Arsenal (FIME) SGL-31 Review

Mrgunsngear · November 10, 2012, 09:14 AM

The Arsenal SGL 31 is about as close as we US citizens can get to having the Russian service rifle; the AK-74M. It comes in with polymer furniture designed to replicate the AK-74M and the barrels are identical. It'll feel just like the original in your hands, just minus the fun switch.

Pros:
-Reliable. The AK operating system coupled with the case taper of the 5.45 round make for a rifle that can be depended on to work in the harshest environments.
-Accurate. I've gotten 2'' groups from the bench with 7N6 ammo out of this rifle.
-Durable. The chrome lined, cold hammer forged barrel is on par with any barrel made today in terms of long term durability.
-Simple. The AK has 5 primary moving parts: The bolt carrier, bolt, trigger, safety, and mag release (6 if you count the rear sight I suppose).
-Light recoil impulse
-Comes with 2 sling attachment points.
-Cheap ammo. The 7N6 is excellent ammo in terms of accuracy, reliability, ease of storing, and terminal performance.
-Ease of maintenance. (aside from the corrosive ammo aspect) Field stripping the gun, cleaning, and lubricating is caveman simple. There's a reason the AK is used by illiterate 6 year olds around the world...
-Comes with a side rail for mounting optics should you be inclined to do so
-2 stage trigger. Some don't like the Arsenal trigger but when it works properly (more on that in the video) I like it.

Cons:
-The finish. It sucks; in fact it's not really a finish––it's paint. It can come off with use of many solvents out there so I recommend using CLP if you pick one of these up. All that said, the finish is accurate to the AK-74M.
-It comes with a 10 or 5 round mag (depending on when/where you buy it). For the money these rifles cost it should come with AT LEAST 1 quality magazine
-Cost. These rifles have gone up a good bit in the last few years. Not long ago they were available for under $700 but these days $850-950 may be a more common street price.
-Customer service. I've dealt with Arsenal's "customer service" and they suck. They don't stand behind their product. That said, they make good products generally speaking so you'll likely not have to deal with them.

Here's a review with some shooting at HD distances, steel plate banging at 100m, a demonstration of disassembly/assembly of the rifle, a demonstration of how the 2-stage trigger works, pros and cons of the gun, and a chrono test with the ammo the gun was designed to use––the 7N6.

SGL 31 HD VIDEO REVIEW LINK

In summary, it's a great reliable rifle at a decent price. If you can do a proper conversion yourself, it may not be worth it but for those that don't have that option the SGL 31's a great AK rifle that'll allow you to shoot a lot of cheap/effective ammo through it for a long, long time.

Chrono Data:

7N6: 2936fps, 996 ft/lbs energy

MikeGunz · November 10, 2012, 08:53 PM

Great, review. I found that my rifle would rust very easily. I shot 7n6 but I would spend literally a hr cleaning it after shooting, and the gas tube, trigger, compensator would always rust up. Was very frustrating. Awesome rifle though one of the most reliable weapons out there IMO.

Mrgunsngear · November 11, 2012, 09:33 PM

Did it rust only when shooting corrosive ammo?

MikeGunz · November 12, 2012, 09:21 AM

Thats all I put through it really. 7n6 and occasional silver bear. I washed, scrubbed, brushed the heck out of it though. And parts like the trigger you think wouldnt matter what I was shooting. The rust would always just brush right off, no pitting or any kind of damage.

amd6547 · November 12, 2012, 10:07 AM

I have been shooting 7N6 in a Saiga for a year. Though I have a lot of corrosive ammo experience, I find the 5.45 to be the most corrosive ammo I have shot.
I ended up buying a bottle of RemOil rust preventative CLP, which I apply after doing the hot water clean. This seems to work.
I have just started using Ballistol mixed with water for my clean up. So far, so good.
The 7N6 is a fantastic cartridge, and the 74 platform with muzzle brake seems to be the least recoiling serious cartridge I have ever fired...in rapid fire, I can actually feel the brake pushing the muzzle down...

EdInk · November 12, 2012, 10:26 AM

You can't go wrong with an Arsenal AK variant.

Mrgunsngear · November 12, 2012, 05:26 PM

Quote:

I have just started using Ballistol mixed with water for my clean up.

I use it as well for cleaning corrosive ammo---love it.

Cleaning Corrosive Ammo Tutorial Link

Hairbag · November 14, 2012, 12:35 PM

I have the Arsenal AK74 and it's a great gun I sent it out to Macs in AZ and had it Molly coated much better now!

November 10, 2012, 09:14 AM	#1
Mrgunsngear Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 3,415	Arsenal (FIME) SGL-31 Review The Arsenal SGL 31 is about as close as we US citizens can get to having the Russian service rifle; the AK-74M. It comes in with polymer furniture designed to replicate the AK-74M and the barrels are identical. It'll feel just like the original in your hands, just minus the fun switch. Pros: -Reliable. The AK operating system coupled with the case taper of the 5.45 round make for a rifle that can be depended on to work in the harshest environments. -Accurate. I've gotten 2'' groups from the bench with 7N6 ammo out of this rifle. -Durable. The chrome lined, cold hammer forged barrel is on par with any barrel made today in terms of long term durability. -Simple. The AK has 5 primary moving parts: The bolt carrier, bolt, trigger, safety, and mag release (6 if you count the rear sight I suppose). -Light recoil impulse -Comes with 2 sling attachment points. -Cheap ammo. The 7N6 is excellent ammo in terms of accuracy, reliability, ease of storing, and terminal performance. -Ease of maintenance. (aside from the corrosive ammo aspect) Field stripping the gun, cleaning, and lubricating is caveman simple. There's a reason the AK is used by illiterate 6 year olds around the world... -Comes with a side rail for mounting optics should you be inclined to do so -2 stage trigger. Some don't like the Arsenal trigger but when it works properly (more on that in the video) I like it. Cons: -The finish. It sucks; in fact it's not really a finish––it's paint. It can come off with use of many solvents out there so I recommend using CLP if you pick one of these up. All that said, the finish is accurate to the AK-74M. -It comes with a 10 or 5 round mag (depending on when/where you buy it). For the money these rifles cost it should come with AT LEAST 1 quality magazine -Cost. These rifles have gone up a good bit in the last few years. Not long ago they were available for under $700 but these days $850-950 may be a more common street price. -Customer service. I've dealt with Arsenal's "customer service" and they suck. They don't stand behind their product. That said, they make good products generally speaking so you'll likely not have to deal with them. Here's a review with some shooting at HD distances, steel plate banging at 100m, a demonstration of disassembly/assembly of the rifle, a demonstration of how the 2-stage trigger works, pros and cons of the gun, and a chrono test with the ammo the gun was designed to use––the 7N6. SGL 31 HD VIDEO REVIEW LINK In summary, it's a great reliable rifle at a decent price. If you can do a proper conversion yourself, it may not be worth it but for those that don't have that option the SGL 31's a great AK rifle that'll allow you to shoot a lot of cheap/effective ammo through it for a long, long time. Chrono Data: 7N6: 2936fps, 996 ft/lbs energy __________________ Mrgunsngear Youtube Channel

November 11, 2012, 09:33 PM	#3
Mrgunsngear Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 3,415	Did it rust only when shooting corrosive ammo? __________________ Mrgunsngear Youtube Channel

November 12, 2012, 10:07 AM	#5
amd6547 Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2006 Posts: 2,313	I have been shooting 7N6 in a Saiga for a year. Though I have a lot of corrosive ammo experience, I find the 5.45 to be the most corrosive ammo I have shot. I ended up buying a bottle of RemOil rust preventative CLP, which I apply after doing the hot water clean. This seems to work. I have just started using Ballistol mixed with water for my clean up. So far, so good. The 7N6 is a fantastic cartridge, and the 74 platform with muzzle brake seems to be the least recoiling serious cartridge I have ever fired...in rapid fire, I can actually feel the brake pushing the muzzle down... __________________ The past is gone...the future may never happen. Be Here Now.

November 12, 2012, 10:26 AM	#6
EdInk Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2009 Posts: 3,968	You can't go wrong with an Arsenal AK variant. __________________ Sic Semper Tyrannis

November 14, 2012, 12:35 PM	#8
Hairbag Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 449	I have the Arsenal AK74 and it's a great gun I sent it out to Macs in AZ and had it Molly coated much better now! __________________ I'm hairbag and I approve this message.

November 10, 2012, 08:53 PM	#2
MikeGunz Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2011 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 195	Great, review. I found that my rifle would rust very easily. I shot 7n6 but I would spend literally a hr cleaning it after shooting, and the gas tube, trigger, compensator would always rust up. Was very frustrating. Awesome rifle though one of the most reliable weapons out there IMO.

November 12, 2012, 09:21 AM	#4
MikeGunz Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2011 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 195	Thats all I put through it really. 7n6 and occasional silver bear. I washed, scrubbed, brushed the heck out of it though. And parts like the trigger you think wouldnt matter what I was shooting. The rust would always just brush right off, no pitting or any kind of damage.