ak-47

[charles]

what is the better gun as far as make and model. I would like to buy one before they out law them all together. charles

[Smilin_Bob]

what is the better gun as far as make and model. I would like to buy one before they out law them all together. * *charles

Well there are plenty of Romanian AK's out there. And they are fairly cheap. But if you have the money I would look at Bulgarian or anyother AK with a milled receiver. I would stay away from Yugo's as they do not have a chrome lined barrel. Its getting more difficult to find quality AK's, if you are not fixed on a pistol grip the Chinese Norinco MAK-90 is and excellent firearm. I hope this helps.

Smilin Bob ;D

[RangerRick]

http://i18.tinypic.com/2q16n0l.png

This is the Israeli Galil in .223/5.56. *I've got mine on order and should be delivered within another week I hope, from Century Arms & Centerfire. *I've fired the Century unit and at $800 it is a bargain. *There is also an adapter made for it that allows it to use AR15/M16 mags. *After the 6 day war Israel designed this off of the AK47 but improved it considerably with a milled receiver, rotating bolt, chromed barrel and longer sight picture as they were less than impressed with the performance of the FAL in sandy environments that they used at the time so you may want to take this into serious consideration as an alternative. *Oh yea, it comes standard issue with folding stock, bayonet lug, 1 mag, and Tritium Sights fore and aft.

Rick

[Bad_Omen]

Yep, I'd agree with RR there, I have very fond memories of my R5, which is the South African ParaBat version of the Galil.

I never once had any problems with her and we went all over the bush together and got into a fair few scrapes. She never once let me down. ;D

If you're after an 'AK type' you'll be hard pushed to find better.

[Pitdog]

Arsenal AK's are pretty much the best on the market out there right now. Norincos are nice and reliable too, however they are pricey since the Chinese imports were banned altogther several years ago. I got a couple of them and they both run with no problems. Romanian AK's work, but are rough, if you have the skilled hands and a little know-how in homegunsmithing, you can improve them drastically. I reccomend replacing single hook tirggers with double hook triggers, and keeping a good supply of spare springs. Extractors and firing pins are a good emergency repair part to have as well.

[Badger]

+1 Arsenal Inc. I'm saving for one in 7.62 X 39

[karlsgunbunker]

You can spend the extra dollars on a milled receiver AK if you have it or buy a stampeed receiver AK and a case of ammo.

The AK-47 was originally designed to have a "Stamped" receiver. the milled russian rifles were produced as a stop gap due to production problems with the stamped models.
The milled AK's are very expensive to produce due to the machining required.

I have 4 stamped receiver AK's they all go bang every time and are as accurate as the design and my eyes allow.

[Badger]

I have 3 AK style rifles:

The first is a MAK-90 with a milled receiver. At the time I bought it no one wanted a MAK because of the thumb hole stock. The "M'' in MAK is for modified ie thumbhole stock, and sold with a 5 round magazine. MAKs came in either milled of stamped receiver. Either in very good. The last price I saw on a blonde MAK 90, stamped receiver was $550. I've heard of them as high as $650.

I recently got bitten by the Evil AK bug and have bought two more AKs.

I purchased a WASR 10/63 for $400 out the door. I checked it against all the others on the rack. The gas tube and sights were straight on it. It had some magazine wiggle, but not as much as some of the others. The finish was a rough, thin powder coat. And the wood was unfinished. It came with 2 magazines, cleaning kit, web gear and a bayonet.

It shot much better than it looked. I sanded the stock and put 5 coats of polycoat on it. It does look bad. I think I'm going to refinish the metal with Brownell's Armor Hide. *The cost on the WASRs has gone up. I saw one yesterday for $420.00 and tax :o

On a WASR just make sure it takes Warsaw Pac magazine not the single stacks. Also, you want one with a TAPCO trigger group.


The last AK I bought was a Lancaster standard with Russian Red furniture. The finshed is great and its built right. I haven't had time to shoot it due to work, but asap I've going to. Lancaster and Vector make two of the better AK without the Arsenal price.

[Blackhawk]

Hello gentlemen. My first postings here so I thought I'd get my feet wet with this topic.

I was in the same boat and for the money I chose the Saiga 7.62x39. The Saiga Sporter can be converted to AK style very easily. There is a video on www.youtube.com that goes thru step by step. I paid $309 for mine, out the door. Put another $100 in it and have a Russian AK with quality that fits more between a Yugo and Arsenal. www.tapco.com has all the parts needed to stay US compiant.

Something I forgot to add was that the Saiga can be converted to take standard AK mags as well.

All parts and converting the rifle are cheap and easy.

John

[jim]

The East Germans made milled AK receivers that were smooth as butter. Very nice weapons.
jim

[karlsgunbunker]

My Wholesale price for a WASR is $329 w/o bayo and #349 w/bayo.
The polish tantal with folding stock is $449

I have 2 wasr's and they shoot fine. they are not the prettiest AK's but they function well.

All 4 of my Personal AK's are Romanian but I have a lot of others pass through my shop.

IMHO it's more important that a rifle function, it doesn't have to be pretty.
If looks mattered I wouldn't own an Enfield. LOL

[Shortstack]

Due to regulations from the BATFE all imported AKs now comming into the country have the barrels demilled (Cut). It use to be that the receiver was demilled and barrel left intact. Not so any more...
The days of the cheap AK's are pretty much over, the cost of building receivers and rebarreling ensures that cost of an AK is only going to go up.
I like the Yugo AK's, not pretty but functional... ;D
Shortstack