New to the AK idea... Where to get started? [Archive] - Colorado AR-15 Shooters Club Discussion Forums

mrfish83

10-10-2012, 16:28

After building (and shooting) a few ARs for awhile, I've realized I have never shot, or even held, the most common weapon in the world.

I think I'd like to get an AK-47 as a range toy, and to become familiar with.

So here are my questions:
1) Caliber - Should I go with 7.62x39 or something else? I don't plan on shooting this weapon much, more of an addition to the collection. 223 may be nice to avoid getting another caliber, but how are the quality and price of 223 mags and rifles?
2) What brand/model/import should I look for? Are there certain one to avoid?
3) I'm in the Denver/Aurora area, where should I look for a good deal? How much should I expect to pay?
4) Features/options - Are there features or options I should be aware of?

Thanks.

jreifsch80

10-10-2012, 16:41

you've never held or shot a mauser!? hehe (there's been more mausers built than ak's)

anyway if you're going to shoot alot then normally the better priced ammo is 5.45x39 but we are in between imports on all kinds of ak74 stuff so then i would say 7.62x39. as for .223 ak's the thing that isn't fun with them is there's different "patterns" of mags so they don't always work together and regardless they're all usually pretty expensive (exception being galil mags) though you could always use an ar magazine adaptor

cstone

10-10-2012, 16:58

Where do we go to learn the finer points of identifying CommBloc lubricating oils through the olfactory sense? [ROFL2]

I would find someone with an AK who would let you shoot it. They operate pretty much the same way, but you may decide you prefer the lighter recoil of a 5.45 vs 7.62. You may decide vice versa, or it doesn't make any difference to you. Common calibers is nice, but the AKs in .223 are sort of an oddity.

Once you decide you want one, and you decide what you want, the next decision is buy or build. Lots of choices. Choices are good. [Beer]

Be safe.

bside303

10-10-2012, 17:04

I am a AK super newb, but just bought a M+M M10 AK. Romanian+US built! Actually built in Commerce City, which i thought was really cool. Tapco parts, A lot of good reviews for an AK.
7.62x39- why go any smaller?, that's the whole reason to buy an AK.
Buy different brands of mags in different sizes, they are cheap! 10 bucks online for 20 and 30 rounds mags. Midwayusa, CTD
Of course this is all online research and i haven't got my hands on it yet, but i will let you know in a few weeks how it shoots.......

xring

10-10-2012, 17:08

Bear arms had a rack full last week including an arsenal 5.45 that was crying to come home with me.

Great-Kazoo

10-10-2012, 18:29

http://www.ar-15.co/forums/showthread.php?t=66537
beast556 (bryan) is the owner of this unit. I know he has extra mags too.
I have a SLR-106 i purchased an adapter so i can use P-Mags. This gives me a few different 223 platforms all using the same magazine.
I have a few AK-47's in 30 cal and are great rifles, affordable mags.
The 5.45 AK74 is nice ammo wise regarding price per 1K. Downside the mags seem to be made of gold or platinum, based what a lot of shooters have them priced at.

xring

10-10-2012, 18:42

That 106 krink 223 in the trading post is a pretty lil thing. I didnt know a pmag conversion existed, that adds value to the whole platform IMHO

palepainter

10-10-2012, 19:09

7.62 all the way.... :)

zteknik

10-10-2012, 19:30

Cheapest entry ak for the money would be a WASR.
You might have to tweak it a bit to get to the way you want but all around there a good deal.

Later on if you decide you like them you can start building your own.Plenty of us here that have the tools and are willing to give ya a hand ;)

Great-Kazoo

10-10-2012, 19:58

That 106 krink 223 in the trading post is a pretty lil thing. I didnt know a pmag conversion existed, that adds value to the whole platform IMHO

I'd go for the one where you get more magazines for the asking price. YMMV

xring

10-10-2012, 22:13

The ironwood stock on beast 556s 106 is nice also. Really two different 106s, sight radius ectera.

20nickels

10-11-2012, 09:07

I'll be getting a Saiga .223 when the boat arrives from Rooooshia this fall. Will very likely get an AR mag well conversion.
If you want more punch get a 7.62x39, or the .308 is one of a kind. Many great choices.

mrfish83

10-11-2012, 09:42

Great-Kazoo

10-11-2012, 13:20

20nickels

10-11-2012, 14:42

Centerfire systems has incredible prices on VEPR's right now. The 5.45 is easily made to accept mil surp mags, FWIW. Remember, w/ com bloc stuff, you snooze you loose. [Cry]

mrfish83

10-11-2012, 20:24

Centerfire systems has incredible prices on VEPR's right now. The 5.45 is easily made to accept mil surp mags, FWIW. Remember, w/ com bloc stuff, you snooze you loose. [Cry]

VEPRs seem to have a good reputation from what I've read...

The mags look expensive. Can only the 5.45 VEPR accept surplus mags? How about the 7.62x39?

zteknik

10-11-2012, 21:02

I think you might be able to convert PSL mags without much difficulty to make them work.

lead_magnet

10-12-2012, 03:07

The Vepr 7.62x54r is a 10 round single stack mag..might take some doing to get a PSL mag to work.

jreifsch80

10-13-2012, 03:11

you can mod the vepr 5.45 and 7.62 to work with surp mags easily, its just like a saiga conversion only it also needs slight trimming on the mag catch. the vepr 7.62x54r takes a mill for a mag conversion. there's a company that opens them up and mods them to take svd mags (similar but not the same as psl mags)

budda

10-13-2012, 21:41

Wow! Thanks for all the prompt responses.

I think I need to go shoot a few AKs to see what I like.

On the budget side, how much is a fair price for a 7.62x39 AK-47 vs a 5.45 vs a 223?

I had always thought AKs were cheap (compared to ARs), but I've never really priced any...

P.S. - Never shot a Mauser either. :)

I have been looking for AKs as well I decided to go with the 5.45. The ammo is cheap, but hard to find locally, after a recomendation from another member I am having a bulgy ak-74 built by Iron Hammory Armory in byers, co. I will have it by the end of november. I talked to the owner four times on the phone and he seams nolegable. When it is compleated, he told me to schedule 2 hr. We are going to go shoot the gun and them he is goint to teach me how to break it down and clean it. I cant wait to shoot it. http://www.ironhammerarmory.com/

And he is currently doing an AK give away and you register via facebook!!

jreifsch80

10-13-2012, 22:19

Iron hammer does good stuff ;)

mrfish83

10-21-2012, 18:34

Ended up going with a VEPR, two actually. 16" 223 and 20" 54r.

monganian

10-21-2012, 19:20

That x54R has been on my radar for a while. What do you think?

cstone

10-21-2012, 19:26

Ended up going with a VEPR, two actually. 16" 223 and 20" 54r.

Awesome! Don't wade into the AK pool...Dive in head first [Beer]

Great-Kazoo

10-21-2012, 19:31

Awesome! Don't wade into the AK pool...Dive in head first [Beer]
Just stay out of the shallow side when you do.

20nickels

10-25-2012, 00:07

Ended up going with a VEPR, two actually. 16" 223 and 20" 54r.

Awsome, glad I could help. That 54r can shoot Heavy ball ammo [M2]

mrfish83

10-25-2012, 00:41

Both shoot great so far. The 223 has practically no recoil, which I guess is to be expected. The 54r is more manageable than my MN 91/30. I'm glad I didn't get the 16" 54r...

jreifsch80

10-25-2012, 08:37

Ah you should have it milled out to take SVD magazines ;)

20nickels

10-25-2012, 10:16

Ah you should have it milled out to take SVD magazines ;)
Does this work? Are the mags available or hens teeth? tks.

lead_magnet

10-25-2012, 10:40

I've heard that it can be done, but I haven't seen photos of one that's been converted. You would need to get your VEPR mag side by side with a PSL mag and see what it would take. I would also make sure that the chamber wouldn't have problems feeding from both sides of the magazine instead of the rounding feeding from center as it would in a single stack mag.

lead_magnet

10-25-2012, 10:42

I guess VEPR came out with a 10 round mag, would still be nice to have the 20 round PSL mags.

http://www.intempusphotography.com/photos/i-ZZZ45G7/0/X3/i-ZZZ45G7-X3.jpg

jreifsch80

10-25-2012, 14:21

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?p=956917

lead_magnet

10-25-2012, 16:07

[Tooth] I'm an idiot "20 round psl mag" ....

mrfish83

11-06-2012, 17:46

Here's a few pics of the 223 VEPR (I know this is the 7.62x39 forum, but thought you may enjoy). It didn't stay stock for long. The 54R on the other hand, looks the same as all the factory pics.

Pretty cool rifle, feels solid, rugged, reliable, but really, really heavy.

http://imageshack.us/a/img37/6554/20121105191808.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img521/6773/20121105192003.jpg