I would like some advice on which AK I should get. I know I shouldn't be expecting a perfectly put together rifle, but I want something that is solid and durable feeling. I think I am going to rule out any Romanian AK due to the toss up of getting a good/bad one. That being said I am considering the following: Vector ($589), Saiga ($550), STG 2000 ($430), Lancaster ($600), Bulgarian ($600). $600 is my absolute max price I will spend on an AK. This will be used as a plinker, but also if a SHTF type rifle if the time comes.
The Right AK
- Thread starter Dynasty
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I have a WASR 10 and an AES-10B. Both Romanian Century rifles. Both were 400 dollar rifles.
Both have been flawless so far. The WASR is a little more accurate. I love them both. The AES-10B needed some clean-up, it wasn't ready to go out of the box but they are both ultra-reliable rifles.
I'd like to get one more Yugo AK and then I'll be good.
Both have been flawless so far. The WASR is a little more accurate. I love them both. The AES-10B needed some clean-up, it wasn't ready to go out of the box but they are both ultra-reliable rifles.
I'd like to get one more Yugo AK and then I'll be good.
nalioth
Member
Not all Romanians are bad.
"One bad apple spoils the barrel" figures here.
Folks who are happy with their products usually don't get online and trumpet their experience, but folks who get a bad apple will find every forum that covers their product and complain . . .
I have WASRs in all 3 calibers and they all run just fine. The vast majority DO run just fine.
All these "horror stories" come from .001% of the buyers who have gotten one and the "urban legend" inflates them . . .
"One bad apple spoils the barrel" figures here.
Folks who are happy with their products usually don't get online and trumpet their experience, but folks who get a bad apple will find every forum that covers their product and complain . . .
I have WASRs in all 3 calibers and they all run just fine. The vast majority DO run just fine.
All these "horror stories" come from .001% of the buyers who have gotten one and the "urban legend" inflates them . . .
theP8riot
Member
I have a Yugo underfolder built by Century. It functions like an AK should and is more accurate than I was expecting when I first bought it. I am able to repeatedly put rounds on a man sized target out to 200 yards.
wally
Member
I'd not buy a Romanian sight unseen, but if you look before you buy its pretty easy to get a good one eventually.
Look for straight line sight block, gas tube and front sight. The bad ones are obvious!
Check the tightness of the hand guards and the fit of the mag. Side to side mag wobble is OK as long its not so much as to have the mag lips interfere with the bolt motion. Front to back wobble should be close to non-existant
On side or underfolders, check the tightness of the lockups in both positions. The underfolders are never as tight as the side folders, and some wobble is inevitable with either (I'd say no more that about 1/8" for the side and maybe 1/4" to 3/8" for the under at the stock end). The smaller the better.
--wally.
Look for straight line sight block, gas tube and front sight. The bad ones are obvious!
Check the tightness of the hand guards and the fit of the mag. Side to side mag wobble is OK as long its not so much as to have the mag lips interfere with the bolt motion. Front to back wobble should be close to non-existant
On side or underfolders, check the tightness of the lockups in both positions. The underfolders are never as tight as the side folders, and some wobble is inevitable with either (I'd say no more that about 1/8" for the side and maybe 1/4" to 3/8" for the under at the stock end). The smaller the better.
--wally.
RaferJanders
Member
Well my Mak 90 rocks I bought it brand new with 10 30rd Mags and 3 5rd mags, and 400rds of Ammo, The day after it was used in the LA Bank robbery/ Terrimanator 4 in 98 for 300.00 bucks, I love it never has jammed, 66912 got a Polish underfolder, to add to his Bulgarian Nice I would advise everyone to own at least one. Folding stocks, It is up to the shooter, My Mak is tiny once I got rid of that lame thumbhole stock, They work if you are right handed, Not if you are left. You really don't need all that tac crap hanging off an AK, They are just dandy how they come.
dstorm1911
Member
Yugo, M70B1 for fixed stock M70AB2 for underfolder, the only AK over engineered into basically a 16" barreled RPK, 1.6 mm fully heat treated receiver all milled AK components...
BTW ya'll really gotta stop callin WASRs simply Romanian it really demonstrates a total lack of knowledge on your part as there are alota other AKs from Romania which are not the bottom of the barrel WASR..... for instance the "Lancaster" ya listed is made on a USA Receiver from Romanian MILITARY grade parts sets... the STG 2000 is basically a WASR in fact is made on the same assembly line in SADU with the same base components ie; bolts, bolt carriers, trunions, receiver, barrels, gas tubes etc....
The Romanian G kit built guns are true milspec parts.....
the Yugos are getting scarce again and the price is going back up, currently at $539 I believe through Classic arms
BTW ya'll really gotta stop callin WASRs simply Romanian it really demonstrates a total lack of knowledge on your part as there are alota other AKs from Romania which are not the bottom of the barrel WASR..... for instance the "Lancaster" ya listed is made on a USA Receiver from Romanian MILITARY grade parts sets... the STG 2000 is basically a WASR in fact is made on the same assembly line in SADU with the same base components ie; bolts, bolt carriers, trunions, receiver, barrels, gas tubes etc....
The Romanian G kit built guns are true milspec parts.....
the Yugos are getting scarce again and the price is going back up, currently at $539 I believe through Classic arms
I have to recomend Arizona Response Systems
http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/home.htm.
It IS a romy AK that they sell but if you look at the website you will see that the fit and function of the rifle is guaranteed. I am very happy with mine. I think it was about $550. If you are wanting to buy a AK rifle sight unseen then I would recommend you get it from here or a place like this and not one of the bigger places, which is where the horror stories come from. You get what you pay for mostly.
Any AK is (minus that 1%) always a good buy though,
Dan
http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/home.htm.
It IS a romy AK that they sell but if you look at the website you will see that the fit and function of the rifle is guaranteed. I am very happy with mine. I think it was about $550. If you are wanting to buy a AK rifle sight unseen then I would recommend you get it from here or a place like this and not one of the bigger places, which is where the horror stories come from. You get what you pay for mostly.
Any AK is (minus that 1%) always a good buy though,
Dan
Daniel Foster
Member
Any AK
I think any AK will be better than almost any other gun you could buy.
Saigas are sweet, affordable and relatively easy to come across. I bought my .223 for $295 new. They are also fun to convert to a pistol grip, as I have done. It's not hard, either. I have no gunsmithing experience and converted mine by watching a "how to" video on You Tube.
I am thinking of getting a .308 and leaving it unconverted.
Whatever the case, an AK will be all the rifle you will ever need or want.
I think any AK will be better than almost any other gun you could buy.
Saigas are sweet, affordable and relatively easy to come across. I bought my .223 for $295 new. They are also fun to convert to a pistol grip, as I have done. It's not hard, either. I have no gunsmithing experience and converted mine by watching a "how to" video on You Tube.
I am thinking of getting a .308 and leaving it unconverted.
Whatever the case, an AK will be all the rifle you will ever need or want.
J_Dillinger
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- Sep 10, 2007
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- 90
My Tactical Romanian RPK...........yeah and it shoots as good as it looks ! 
custermustache
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- Jun 18, 2008
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I bought a Romy WASR from Classic arms, and it is great, accurate, and tacti-cool with black furniture.
They don't have any at the price I bought mine ($349) but they are still doing cheap(er) prices. No canting, no mis alignment - I feel like I got a good deal.
They don't have any at the price I bought mine ($349) but they are still doing cheap(er) prices. No canting, no mis alignment - I feel like I got a good deal.
Quickill
Member
I bought a Vector last summer and have been very pleased with it's performance, over 600+ rounds with no failures. It's also very well built and finished. I would recommend one to anybody.
stevereno1
Member
dillinger, how long is the barrel on that beast?
Z-Michigan
Member
I don't know about dillinger's, but standard RPK is 23" barrel, and his looks like it has a standard barrel.
AK-47Ghost
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- Apr 11, 2008
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- 38
WASR-10 Owner
My WASR-10 has served me very well to date (approx. 500 rds with zero problems) and I love throwing empty cases all over the guys with the .22LR and the benchrest rifles...
C'mon man, if you don't like getting hit with cartridge cases maybe you should start playing golf or something???
Anyways, so far I've added an economical red-dot sight and side-rail bracket and am debating what to do with the other rail...light or laser?
My only complaints are the mag wobble and that the upper handguard is kinda loose, but I am also planning on getting a strikeforce package for it pretty soon.
Anything I can do about the mag wobble??
My WASR-10 has served me very well to date (approx. 500 rds with zero problems) and I love throwing empty cases all over the guys with the .22LR and the benchrest rifles...
C'mon man, if you don't like getting hit with cartridge cases maybe you should start playing golf or something???
Anyways, so far I've added an economical red-dot sight and side-rail bracket and am debating what to do with the other rail...light or laser?
My only complaints are the mag wobble and that the upper handguard is kinda loose, but I am also planning on getting a strikeforce package for it pretty soon.
Anything I can do about the mag wobble??
nalioth
Member
Is it affecting the function of the gun?AK-47Ghost said:
(from reading your post, the answer is 'no')
Do nothing.
shevrock
Member
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/NEW_AK_WASR_RIFLE_w__Bayonet_Lug___Muzzle_Break.html
I'm gonna get that one when i get some cash. Use some of the cash you save to buy surplus ammo.
I'm gonna get that one when i get some cash. Use some of the cash you save to buy surplus ammo.
dstorm1911
Member
Shevrock, the only surplus 7.62x39 available is a very small amount of Yugo berdan corrosive primed stuff thats selling at about the same price as wolf unless ya were already stocking up 5 years ago there was still surplus available at real surplus prices..... the really good stuff though was back in 89 chicom I'm still shooting that stuff
coinshooter
Member
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- Sep 13, 2005
- Messages
- 131
I was looking at the AZ response system web site he is having to cut back for a while he has some ready to go. I want toget another one before there is a backlog. He makes one fine AK.
Atlantic Firearms
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- Mar 23, 2006
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- 314
FYI , as parts & kits continue to dry up the prices are going up at the same time and will continue to get worse , we have seen prices on the base kits jump $100 in the last 6 months. Soon the original chrome lined kits will be gone and most rifles will be built on a mixture of parts with a US bbl.
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