AK shopping

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_N4Z_

_N4Z_

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Shopping for an 7.62x39 AK clone.

AIM Surplus GPWASR-10's are under serious consideration, but I think I want a step up. Call me crazy but the lack of dimples on the sides of those things bugs me.

Was interested in an underfolder Yugo M-70 AK made by DCI for SOG, but they are apparently out stock.

Does anybody have experience or an opinion about the AK's being sold by JoeKen?

I like Arsenals and the like, but not wanting to spend that kind of cash.

All constructive comments welcome.
 
I have two Romanian WASRs and I'm quite happy with em.
They (both combined) cost me less, new, than some other offerings.

I don't know what you consider to be a "step up" ... aside from maybe the finish, but moly coat is cheap.

To me, a step up is an AR-15
Buy the WASR and save the rest towards an AR.
 
I'll put my vote in for the Romanian WASRs too! There are a lot of snobbish sorts out there who would tell you you need to spend lots of $$$ on an AK, but I'm not one of them. My WASR-10 does everything an AK is supposed to do. It goes 'bang' every time the trigger is pulled...period. Kalashnikov designed firearms in the spirit of functionality. AKs were not designed to be pretty or accurate. They also weren't meant to be heirlooms, so why spend heirloom prices on a weapon that was designed to be used, not pampered? If you're just buying your AK for a collector's piece, you might look elsewhere, but if you're looking for a workingman's gun, the WASRs are just fine! I can't imagine you'd miss the dimples either...unless you're bent on using the drum magazines.
Ben
 
I would suggest buying a kit you like, receiver, rivets, and US parts, and find someone in your area with experience and tooling to help you build it. You'll have better quality, better price, and something you can take pride in.
 
Of all the AK variants, my personal favorite is the Romanian CUR2. Of course, I haven't been able to shoot the Hungarian SA-85M that my husband brought home a few weeks ago, so keep that in mind. He says it's far better than the WASR (so much so that he's seriously considering selling the WASR).

However, your chances of finding either one of those any time soon (or for a price you would want to pay) are slim to none. To be honest, I haven't seen another CUR2 since we bought ours a few years ago. And I don't think I've ever since its name bandied about on the gunboards.

If you just want an AK for plinking and paper-punching to have an AK, the WASR is a good purchase overall. Keep in mind that the longer you wait, the higher the prices are going to go up. I saw a Chinese "pre-ban" at the gun show for $1100 at the gun show a few weeks ago. :rolleyes: What a doofus.
 
Learn from somebody who's owned them all

_N4Z_ said:
Shopping for an 7.62x39 AK clone.

AIM Surplus GPWASR-10's are under serious consideration, but I think I want a step up. Call me crazy but the lack of dimples on the sides of those things bugs me.

Was interested in an underfolder Yugo M-70 AK made by DCI for SOG, but they are apparently out stock.

Does anybody have experience or an opinion about the AK's being sold by JoeKen?

I like Arsenals and the like, but not wanting to spend that kind of cash.

All constructive comments welcome.
Click to expand...

Skip the GP WASR 10 - Who wants mag wobble?

Skip the Yugo M-70 - Most likely will have a flimsy underfolding stock. Non-chrome lined barrel

After many, many years of buying and selling AKs, buying and selling more AKs, I've only kept the Arsenal Inc. milled, which is a beauty.

Lower end Aks? Not for me, I wouldn't recommend them to anybody. Wait 6 months, even 1 year if you have to, and if that AK bug is still there, go for the Arsenal Inc.
 
VEPR

vepr.jpg
 
I like my Vepr also, accurate, reliable, and tough. I have the side mounted scope though.
If I get another one, I'll likely look at Arsenal or another Mfg with a more traditional (and maybe lighter) look.

I have heard mixed reviews of WASR's, but if you don't want to spend a lot of money to try out an AK, it might be a good choice. I certainly see them at all the gun shows these days.
 
LoadAmmo said:
Skip the GP WASR 10 - Who wants mag wobble?

Skip the Yugo M-70 - Most likely will have a flimsy underfolding stock. Non-chrome lined barrel

After many, many years of buying and selling AKs, buying and selling more AKs, I've only kept the Arsenal Inc. milled, which is a beauty.

Lower end Aks? Not for me, I wouldn't recommend them to anybody. Wait 6 months, even 1 year if you have to, and if that AK bug is still there, go for the Arsenal Inc.
Click to expand...

I have a WASR and a Norinco - both have mag wobble. Actually every AK I have handled has "some" mag wobble - none of it affected functionality.

The Yugo M70 - ehh, no experience here so I cannot comment.

Arsenal Inc does make great AKs, cant argue with that.

As far as "lower end" AKs......uhhh, thats kind of the point of an AK. Cheap, reliable, simply to operate and maintain.
 
aaronrkelly said:
I have a WASR and a Norinco - both have mag wobble. Actually every AK I have handled has "some" mag wobble - none of it affected functionality.

The Yugo M70 - ehh, no experience here so I cannot comment.

Arsenal Inc does make great AKs, cant argue with that.

As far as "lower end" AKs......uhhh, thats kind of the point of an AK. Cheap, reliable, simply to operate and maintain.
Click to expand...

I have to seriously agree with this guy.
For one, any percieved "wobble" in either of my WASRs, has no effect. That said, I have noticed nothing wobbling either.

And second, he's right, the point of the AK is to be cheap and reliable. Joe Sixpack at the funshow does not buy $400 AKs. Theres a few decent enough models floating around here that never sell, just show up again and again at the same tables... meanwhile, the WASRs never seem to last past the first day.

Going with a kit and a good builder may be your best bet. This way, you can get your dimples, a G2 or Red Star trigger group, whatever finish you choose, Ironwood designs laminate furniture, etc...

I'll second the VEPR vote also, suggest a converted Saiga, and if you can find a like-new SAR-1 thats cool too. Theres lots of ways to go... but I'd be hesitant to put alot of money into one because it can be pretty hard to get it back out. Just like ARs :)
 
Down here in Houston, I don't see much but WASR's except for Global Trades. They are local so they are the only other people I see. They are kind of expensive though and I just don't like their shiny, polished, plastic looking furniture. Every rifle they put out on the tables are $600 or more. The cheap WASR's and SKS's do seem to sell real well though. I still see too many people trying to sell run of the mill Yugo SKS's for over $150.

For me personally, I don't want to risk getting a bad rifle. I really don't want to work on one either. I was not short of cash so I bought a Vepr. I'll likely make the same decision again next time as I want to make sure I get good accuracy. Rifles that can't shoot with basic accuracy tend to stay in the safe.
 
I have not purchased anything from JoeKen. However, he has the reputation for charging credit cards long, long periods of time before shipping a product. Check around.
 
JoeKen. However, he has the reputation for charging credit cards long, long periods of time before shipping a product.
Click to expand...

Well that doesn't sound good.

Someone told me too that JKF is only a reseller and that they get alot of their items from Vector. Vector gets good marks from what I've seen. Looked a possibly getting direct from them but the prices were higher...

On with the hunt!
 
I had a WASR-10, bought new. Traded it in for a "Paratrooper" SKS in less then a year, and haven't looked back.
Not only was it less accurate then even an AK has any business to be (about 6-8MOA, even with aftermarket trigger and Mojo sight), but it actually jammed twice in about 500 rounds I shot through it.

YMMV, of course. Maybe I got a lemon...

Alex.
 
Buddy of mine just picked up a vector arms underfolder frm a local dealer. Trigger is light; fit and finish look good. A definate step up from the SAR/WASR class. And it comes with a real warranty.

He put several hundred rounds through it today, no problems.

www.vectorarms.com
 
can't imagine you'd miss the dimples either...unless you're bent on using the drum magazines
Click to expand...

Drums work fine in WASRs you might have to enlarge the magazine well though
 
All AKs do not shoot the same. Not even close. I've gone through a few AKs, I've sold a fricking pile of AKs (literally), and I've used AKs in a competitive environment dominated by ARs, and have done okay with them.

There is a huge gulf of difference between the SAR/WASR level of parts gun, and a nicer AK. This is not to bash on the WASR by any means, as I've sold dozens of them, and they do exactly what they are supposed to do.

But don't delude yourself that AKs are just el-cheapo plinker guns, with mediocre performance. A good AK can be one hell of a rifle. It is the cheaper guns that give the AK family such a bad rap for accuracy and performance.

The Vector is a good gun. It is the best of the parts guns. There is a waiting list direct from Vector, as they are running low on parts right now.

I've always been a huge fan of the Vepr. They are the most accurate of the AKs. They are heavy in trade off, but they shoot really well. Right now Robarms is totally out of Veprs. No idea when they are going to have more.

Right now the best gun you can get for your money is a Saiga. The guns themselves are awesome, and you can convert them to any configuration you want. You can do it yourself if you have the know how, or you can have it professionally done, and end up with a gun that costs about the same as a Vepr or an Arsenal, but built exactly to your specs.
 
Look around at the local gun show for a used AK.I bought a Bulgarian SLR95 for #00 and a maddi for $250.GPWASRs are going for $350 around here.
 
MechAg94 said:
Down here in Houston, I don't see much but WASR's except for Global Trades. They are local so they are the only other people I see. They are kind of expensive though and I just don't like their shiny, polished, plastic looking furniture. Every rifle they put out on the tables are $600 or more.
Click to expand...

Are you quite sure about that? I was at Global Trade's booth at the Austin SAXET gunshow last Saturday, and they had several basic US-made models for $469.

That's only about $100 more than what a lot of gunshow WASRs will run, so seems pretty reasonable.

-MV
 
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