Ak-47 Help Please

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

MM1794

Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2010
Messages
83
I have done my research on these forums but still can't get a good idea on what I should get for my AK. Some people say WASR's, some say Arsenals. First off, WASRs are too cheaply made, and Arsenals (1500+) are too expensive. Im looking at this

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct878.aspx

I want a chrome lined barrel and milled reciever, this is the only one I could find thats both.

How is VECTOR for AKs?

at 1199, its decent price I think.
 
1200 for an AK? lmao. might as well get a nice AR for that price.

i have a bulgarian ak-47 and ak-74. think i paid $600 for the '47 during the obama scare, and paid $350 for the '74 this year. both have been flawless since day 1.

1200 for an ak is ridiculous.
 
personally I think that's way overpriced for an ak. Is having a stamped receiver a deal breaker? My wasr 10 runs like a champ at about $500 with aftermarket furniture. I also have a Saiga 308 which I easily converted myself for around $500. The Saiga is a much better rifle overall in my opinion.
 
Do not pay $1200 for an AK. That is just crazy considering the curent prices for them. Heck, I'm seeing Arsenal AK's for $650 now. They used to be $1500-1600 during the panic buying. Last gun show had a couple for $599.

Talk with Henderson Defense. They carry quite a few AK's and can give some good advice. They have a Century milled gun for $630.00. Granted, it doesn't have the chrome lined barrel you want, but is the barrel worth $600 more in price.

http://www.hendersondefense.com/store/pc/Century-MILLED-Certified-AK47-50p79.htm
 
yes, chrome barrel and milled reciever are deal breakers.

Anyone find one at a better price?
 
i think a vz58 from czechpoint would be a good choice $800+. milled receiver, chrome lined barrel and accuracy is pretty good considering the 7.62x39 round.
025-1.jpg
heres a 10 shot group at 100 yards with the sparc reddot, brown bear 123gr
the 2moa dot covers the taped out area at 100yards with the 2xmagnifier
074.jpg
 
I guess I am over 10 AK's owned for my lifetime now. I have had romanian, russian, and bulgarian, milled, stamped and in every caliber except .223. For me the smoothest running was the milled bulgarian rifles and the Vepr. You can find a used SLR-95 or used SLR101S. Sam7A1R are very nice but also expensive. If I was going to buy ONE AK and keep it for life there is no doubt what I would do. I would buy an IZ137 Saiga 308 and convert the rifle to pistol grip. I have done this and if I can do it anyone can do it. The rifle you end up with is 1: Under $600 2: As accurate or more accurate than any AK brought into America ever. 3: Russian with a siderail for optics 4: Light and very handy, and finally you can shoot anything from reduced recoil Remington 125 grain ammo (which approximates the recoil of the 7.62X39) on up to 168 grain stuff that would kill Elk. This is a hell of a rifle and of all the ones I own I would keep it the longest. I have not had a VZ-58 but those seem real nice too ALTHOUGH they are not even close to an AK in design.
 
What type of shooting are you going to do with it? What are your expectations? Is this your first rifle?

The Bulgarian rifles I have seen have been VERY nice. Bulgarian would include the second rifle on Atlantic's site. Many of the Polish rifles don't have chrome lining. I wouldn't get too hung up on stamped or milled. It is NEVER going to be a target rifle no matter what you do to it. It is always going to be just a bullet hose. And YES I have owned AK's.
 
Obviously the best rifle of the ones you posted was the last one, the Saiga conversion done by Red Jacket. The others are kit builds and would most likely be less accurate and more likely to have something out of spec. You are comparing a Russian gun made in Russia in the factory where Kalashnikov was the supervisor against American kit builds. I know which one I would take. BTW I have that 5.45 saiga and its minute of coyote at 220 yds and 100 percent reliable. EDIT: the milled centurion is not a kit build but I would still take the AK-74
 
Milled AKs are heavy. The gun was designed for a stamped receiver from the first, but they had problems and switched to milled until they got the stamped guns figured out.

The Best AKs IMO are the 1.6mm stamped like the Valmet. IIRC, the orginal Noricos also had the heavier stamped receiver.

The one regret I have with my current stamped POS CAI is that it doesn't have a chrome bore. Otherwise, it's been a great rifle for $400 - 100% reliable and 2-3 inches at 100 yards off the bench.

Yes, it did have the canted front sight, but a few blows with a lead hammer fixed that problem.

Definitely shop around. Even for a milled receiver, those prices seem high. And buy what you want. :)
 
On phone and at work so bear wqit me. The last one is a sagia conversion which doesn't even allow for a proper front handguard and I'm almost 100 percent sure is stamped so idnt see how it fits. I would look for a milled norinco since price doesn't seem to matter and these will probably continue to appreciate. Also its cooler to have foregin made ak recivers (at least I think it makes a cooler collection I have a sauga and a maadi so far). Gl wit ur purchase. I would go with a stamped ak for half the price personally.
 
RPK receiver of the true VEPR (imported briefly by Robinson Arms) is best in accuracy and is literally built like an HK but c'mon, it's a VEPR.

I did hear that VEPRs NIB are going for $1,200+ NIB.

Edit - just saw you said 47, not 74.
 
+1. The .mil paid for me to put a lot of rounds through Galils and milled Bulgarian 5.56 rifle as well as AKMs and 74s. The receiver didn't make any real difference with practical, combat accuracy.
 
Not trying to hijack thread guys but where does the MAK90 fit in as far as quality a dependability in the variants of the AK's. I know of the thicker metal of a stamped receiver. I'm starting a swap out to conventional pistol grip furniture from a sportster stock.
Thanks.
JT
 
Okay can someone answer these questions:

1. What the hell is the big deal w. a Saiga converted or w.e and what is a Saiga!!

2. Not considering th price, is the Milled Bulgy AK w. chrome lined barrel going to be good?

3. Is the converted red jacket going to be good?
 
Get # 2, the Polish one.

Or the Saiga. What is a Saiga? The closest thing you can get to a real ak-47 these days.

Also if this is your first ak-47 just get one. I love my wasar, dead reliable and does totally acceptable groups at 100 yards. $350 baby.....
 
Last edited:
Saigas are made at the Izhmash factory. Izhmash is the primary contractor for the Russian military. The same tooling that turns out AKs for the Russian army is used to build Saigas. A number of AKs sold in the US are built using surplus parts kits and US made receivers.

Here a link you may find interesting.

http://www.ak-47.us/AK-47Receivers.php#rr
 
I wouldn't have a milled AK, there is absolutely no advantage and they are just too darn heavy and costly. I would either purchase a Saiga and convert it (been there, done that, more than once), get a WASR and replace the furniture (have several friends that went this route and while they aren't bad, they aren't as nice as the Saiga either), or simply go all out and buy a VZ.58 if I absolutely wanted a milled receiver and the best accuracy (did that...and now I find all AKs inferior).

:)
 
Vector makes very good AK's, they're built here in Utah so I have first hand experience with them, but every one I've fired had a stamped receiver. Personally I love my WASR underfolder, chrome lined barrel, incredibly reliable and cost me all of $379
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Looking to purchase and AK 47 - a few questions
Replies
14
Views
516
aceofspades991
A
G
  • Locked
Russian RAK AK47 Rifle Red Classic
Replies
20
Views
3K
mervalus
M
M
  • Locked
Best sub-$600 AK-47
Replies
14
Views
1K
Motodeficient
M
L
  • Locked
Need help buying my first AK please!
2
Replies
29
Views
1K
SabbathWolf
S
C
  • Locked
Arsenal AK-47
2
Replies
34
Views
4K
strat81
S
Back
Top