Wife REALLY wants an AK-47 - advice?

[John E.]

Hey all,

I've got a 'problem' that more people probably wish they had - my wife really wants an AK-47. Well, that's not the problem so much as finding one, or a reasonable substitute.

She is only 5 feet tall and under a hundred pounds, so she wants something that would fit her stature. Also, she is looking for an auto-loader in a rifle round, otherwise I would suggest a pistol caliber carbine for her.

Any advice on good ways to go with this? Maybe get a Saiga and do a conversion? or are there any other types of dangerous-looking rifles that would suit her requirements and are easier to find in today's crazy market?

She is less concerned with hunting than with self/property defense. Maybe a .45 carbine would work if I could convince her it was her idea.

Any suggestions?

Edit:
Just took a look at some carbine manufacturer's pages - Good Lord, why are Hi-Point firearms so ugly?

 

[Thin Black Line]

There are plenty of 5' tall people worldwide who handle AKs every day.

On the positive side, that AK will look even larger to a BG when she's holding
it.

 

[greenr18]

yeah shes pretty much the perfect stature for the standard AKM, i mean think about all the thin / short little africans and vietnamese who lugged those things around and used them effectively

 

[John E.]

TBL, sorry I wasn't clear - she wants an AK because it is suitable to someone of her height and weight, so any substitute rifle/carbine would have to be about that size.

 

[greenr18]

if you want a less expensive option there's always the SKS, i prefer AKs but my dad loves them, he deemed them "nice little rifles" think he called one a "pop gun" once though

 

[HK G3]

The UMP45 civilian version may be worth looking into - I forget what that is called though. I've always sorta wanted one, but just end up spending the cash on ammo or accessories for my other guns

But honestly, if she can shoulder the rifle and get a proper cheek-weld, etc, just get a nice rubber recoil absorber to place over the butt-stock, and she'll love it. I don't even notice recoil on my friend's AK (WASR), and that's his only modification.

 

[gpr]

kt

how about some thing like a keltec sub 2000, in 9mm, fun, small, cheap to feed, easy to handle.... if she wants, you could bump up to a 40...gpr

 

[benEzra]

A basic Ruger mini-14 in .223 Remington, and some *Ruger* 20-round magazines, would be an OK substitute, but might not save you any money. The mini-14 is also very easy to learn your way around, quite light, and widely available (they even sell them at Wal-Mart, though you may have to order the 20-round magazines elsewhere).

I used to have a mini-14 and sold it because I liked my AK better, but the mini is a good little carbine (and the newer ones reportedly fix the accuracy gremlins that plagued my 1989-ish model).

M1 carbine, if you can find one.

+1 on the Kel-Tec carbines (I'd prefer the .223 over the 9mm, though).

Beretta CX4 Storm in 9mm or .40?

Hi-Point 995 with an ATI stock?

 

[H2O MAN]

Your wife will love it

 

[John E.]

these are all great suggestions - keep them coming!

About the SKS - they look sort of long with all that wood.

Are there any rifle caliber carbines in the $600 - $800 range?

 

[Nautilus]

My girlfriend... 5'2" 120lbs. She loves hers.



Had a SAR-1, but she traded it for a Norinco BWK in .223.

 

[SN13]

I bought a 7.62x39 Saiga 20" Barrel'd AK and did the conversion (Easy with hand tools) for about $100. My Wife has stolen it from me. She loves to shoot it. So that restricts me to my Saiga 12ga, my .308 and my .30-06.

 

[Jaws]

An AK-74 type in 5.45x39mm would be ok for her.

If she's shooting a rifle she knows what an AK is. She wants an AK. Just get her one. Don't try to full her.

 

[Gunther]

No, no, no, FN PS-90. The girls love em. With flashlight and laser and 50 rounds your wife can really clean the bad guys off the front or back porch and not have to reload! Really though, good luck finding an Ak now they have been rather sparse of late. Remember you only have 5 days left, before the Obamination could stop imports with a wave of his hand, so hurry

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Why not just buy her an SAR-1 or a WASR?

Prices, of course, would have been better a year ago, but there must still be some out there that are not crazy expensive.

 

[John E.]

I'm all for buying her one - anyone know of where in Houston I could buy an AK or the Saiga that I could convert?

 

[threadbare]

I got a couple of Romanian SAR-1s, 1 new(blonde wood) and one slightly used (red finish). I'm in the Austin area. pm me if interested.

 

[John E.]

threadbare - pm sent

 

[david_the_greek]

is she dead set on the AK? Mine really liked my AR15 (granted if you're worried about price then ak's probably a bit cheaper). Stock is adjustable for when she's wearing a coat etc. Though they do now make adjustable stocks for AK'S. I'm looking to build my girl a rifle, she seems to really like it.

 

[heron]

Saiga, if you can find one. Good bang for the buck, easy to convert, if the factory stock doesn't fit her.

 

[John E.]

david - good question - how does the AR15 compare to the AK's legendary ease of maintenance/tolerance of not so great maintenance?

 

[lipadj46]

how about some thing like a keltec sub 2000, in 9mm, fun, small, cheap to feed, easy to handle.... if she wants, you could bump up to a 40...gpr

Good luck finding one at a good price. You would have better luck finding a Saiga in 7.62x39, 5.56 or 5.45. An AR is good also for low recoil but require a more strict maintenance plan but still are vety reliable when taken care of.

 

[Grassman]

The wife shot my SKS for the first time last weekend, it's got a 20 round clip on it......she loved it. I might be able to convince her to get another one.

 

[david_the_greek]

John E - Mine has always run like a top. Seems that in its modern form, the ar15 runs well. I've never really torture tested my rifle, mainly because of a lack of locations to do such a thing. Any reputable manufacturer should be good though. I got a S&W base ar15 and it's been great. To me, the light weight is one of its best benefits. Its manual of arms is pretty intuitive, its sights are good, it can be used for close up play and long distance accuracy, its easy to take apart (push pins separate the upper and lower) and clean, the after market for parts to customize it to your own is RIDICULOUS! Seems like an endless amount of crap is available to modify the thing. If your wife is into guns then maybe she won't mind the slightly higher recoil of the AK. My girlfriend really liked the low recoil of the ar15 (with an adjustable stock too, just wait till she feels a real stock with a good cheek weld!), as well as its weight. I feel that if she shot a more substantial rifle so early in her shooting experience, it might shy her away. So, I'm going to have to hold back with the garand for a little bit ; )

I'm not saying the AK can't be any of the above, it's just that my experience is very limited with AK type rifles (only have taken one to the range once). I didn't care for the grip, stock, or sights. That said, your wife would fit the stock better than I. Also, the grip can be changed I believe and maybe she wouldn't mind it. As for the sights.... well I'd be talking out of my ass if I tried to offer any advice on that.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Get the woman what she wants, and BE HAPPY! Every married man here should have such problems.

lpl