Thinking of some AK74s

[FuzzyBunny]

Who makes the best 74 for the money, and what kind of $$ are we talking about.

What do the AK74 mags cost in bulk?
Same with the ammo as in 20,000 rounds or so?

Last can it be suppressed? I know the round is supersonic so is there an advantage?

 

[PabloJ]

I would pick AKM instead of AK74. I like knockdown power for .30 cal at closer ranges much better. My top pick would be 7,62x39 with side-folding stock from that Nevada outfit called Armory, Bunker,....... Fortress or something like that. The price of new one hovers around $1100. Part of the gun comes from Romania but is assembled here with some US components.

 

[Jimbo53]

Just ordered this one from KVAR.

http://www.k-var.com/shop/SLR104-31.html

You can still buy a spam can of surplus 5.45 for $180.00, 1080 rounds. Mag prices vary, but are readily available.

 

[FuzzyBunny]

Well PabloJ I do like the idea of a 5.45x39 over the 5.56 just because it a tougher rifle than the AR.

I have my .308s covered. The pallet load of the combloc ammo is way cheaper than the 5.56 too. The only price I'm not sure of is what 500 of the good comblock mags will go for.

From what I have seen the 5.45 has better terminal performance than the 5.56.

This is kind of a big decision for me as I plan to buy in bulk.

BTW 7.62x39 is not off the table.

 

[PabloJ]

When I was thinking longer range terminal performance SSG 5,56mm came to mind. These come with excellent iron sights, rail for easy optic installation and mag well for either swiss style or M16 magazines. Good one costs about $1700.

 

[FuzzyBunny]

For longer range terminal performance thats why I have the semi 308s and 30.06 bolts.

 

[Icky The Great]

I worked at a shop that had 2 select fire AK74's. The one was a shop gun were used at machinegun shoots. It was, WAS, nice but after about 2500 rounds it seemed to shift slightly. By the time we retired it, we ran probably 15000 rounds give or take a grand. The throat had eroded so bad we were getting blow by right outta the gate. We made the choice to send it out to rebarrel it but sold it instead.
Com-bloc ammo is some of the nastiest crap. I think if we were using a better grade ammo it would have lasted longer.

 

[FuzzyBunny]

Wow Com-bloc ammo costs was the big attraction for us. We just wanted the semi auto of course but filthy ammo could be a deal killer.
Is it non corrosive?

Massive price difference in a pallet of 5.45 vs 5.56 but then again there is the 7.62 way to go. I'm not sure if they make a surplus non corrosive 7.62x39?

 

[RCArms.com]

The 7n6 Russian 5.45x39 is good ammo. Yes it's corrosive and yes it's somewhat dirty, but if you clean and maintain your rifle properly there is no reason not to use it.

The only negatives I've ever heard about it came from folks that failed to maintain their rifles and paid the price with corrosion resulting from the corrosive salts in the primer compound.

I like the Araenal / FIME SGL-31 series of SAIGA conversions. Solid platforms and a good value.

 

[krinko]

A selection of 5.45x39 rifles, including an Arsenal converted Saiga---



Russian 5.45 gets a bad rap from people who don't shoot it out of decent rifles.
Here's a 100 yard target using Factory 270 ammunition out of the Colt & Wesson AR in the middle---



Here's a 100 yard target from the SSG 82 using Factory 539---



Upper right is a ranging shot.

The Arsenal 74s are better than the Waffenworks IMAO. The closest you can get to a real 74 without joining the Russian Army, or the Sinaloa Cartel.
-----krinko

 

[FuzzyBunny]

The 7n6 Russian 5.45x39 is good ammo. Yes it's corrosive

Well thats a deal breaker.

Is there 7.62x39 surplus that is not corrosive? One of the highlighted points is being noncorrosive. You would think by the time these came out it would be with upgraded powder/primers.

I'm rethinking the whole setup now. We need to go with something and have ruled out the ARs so that does not leave alot of semi autos out there with an ammo price/quality that is realistic.

 

[RCArms.com]

The 7n6 Russian 5.45x39 is good ammo. Yes it's corrosive

Well thats a deal breaker.

Is there 7.62x39 surplus that is not corrosive? One of the highlighted points is being noncorrosive. You would think by the time these came out it would be with upgraded powder/primers.

I'm rethinking the whole setup now. We need to go with something and have ruled out the ARs so that does not leave alot of semi autos out there with an ammo price/quality that is realistic.

Corrosive ammo is jot that big of a deal. It involves a bare minimum level of maintenance to negate the effects of corrosively primed ammunition.

I'd rather clean an AK after shooting 1,000 rounds of corrosive ammo in an afternoon than clean an AR after shooting the same number of non corrosive rounds. I have both platforms, but the AK is easier to maintain and in my experience more reliable in use.

 

[Jeremy2171]

The 7n6 Russian 5.45x39 is good ammo. Yes it's corrosive

Well thats a deal breaker.

Is there 7.62x39 surplus that is not corrosive? One of the highlighted points is being noncorrosive. You would think by the time these came out it would be with upgraded powder/primers.

I'm rethinking the whole setup now. We need to go with something and have ruled out the ARs so that does not leave alot of semi autos out there with an ammo price/quality that is realistic.

What's the big deal with shooting corrosive ammo? Is it too hard to spray a little water on it before cleaning like normal??

 

[funklord12]

I would say top of the line is an Arsenal. Next is either a buy a Waffen Werks Grade B from Classic Firearms for ~$600 or build a Saiga and do the conversion yourself.

You missed out on Ak-74 and 5.45x39 golden days. Less than 5 years ago it was parts kits w/ original barrels for $300ish, surplus military mags $10, and 1080 rd cans for $120.

 

[FuzzyBunny]

This is kind of a group buy so I will bring it up.
The corrosive ammo was discussed and decided to avoid it if possible.

Looks like it will need to be revisited.

 

[Ignition Override]

FuzzyBunny: You asked twice about whether 7.62x39 is always corrosive, but maybe you meant 5.45x39?

Having used modern Russian 7.62x39 since early '08 (min. 4,000 rds.), none of it has been corrosive and you're probably well aware of this.
In stark contrast, all of the lower-priced 5.45x39 which I've seen, is labeled corrosive.

If an AK-74 which was Not assembled by Century Arms were at the same price as the more common SKS rifles, I would buy a 74 in order to have access to lots of centerfire ammo at approx. .18/round. If you are left alone, you can clean the bore, chamber, gas tube and piston in about fifteen minutes, including the hair dryer step.

Have you guys read about certain Century Tantals (5.45) assembled a few years ago with 5.56 bores?
You could never sell me a rifle assembled by Century at any price.

 

[itsa pain]

Lol you are right you need a dental hygienist to clean an AR and it has to many tiny parts to lose. I would not waste money on an arsenal. In the shotgun news they test one that costs $1650. J&G has converted saigas for $749 and Bulgarian pattern 74's for $699. So you could buy two of either and some ammo for what one arsenal costs

 

[justice06rr]

Is ammo and ammo price the only considerations you are trying to get an AK74?

It seems you're scared of corrosive ammo, but its not really a deal breaker. Cleaning them takes 15mins or less. Ammo is very cheap and that is the biggest draw of the 5.45AK. I'm in the market for one myself.

Corrosive ammo is jot that big of a deal. It involves a bare minimum level of maintenance to negate the effects of corrosively primed ammunition.

I'd rather clean an AK after shooting 1,000 rounds of corrosive ammo in an afternoon than clean an AR after shooting the same number of non corrosive rounds. I have both platforms, but the AK is easier to maintain and in my experience more reliable in use.

AR's are just as easy to clean esp if you use brass ammo. Using brass it will actually stay cleaner vs using steel cased ammo. I have also shot AR's close to 1k rounds and never had reliability issues with them. A good AR15 should run just fine as well as an AK

 

[Ignition Override]

One of my Yugo SKS M59s was cleaned tonight in about fifteen minutes, including the gas tube/piston.

The main issue for me (or many others?) regarding the AK-74s is always the very high prices for the rifles.

That seems to be a high cost for the ability to shoot a bit more ammo per session for the same cost as modern 7.62x39 at .22/rd.
Both of my Yugo SKS are in excellent condition (the only apparent wear is on the wood) and cost $375 a month ago.

 

[JustinJ]

Arsenal is best. Mine is a Russian but the Bulgarians are on par. I love mine and it holds five round groups well under 2' with 7N6. Ironically it shoots 7N6 tighter than all others I've tried, including Hornaday. Cleaning is a little more of a pain though but not too terrible. I did however read that 7N6gas is slightly toxic so I tend to use it sparingly. However, there is plenty of newly manufactured 5.45 that is non-corrosive. Its not that much more than mil surplus. Mags have come back down too to under $15.