5.45 AK's

[spittle8]

I'm thinking about getting an AK74-type rifle before an AWB shows up, can you tell me about some of the better 5.45 AK's? I've read that Tantals are good, what else? Anything to know as a shopper? I've found it hard to get good information on what to avoid and what to look for.

In such a rifle I'd want good accuracy as well as AK reliability. I don't expect any 5.45mm AK to kick a great deal, but just as well I wouldn't want more kick than an AR. Advice, comments? Thanks

Ross

 

[nalioth]

before an AWB shows up

Only you can prevent forest fires.

 

[Weedy]

My bro-in-law has a regular old Romanian, can't remember the exact technical name of it (I have a WASR-10 and I think this is a WASR-something), but an AK-clone 5.45. He's put several thousand rounds through it, no problems at all, accurate enough, but it seems to me that the recoil is almost as much as my 7.62. Cool gun though.

 

[spittle8]

Only you can prevent forest fires.

Naturally. I'm pretty hawkish about the 2nd Amendment, I subscribe to the "From my cold, dead hands" philosophy. I'm preparing for the worst though.

Yeah, if a 5.45 AK kicks like 7.62, that isn't quite right. I believe the Tantal has minimal recoil, not sure about other ones.

Thanks

 

[nalioth]

I have owned and built several 5.45 Kalashnikov variants and have found them all to have very little recoil.

 

[Prince Yamato]

5.45 has as much kick as an electric typewriter.

 

[little miss]

nalioth; thats funny, i needed that thanks i guess he has a crystal ball are something.................................spittle8 buyem high and stackem deep a ak74 is better then no ak74!!!

 

[gotmine]

I've two Bulgy 74's and an SAR 2...Little enough recoil with good ..for AK.. accuracy. Stack the ammo deep now if you buy one because one day it'll most likely disappear, or become very scarce. IMO.

 

[Sam1911]

I built an AKS-74 a while back on a Nodakspud receiver. Very nice quality parts and the rifle is gorgeous. More accurate than I have range to test out.

My kids shot it when they were 3 and 6. So...no, not "much" recoil!

-Sam

 

[PvtPyle]

The Romanians are bottom of the barrel. Everyone we have had come thru the shop and that I have owned has had problems. But the Polish Tantals and Bulgy guns (I even have a Russian kit gun) are all gret shooters and top notch. They are worth every penny of the extra money.

 

[Gelgoog]

correction, the tantels are good when not built buy century arms(CAI) which have problems with keyholing due to from what im told is them installing a 5.56 barrel in a 5.45 weapon.

 

[pmbiker]

I heard the same thing about the Century Tantals that Gelgoog did.

As for ammo, the era of buy it cheap has passed but be ready to buy a few cases ASAP. If imported ammo is banned you'd be SOL as there is currently no domestic 5.45.

 

[RP88]

I don't exactly know how a 5.45 AK would kick as much as even an AR, regardless of the difference in recoil actions. The 5.45 has comparably low energy for just about any rifle cartridge (something like only 975 ft-lbs)

 

[db_tanker]

I wuv my CUR2


But be warned!!!!


most ammo is corrosive unless its Wolf. Even then I clean out the gas system thoroughly to be certain.

Also...it does have SOME recoil...its fun to bump-fire.

 

[collateral]

I can only speak for the polish tantal I own, its an interarms build and has the left side selector switch (pretty much useless).

She's a sweet shooter with everything except the 70 grain wolf stuff. Even then, no keyholing, just BIG groups.

Make sure the one you buy has an original barrel.

Good luck finding ammo for cheap, those days are pretty much gone.
And good luck finding any mags other than the 45 round RPK mags for $80/each.

 

[atblis]

I have an Interarms Tantal.

Truthfully, while it is a decently made rifle, I am rather underwhelmed by it.

-The accuracy is ok. Good for an AK I guess.
-The surplus ammo is corrosive. Makes an impromptu range visit a pain. In fact, haven't been shooting it because I hate cleaning guns.
-Mags are harder to find. Not impossible. Slight annoyance
-For the Tantal. The folding stock is a joke. Plan on paying out for a fixed butt stock (bolts right on though).
-Recoil is mild, but more than I thought it be. It moves off of target a good bit. Recoils more than an AR. Not a big deal, just more than I expected.

 

[rangerruck]

look for tantal, valmet, golani, vepr, in that cal.

 

[nalioth]

ook for tantal, valmet, golani, vepr, in that cal.

3 out of the 4 will be located next to the barn with the unicorns for sale and the pot o'gold buried out back.

 

[HorseSoldier]

I've got a Krebs built Tantal -- nicest AK I've ever laid eyes on (and have seen too many of them along the way), but don't think Krebs is doing 5.45x39 rifles any more . . .

 

[saigafreake]

I got a orf built aks74 couldnt be happier check them out.

 

[nalioth]

I got a orf built aks74 couldnt be happier check them out.

Good advice, do your homework before you buy from ORF.

 

[Gelgoog]

I've got a Krebs built Tantal -- nicest AK I've ever laid eyes on (and have seen too many of them along the way), but don't think Krebs is doing 5.45x39 rifles any more . . .

yea I would have loved for my KTR-03 to be in 5.45x39 instead of 7.62x39. Been stacking the stuff up in prep for my krinkov build.