Waffen Werks AK-74 Variant Review

Mrgunsngear · December 19, 2012, 03:06 PM

I've had a my WW74 rifles for a while now and have at least a spam can through each; here's what I've found so far:

Pros:

-Reliable. The only malfunctions of any kind I've had to date were do to a bad mag (had issues in 3 other rifles).
-Accurate. I've been able to shoot several groups under 3'' with irons from the prone. Nope, I'm not going to win any Camp Perry matches but I'll take that with 7N6 and no optics (and me behind the gun).
-Cost. These rifles may be more than they used to be but they’re still a good deal in my opinion.
-Gun Kote finish. Many AK companies these days have paint based finishes; one of the most durable is the Gun Kote finish used on the WW74 rifles. It holds up very well to most solvents on the market. The finish is applied inside the receiver which is not the case with some of the competitors out there.
-Built on matching Bulgarian parts kits.
-Chrome lined ESS 1 in 7.75'' barrel (more on this below) spec’d by Waffen Werks to match the original Bulgarian AK-74 dimensions. A lot of AKs on the market are using non-chrome lined barrels and are priced similarly to the WW74. The chrome lining is a great feature when shooting corrosive surplus ammo, which I use about 95% of the time...
-Chrome lined muzzle brake and gas block.
-Comes with a hard shell rifle case.
-All of my mags lock up tight with little to no play/wobble.
-Relatively available. Most rifles are in short supply these days but a couple of online vendors get shipments of these pretty regularly (Snagged mine at Atlantic. They offer shipping discounts to forum members…) as well as quite a few gun shops around the country.

Cons:

-US barrel. As you’ll see in the video below, I would certainly prefer a cold hammer forged com-bloc barrel. That said, they’re becoming harder and harder to come by in the US market. I’d venture to say that 90% or more of the people that may buy these rifles won’t put enough rounds through them to ever notice a difference and if you can afford that many rounds likely you can afford to re-barrel the rifle.
-Ships with a Tapco mag. I would certainly prefer a surplus mag but it is what it is.

All in all I think you get a lot of rifle for your money and the availability of relatively inexpensive surplus ammo is an added bonus.

Here’s a video review with some shooting at various distances, a discussion of the pros/cons, a 3 shot group at 100m, disassembly and assembly of the rifle (for the new AK shooters), and some final thought on the rifle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nf54SR4Utw

Hairbag · December 19, 2012, 06:11 PM

Ak 74's are my favorite ! that 7N ammo is/was cheap but who know's whats going to happen now. I've been hunting for another AK74 (have arsenal 74) but they are getting rare. I have not seen a Arsenal AK74 in stock since last year? I was looking on Atlantic firearms website and a AK74 with a milled receiver made by a new company called Iron Clad armory anyhow I was about to pull the plug and buy one and they are not taking any new orders they are so backlogged.

Mrgunsngear · December 20, 2012, 05:38 PM

Sportsmansguide is selling 7n6 for 12 cents/round right now with coupon codes; that's shipped. The cheapest it's been in my shooting life was 10 cents so get it while you can...

I've got an ICA side folder 74 coming my way; I'll report back once I shoot a bunch of rounds through it.

Hairbag · December 21, 2012, 11:02 AM

I'm working on trying to get a waffen werks AK74 on GB now The dealer is claiming it has a chrome lined barrel? Yeah, I was buying up that 7N ammo from sportmans guide before recent events the free shipping was a big money saver.

December 19, 2012, 03:06 PM	#1
Mrgunsngear Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 3,415	Waffen Werks AK-74 Variant Review I've had a my WW74 rifles for a while now and have at least a spam can through each; here's what I've found so far: Pros: -Reliable. The only malfunctions of any kind I've had to date were do to a bad mag (had issues in 3 other rifles). -Accurate. I've been able to shoot several groups under 3'' with irons from the prone. Nope, I'm not going to win any Camp Perry matches but I'll take that with 7N6 and no optics (and me behind the gun). -Cost. These rifles may be more than they used to be but they’re still a good deal in my opinion. -Gun Kote finish. Many AK companies these days have paint based finishes; one of the most durable is the Gun Kote finish used on the WW74 rifles. It holds up very well to most solvents on the market. The finish is applied inside the receiver which is not the case with some of the competitors out there. -Built on matching Bulgarian parts kits. -Chrome lined ESS 1 in 7.75'' barrel (more on this below) spec’d by Waffen Werks to match the original Bulgarian AK-74 dimensions. A lot of AKs on the market are using non-chrome lined barrels and are priced similarly to the WW74. The chrome lining is a great feature when shooting corrosive surplus ammo, which I use about 95% of the time... -Chrome lined muzzle brake and gas block. -Comes with a hard shell rifle case. -All of my mags lock up tight with little to no play/wobble. -Relatively available. Most rifles are in short supply these days but a couple of online vendors get shipments of these pretty regularly (Snagged mine at Atlantic. They offer shipping discounts to forum members…) as well as quite a few gun shops around the country. Cons: -US barrel. As you’ll see in the video below, I would certainly prefer a cold hammer forged com-bloc barrel. That said, they’re becoming harder and harder to come by in the US market. I’d venture to say that 90% or more of the people that may buy these rifles won’t put enough rounds through them to ever notice a difference and if you can afford that many rounds likely you can afford to re-barrel the rifle. -Ships with a Tapco mag. I would certainly prefer a surplus mag but it is what it is. All in all I think you get a lot of rifle for your money and the availability of relatively inexpensive surplus ammo is an added bonus. Here’s a video review with some shooting at various distances, a discussion of the pros/cons, a 3 shot group at 100m, disassembly and assembly of the rifle (for the new AK shooters), and some final thought on the rifle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nf54SR4Utw __________________ Mrgunsngear Youtube Channel

December 19, 2012, 06:11 PM	#2
Hairbag Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 449	Ak 74's are my favorite ! that 7N ammo is/was cheap but who know's whats going to happen now. I've been hunting for another AK74 (have arsenal 74) but they are getting rare. I have not seen a Arsenal AK74 in stock since last year? I was looking on Atlantic firearms website and a AK74 with a milled receiver made by a new company called Iron Clad armory anyhow I was about to pull the plug and buy one and they are not taking any new orders they are so backlogged. __________________ I'm hairbag and I approve this message.

December 20, 2012, 05:38 PM	#3
Mrgunsngear Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 3,415	Sportsmansguide is selling 7n6 for 12 cents/round right now with coupon codes; that's shipped. The cheapest it's been in my shooting life was 10 cents so get it while you can... I've got an ICA side folder 74 coming my way; I'll report back once I shoot a bunch of rounds through it. __________________ Mrgunsngear Youtube Channel

December 21, 2012, 11:02 AM	#4
Hairbag Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 449	I'm working on trying to get a waffen werks AK74 on GB now The dealer is claiming it has a chrome lined barrel? Yeah, I was buying up that 7N ammo from sportmans guide before recent events the free shipping was a big money saver. __________________ I'm hairbag and I approve this message.