Best AK for the money?

[ray1970]

Sold my last AK many, many years ago and haven't looked back. That being said, I have been contemplating getting another one. Since I have been out of the loop on these things for many years I was looking for opinions on which was the best one to buy for the money and why? Also, what is the deal with the U.S. made compliance parts nowadays? I would like a rifle that can legally take import magazines if that is possible. Thanks in advance and forgive my AK ignorance.

[gcrookston]

There are a number of different builders out there these days. Some are quite good. Others are junk. While everyone will have their opinions on the best ones out there, I'll proffer my opinion based upon my limited experience:

1. Russian, Bulgarian, Chinese (Arsenal, Norinco, Polytech)
2. Everything else
3. ....

Quality of former eastern block guns is quite high. They couldn't keep bread on the store shelves, but they could and did build some mighty fine weaponry.

As a rule of thumb, stay away from CAI (Century Arms). This not only goes for their AK, but for any rifle assembled by them.


The 922r rules have best been explained here:
http://www.tapco.com/section922r/

[BPTactical]

This is kind of a subjective question.
Best for what?
I have owned just about every variant except a true Galil and Valmet.
All functioned just fine. For fit and finish it is hard to beat the Hungarian or Bulgarian variants. For a cheap shooter grab a WASR. Stay away from the Egyptian Maadi, they are anywhere from ok to crap.
Norinco and the Saiga lines are as close to the real deal as you can get.
I finally pared down my AK's to just one, the one that shot the best. Out of 2 pre ban rifles and a slew of post bans I chose my Century built Yugoslavian M70. Heavier reciever, built like a Mack truck and it is very accurate and smooth shooting for an AK. I do miss my pre ban Hungarian underfolder just because of what it was but I had to make room in the safe.
Section 922R states that a foreign made "Non-Sporting" firearm may have no more than 10 foreign manufactured "critical" components. In the AK platform this boils down to 5 parts for a stamped receiver and 4 for a milled receiver. This means nothing if you find a rifle that is a true pre ban and if you modify a post ban rifle it must meet the requirements of 922R.

[Heep72]

I chose my Century built Yugoslavian M70. Heavier reciever, built like a Mack truck and it is very accurate and smooth shooting for an AK.


+1 for the Yugo M70

[micah360]

I have owned just about every variant except a true Galil and Valmet.
All functioned just fine. For fit and finish it is hard to beat the Hungarian or Bulgarian variants. For a cheap shooter grab a WASR. Stay away from the Egyptian Maadi, they are anywhere from ok to crap.

Weird... I had a Maddi ARM and it was a great rifle (fit, finish, function). It was a 93 Intrac import.

Arsenals are probably the best out there right now (they make Bulgarian and Russian variants with US parts). You can't go wrong with one of them. Just don't pay their exorbitant prices for one of their milled receivers right now. They are pretty proud of them (they are sweet though).

[Daniel_187]

Love the fit and Finnish on my Polish AK, the wood is really nice on it.

[jreifsch80]

this is my opinion for the best over all deal right now

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/AKAGUN-AMD-2.aspx

hungarian amd with a hungarian FEG receiver and a hungarian chrome lined barrel for 399

[ray1970]

This is kind of a subjective question.
Best for what?


Not best "for" anything really. Just best in general. Best fit/finish, best at holding it's value, best at being perfectly serviceable without costing an arm and a leg... just generally "best for the money". Sorry, I don't know a better way to explain. Best value for the dollar spent I guess.

Thank you all for the replies so far! [Beer]

[AR-Tracker]

Armarifle I have shoots straight and built here in Colorado.

[beast556]

I have a ARMA AK it is nice but WAY over priced for what it is. The best AK on the market right now are the SGL series from Arsenal. If you want a true Russian made AK the SGL-21 is the rifle for you.

[ray1970]

Armarifle I have shoots straight and built here in Colorado.

These look like awesome rifles. But about $1000 for an AK? Doesn't seem like a very good deal to me. Thanks for the info though! [Awesom]

[ray1970]

The best AK on the market right now are the SGL series from Arsenal. If you want a true Russian made AK the SGL-21 is the rifle for you.

The Arsenal rifles look very nice as well. The $750 ish price tag is much more appealing than the Arma rifles. To tell you how long it has been since I owned an AK I think I paid about $250 for my last one.

[jerrymrc]

this is my opinion for the best over all deal right now

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/AKAGUN-AMD-2.aspx

hungarian amd with a hungarian FEG receiver and a hungarian chrome lined barrel for 399

I had an FEG AK and it was a very nice one. Not too hot on an AMD65 but I have a feeling that converted to a std stock it would be a nice shooter.
The Arsenal rifles look very nice as well. The $750 ish price tag is much more appealing than the Arma rifles. To tell you how long it has been since I owned an AK I think I paid about $250 for my last one.
My last purchased AK was an SA2000 (FEG) that came with 10 mags and a Kobra sight for $175. I am dating myself I guess. [Coffee]

[mrghost]

The Arsenal rifles look very nice as well. The $750 ish price tag is much more appealing than the Arma rifles. To tell you how long it has been since I owned an AK I think I paid about $250 for my last one.

I just got the SGL21-66. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get to a range with it yet, but so far I am impressed with the quality. Typical for me, I started out looking for what I wanted in the low-priced budget range, but managed to rationalize up in price for what I wanted. In the beginning all I knew was I wanted something chambered for 7.62x39mm, so I considered the Century Arms WASR initially, then looked at the SIG 556R ($1000ish) but dismissed both for different reasons and settled with the Arsenal/Saiga.

[jreifsch80]

I had an FEG AK and it was a very nice one. Not too hot on an AMD65 but I have a feeling that converted to a std stock it would be a nice shooter.


i just recently built a minty amd kit with a fixed stock trunnion so i could put a german side folder on it (clone of an east german paratrooper model) i have to say it's my most acurate ak. when i tried it out i was able to hit clay's on a hill side at about 50-75 yards with the horrible factory ak iron sights so i was pleased.

i need to send in my sbr paper work for it finally so i can take off my welded break and enjoy the 12.5 inch barrel ;)

[ldmaster]

he mentioned he had pared down his AK collection to the ones that shot best.

I love Norinco's. I have had a lot, about every third one just doesn't shoot well for me, don't know WHY, but they don't. I suspect barrels were slightly out of true, checked everything else (crown, bolt engagement, gas)

part of the current beauty of owning an AK parts gun or WASR is the large selection of parts available for it, if you don't like the grip or the trigger, you can buy new ones pretty cheap.

buy one, shoot it, if it doesn't make you happy - sell it and buy another one.

Folding, non-folding, frankly folding LOOKS cool, but gives you no cheek weld.

But it's like that cool 77 Corvair you just have to rebuild that sits in your garage, you love it, and ugly or not - that's all that matters.

[lead_magnet]

Personally I don't think there is anything wrong with a good ole' WASR, but thats just me.

[jreifsch80]

Personally I don't think there is anything wrong with a good ole' WASR, but thats just me.

you're exactly right though mainly if it's a wasr without canted sights. for me i'm kind of a purist (probably why i like building ak's) so the lack of mag well dimples bugs me about wasr's more the look than function as the function can be fixed if it causes problems.


some may say who cares if it doesn't have magwell dimples but that's like saying who cares about a a1 clone being built with an a2 upper, it just doesn't look right but doesn't really affect function all that much lol, but as a shooter wasr's are fine and some can be very good shooters

[monganian]

If you're still contemplating ArmaRifle, I saw one for sale here http://www.armslist.com/posts/126934/colorado-springs-colorado-rifles-for-sale-armarifle-romanian-ak47

$600 with 600ish rounds. I've never shot one, but this rifle looks pretty sharp.

[BPTactical]

ArmaRifle = expensive Romy "G" rifle.

[Great-Kazoo]

ArmaRifle = expensive Romy "G" rifle.

Hey don't go bursting anyone bubble. the last thing we need is someone saying you slammed their "expensive Romainian"

[BPTactical]

Hey don't go bursting anyone bubble. the last thing we need is someone saying you slammed their "expensive Romainian"

[Beer]
No slam Jimbo- just sayin what they are. They are OK, just a pricey G.
I would rather drop the cash for your Norinco though[Muaha]

[AR-Tracker]

My arma is a bulgarian not romy. Sorry . And i traded a pistol for it. Ha. I can hit clays a 100 yds no problem.

[Great-Kazoo]

[Beer]
No slam Jimbo- just sayin what they are. They are OK, just a pricey G.
I would rather drop the cash for your Norinco though[Muaha]

call or pm me. who knows what you have trade wise! i'm actually thinking of pulling the ad and turning out a bitchin (yeah i said bitchin) 56-1 clone, who needs a bayo lug. if they are that close i'm screwed anyway.

[jreifsch80]

i wasn't going to say anything about the armarifles lol but all it is is a romy g built on what looks like an elk river reciever so a 50 dollar receiver though they are still nice receivers but you're paying a whole lot for basicly a build service, like their 1200$ or so polish underfolders. you can get a nice polish underfolder kit for 149-165$ and a nice chrome linned barrel american made from arms of america for 90$ and say a nodak premium for 100$. that's 350 into parts and maybe at most having it professionally built for 200-300? at the very most you'd have 650-700 for a build and compliance parts into it. the guys making armarifles in my opinion are preying on people who don't know the actual costs in the ak world.

[CrufflerSteve]

jreifsch80 is right. There's gunsmiths on this site who could build up the parts for a total way less than armarifles. You could also use a friendly FFL and get an underfolder and fixed stock for way less than the cost of one 1299 armarifles underfolder. It's not that rare a set of parts and with a new US barrel you'd be set.

Steve

[ray1970]

Hmmm.... so..... seems like the best "bang for my buck" would be to just build my own. I may have to do a little investigating. Thanks everyone!

[Great-Kazoo]

realistically they all do the same thing when you pull the trigger. it is just a matter of semantics, like an AR, Colt, BM, RRA etc. Buy or build what you can afford then go from there.
i can't tell you how many "new" AR owners i know of who once purchased spent more money on expensive useless shit, for the cool factor, rather than actually go out run 500 rounds through it before seeing if they even liked the damn thing.

[lllRorlll]

WASR 10... baddest gun i own

[BPTactical]

i can't tell you how many "new" AR owners i know of who once purchased spent more money on expensive useless shit, for the cool factor, rather than actually go out run 500 rounds through it before seeing if they even liked the damn thing.

Homerun for Jim!
I can't tell you how many "TactiCool Fools" we would see in the shop that would purchase a Colt lightweight or Pantherlite and then proceed to hang every piece of crap they could on the rifle. Take a 6# rifle and turn it into a 12# anchor. Dumasses!

AK's are about like a Chevy Nova. Chevy built it, Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac all built their own version. Same machine between the 4 manufacturers with different trim but they all did the same job.

What is important to you? Chrome lined barrel? Milled reciever? Underfolder? Cheap beer can blaster or collectible firearm?

[BPTactical]

WASR 10... baddest gun i own

Then you don't own enough guns![Muaha]

[lead_magnet]

you're exactly right though mainly if it's a wasr without canted sights. for me i'm kind of a purist (probably why i like building ak's) so the lack of mag well dimples bugs me about wasr's more the look than function as the function can be fixed if it causes problems.


some may say who cares if it doesn't have magwell dimples but that's like saying who cares about a a1 clone being built with an a2 upper, it just doesn't look right but doesn't really affect function all that much lol, but as a shooter wasr's are fine and some can be very good shooters

I agree, the dimples are worth thier weight in gold. Both of mine (a draco and one built on an NDS-3 receiver) have them. But all the WASRs I've encountered were just fine.

[beast556]

Not true my ARMA is a Bulgarian Made rifle refined by ARMA. Still not worth what they are charging for them.



ArmaRifle = expensive Romy "G" rifle.

[jreifsch80]

Not true my ARMA is a Bulgarian Made rifle refined by ARMA. Still not worth what they are charging for them.

What pattern is your bulgy arma? Ak74? Akm? Ak47?

The worst is when companies sell "real russian ak's" in the 1000-1200 dollar range that are nothing more than converted saigas. Saigas can be bought new for around 400 bucks, doing your own conversion would be anywhere from 100-300 depending on how intensive and what parts you use so at the most you spend 700 or so for a gun that some of the builders charge 1000-1200 for. Now arsenals aren't really priced bad at all even though their russian models are really just converted saigas just my thoughts on it ;)

[lllRorlll]

Then you don't own enough guns![Muaha]
who does? [Beer]

[AR-Tracker]

I like my armarifle mainly cause i made a trade.and.have less than 700 in it. Most likely would not plink down that much for a new one. I would have purchased an arsenal though. They seem to have a quality built ak and pair pricing. If you have something to trade put it out there and some offers may come your way.
Shoot, Jim has that mac90 you cant go wrong with that. Those are good shooting machines. Even that other bugly on the board. It has a milled reciever. If you ran out o bullets in a zombi attack it would make a good bat. [Tooth]

[Hoosier]

What pattern is your bulgy arma? Ak74? Akm? Ak47?

The worst is when companies sell "real russian ak's" in the 1000-1200 dollar range that are nothing more than converted saigas. Saigas can be bought new for around 400 bucks, doing your own conversion would be anywhere from 100-300 depending on how intensive and what parts you use so at the most you spend 700 or so for a gun that some of the builders charge 1000-1200 for. Now arsenals aren't really priced bad at all even though their russian models are really just converted saigas just my thoughts on it ;)

What's involved in converting a Saiga to 922r compliance?

H.

[68Charger]

What's involved in converting a Saiga to 922r compliance?

H.

you remove the rear stock, drill the pins out holding the factory trigger & fulcrum in place, remove the trigger group, trigger guard & cover plate...
now you can install a US-made trigger group (like a Tapco G2, for example... may have to be modded to fit),
a pistol grip & rear buttstock. (if you use a foreign made pistol grip, it adds one to your foreign parts count)
for the trigger guard, you have to either:
A) re-attach the trigger guard (under the mag catch & grip)
B) install a surplus AK trigger guard (with mag catch)
C) install an aftermarket trigger guard intended for a Saiga conversion (some have a pistol grip nut built in)

a worksheet for your parts count:
http://jobson.us/922r/
note: if you pick Saiga Shotgun, it unchecks the front trunnion, but it should be checked...

[AMD-65]

Hungarian AMD-65 love it. Never even had a hiccup and its eaten at least 5000 rounds already

[Ronin13]

I have a CAI Imported Romanian WASR10 and have owned it for about 6 months now and put well over 3000 rounds through it and only about 7 cleanings and still no issues have popped up. I feel that even the lower quality weapons can last you if you maintain properly and treat them right (I don't baby mine per se but do try to keep it from getting bumped around or damaged).

[GunsRBadMMMMKay]

Out of the few AK's I've shot enough to tell the difference...I'd second (or is it third?) the Yugoslavian M70 variants. I hear there is even a milled version floating around.

[Heltone]

I've got an ARMA Bulgy and a WASR 10. The ARMA is nice but it has dented primers and not fired the round. I picked up the dented rounds, threw them in the WASR and they fired..every one. I think as long as you look for the "known" issues that WASR's can have and get a straight one...they are pretty good for the money. I like the rugged look as well.

[Ronin13]

I've got an ARMA Bulgy and a WASR 10. The ARMA is nice but it has dented primers and not fired the round. I picked up the dented rounds, threw them in the WASR and they fired..every one. I think as long as you look for the "known" issues that WASR's can have and get a straight one...they are pretty good for the money. I like the rugged look as well.

I have to agree, they do look like the original rugged AK. I don't want some plastic rail ridden AK, I want to keep mine as original looking as possible. Ya know, just in case Klashnikov himself sees it and wants to slap me upside the head and say "What? Rifle I design not good enough for you, you need modify to make already great rifle have useless crap."

[Heltone]

So true Ronin! AHAHA!

[jreifsch80]

diggin up old threads is fun! lol i think the vepr or yugos are the best money can buy haha

[tw4]

saiga sgl-21

[brokenscout]

Whichever one fits your budget

[aahorn]

a bit off topic...
how much do you think you could buy an ak for in africa/middle east? i always hear they are like $20, but thats hear say.

[brokenscout]

a bit off topic...
how much do you think you could buy an ak for in africa/middle east? i always hear they are like $20, but thats hear say.
Nicarauga in 94 they were $50

[Great-Kazoo]

a bit off topic...
how much do you think you could buy an ak for in africa/middle east? i always hear they are like $20, but thats hear say.

4 goats or 2 children who are capable of carrying a rifle and load out, sex of children is not important.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

I was at a customers house and he said he rings a gong at 800 yards with his. I don't remember the manufacturer but he said there's so many customized parts on/in it. Possible or not possible?

[brokenscout]

I was at a customers house and he said he rings a gong at 800 yards with his. I don't remember the manufacturer but he said there's so many customized parts on/in it. Possible or not possible?
Ask RR, i've never even thought about it. Kinda like a 65 yard 1911 shot:)

[asmo]

I am assuming you are meaning a AK47 type vs. an AK74 type.

Totally possible. Especially if the size of the gong is 36"x36" or larger. ;)

The AK in and of itself is not as inherently inaccurate as people are lead to believe. The biggest issue with the AK for long range precision is the horrible site radius - with the front sight being pushed half way down the gun. The 7.62x39 round is certainly capable of reaching out to 800y. Your not going to hold sub-MOA groups by any means but its doable.

[zteknik]

I was at a customers house and he said he rings a gong at 800 yards with his. I don't remember the manufacturer but he said there's so many customized parts on/in it. Possible or not possible?
May be a stretch on a bone stock one using surplus commie ammo.
Now a tuned one-tighter chamber, better trigger,smoother bolt handloaded ammo it's plausible.
Better ask Myth Busters-They like shootin stuff! :D

[jreifsch80]

Bob, remember 1bigguns .308x39 hot rod that he shot dime sized groups with? That guy is the god of accurate ak's lol

[zteknik]

Bob, remember 1bigguns .308x39 hot rod that he shot dime sized groups with? That guy is the god of accurate ak's lol
Yup
He did tons of work to it.hand lapped lugs,stress relieved barrel-the whole nine.Did it like one would do a mauser.Friggin increddible!!
And he didn't spend a whole bunch of money either.
He did all the machining himself which is the most costly part.

[tw4]

The best AK for the stew is the SLR107CR Bulgarian is the ticket.

[subiepilot3]

+ 1 for the WASR. Then again, I have never shot an "expensive" AK.

[jreifsch80]

Ask RR, i've never even thought about it. Kinda like a 65 yard 1911 shot:)

I know a guy that shot a 4 inch group at 100 yards with a bench and his cz52 7.62x25 pistol ;)

[jreifsch80]

+ 1 for the WASR. Then again, I have never shot an "expensive" AK.

If you ever get a chance shoot a zastava pap, Russian vepr or a mak90 then if you really want to enjoy yourself shoot a milled polytech ;)

[Rapid Fire Bunker]

I went with the WASR 10 some years ago. Never thought of it being highly accurate, just being my lead puking get-er-done to go rig. Now I had a SKS in the 90s that shot nice and tight.

WASR 10 durable. Dependable. High value but I don't considerate it highly accurate.

[jreifsch80]

i changed my mind, the best for the money is a nice home build ;)