ak 47

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fishblade2

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I am interested in getting an ak and after researching some I realize that the term ak47 refers to a broad range of ak's (aks and akm substituents). There is even an ak47 substituent called VZ 58. So I don't know exactly which models or better what brand to choose from that would be a great ak47 that mimics the original. Any suggestions or help in this area would be awesome! Thanks!
 
The VZ-58 is completed unrelated to the AK-47 in any way other than appearance (and the magazine is similar. They're supposed to be very nice. However, I would opt for an Arsenal SGL rifle if it is in your price range. With the AK you get more available accessories at lower prices, better options for scope mounting, and less expensive and more common magazines.
Some claim the VZ to be more accurate than the AK. Ehh..maybe, maybe not. Either way, the 7.62x39 isn't exactly a tackdriving round. The Arsenals, or even any Saiga-type rifle really, will be plenty accurate.
 
A well converted Saiga is probably about as close as you'll get to a real AKM.

The AKM is sort of the AK47-A2. I believe Arsenal Inc. makes a darn good rifle for the money, and they use Saigas as the base on many, if not all of their rifles. They'll cost you more than a WASR, but you're getting a much better rifle in the end.

YMMV
 
what all other brands are there that sell ak47's that are worthy. I prefer the wooden stock ak's over the synthetic stock ones.
 
they all are "worthy" just depends on what you are looking for (I have a Golani CAI build that I love)... what round you want to shoot... most popular is 7.62 x 39... there is also, 5.45 x 39... .308, 7.62 x 54r, 12 guage, .410 guage... etc... many different flavors... 1 out of ever 4 or 5 guns in the world is a Kalashnikov design.... pick one you like and get it... you'll never find the "perfect" one... you just keep adding to your collection... check out gunbroker.com and atlantic firearms.com and you'll find something that you "must have" soon enough... also check out local gun shops...
 
I'd get a Chinese or pony up for an Arsenal. I'd also buy a $400 clean and straight WASR. Regardless, I'd go w/ one that has a chrome-lined barrel. That's me.
 
AK-47

I've owned a Chinese MAK-90 for over ten years, bought from a collector (who was the original owner), 1993 serial number. I have almost 3K rounds through it, shot only wolf ammo, only 2 FTE's ever, and awesome accuracy. It can hit a trashcan-sized object at 400 meters with iron sights only. Great rifle!
 
yeah I was leaning on just exploring a gun show or two and some gun stores to see what I liked but I just was trying to get an idea so I knew what I was actually looking at and what to look out for along with which brands to lean towards. The more I research this though I see that there is just too many brands out and they are all good. The "better" one lies in the platform and personal preference that the person has. To kinda narrow this up, I want a wooden stock, the caliber 7.62 x 39, and I'm not big on scopes rail etc... I just want one with sights on it already I can just go and shoot with. Lastly I don't want an AK that I have to build onto to make a great gun. This is one gun I want to add to my collection that I don't need to upgrade and can just go and shoot. I have heard many people talking about making upgrades to their romanian WASR 10's and others to make them function at the best. So I definitely want to avoid that.
 
The WASRs are a good gun of you get a good one. The company that imports them, Century Arms or CAI, does sometimes screw up a couple things. Usually it's chanting the front sight and messing up the mag well. If you find a good one it's a good AK.
 
looking for a close to a true akm variant that we can get on our shores without any dang conversion, at a good price and dont have to look pretty to win a pageant contest....look at the current offerings by the romanian cugir factory specifically the wasr 1063m, thats if you could find one. or the hungarian amd65 its soooo ugly i just ordered one from jgsales over any saiga/conversion
 
Ditto on the WASR. It's a base, no frills wood stock Kalash. My wife got one a few weeks ago and loves it. The WASR looks alot like what people picture when they say "ak 47".
 
Honestly it sounds like you're looking for a WASR 10/63. I wouldn't buy one sight unseen though as you sometimes find those with canted FSBs and/or gas blocks. Plus the wood is horrible although you can replace it with a nicer set for pretty cheap. That's pretty much the only modification I would ever make to a WASR is nicer wood.

Of course if you could find a Mak90 or a SA-85 that would be really nice too but you'd have to switch the stocks out on them because they normally have the thumbhole one. Go over to www.atlanticfirearms.com and check out their sight. They probably have the biggest AK selection on the net and I know they offer discounts to forum members.
 
Look at the Wasr. You can usually find one for a good price. And all of the wood on it screams AK!
 
The AK bug hit me and I ended up with 7 of them before I bought my VZ-58. If I knew then what I know now, I would have 7 VZs and one AK. I like the AK, it is an awesome rifle, but not as nice as the VZ.
 
I just picked up an AK47 underfolder (Vector) a while back and after shooting it I"m hooked..... took my buddy with me who's never even looked at or considered owning an AR or AK and he's on a hunt for his first one. I've been looking at Arsenal's online...........
 
I am still looking around and reading and I've found that people keep saying that Saiga is a good brand but everyone keeps talking about converting it later. What are they talking about? My other questions are what is the going price for these different types of ak's? I don't want to get took and can someone show a picture of this canted block on an ak so I know what to look out for when buying one. THanks again for the help!
 
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Get an Arsenal with stamped receiver and add wood if you really want it. Arsenal is as good as it gets. Both the Bulgarian(SLR) and Russian(SGL) models are excellent. I prefer the 74s which fire the 5.45 instead of 7.62. Surplus 5.45 is the cheapest center fire ammo i'm aware of. The 5.45 is much more accurate than the 7.62 however the magazines and ammo are not as common but are still readily available. I have a Yugo too but had to replace the bolt to get it to run reliably. It does have exceptional accuracy for an AK47 though.
 
There is no going price for all those AKs.
There are just too many to choose from.
Arsenal will run quite a good bit higher than a WASR for example.
But you get what you pay for.
I have an SLR-95 Arsenal that was made in Bulgaria.
It has a Steyr chrome lined barrel and solid milled receiver.
The closest thing to it was the SAM7 made by Arsenal in Vegas.
Great guns.

SLR95.gif
 
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incase you dont want the traditional route, could also consider another romy variant called the m10, another cugir factory built, cheaper/lighter/and accurate, and offers more than the arsenal at a reasonable price. did not like the tactical as it came, so did some changes to mine
036-4.jpg
 
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incase you dont want the traditional route, could also consider another romy variant called the m10, another cugir factory built, cheaper/lighter/and accurate, and offers more than the arsenal at a reasonable price. did not like the tactical as it came, so did some changes to mine
Click to expand...

I wouldn't exactly call the M10 traditional and certainly not as offering more than Arsenal. At least not more quality or sight radius.
 
im pretty much set on a mak 90 when i finally get around to buying one, wether it be stamped or milled i think its probably the best deal. The SLR-95s are usually great deals as well but much harder to find.

Itll come down to what you are willing to get and what deal comes along imho.
 
justinj, my last post is to the OP. i never said its a traditional akm variant (read my last post carefuly)
ok justinJ, then convince me why i should buy an arsenal/saiga over the m10? keep in mind off the shelf as it comes and price range, from the dealer. and really dont care if its made in russia...PLEASE, as for short sight radius....not again, i have a couple of pistols with short sight radius and have no problems shooting with them. i have no problems shooting my m10 also, heck i got an akm variant with a 6" sight radius and still hittin at what i aim at.
 
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