your POI if the distance from target matches your elevator setting.

The "P" or "ᴫ" setting is where conscripts are told to leave their rifle so they eliminate battle freeze when engaging targets from 100-300m. This is a different philosophy from US doctrine.

The best thing one can do with an AK is establish a very good zero. The above is how I like to set my zero on AK's.

Care to translate the markings on my Russian Kobra?

 

[BreechFace]

Care to translate the markings on my Russian Kobra?

Easier to just post this link.

https://www.thinlineweapons.com/AIA/kobrazer.html

 

[tarosean]

The best sight tool Ive found is one that was made by B Square. Last I heard, they quit making them,

any other suggestions?

 

[trackskippy]

Somebody up thread posted one that looked pretty good. This is what I saw when I looked it up. I havent tried one though.

https://magna-matic-defense.com/akfst-front-sight-tool/

The cheap C shaped tools I tried all bent out of shape before the sight barrel gives. That one at least looks a bit more solid and stronger.

 

[JB111]

Somebody up thread posted one that looked pretty good. This is what I saw when I looked it up. I havent tried one though.

https://magna-matic-defense.com/akfst-front-sight-tool/

The cheap C shaped tools I tried all bent out of shape before the sight barrel gives. That one at least looks a bit more solid and stronger.

That would of been me probably. I vouch for the magna matic tool, at least the gs "gunsmith" version because that's the one I purchased. It costs a little more but it is worth it. I think it goes for 60 bucks. it's heavy duty. I really doubt it would ever break, even with heavy use. Every part is machined from a solid block of steel.

 

[mshootnit]

https://www.faktory47.com/blogs/kalashnikov/chinese-preban-ak-imports-clayco-sports

for the collector

 

[tarosean]

So the Zastava ZPAP sounds to be a solid option, but possibly overbuilt and therefore unnecessarily heavy? How much additional weight are we talking about?

 

[Bcwitt]

Is not overly heavy. The AKM receiver is a bit too light, actually. The RPK receiver (same as M70) was made to rectify that for LMG use.

 

[BreechFace]

My WBP Jack 7.62SC comes in at 6lbs. 15oz. So it shaves 1lb. 4oz off a Zastava. Pretty significant weight savings. If that makes a difference to anyone.

 

[481]

View attachment 1143076

That's interesting. I'd expected even a heavier stamped 1.6mm receiver to be a little lighter than a milled receiver AK; my SAM7R tips the scale at 8 pounds, 5 ounces so the idea that going to a stamped receiver to save weight doesn't really offer much savings in weight.

 

[Terry G]

Norinco Mak 90 and Poly Tec AKS. Bought NIB with 4 magazines each, slings, oil bottles, and butt stock cleaning kit. The MAK 90 is quite a bit more accurate than the AKS, but the AKS is handier. Absurdly cheap then.

 

[BreechFace]

@WrongHanded

When do you get your Zastava?

You made a good choice, they are squared away and the extra weight over the WBP Jack will help settle the rifle when shooting.

 

[WrongHanded]

@WrongHanded

When do you get your Zastava?

You made a good choice, they are squared away and the extra weight over the WBP Jack will help settle the rifle when shooting.

I don't know exactly. I ordered it from the website of a local store. So no additional shipping costs or transfer fees. But it may well be that they just turned around and ordered from the distributor. If I don't hear anything by next week, I'll go asking.