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Old February 13, 2021, 10:42 AM   #1
CorvZ061
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Wasr-10

I scored a new WASR-10 for $580. How did I do? It a polymer stock gun with no cleaning rod. I’ve never had an AK style gun before, plenty of AR’s so in the grand scheme is it even a decent AK?
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Old February 13, 2021, 02:56 PM   #2
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You did good. I bought one at the beginning of the rona run and I had to spend $800. It was new with wood furniture. Thankfully I got a case of 7.62 before prices went nuts. I still prefer my AR but I’m happy to own an AK. I guess.
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Old February 13, 2021, 03:41 PM   #3
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That's a good price for an AK. Did you check to make sure the sights are lined up? That's about the only thing that I know to look for from the WASR 10 guns. Most of the rest of the gun usually works fine. I am happy with the ones I have shot.
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Old February 13, 2021, 04:34 PM   #4
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Great price in todays market
Solid AK platform
Grab mags and ammunition while you still can
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Old February 13, 2021, 06:28 PM   #5
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These things were $299 until the market started drying up, they are still a $299 gun. AK's are rather forgiving and will often run just fine no matter how sloppy the construction may be. I have one and have never had a single problem out of it. That said, its not a $500 gun in my estimation and I would not pay that for it.

If I were looking for an AK variant in todays market, I would probably get a used MAK-90 and call it a day. MAKs sell all day long around here at the LGS for under $600.
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Old February 13, 2021, 06:40 PM   #6
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That’s an exceptional price in this market. How is the sight alignment and mag fit?

Quote:
These things were $299 until the market started drying up, they are still a $299 gun.
Sorry, but that’s only the case in a fantasy world, It’s been over a decade since WASRs sold on the primary market for less than $500.
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Old February 13, 2021, 10:09 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by FireForged View Post
MAKs sell all day long around here at the LGS for under $600.
Where is this LGS... Mars?
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Old February 13, 2021, 10:11 PM   #8
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Brother... if you want to pay $580 for a WASR, you can. It will probably run just fine but I would simply do something else that (in my mind) is more bang for the buck.
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Old February 13, 2021, 10:47 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FireForged View Post
Brother... if you want to pay $580 for a WASR, you can. It will probably run just fine but I would simply do something else that (in my mind) is more bang for the buck.
So where is this LGS that sells MAK's "all day long" for <$600?
Considering they typically auction for $1000-2000+ depending on condition...
I'll buy every one they have at that price
"All day long" means I should easily clear at least $2,500 per week

BTW...
Out of curiosity...
What offers more "bang for the buck" at $580?
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Old February 14, 2021, 04:24 AM   #10
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CorvZO61:

Congratulations! Really good price in today’s market.
You might want to save your “extra mag money” for ammo, unless you already have well over 2,000 rds.

The AKM bug (morphed from the SKS bug) didn’t bite me until age 59, in 2014.
As with you, my AKMs were imported—thanks to many hours on AKfiles, and watching the WASR etc videos on AKOU: YouTube. Rob Ski's WASR 10 did pretty well at the 5,000 rds. Mark.

There was (0) zero unexpected wear on bolt lugs, trunnion etc after 5,000 rounds had been used. High quality steel and construction.

Last edited by Ignition Override; February 14, 2021 at 03:34 PM.
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Old February 14, 2021, 07:34 AM   #11
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I have one for about 20 years now. Paid 299.00 for it. Never had a problem with it. Will eat any ammo you feed it. Did add a red dot to it Now I can hit what I am aiming at. Stock and frame lean in different directions . But always goes bang even after4-5000 rounds.
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Old February 14, 2021, 05:01 PM   #12
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They used to be cheap because all the importers had to do was stamp a new semi-auto receiver and assemble from parts kits. Who knows how cheap the combloc countries were selling the parts kits for. More USA made parts were needed for assembly as import regulations increased and used part supplies dried up. Now, any "New" AK is mostly US made parts or at least newly manufactured parts from other countries. Combine this with how inexpensive it is to mill AR receivers and now you have a situation where it's cheaper to make an AR than AK.

Ironically, the "Commie Junk" AKs from the 90s are the more valuable and arguably better built than the newer ones with US made parts.
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Old February 14, 2021, 06:02 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by veprdude View Post
They used to be cheap because all the importers had to do was stamp a new semi-auto receiver and assemble from parts kits. Who knows how cheap the combloc countries were selling the parts kits for.
WASRs were never manufactured then imported as "parts kits"
They have always been Hungarian factory manufactured including the receiver
The "concession" was that they were produced in single stack configuration with no bayo-lug
Then they were converted to double stack here in the U.S. with a 60 second process that opened up the mag well

Quote:
Now, any "New" AK is mostly US made parts or at least newly manufactured parts from other countries.
Hardly the case
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Old February 14, 2021, 07:45 PM   #14
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Romanian...not Hungarian.
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Old February 14, 2021, 07:54 PM   #15
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I love the AK platform, I have two WARS 10. Both have wood furniture, and both hit pretty much where I aim. I bought mine many years ago when prices were different. But I think you made a very good deal. I look forward to a range report.
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Old February 14, 2021, 09:03 PM   #16
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Here's a site with some good Romanian AK info........

http://www.novarata.net/Linx310/whyromanian.shtml
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Old February 14, 2021, 10:27 PM   #17
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I did look at the sights before buying, they had 4 of them. I chose the best of the 4, the front sight isn’t canted, the optic mount plate is level in the receiver, and the rivets look good. Shoot it today, and no complaints other than the poly furniture is of poor quality, but that’s easy to fix.
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Old February 15, 2021, 12:10 AM   #18
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Any new Romanian WASR has minimal European made parts and mostly US parts.

Last edited by veprdude; February 15, 2021 at 12:16 AM.
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Old February 15, 2021, 12:12 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TBM900 View Post
WASRs were never manufactured then imported as "parts kits"
They have always been Hungarian factory manufactured including the receiver
The "concession" was that they were produced in single stack configuration with no bayo-lug
Then they were converted to double stack here in the U.S. with a 60 second process that opened up the mag well


Hardly the case
That's a blanket statement that does not apply to all WASR Rifles. Parts kits came from already assembled rifles that had receivers torched/cut or spares. Earlier WASRs has original barrels and most everything except FCG and receiver. Later on, receiver, barrel, FCG, piston, etc are all US made.
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Old February 15, 2021, 12:15 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TBM900 View Post
Hardly the case
Besides Arsenal and Zastava, who makes rifles out of primarily European parts?
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Old February 15, 2021, 12:28 AM   #21
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veprdude:

My CSA/"Czechpoint" VZ-58 was manufactured in the Czech Republic. And not only the rifle, but the owner's manual states this.

Fellow shooters: just to clarify---

WASRs: According to AKM builders and Moderators on the old AKfiles (and any other gun forum...), the rifles or parts --other than a few small b.s. 922r parts-- were manufactured in Romania, by Cugir Arms.
My SAR-1, a variant duplicate, says "Romania".

The 'TGI' AMD-65 ("SA 2000 M" stamped underneath the receiver) I own says "Made in Hungary", has all-matching components, chf barrel, chrome-lined bore etc.

Last edited by Ignition Override; February 15, 2021 at 12:38 AM.
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Old February 15, 2021, 11:05 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amd6547 View Post
Romanian...not Hungarian.
Derp
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Old February 15, 2021, 11:10 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by veprdude View Post
That's a blanket statement that does not apply to all WASR Rifles. Parts kits came from already assembled rifles that had receivers torched/cut or spares. Earlier WASRs has original barrels and most everything except FCG and receiver. Later on, receiver, barrel, FCG, piston, etc are all US made.
I was responding to the comment specifically about new manufacture WASR’s imported to the U.S.
No one was taking new rifles, cutting them, then selling them here
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Old February 15, 2021, 11:16 AM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by veprdude View Post
Besides Arsenal and Zastava, who makes rifles out of primarily European parts?
You said “any”, thus implying there are none
Yet there are, including the two you just mentioned
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Old February 16, 2021, 07:12 PM   #25
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Quote:
So where is this LGS that sells MAK's "all day long" for <$600?
Considering they typically auction for $1000-2000+ depending on condition...
I'll buy every one they have at that price
"All day long" means I should easily clear at least $2,500 per week

BTW...
Out of curiosity...
What offers more "bang for the buck" at $580?
Where are they? All around the Deep South East. Nearly every (mom-n-pop) gun shop and pawn broker has a MAK in one configuration or another. Used AK variants (other than Polytech) commonly sell for $550 to 650 no matter the flavor. Its been about 12 months since I have checked out the LGS but as usual they had a couple at that price the last time I was there. One was a milled MAK and went for the same money. Around here in the southern market, a used AK variant is an AK variant unless its a Poly or Vepr.

I am not suggesting that a person refrain from purchasing a WASR10, I dont consider them "Bad" at all. I have one and have not had a lick of problem out of it. Some have had issues but not me. Generally speaking, if you consider all the AK offerings that we commonly see here in the STates, I simply consider referring to the MAK as "more bang for the buck" to mean that a MAK has a real finish on it, does not have a hacked up magwell or cheap-o trigger parts or poor excuse for a barrel, does not have paper thin receiver, canted sights, crooked trunnion or looks to have been assembled by indifferent craftsmen.

A WASR10 may not be any of those things I just stated above but if the question is whether or not a WASR is better or equal to a MAK, I would have to say that in my opinion, its not in the same ballpark... its just not.

If I were looking for a AK variant in todays market, I would seek a:

MAK
NPAP
OPAP

There may be other good AK offerings out there but I simply listed what I would look for. If you guys cant find a MAK for less than $1000 then I understand your position but that is simply not my dilemma down here in the South. Auction prices are not always a good indicator of what things go for at a LGS in rural America.
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Last edited by FireForged; February 16, 2021 at 07:20 PM.
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