What is the better AK deal?

[Dynasty]

I'm having trouble deciding which AK I should get. I have 2 options:

A) Converted Saiga (7.62x39/16" barrel), G2 trigger, Krink skeleton stock, pistol grip, one 30 round magazine. Approximately 1,000 rounds fired. $425 shipped.

2) Romanian WASR-10 (CAI import), G2 trigger, Tapco side folding stock, side rail scope mounts, 4 30 round magazines. Rear sight is slightly to the right (can this be fixed?). Never fired. $400 shipped.

This will be used for plinking and having fun. It will not be abused. It will be throughly cleaned/oil every trip to the range. Now is the time to buy an AK and I would like some advice from the AK pros on what AK I should get as my first AK.

 

[MIL-DOT]

First, you never mentioned the prices of each, this is important, because you might be getting a killer deal on the lesser rifle, or getting hosed on the nicer one.
The converted Saigas are widely considered among the finest,and most accurate, Ak's readily available,( love mine) while the Century wasr's are equally considered among the lowest quality ( though for just blasting and having fun, they'll usually hang with the best of them).The canted sight you refer to is especially common on the Romanian wasr rifles, but it is fixable, and lots of Ak's (especially wasr's) have this and often still shoot fairly straight. The folding Tapco stock, from almost everything i've read on it, is cheap and flimsy. There are many higher quality stock options available. Check out ACE stocks if you want a really cool,high quality folder (and don't mind paying for it). Also,Ultimak.com. is a great source for great deals on Ak stocks. One of the best folder deals is the Romainian wire folder, usually going for $50-60.Hope this helps......m.
P.S. check out the converted Saiga at Aimsurplus, to compare and see what kind of deal you're getting on the one you're considering.

 

[Dynasty]

You're right, I forgot the prices. I edited the original post, but will post prices here:

Sagia - $425 shipped
WASR-10 - $400 shipped

 

[JWarren]

I basically agree with Mil-Dot. Since no prices were mentioned, I am opertating from the assumption that they are the same price in this scenerio.

If that's the case, the converted Saiga is your best bet, hands down.


From your options, I see this:

-- The Saiga has been shot 1000 times and the WASR is unfired.

Check the bore of the Saiga. If a chrome-lined bore has had ANY attention, it is still practically new at 1,000 rounds. This still puts it ahead of the WASR.


-- Both have the same trigger, so that is a wash.

-- I don't care for the Tapco side-folder. I'd consider the stock on the Saiga a plus for the Saiga.

-- You get 3 more magazines with the WASR than you do with the Saiga. Even at -- say $15 dollars a magazine-- that is a $45 value. There is FAR more than $45 of value in a Saiga over a WASR.

-- You mentioned that the WASR has a side scope rail. That's great, but Saigas ALSO have a side scope rail. Again, this is a wash.

--You mentioned that the WASR has the rear sight slightly to the right. Is this a bent sight or something odd with the rifle's front trunnion? Canted FSB's can be fixed. Canted Gas Blocks can be fixed. No so sure about Front Trunnion wierdness.

At any rate, I'd take one where I didn't need that headache to begin with.

The only thing you haven't told us (besides the prices) is who did the Saiga conversion. Even if you don't know, how does the conversion look? Have you taken the receiver cover off and checked it out? Have you cycled the action? What about the bullet guide? Does it look like it has been installed properly?

If all that is fine, and the price is similar I would say that someone either is giving a screaming deal on a converted Saiga, or believing that they can give a few add-ons to a WASR and move it at an over-inflated price.

If the Saiga is well converted and maintained, get it over a WASR-- even if it is NIB and/or with extras magazines.



But that's just my take on it.



-- John

 

[JWarren]

Opps... now I see the prices.

With $25 dollars difference and considering my above post, I would still lean towards the Saiga strongly.


Most converted Saigas, incidently, go for a couple hundred more than they are asking for that one.

-- John

 

[Mojo-jo-jo]

+1 for the Saiga. It's a much better rifle than the WASR.

 

[possum]

i am not a wasr fan but with that said depending on who did the saiga converstion would detrmain if i went that direction or not.

i would probally go with the wasr 9 times out of ten, i believe if you want an ak then you should get the ak.

 

[azhunter12]

Saiga here.

 

[JWarren]

i would probally go with the wasr 9 times out of ten, i believe if you want an ak then you should get the ak.

Uhm... then what is a converted Saiga?



-- John

 

[nalioth]

i believe if you want an ak then you should get the ak.

The Saiga is a Kalashnikov (or AK). It has the stupid Monte Carlo and other small quirks for importation purposes.