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

[C-grunt]

You get your rifle yet?

 

[Ignition Override]

Just a reminder that many women in European (Portugal, German , Nor.,Swedish, Lith. etc) military branches dealt with the Heavier and Much more awkward ergos of the famous HK G3 rifles. My PTR-91 is basically identical.

The Serbian ZPAP, which is slightly heavier than other AKM rifles are not any problem, at all.

If these AKMs truly are too heavy, then consider the “Non-AKM” 7,62x39 sporting rifle, Czechpoint/CSA VZ-58, which is lighter than —any— AKM, and all VZ-58s, despite their lighter weight, have Milled receivers.

 

[WrongHanded]

You get your rifle yet?

If I did, you guys would know.

The one that came in to the store, had a part missing. It has been sent back and a replacement ordered. Couple more weeks probably. So I spent today checking irons on my Mini-14 and Scout, before remounting the scout's scout scope, and rezeroing with different ammo (Hornady 150gr "Whitetail", which will be the new staple).

Shooting irons at 200m again taught me that my eyes aren't as young as they were back when I bought the Mini. I might have to drop an optic on the AK after all. Luckily Zastava make a mount for that. But irons first, always.

 

[WrongHanded]

I picked it up today.

Sorry for the poor quality pictures. Better ones will come eventually.







I already had the flashlight and the FastFire 3, so a mount for each seemed like a reasonable thing to do. She's heavy though.



But it's short and most of the weight is to the rear. It's actually feels really comfortable and handles well for me, at least so far.

Once I've shot it some, zeroed the irons and the red dot, I'll let you know how it shoots.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Woot woot, nice!

 

[JB111]

Shweet. The weight isn't so bad. They are heavier than the average AK for sure, but they are built like tanks. You will fall in love with it once you start ringing steel with it. TBH, both of mine came with the factory set irons with the exception of minor adjustments on one of them. You might be surprised at how accurate it is out of the box.

 

[Bcwitt]

Thats awesome. Excellent choice. What mags are you going with?

 

[WrongHanded]

Thats awesome. Excellent choice. What mags are you going with?

I bought eight 10 round Magpul magazines. They'll do for now.

 

[BreechFace]

@WrongHanded

Very nice, looks like you already had in mind how you wanted to set it up. Let us know how you like it.

The 20rd tanker magazines are a nice size if you are wanting something compact as it seems you like. These are new production, I have older Hungarian surplus tankers that I really like but just bought a the set listed at Atlantic to try the new Korean production Tankers.

 

[kimberkid]

Milled Arsenal M7 series: high quality and durability all in one package.

My favorite 762x39 is my Arsenal SLR-95, it’s got the best factory AK trigger I’ve ever had the pleasure of pulling. Introduced in 1995, milled receiver, chrome lined barrel, fixed stock and can usually be found in like new or VG condition in your price range of under 1,000.

This is the factory furniture


I’ve modified like mine with MagPul folding stock Zhukov furniture.


I’ve also got a couple Zastava Z-PAP’s in 7.62x39 & 223 for blasting but my favorite 223 is my Valmet tube folder, it’s more of a safe queen but it I were to design an AK for new production this is what it would mirror.


The triangle stock is the only other “comfortable” folding metal stock which I have on my Z-PAP’s, the under folders and side folders like the AMD-65 are painful to the cheekbones to shoot

 

[WrongHanded]

@WrongHanded

Very nice, looks like you already had in mind how you wanted to set it up. Let us know how you like it.

The 20rd tanker magazines are a nice size if you are wanting something compact as it seems you like. These are new production, I have older Hungarian surplus tankers that I really like but just bought a the set listed at Atlantic to try the new Korean production Tankers.

Much appreciated. I quite like 20 round magazines. Had them for my AR and have them for my Mini-14. Unfortunately, the law in CO is now a 15 round capacity limit. So until someone makes a sensibly sized 15 rounder, I'll be sticking with the 10s for now.

 

[mshootnit]

My favorite 762x39 is my Arsenal SLR-95, it’s got the best factory AK trigger I’ve ever had the pleasure of pulling. Introduced in 1995, milled receiver, chrome lined barrel, fixed stock and can usually be found in like new or VG condition in your price range of under 1,000.

This is the factory furniture
View attachment 1148175

I’ve modified like mine with MagPul folding stock Zhukov furniture.
View attachment 1148176

I’ve also got a couple Zastava Z-PAP’s in 7.62x39 & 223 for blasting but my favorite 223 is my Valmet tube folder, it’s more of a safe queen but it I were to design an AK for new production this is what it would mirror.
View attachment 1148177

The triangle stock is the only other “comfortable” folding metal stock which I have on my Z-PAP’s, the under folders and side folders like the AMD-65 are painful to the cheekbones to shoot
View attachment 1148178

big plus 1 on the SLR 95!

 

[Ignition Override]

Wronghanded: Excellent choice.
Your furniture is certainly attractive.

It looks identical with the wood on my new M1A (“M-14”), and luckily your 7,62x39 ammo always costs about half —or less—of the price of ,308 ammo I’ve been buying since early 2022 .

 

[481]

I picked it up today.

Sorry for the poor quality pictures. Better ones will come eventually.

View attachment 1148131

View attachment 1148132

View attachment 1148133

I already had the flashlight and the FastFire 3, so a mount for each seemed like a reasonable thing to do. She's heavy though.

View attachment 1148134

But it's short and most of the weight is to the rear. It's actually feels really comfortable and handles well for me, at least so far.

Once I've shot it some, zeroed the irons and the red dot, I'll let you know how it shoots.

Nice rifle.

What kind of finish is that? Looks like baked on enamel.

 

[Hikingman]

Nice rifle and walnut!!! I could get used to that weight and CG.

 

[WrongHanded]

Nice rifle.

What kind of finish is that? Looks like baked on enamel.

Honestly, I'm not sure what the finish is.

 

[BreechFace]

Nice rifle.

What kind of finish is that? Looks like baked on enamel.

Zastava used to use black oxide finish, @WrongHanded appears to be the same.

 

[481]

Zastava used to use black oxide finish, @WrongHanded appears to be the same.

With that matte sheen on that Zastava, it kinda reminds me quite a bit of the finish on the milled Arsenals.

 

[JB111]

With that matte sheen on that Zastava, it kinda reminds me quite a bit of the finish on the milled Arsenals.

Its a lot different. The current production zpaps are a type of blued finish while the sam's are parkerized and finished with some kind of crappy paint. It flakes off very easily.

 

[481]

Its a lot different. The current production zpaps are a type of blued finish while the sam's are parkerized and finished with some kind of crappy paint. It flakes off very easily.

My frame of reference may be a bit dated. Of the Arsenal SAM7s that I have, all produced in the 2003 - 2005 time frame, are finished with a very durable baked on enamel finish that resists wear admirably. Recently saw a milled Arsenal in an LGS that had what appeared to be a cerakote finish on it; for damned near $3,000, if I was in the market for another milled Arsenal, I would have passed on it.

Of course back then, when I was acquiring the milled Arsenals--Arsenal was finishing their stamped receiver units with paint that would wipe off with a shop towel if it was subjected to cleaning solvents during maintenance. Perhaps that is what you are recalling?

 

[JB111]

My frame of reference may be a bit dated. Of the Arsenal SAM7s that I have, all produced in the 2003 - 2005 time frame, are finished with a very durable baked on enamel finish that resists wear admirably. Recently saw a milled Arsenal in an LGS that had what appeared to be a cerakote finish on it; for damned near $3,000, if I was in the market for another milled Arsenal, I would have passed on it.

Of course back then, when I was acquiring the milled Arsenals--Arsenal was finishing their stamped receiver units with paint that would wipe off with a shop towel if it was subjected to cleaning solvents during maintenance. Perhaps that is what you are recalling?

Nope, their current production Sam's have a paint job that looks good at first sight, but flakes off very easily and solvents will take it right off. Somewhere a long the line they started using that same paint you are referring to on their milled guns as well.

 

[WrongHanded]

RANGE REPORT



Today was the most fun I have ever had with a rifle in a single range session. I didn't care about group size, I wasn't worried about running out of ammo or how much it cost, and I wasn't worried about missing. I also had no idea AKs were this awesome.

First thing was to get the Red Splotch (that's how my astigmatism makes it seem anyway) zeroed at 23m. Easy enough. So I removed it and went to the irons. They were not exactly on the money at the 22m I picked to zero them (on the '2' setting). So I had to walk it in, making adjustments bit by bit.



I finally got there with the 3 shots around the bull. But I also got to this:



Not cool, but it works so I'll let it be.

Then back and forth with the RDS on and off (to see how well it kept zero) at 100m. I'd shoot a couple groups, switch the other sighting system and do the same. Then switch between the two brands of 122 FMJ I had. Wolf and Global Ordinance. Here's a few targets during the fine tuning process.

Global Ordinance with RDS


Wolf with RDS


Wolf with Irons


Global Ordinance with Irons


The Red Splotch doesn't seem to be helping me out much. Though I can assure you the mountings are tight and secure. The hold with it for those shots was at the very bottom of the 12" gong, and it's a 3moa dot without my astigmatism. I did get on target faster with it though. No big deal.

So next I decided to move down the finger of a ridge I was on (which ran away at angle from the target). I also stopped checking groups at this point and just counted hits and misses.

At 200m I was hitting just over 50% with the irons and either ammo. The RDS did much better. At 285m (because I couldn't get to 300 and still see the gong) I was missing with both more than hitting. Though in fairness, I simply couldn't see the target well enough at the distance between tree branches.

So I worked my way back stopping at places anywhere between about 250m and 120m and firing to see if I could hit. This was with irons. By the time I got inside 200m I was hit more than missing again, even from impromptu rests or kneeling.

The target hanger looked like it had a few more bullet holes since last time I saw it up close. But the target looked worse too.



It was a good day!

 

[BreechFace]

AK’s are a blast, if one knows, they know!

Don’t worry about the front sight S long as one can get it zeroed, there are a lot of AK’s with sights drifted all the way to one side. I know it shouldn’t have to be that way and there are males that do a much better job pinning the front sight but there are those like yours.

If it zeros, it zeros that’s what counts.

If AR’s and 5.56 weren’t so ingrained in the US I would field an AK as my primary carbine, but there is great reasons why an AR in 5.56 in the US is king being the commonality one would find in scenarios with other US civilians.

You did real good with your accuracy for a first with an AK, no doubt those groups will tighten up and you will hear more PANG’s than THWPT’s out there at distance

 

[BreechFace]

Maybe check out a prism sight for your astigmatism, such as an Eotech or Primary Arms.

 

[WrongHanded]

Maybe check out a prism sight for your astigmatism, such as an Eotech or Primary Arms.

Good idea. I remember using a friend's eotech years ago, and it was fine.