Vulcan Arms V47 any good?

[Lobotomy Boy]

I just looked at a bunch of AK47s at a gun show and I almost bought one. It was a Vulcan Arms V47, which features an American-built (the factory is just a few miles south of my office) stamped receiver with a lower that is stamped "Saiga" and "Made in Russia." It seemed to be of better quality than the Romanian AKs and overall to be the equal of the milled Bulgarian and the Norinco AKs. It lists for $499 on the website, but Vulcan was selling it for $369 at the gun show today.

You can see the gun at:

http://www.vulcanarmament.com/cgistore/store.cgi?page=/new/product.html&setup=1&ida=148&idp=88&his=0|88&cart_id=346374.3936

Anyone have any firsthand experience with these?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

It's a Russian-made Saiga sporter that Vulcan (formerly Hesse Arms) converted into standard AK format. To do so they replace the furniture and fire control parts (trigger, sear, disconnector, and hammer).

I had one made when they were still called Hesse. The fire control parts they used were too soft and started to peen around 180 rounds. By 200 rounds the gun would not work (i.e., pull trigger and the hammer wouldn't drop).

Based on my experience and everything else I've ever read online, I'd never buy anthing from Hesse or Vulcan again.

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

Thanks Dave. I'm glad I decided to do some research on it. I was intrigued by the Vulcan Arms, but not tempted to whip out my cash card. I almost did pull the plug and buy a DPMS Panther Lite 16. I still might. They retail for $709, but DPMS sells them at gun shows for $625.

Another thing I considered was buying an AK receiver and a parts set and building my own AK. A parts set was $200 and a receiver was $50. That might be a fun project, but I need to do some research first.

How's your Armalite AR180B holding up? That was another gun I seriously considered.

 

[MAKOwner]

The Hesse/Vulcan AKs are some of the few AKs you'll find nothng but warnings about buying... I haven't owned one however, and neither have most that slam them.

Anyway, if you want info on building one yourself check out the AK forums at http://www.gunsnet.net (although the server seems to be acting up some today), specifically the Build it Yourself II forum (may have to log in to see it). Has alot of info, and alot of people that have built them there. Wish my local shows had AK parts kits and receivers, had to order my stuff... Anyway, I just finished a build of a Bulgarian AK74 on a bent blank receiver and it was fun and rewarding. Wish I had money for more, I want a polish underfolder...

 

[Dave Markowitz]

How's your Armalite AR180B holding up? That was another gun I seriously considered.

I haven't had the chance to shoot it again yet. I went to the range with it last Friday but they were closed. :banghead: I may try again this week.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Is everything they make absolute junk? I saw a WASR-10 a few weeks ago with a Vulcan-made Galil-style folding stock on it that seemed decent. At least, better than the silly plastic folder that TAPCO carries.

I mean, come on--they're the only company (for some reason) that makes a new production Galil. From Dave's recommendation, I'd certainly not buy anything sight unseen from them, but can anybody attest to recent quality?

Aside from their site, that is...


Vulcan Armament