Which AK-47 for first time AK owner?

[Fire-4-Effect]

I am new to AK-47's and really know nothing about them. I have always thought they were a low quality, inferior rifle and was never much interested. Lately I have seen more and more at the range (I am a new RO) and have become more interested.

So, I am looking to buy my first AK-47 but do not know where to start. I want one that I will be able to put a red dot on, customize with better parts in the future and get decent accuracy out of (decent for an AK). I will keep it in wood as I like the classic military rifle look. Which one should I be looking at and any sources would be appreciated!

Thanks

PR

 

[RP88]

a good lower-end (entry level) model are you infamous WASR-10s. Cheap and sturdy AKs. They come standard with side-mount rail and the ability to take new furniture (not sure on whether or not alterations need to be made to accomodate it, though). They also have chromed barrels.

Make sure to check for magizine wobble and for a canted front post sight. Depending on when the WASR was made, you may also want to try the trigger to check for any trigger slaps.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

Have you checked out the Atlantic Firearms website? Nice selection of AK's with wood. I think the Vector would be a fine choice.

Arsenal SLR-107FR is nice but has plastic furniture you'd have to change out for wood.

Maybe check out the VZ.58 too. Not an AK (though it looks like one), but some people prefer them to AK's in a 7.62 semi auto.

 

[Browning]

Well if I just wanted to shoot and play around a little with an AK and if I hadn't done so before more than likely I'd just get an inexpensive Romanian SAR-1 (a little over or a little under $400) or a WASR to see if you like them if you're like alot of us and you aren't made of money. They're good solid rifles and they don't cost a fortune.

Something like this.

Romanian SAR-1

http://savvysurvivor.com/gearreviewromanian_ak_rifles.htm

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/New_Rifles_.html

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/New_Long_Guns.html

Then after owning one for a little while and you decide that you like them then maybe go for one of the higher priced and better finished Bulgarian AK's or something from Krebs with all the bells and whistles. I'd see if I liked them first though before I started dumping all kinds of money into something first though.

http://www.arsenalinc.com/calibers762.htm

http://www.krebscustom.com/index.shtml

 

[sig2022shooter]

Saigas are a great place to start. You can convert them yourself to the pistol grip configuration easily and learn a lot about AK's during the process and have a lot of fun at the same time. They also probably have the best quality to price ratio you can find.

 

[nalioth]

Then after owning one for a little while and you decide that you like them then maybe go for one of the higher priced and better finished Bulgarian AK's or something from Krebs with all the bells and whistles.

Also keep in mind that the most expensive AK runs just as good as the least expensive.

The Marketing Department makes all the difference.

 

[knicks118]

Saiga 7.62...can't go wrong.

 

[TheWarhammer]

Stay away from the WASR series. They are the lowest quality AKs out there. They were built as low-cap rifles using single stack mags. Later, the mag wells were milled out to accept double stack mags. Because of this, they do not have the dimples on either side of the mag well. The lack of these dimples causes the mags to fit loosely and wobble horribly. The widening of the mag wells is hit or miss, and is done very sloppily more often than not. Assembly, fit and finish tend to be the worst of all possible AKs (and that is saying a lot for an AK).

Also, if you go to any website that sells AK accessories and allows buyers to post reviews (such as Cheaper Than Dirt), you will find a common theme. Almost every reviewer who complains that an accessory did not fit their AK will mention that it did not fit their WASR. If you want a gun to customize with non-classic AK furniture, the WASR is not for you.

If you want a good, cheap AK, look for a Romanian "G" model. These are built from Civil Guard kits on new, US-made receivers. They tend to be pretty good guns for the money. I bought mine from www.classicarms.us. Another option is to end about $100 more and get a higher quality build from someone like www.elitefirearms.net. I’ve been to their shop and they build top-notch rifles.

As for adding optics, you have a few choices. First is to make sure you buy a model that has the integrated rail on the side of the receiver. Second is to add some sort of quad rail. Third is the Ultimak Gas tube/rail. I have an Ultimak and LOVE it. Finally, you could mount a flimsy plastic handguard with an integrated rail, but don’t expect much accuracy from it.

 

[sarduy]

Wasr-10 = Great For The $

Stay away from the WASR series. They are the lowest quality AKs out there. They were built as low-cap rifles using single stack mags. Later, the mag wells were milled out to accept double stack mags. Because of this, they do not have the dimples on either side of the mag well. The lack of these dimples causes the mags to fit loosely and wobble horribly. The widening of the mag wells is hit or miss, and is done very sloppily more often than not. Assembly, fit and finish tend to be the worst of all possible AKs (and that is saying a lot for an AK).

Also, if you go to any website that sells AK accessories and allows buyers to post reviews (such as Cheaper Than Dirt), you will find a common theme. Almost every reviewer who complains that an accessory did not fit their AK will mention that it did not fit their WASR. If you want a gun to customize with non-classic AK furniture, the WASR is not for you.

If you want a good, cheap AK, look for a Romanian "G" model. These are built from Civil Guard kits on new, US-made receivers. They tend to be pretty good guns for the money. I bought mine from www.classicarms.us. Another option is to end about $100 more and get a higher quality build from someone like www.elitefirearms.net. I’ve been to their shop and they build top-notch rifles.

As for adding optics, you have a few choices. First is to make sure you buy a model that has the integrated rail on the side of the receiver. Second is to add some sort of quad rail. Third is the Ultimak Gas tube/rail. I have an Ultimak and LOVE it. Finally, you could mount a flimsy plastic handguard with an integrated rail, but don’t expect much accuracy from it.

That sound like an ANTI-WASR person to me.

the wasr had a few problems in the begining, but as far as i know those issues have been fix, as for dimples it's pure cosmetics, they come with a plate inside of the reciever that hold the mags in place, some wobble and some don't, and the bad reviews is because there are 10,000,000 wasr out there...of course you will have bad reviews but those are from people that got their wasr a long time ago. the woods doesn't come with a bad finnish, they come without finnish, so you can add whatever color you like.

AK-47 (Wasr-10) with Side-rail and Reddot and Honey Pecan Gloss Finnish

 

[elmerfudd]

I'd get a Yugo M70. They're around $500 and are pretty nice guns. They use 1.6mm receivers and new Green Mountain barrels and I think they're more accurate than the typical AK. There are a couple of downsides to them however. First off, they're dimensionally a little different. Nothing that you'd notice looking at them, but if you're buying parts you have to make sure you get the right ones. Most other AK's are pretty much standard. Second, they don't have a chrome lined bore. To me this is a very minor issue. There's plenty of cheap non-corrosive 7.62x39 out there and it will still last for tens of thousands of rounds.

 

[nalioth]

The lack of these dimples causes the mags to fit loosely and wobble horribly.

No, the grossly incompetent milling job causes mag wobble and loose fit. WASRs come with guide plates inside the mag well for the single stack mags. These must be opened up for the use of military mags (and this is one of the operations Century does). Individuals who buy unaltered single stack WASR-10s and do their own conversion have some of the tightest and best-running Kalashnikovs around...

Also, if you go to any website that sells AK accessories and allows buyers to post reviews (such as Cheaper Than Dirt), you will find a common theme. Almost every reviewer who complains that an accessory did not fit their AK will mention that it did not fit their WASR. If you want a gun to customize with non-classic AK furniture, the WASR is not for you.

What you won't see are the several hundred WASR owners who:

a) had their part fit perfectly

or

b) saw the particular part was crap and didn't order it in the first place.

The WASR is as fine a Kalashnikov as any.

 

[jackdanson]

I had a wasr and it was alright, but the front sight post was "stuck". Meaning I couldn't adjust windage, which meant that it would never hit where I aimed. I heated it up and slammed the he.. err heck out of it and finally got it moved a little, but it was never "right". I suggest a saiga. Own 3, never had a problem with any. I don't like a gun I have to get the blowtorch out to adjust the windage on.

It did run everything I threw at it though.

 

[walking arsenal]

I own a WASR and it has the dimples.

Its front sight was a little stuck but I used the sight adjustment tool to adjust it and it worked just fine.

 

[rangerruck]

I'll second the saigas, otherwise, i would do a polish tantal, or hungarian.

 

[Vegaslaith]

I like the Polish Tantal. Its 5.45 x 39 ammo is slightly more expensive than its 7.62 counterpart, but not much more. Otherwise go with a Romy "G" rifle. I have a WASR and a G. The WASR had to have the mag well widened, the G didn't. They're both around $400.

 

[xx7grant7x]

just make sure yyou get what you want in options i bought a synthetic stocked one to start with then decided you know i really wanted and underfolder.....buy...sell.....buy

 

[bogie]

Which AK?

Get one that isn't rusty.

Yet.

 

[Globeguy]

5.45 is cheaper than 7.62.

 

[RP88]

5.45 is cheaper than 7.62

it doesnt take much to change that overnight, though.

 

[Z-Michigan]

it doesnt take much to change that overnight, though.

And I'm not aware of anyone currently loading 5.45mm or making 5.45mm casings in the US. One import ban and poof! - no supplies til someone domestic can tool up.

7.62x39mm is made in the US also, though admittedly it costs nearly as much as .308 Win for the domestic stuff.

 

[Browning]

Also keep in mind that the most expensive AK runs just as good as the least expensive.

The Marketing Department makes all the difference.

That's very true, but the higher end AK's usually have a better fit and finish.

A good looking finish is really important to some people.

 

[Tarvis]

I am in the same boat as the OP.

Individuals who buy unaltered single stack WASR-10s and do their own conversion have some of the tightest and best-running Kalashnikovs around...

Impact Guns has a WASR for sale on their rack for $325 iirc. I was seriously thinking about buying it until I noticed the magwell, which appeared to be a single stack. Does anyone have a link to instructions on how to modify it to accept double stack mags? I am as cheap as they come (on most things) and $325 is right up my alley for an AK, assuming the front sight isn't canted.

 

[RP88]

And I'm not aware of anyone currently loading 5.45mm or making 5.45mm casings in the US. One import ban and poof! - no supplies til someone domestic can tool up.

that is exactly why and how it can change overnight. It's also pure surplus, so if nobody actually gets into manufacturing it on large scale, then it will most certainly jump in price after it starts to dry up. I guess that would be a good thing there from a collector standpoint, too, since Tantals are already jumping price alot more than your '47s.

7.62x39mm is made in the US also, though admittedly it costs nearly as much as .308 Win for the domestic stuff.

yea, but those are larger-volume boxes than your 20-rd squares from Wolf, right? It still costs like 15-20% more per round though, iirc. Unless, i was looking at the wrong figure...

 

[gandog56]

Saigas are about the cheapest, until you price out the hi cap mags, since they won't use standard ones without some mods done.

 

[nalioth]

Impact Guns has a WASR for sale on their rack for $325 iirc. I was seriously thinking about buying it until I noticed the magwell, which appeared to be a single stack. Does anyone have a link to instructions on how to modify it to accept double stack mags? I am as cheap as they come (on most things) and $325 is right up my alley for an AK, assuming the front sight isn't canted.

Tarvis, stay away from that one.

That Impact Guns price the same price for an unaltered factory WASR-10 as you should be paying for a fully 922r satisfying WASR-10/63.

You can find factory fresh unaltered single stack WASR-10s for less than $250 (and $250 is on the expensive end).