Who makes the best AK in .223/5.56

[Byrd666]

Basically this, who makes the best and most reliable AK 47 or 74 in .223 or 5.56 for a reasonable price? Reasonable being below $600 or lower.
I'm not a rifle guy but, I realize the benefits of having one. And from what I've read and heard and seen, the AK platform is almost indestructible. That is one of the reasons for my interest in this particular rifle.

 

[86250rrippin]

the saiga .223 is an all new russian built gun. but, it comes in a sporting version.cost is 300-350 and it CAN be converted for under 200. i have the 5.45 russian caliber(similar to a .223) and it shoots smooth and has almost no recoil. the ammo is dirt cheap (surplus)

 

[toivo]

I have a Saiga that has been 100% reliable. They come with a sporter stock instead of a pistol grip, but that can be remedied. The easy fix is one of the skeleton stocks.

Here's one with that set-up:

 

[BigMag]

There are so many good AK’s out there anymore its hard to decide. The Russina Saiga is always a good bet. I have on with red wood from Atlantic that is awesome! What features are you looking for?

[/IMG]

 

[Z-Michigan]

Saiga 223 and convert it, or Arsenal SGL which is just a factory conversion of the same thing.

 

[JohnnyK]

I LOVE my Golani... Isreali AK... shoots .223 longer sight radius than standard AK makes it more accurate... I use it for 3-gun... very accurate... milled receiver... DOESN'T need to be converted... but I love Saiga's too and have 2 of them also... same cost as converted Saiga... I got mine used of GunBroker for $600 with 8 mags including a 50 rounder...

 

[M1key]

Someone might suggest the VEPR, but I find them heavier than necessary.

+1 on the Saiga

M

 

[nathan]

If you can find the BWK 92 made by Norinco, heck of a rifle. The Arsenal 106 is also not bad.

 

[Byrd666]

BigMag - I'm not sure what features I'm looking for. A rifle is a foreign, of sorts, thing to me. Semi automatic, reliable, accurate, 50-200 yard range+-, easy to take care of and clean, cheaper ammunition that's readily available, easy to add or remove components, pistol grip, options for bipod and scopes or sights, higher round count mags. Something that can stand up to being used and possibly abused, though not intentionally, and will last longer than I will. A rifle that will stop hogs or deer or two legged intruders. An all around tool. Oh yeah,light weight, as I only have one paw to work with.

 

[Mike1234567]

In your situation you'll probably want to do the conversion the most important of which moves the trigger group forward and adds a grip. It'll be easier to handle that way.

 

[Atlantic Firearms]

The ARSENAL INC Bulgarian SLR Imports are very nice.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Arsenal and Saiga have a much better fit and finish than the Norinco guns. I know the Chinese rifles shoot pretty well, but they don't look anywhere near as good as the Arsenal and Saiga rifles.

 

[wally]

Finding mags for the Chinese .223 AKs won't be easy. Finding them for the SAR-3 Romanian will be even harder, but the "Circle 10" can be made to work by modifying the gun or the mags, although they are rather expensive these days.

The converted Saiga can use Galil mags or Surfires or the Tapco Galil mags. All are reasonably plentiful right now with the Tapco current production and the cheapest but they've worked 100% in my pair of converted Saiga 223 rifles (one is scoped, the other has a red dot).

IMHO this makes the Saiga or its Arsenal conversion your only real choice unless you find a deal on one of the others with all the mags you'll want.

 

[dirtengineer]

Galil. Very accurate.

 

[Byrd666]

Thanks all for the responses. Now I just have to find 'em and do some comparisons.

 

[JustinJ]

I don't know if a new Arsenal can be had for under $600 but compared to the current market of guns i find their prices reasonable. You can do a Saiga conversion but it will lack a number of key Arsenal features. If i were you i would try to find a used Arsenal though.

 

[Byrd666]

Isn't the Saiga imported under the Arsenal umbrella?

 

[Rob G]

Isn't the Saiga imported under the Arsenal umbrella?

No they're seperate companies altogether. Saigas are made in Russia at the Izhmash plant alongside military AKs. Arsenal on the other hand is an American owned company in Las Vegas that takes imported Saigas and converts them in to a clone of the Russian AK100 series rifles. Obviously the two have a close relationship of sorts but they aren't the same company.

 

[86250rrippin]

yep, the saiga is a quality russian ak thats been demiltarized with all new parts and a chrome lined barrel. which is great if your going to use corrosive surplus ammo as i do(5.45) . arsenal has a good rep because they are using a new gun to begin with and adding new american parts to complete the conversion in saiga builds,that is.my saiga came with the dragunov buttstock and i see no need to move my trigger on mine as its ergonomic as-is. the saiga is not a parts gun...............

 

[nathan]

If its in .223 the Saiga might be nice to have especially they are new production guns with chromelined bores. But i would just go for a nice M 4 like SPikes . AKs as everybody knows goes well with the 7.62 x 39 and 5.45.

 

[Byrd666]

Once again, I've learned a thing or twelve. Thank you for the responses, help, and direction.