Recommend an AK

[Trin]

Could I get some recommendations on which Ak to buy and which to avoid?
I'm not trying to start a which is better war here. Just could use some advice.
Also, my price range is about 500 so I'm not going to be sporting any 2k dream machines.

Thanks!

[RT]

Check these out. I don't know if you can still get the "stimulus package" pricing.

http://www.k-var.com/shop/home.php?cat=350

[h2oskikrazy]

Or, you could just buy a Saiga, which the K-Var SL rifles are based on and have fun converting it at your leisure and build it exactly like you want it.

[SR420]

I patiently waited for a deal to avail itself on a 7.62mm pre-ban Norinco.
The wait was well worth it :)

[ostrobothnian]

http://www.arsenalinc.com/slr108.htm

[Sixer]

I bought a SAR-1 from another forum member here. $375 was the price, I believe. I know... or at least I have heard of different issues with the Romanian AK's, but this thing shoots like a champ and eats any and everything I've fed it.

Plus, I didn't spend an arm and a leg on it... so if I feel the need to do commando rolls in the mud with my AK... it's all good :D

[skifast]

I love my Saiga.

[chris in va]

Saigas run about $420 here locally. I bought mine for $300 two years ago and installed another $150 in parts.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7237/imgp1936x.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/imgp1936x.jpg/)

It's a new rifle, not something refurbed from something 30 years old. Magwell is tight, everything is very solid for a stamped AK. I tried a friend's Norinco a while back and the thing was a rattletrap...but it worked fine.

[Quentin2]

If you give an AK a good inspection before buying, most are reliable - even the $350 WASR ugly duckling. So it comes down to just how good do you want it to look and what country do you want it to come from and just what do you intend to use it for. A lot of people love Saigas, which are good and are Russian but you need to put some money into it to make it look more like an AK.

I would say start with the baseline WASR and see what you get, then look at others within your budget. Do the research and choose the one you like the best.

[essohbe]

I would also say go with a Siaga, especially if you are not concerned with adding parts/converting it.

Here's some affordable ones: www.centerfiresystems.com

[noyes]

even the $350 WASR ugly duckling.

That's the one I'm going to buy next.

[noyes]

and there it be



http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=54838&stc=1&d=1260749303

[Logs]

I don't know why people dog the WASR's I have had two and they work great. If you expect to shoot 600 yards then look elsewhere, but it is hell on pumpkins and bowling pins. :)

[Rebok87]

Saiga, K-Var and Arsenal are top notch. Century Arms WASR-10’s are reasonable in price but I don’t recommend them because 3 out of 10 we get in the shop have front sights that are canted.

[JerseyDrez]

A lot of those SGL's are really nice and are priced to sell.

The EAA Pap that I own is great, and cost me about $500. I dont have anything bad to say about it, and even though its not a big deal, the wood furniture on it is the nicest looking stock wood on a 47 Ive seen yet.

Most Wasr's function fine, but canted sights and trigger slap seem to be a disease on them...not too hard to fix though.

[plom]

If you absolutely want an AK, go for Arsenal (bulgaria) I've had many, rusians chinese romanian and bulgy, the best made I got were from Arsenal. A friend of me have an old from east germany very well made. Saiga's are OK but be sure to take a 2009 model so it can accept military mags. The models before 2009 only accept saigas mags.
A good option is the VZ 58 (or CZ858) you can find some at czechpoint-usa.

Here is a picture of my babies, the one on the top is my VZ 58 with FAB synthetic kit.

http://img7.hostingpics.net/pics/933572PC271012.jpg (http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=933572PC271012.jpg)

[UtahHunting]

Saiga. They are brand new and built in the original Russian plant. They are not pieced together from 1970's parts like other AK's.

[RT]

Plom, NICE KRINKS!!

[plom]

Thanks RT :-)
Utah hunting Do you know any factory that use 70's part to produce any new AK? I'm very curious to know who!(I collect old AK's)
Arsenal, Cugir, Norinco or Valmets are brand new and not made of 70's AK parts...
Beside Arsenal are made with a milled receiver not stamped like saiga or most AK are.