What AK should I get?

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Acheron

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I've been longing for an AK for a while now...I have a Yugo 59/66 SKS but I want a Kalashnikov to go with it. I've set my sights on either a Yugo M70 underfolder or a WASR. I know that the WASRs can be crappy sometimes and I've heard good things about the Yugos, but I'm still not sure. I've been pretty much bleeding money lately so I don't want to break the bank.

Any suggestions/comments?
 
I have two WASRs, both of which function fine, but one of which has a canted front sight.

I think WASRs are a good buy as long as you get to look it over before hand. They typically run from the high $200s to the mid $300s. I wouldn't pay more than $350 for on unless it was highly customized or accessorized.

A few things to look for:

1. Make sure that the front sight is not canted to one side. I have one WASR with a slightly canted front sight that needs to be fixed.

2. Make sure that the gas block is not canted to one side.

3. Make sure that the bolt carrier slams all the way forward with no gap between the ejection port and the bolt carrier.

4. Make sure (if the mag well has been milled out to accept high cap mags) that the magazine well isn't too loose. This could cause the magazines to wobble back and forth, which may cause feeding reliability issues. Also, be sure that the mag well is not too tight to accept mags.

As long as you get to look it over and check for the aforementioned potential issues, you can't go wrong with a WASR. They aren't exactly pretty, but they will exhibit that legendary Kalashnikov reliability.
 
Yeah, my next AK will probably be one of the M70 Yugo underfolders. Man, they are kick***. I'd go for the Yugo over the WASR unless money is tight.
 
If you want to customize it later on I would go with the WASR 10. They will accept almost any custom item. The Yugo a very good AK is hard to find custom items to fit it. You can refinish the WASR with a bake on finish and it will look nice.

UTG forend complete Quad rail system for WASR $70 will not fit the Yugo

Yugo Ultimak forend complete rail system $300 the only rail system I know of that will fit the Yugo

If you don't plan to customize get the Yugo and if you do, get the WASR.

I could not imagine not having a rail system on my AK to mount a forward mounted red dot sight and forend grip. It puts the AK in a totally different ball game.

Here is pic of A WASR 10 AK before being refinished with the UTG rail system and UTG Barrel tri mount. There are no canted items on this AK and it has a very nice trigger pull with the Tapco single hook trigger that came on it.





GC
 
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Yes you should buy an AK, just remember you get what you pay for when it comes to AKs. WASR is the bottom line AK an maybe a good starting point to get into AK style rifles but they do not compair to a more expensive Arsenal or Krebs.
 
Rather than retype it all...... copy and paste from my post in the last "what ak should I get" thread from last week ;)

the Yugos will be built on a heavier duty reciever, heavy RPK type front trunion AND heres the best part the Yugoslavs changed the UF stock geometry so its in a straight line with the bore for a much more comfortable shooting Underfolder ALL others drop down about 15-20 degrees from straight when locked open thats why ya here folks complaining about cr@ppy cheek weld with underfolders etc... the stock falls away leaving your head sitting on thin air, this is not an issue with any of the Yugo based underfolders

I build all of mine primarily from virgin parts sets so can't say much about other builders products but for the price a Century built one is a good starting point.......

ya can also add a thread on grenade launcher to the yugo and really start havin some fun......

Specs for ANY Yugo UF;

Brand new hammer forged barrel (no they are not chrome lined they are hammer forged match grade barrels)

Built in tritium night sights

100% fully heat treated 1.6 mm reciever USA Made exact replica reciever by Nodak Spuds

Underfolding stock is in straight line with rifle bore as opposed to dropping away 15-20 degrees like all other UFs

Heavy duty RPK front trunion for much sturdier and solid front end as opposed to the flat trunions used on all other standard AKMs

Custom wood is now available as well as ULTIMAK front HG assembly if ya wanna go tacticool with it adding optics etc.. $104 for the Ultimak frontend

Original Yugo underfolder Side scope rails are available and very simple to install with either screws or rivets

Stainless bolt and carrier

Grenade sights built in and for $32 ya can get the removable USA made launcher for lots of dummy grenade fun (I add arial burst pyrotechnics to mine) ya CANNOT use the launcher on a standard AKM as they don't have the beefed up front trunion or a sturdy enough reciever etc..

Locking dustcover latch

MUCH more comfortable PG from the start

Well thats about it, as far as fit and finish that will depend on who built it, Century is a very good deal provided ya inspect for canted sights thats the only place they can really mess up

If I wanted the best AK I'd only consider either milled or a Yugo in fact the Yugos parts other than the reciever itself are all intended for a milled AK, add a $15 milled style recoil assembly and ya got ya all the benifits of a milled AK at half the cost plus the built in tritium night sights are something ya'll only find on a Yugo period


A WASR is deffinetly outa the running when ya compare what ya actually get for that extra $100
 
Thanks for all the help/suggestions everyone!

I think that I'm going to go with the Yugo. I can't really afford the extra $100, but I think that I'd end up regretting a WASR. They are just too hit or miss for my tastes.

Thanks a lot to dstorm for all the great specs-really helped me make up my mind.
 
Lancaster makes great stuff and offers a lifetime warranty which no one else does. I can't blame you for not getting a Century---yuck!
 
I second the saiga option. They are cheap, even with the conversion. Plus you get an arsenal-grade rifle at a forth the price. You will also know your rifle inside and out once you've converted it.
 
The Lancasters look really nice but they are out of my price range (it's around $400-450).

I've handled Saigas and they just don't feel right to me-can't really explain it. I would like to get my hands on a Saiga shotgun (but that's a different story for a different thread).

I just don't trust Century to give me a reliable gun. I don't want to have to fuss with it and replace parts or bring it to a smith. The whole reason I'm getting a Kalashnikov is for the reliability!
 
Colateral, Lancaster consultings guns have absolutally nothing to do with a WASR they are built on Nodak NDS-3 recievers and from Romanian MILITARY grade "G" parts kits...... night and day when compared to WASR which is made in Romania strictly for export on a third rate Romanian reciever utilizing parts that do not meet milspec requirements etc...
 
Get the Yugo.

Forget about putting tactical crap on an AK. Use it as God intended- as is. The more crap you put on an AK, the more that can go wrong with it. Wood and Steel is what you want.
 
I handled both the .308 and 7.62x39 versions. Something just didn't seem to do it for me. The price is great, don't get me wrong, but I feel that I would wind up messing around with it and eventually convert to pretty much a stock AK. So I figure it's best to cut to the chase and start w/ an AK.
 
i thought i loved my mak -90 and then my dad got a yugo underfolder it is by far the best ak i have experience with.
 
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