I need a rifle and been "utubing the AK's". I don't want to spend a lot of money on it since it will not be used much, but of course it has to function, properlly. Mainly as protection for the wife when I am not around. She is a pretty good shot, and once I show her something she pretty much nails it. So I would like to know if those inexpensive AK's are reliable enough to feel comfortable leaving for her as a last line of defense . She has the ability to shoot my other pistols, and a shotgun is not practical for her, so What's the average price of a decent AK with iron sights, nothin fancy, maybe a 10 and a 30 rounder. If she were backed into the master bedroom and had to wait for help, I just want to know that anyone trying to come through that door would not make it. The house is concrete block and pretty secure in that room on 3 sides, the one wall is not block but she has some very sturdy pine furniture in there that should stop anything that can get through two layers of plywood and sheetrock. Windows have auto shutters, so it's a sturdy place to hold up till help arrived, shame to have to think this way but there are more Home invasions everyday in certain parts of the country. Having spoken about this before and having lived through one, I like to feel I did my part and didn't get lazy. Of course she will recieve the proper training prior to me allowing her to use the weapon.
Are the newer WASR Ak's decent HD protection
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The WASR 10s are selling like hotcakes. For the price one cannot go wrong. THE ammo is getting cheaper by last count. Since no more SKS in the pipeline, these are the way to go. .30 cal round can punch through half inch steel less than 50 yds.
Get one without hesitation . The gunshows should have them. THe AK 74s are also very popular, either way can fill in your needs.
Get one without hesitation . The gunshows should have them. THe AK 74s are also very popular, either way can fill in your needs.
Quentin
Member
Most WASR-10s are gtg, mine was right out of the box and has functioned perfectly for four years. I think the new ones are still good but hopefully you'll get more feedback on them.
Of course there's always the chance of a lemon no matter which gun you choose but no doubt you'd shake out any new gun to be sure it's 100% before ever thinking of using it for HD.
Of course there's always the chance of a lemon no matter which gun you choose but no doubt you'd shake out any new gun to be sure it's 100% before ever thinking of using it for HD.
Z-Michigan
Member
They're fine. Just shoot the one you buy enough to ensure that it is reliable without any issues.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
They work fine. Depending on proximity to neighbors and her own personal preferences, you could also think about a 5.45x39mm AK instead of 7.62x39mm, though since you live in a masonry house either would probably be fine from a safety standpoint. 5.45x39mm is a little bit lighter as well.
rd2007
Member
You hear all sorts of bad things about WASRs on the Intrawebs, but my actual experience has been flawless. Of course you need to put it through some range time after you get it to make sure there aren't any issues and there more than likely won't be. The AK also has the added psychological benefit. Very few things say "This is not where you want to be" like the AK-47. I've read many stories of bad guys fleeing like little girls when someone turned an AK on them and I can't blame them either. I would not want to be on the receiving end of one of those for sure..
GunsBeerFreedom
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The only bad things I've ever heard about WASRs were trigger slap (corrected in newer versions with a nice American trigger) and canted sights (corrected with better QC). Other than that the most people can still say bad about them in the honest truth. They work, and work well (as an AK should), but they're very....spartan. Nothing wrong with that at all though, I personally love my WASRs (all 6 of them).
Corrected on my WASR with Tech sights. Shoots great now
They're not meant for accuracy but will serve well for home defense. Especially with a flashlight and tapco trigger group. Soft points will be the best ammo for HD so long as they function well through your gun. But the best HD weapon has always got to be the shotgun.
Dave Markowitz
Member
A WASR should serve fine as a HD rifle. I do recommend picking one out in person vs. ordering one and having it delivered to a local FFL, so that you can check for canted sights. Also, once you get it run a couple hundred rounds through it to verify reliability. If you're going to use hollow points, verify the gun will feed them reliably, some AKs don't.
A weapon light is a good idea. The only other mod I'd recommend would be to replace the slant brake with a flash hider.
Check out the Hungarian made 20 round magazines. They offer good capacity but a noticeably lower profile than 30 rounders, which can be an advantage when trying to hunker down behind concealment or cover. For a magazine to be left loaded indefinitely, you probably can't find a better choice than any of the Eastern European or Chinese AK mags. They are built like tanks.
A weapon light is a good idea. The only other mod I'd recommend would be to replace the slant brake with a flash hider.
Check out the Hungarian made 20 round magazines. They offer good capacity but a noticeably lower profile than 30 rounders, which can be an advantage when trying to hunker down behind concealment or cover. For a magazine to be left loaded indefinitely, you probably can't find a better choice than any of the Eastern European or Chinese AK mags. They are built like tanks.
Tommygunn
Member
My WASR-10 runs fine, no canted anything. Looks cheap as **** but ...it's a WASR.
They are what they iz. A good gun but you don't get pretty. They go bang.
Mine is accurate and reliable at any realistic range.
They are what they iz. A good gun but you don't get pretty. They go bang.
Mine is accurate and reliable at any realistic range.
srkavanagh6621
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They are ok guns! they will go bang everytime you pull the trigger! The one i had but got rid of trigger slapped me and i didnt like that much! Other than that function was always flawless but not made for accuracy! 
I would say its a decent purchase!
I would say its a decent purchase!HorseSoldier
Member
You might also take a look at Saigas if you're not looking for high cap magazine capability as a major decision point.
kwelz
Member
Depends on which monkey was at work in Centuries shop that day. I would suggest looking at an Arsenal. They are converted Saiga rifles and are much better quality.
doc2rn
Member
I gotta say +1 to the trigger slap being awful.
Motodeficient
Member
As someone else mentioned, they are good HD rifle, just make sure you put some rounds down the pipe to make sure its GTG. My last century AK would not feed at all. I sent it back to century and got it back two weeks later working great.
Mine has been 100% from day one...but only about 500 rounds through it so far.
As far as I understand, the trigger slap was corrected with the new G2 Tapco trigger. I've never experienced trigger slap on mine.
It would work fine for a home defense rifle. I would probably grab my shotgun with buckshot before I grabbed the AK, but it would work.
As far as I understand, the trigger slap was corrected with the new G2 Tapco trigger. I've never experienced trigger slap on mine.
It would work fine for a home defense rifle. I would probably grab my shotgun with buckshot before I grabbed the AK, but it would work.
Nowhere Man
Member
I bought an underfolder in June. The box said they were manufactured in 11/09. 2 of the 3 at the store had canted front sights. It came with a bayonet and sheith, sling, oiler, magazine pouch and 4-30 round magazines. I've had it to the range and it's preformed perfectly. Fun to shoot. I'll probably buy another when I get the chance.
Dave
Dave
migkillertwo
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AIM surplus has a great deal on new production WASR-10s.
The new ones dont have any mag wobble with Euro steel mags, the sights are adjusted to compensate for any cant, and they function very reliably (at least in my experience).
I however would hesitate before buying a WASR 10 for home defense for one big reason: The overpenetration in a 7.62x39mm round is insane, much more than a .223 or a 5.45x39. Though that does come in handy when you're shooting at a vehicle target (who says drive-bys dont happen?).
For home defense, I'd recommend a WASR-2 over the WASR-10, or maybe even a good Century AK-74 built on the Elk River receiver. The barrel isn't chrome lined, but you said you wouldn't be shooting it a whole lot. The 5.45 has decent steel penetration, and the hollow tip ensures that the round will roll in soft tissue.
But even better than all those options, you may want to consider saving an extra 180$ and getting the CMMG bargain bin AR-15 with the nitrided barrel.
The new ones dont have any mag wobble with Euro steel mags, the sights are adjusted to compensate for any cant, and they function very reliably (at least in my experience).
I however would hesitate before buying a WASR 10 for home defense for one big reason: The overpenetration in a 7.62x39mm round is insane, much more than a .223 or a 5.45x39. Though that does come in handy when you're shooting at a vehicle target (who says drive-bys dont happen?).
For home defense, I'd recommend a WASR-2 over the WASR-10, or maybe even a good Century AK-74 built on the Elk River receiver. The barrel isn't chrome lined, but you said you wouldn't be shooting it a whole lot. The 5.45 has decent steel penetration, and the hollow tip ensures that the round will roll in soft tissue.
But even better than all those options, you may want to consider saving an extra 180$ and getting the CMMG bargain bin AR-15 with the nitrided barrel.
WardenWolf
member
The new WASR-10's coming out all have Tapco trigger groups. This prevents the trigger slap that happens with older models, but DOES encourage bumpfiring. Note: those who complain about trigger slap, a new trigger group is cheap and only a 5-minute changeover. My WASR underfolder has been great. Accurate and reliable out of the box. No jams, ever, just like you'd expect from a good AK.
possum
Member
easy asnwer to your question, buy one, try it out like you should any gun that you may have too/ need too/ think of using as defense, and if it is reliable use it.
Quentin
Member
My 4 year old WASR-10/63 came with a G2 Tapco trigger and no trigger slap. I suspect that may be about the time Century started upgrading the WASR since mine is an early 10/63 with no triangle marking on the trunion (which may mean it has parts rejected by the military). Also it had the post ban filed down bayonet lug and welded muzzle nut which I removed and replaced with a flash hider. Apparantly later ones with the triangle marking, slant brake and bayonet lug are even better but this one hasn't given me any trouble and has very little magazine wobble and cant.
$299 for the 10 rounder that needs modded for the bigger mags or $379 for one ready to go:
http://www.classicarms.us/
http://www.classicarms.us/
Sebastian the Ibis
Member
WASR's are fine. Get one in 7.62x39 and you should be good to go.
The worst POS AK I've seen repeatedly jam and double was a brand new Arsenal in .223, owned (briefly) by a Miami Police Department Firearms instructor/smith. There are lemons of all flavors, but a lot seem to be chambered in .223.
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