WASR at my LGS

[Archangel14]

Just thought this would be a bit interesting. I went to my LGS today and fondled my first WASR (Century). No mag wobble, very tight, decent wood, overall a nice rifle. Then I saw two thing that made me gulp. First the front site was canted! You'd think that after all the internet babble about Century's canted front sites that they would have corrected that! Second, it was listed at $759!

I think I'll consider a different AK!

 

[Jackal]

Over priced and there's no reason to settle for cant. However, I will say that a small degree of cant is pretty common and generally acceptable in most any AK, regardless of country of origin. For military service, if the rifle can be zero'd, its considered "in spec", regardless of just how canted it is.

 

[Inebriated]

Canted front sight takes 30 minutes to fix. Overpriced, though.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I've got a Romy AK, and there's no way it's worth $750.

 

[kozak6]

That's definitely overpriced. Slickguns shows WASR's in the $570 range, which is still a bit much.

It's widely speculated that Century jacked up WASR prices in order to make their domestically produced AK's more competitive.

 

[Archangel14]

It's widely speculated that Century jacked up WASR prices in order to make their domestically produced AK's more competitive.

I don't know. You can still get a WASR off of Atlantic Firearms for about $570. My problem is that with the transfer fee ($100 in my area), and the $50 bullet button (I live in the People's Republik of California), I'm still spending over $700. For the rough equivilent of $750 charged by my LGS I get a lifetime warranty through the store (which is a reputable facility). So $750 ain't so bad in my parts.

BUT, I can also get a Century RAS47 for $650.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

It might be worth the extra in your case for the convenience. My WASRs run dirty all day long and never hiccup. Get them to fix that front site as part of the deal up front and pay 'em the extra few bucks. My '74 style wasr is canted but it isn't even a problem--for me they are really 200 yrd rifles mostly used for casual plinking.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I have both, and to be honest, I'd take an SKS over a Century AK. Given the asking price on that WASR as well as your state, you might want to give one a look.

 

[Inebriated]

If you know your market and $750 is the going rate for a ~$600 rifle, then it is what it is. The WASR will last a lifetime.

Check that the gas block and rear sight block are reasonably straight, and if they check out, you can easily straighten the front sight block yourself.

Pop pins, re-align, ream out holes to 1/8", and make a new set of pins out of drill stock (cut to length, stick on a magnet, and heat them with a blow torch until they fall off the magnet and into a cup of water... voila, heat-treated pins). Insert new pins, and you're done.

 

[DeepSouth]

I haven't seen a canted sight on a new WASR in a several years. I had hoped they'd fixed that problem.

With $750 on it I'd have never held it long enough to notice the sight.

 

[Ignition Override]

Archangel14:
Right now on GB, there are very few Saiga 7.62x39 rifles on the front page listed "Buy Now" at about $550.
The vast majority were much higher, with most ads stating that were banned from import.

They are reportedly fairly easy to convert for acceptance of the standard magazines.
From what I remember, these were imported intact, with No assembly by Century's outsourced companies. If you decide to buy an AK-74, read up on the wrong barrels used by Century in some of those. And Century was well aware of it....

The owner of The Military Arms Channel (Youtube) had quite an experience shooting 5.45 bullets through the 5.56 barrel which came in his 74.

 

[Normandy]

If you search a bit, you can still find Norinco AK-47s for $600-700. IMHO, they are far superior to the WASR, etc. Field strip both, and you'd prefer the Norinco. But a trip to the range was the deciding factor for me.

 

[BudgetBucks1]

I have two WASR's and both are great guns. The older has the canted front sight but I was still able to sight it in and it shoots plenty accurate with the right ammo. I paid $280 for the one with the canted sight and $400 for the one that isn't canted. I would point out the canted sight and see if they will cut the price. I have shot many thousands of rounds out of my WASR's with no issues whatsoever. They are great guns that I think have an unjustified bad rep. That being said I have been building mid level AR's for $650. If you are dead set on an AK you won't go wrong with a WASR. It beats the SKS by a mile in my opinion. I have owned and shot both. If you go with the WASR try the Golden Tiger ammo. Both of mine shoot tight groups with that ammo. Any of the Bears shoot well also, none of the wolf ammo shoots accurately in my guns.

 

[Z1900]

You can find a Saiga for less than that WASR.

 

[Fishbed77]

They are reportedly fairly easy to convert for acceptance of the standard magazines.

Saigas are very easy to convert. Ask me how I know.

You can find a Saiga for less than that WASR.

Not properly converted into AK configuration.

As much as I love Saigas, they just aren't the value they once were.

 

[Jackal]

Well, I just picked this little gem up yesterday at my local gun shop for $489 out the door. Absolutely beautiful Norinco NHM-90. This thing wears better bluing than most new hunting rifles I see and has the best fit/finish of almost any AK Ive ever seen! Made the $1100 Arsenal that was sitting beside it on the rack look like a turd. KVAR nato length stock and slant brake are already on the way...