Do I need an AK?

Scott Free said:
It's funny... Just a few years ago, everyone was tearing into the WASR like it was some kind of janky POS that nobody wanted, now they're the bees knees. I would get one if I had the skillset to make my own furniture for them.
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With good reason. The old ones did suck somewhat. Now the magwells are laser cut and sights are straight. The difference from one rifle to the next is not nearly as extreme as it used to be. They're pretty much all GTG now, with your occasional lemon, but you can get that even with more expensive rifles.

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RedneckFur said:
Had a Saiga that I converted for years, and it was a good, solid carbine that performed well. AK's are fun and virtually trouble free.

I personally don't care much for their ergonomics after getting into AR's, but if I could find a decent WASR for the prices we were paying 10 years ago, I'd jump on it. Ideally, I want a side folder.
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Mine are unconverted. Probably going to stay that way. If I hack them apart and replace parts they aren't true russian aks anymore in my opinion.
 
Reconsider the AK, it's a great platform. For a first gun go with a 7.62x39, mags are plentiful and cheap, you can get milsurp mags for $9-12 if you look around(decent 5.45 or 5.56 mags are going to run you $30-40). You can generally get 1000 rounds to your door in the $200-210 range. I'd also recommend NOT buying US made, unless you're getting one built up from a kit by a decent builder. Best bet on new factory rifles is the WASR imports, or the PAP/NPAP imports from Zastava. WASR's are notorious for canted sights, Atlantic has a hand select on the WASRs for about $20 or so where they go over the gun, function test it and make sure it's not canted. You prob would want to go with something on the standard AKM pattern if you're looking for accessories, not as many people make rails and the like for the Zastava/Yugo style handgaurd/gastube.
If you're looking at a used rifle, it'd be hard to beat a SAR-1, MISR, ARM, or a Mak-90. Try to find one that's still got the threads for the muzzle nut/flashhider.

It's got nothing to do with being a Commie, it's got everything to do with awesome!
 
is there a good Russian AK Manufacturer?

I have seen WASR but man they are expensive for something I likely wouldn't shoot much.

I agree that not having something already is as good a reason to get whatever. Did actually lol.
 
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myst173 said:
Reconsider the AK, it's a great platform. For a first gun go with a 7.62x39, mags are plentiful and cheap, you can get milsurp mags for $9-12 if you look around(decent 5.45 or 5.56 mags are going to run you $30-40). You can generally get 1000 rounds to your door in the $200-210 range. I'd also recommend NOT buying US made, unless you're getting one built up from a kit by a decent builder. Best bet on new factory rifles is the WASR imports, or the PAP/NPAP imports from Zastava. WASR's are notorious for canted sights, Atlantic has a hand select on the WASRs for about $20 or so where they go over the gun, function test it and make sure it's not canted. You prob would want to go with something on the standard AKM pattern if you're looking for accessories, not as many people make rails and the like for the Zastava/Yugo style handgaurd/gastube.
If you're looking at a used rifle, it'd be hard to beat a SAR-1, MISR, ARM, or a Mak-90. Try to find one that's still got the threads for the muzzle nut/flashhider.

It's got nothing to do with being a Commie, it's got everything to do with awesome!
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I was hoping to trade/buy into one for ~$500. These WASRs are $700! I don't see the value when quality ARs can be had for less.
 
There's great Russian options, VEPR, Saiga, they're just all banned from import right now because of all the Russian sanctions, there are a couple companies getting them in right now, but I think they are all ones that were either in country before sanctions started, or else coming through some third party that isn't listed by name in the sanctions. You'll spend more on a VEPR right now than you will an arsenal.
Trading you might luck up, never know, just depends on what you've got up for trade.

ARs are cheaper than AKs to aquire right now, Unless you build your own it's going to be hard to get in the door for $500.
 
Sevenshot said:
I might wait for the sanctions to end then. how does the VEPR or saiga compare to WASR?
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You may be pushing daisies before that wait is up. I wouldn't hold my breath for a Saiga and Vepr ban reversal. There's not much precedence for it (think Chinese guns and ammo, 7N6, etc. etc. etc.)

The Russian guns "look" nicer, but when it comes down to it, they do the exact same thing a WASR does. I have and shoot Russian and Romanian guns, and from a collector's standpoint, my Russian AKs will always be worth more. However, if my life depended on it, I'd trust my WASR just as much if not more than any of my other AKs, because it does the same thing as all of them, and I shoot it more than all of them.

Is a Vepr FM worth two WASRs? That's up to you to decide. I absolutely love my FM and will never sell it. But 100 times out of 100 times I'd choose a WASR, 10 mags, and 3,500 rounds of ammo over an FM with no accessories.
 
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if you're buying a WASR then consider an NPAP if you're not an AK purist that must have a chrome lined barrel and you want to change furniture to something tacticool. I've handled and shot at least a dozen
newer WASRs from Century, but my NPAP generally outshoots them since the barrel is CHF and nitride treated, thus requiring no overbore and lining.
 
how are the Palmetto AKs? They have them with a folding stock for $600 today
 
Tim said:
how are the Palmetto AKs? They have them with a folding stock for $600 today
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I'd steer clear of "Made in the USA" AKs, at least for now. No one has been in the game long enough, and there are endless pages on the various AK forums about problems with all the American companies. Many reported issues from PSA owners of broken extractors, drifting sight posts, mushrooming bolts, feeding issues, fit & finish, etc. etc., some after only a 100 or so rounds. Riley Defense out of Charlotte has received some good, early praise from owners (and a very bad, public experience from Rob Ski/AKOU), but I'm not ready to give them a shot. I'd be far, far more comfortable picking up a used import or proven parts kit build (Century M70AB2, among others).

If you simply want to test the AK waters and don't want to spend more on an established import AK, the PSA might be a decent stand-in. Just don't expect to get your money back or have an easy time selling it. I'm one of the more passionate, vocal AK guys on the forum here, and just know I have zero interest in owning a PSA AK, even though I have nothing but good things to say about their ARs. But, it's your money, not mine (and I'm excited you're still considering an AK at all). Good thing about PSA though is that if you run into problems, I'd expect their service department to at least make things right.
 
Ikarus1 said:
if you're buying a WASR then consider an NPAP if you're not an AK purist that must have a chrome lined barrel and you want to change furniture to something tacticool. I've handled and shot at least a dozen
newer WASRs from Century, but my NPAP generally outshoots them since the barrel is CHF and nitride treated, thus requiring no overbore and lining.
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Have they fixed the receiver issue on the NPAPs yet?

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IrishCannon said:
Have they fixed the receiver issue on the NPAPs yet?

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you mean the supposed faulty heat treatment issue? Haven't seen a new case of it reported since the Robski 5000rd review. I don't think its much of an issue if there's not much real-world user proof out there.

And the BFLV reports included cracked and failed receivers from other brands due to their level of abuse from full auto rental conditions.

I have replaced my recoil spring for a ALG that cost $12. Pretty sure that was half of the problem with Rob Skis gun based on the 12 to 20-yard ejection pattern.
 
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Went through that phase and left it behind. Owned a Polytech 56, Maadi, Saiga, Valmet. The only AK variant I truly liked was the Valmet M76 and that one was in .223. Traded it off to a friend. Gave the Saiga .223 to my son. I don't feel the need to own another AK but to each his own.
 
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