Arsenal AK in 5.56. I am considering purchasing one, but I have questions.

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ol' scratch

ol' scratch

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OK. I really like the AR 15 platform, but I like the AK platform too. What is appealing to me with the Arsenal in 5.56 is that is an actual Bulgarian AK with matching numbers. The rifle is available to me locally. This is the Arsenal SLR 106. My only real concern is with magazine availability and cost. I do not want a 7.62 x 39 chambered rifle because I reload for 5.56. I already have a 7.62 Nato chambered firearm. One benefit I have with the AR is that I have lots of mags for AR rifles, but the AK in 5.56 is just a different kind of cool. Thoughts?
 
As you mentioned Mag availability is a negative factor.

If it were my choice I would buy the 7.62x39 chambering. Even though I dont own one yet, I have no doubt you will be happy with your purcase.
The arsenal aks seem to be the best of the best and they are TRUE RUSSIAN AKS! whats not to like about that.
 
You can't really go wrong with an Arsenal AK no matter the caliber. The magazines are available or at least were before all this crazy buying (have not looked in a while). Circle 10 Bulgarian mags or possibly the Polish archer mags.
The only AK with hard to find mags seem to be the Chinese .223 Aks
 
Yeah. The rifle is solid if it's an Arsenal. The mags are the Achilles heal. They were ~$30 before the panic. I'm sure that you'll be able to find some around that price soon if you keep your eyes open. I'd snatch up at least 1/2 dozen when you find them and you'll be set.

Edit: Looks like K-Var has them in stock at $45/piece. OUCH!

http://www.k-var.com/shop/5.56x45mm-.223-Caliber/
 
The Arsenal 556 AK is a solid peice of work. I sold mine but the only reason was that .223 ammo was twice the price of 7.62x39. The funds from the SLR-106FR went straight into purchasing a SLR-107FR.

The barrel on the Arsenal has a standard 1:7 twist and is hardchromed as is the gas block.

The finish is paint over parkerizing. The paint can be damaged by aggressive solvents like brake cleaner but CLP is fine.

BSW
 
Arsenal is a Russian rifle, not Bulgarian. Either way, they are solid rifles.

You could have it fit for an adapter so that it takes AR 15 magazines. There was one I saw recently that was quite cool, very high quality. I think the company is called Definitive Arms. Long wait times, I'm sure, but for a 5.56 AK it might be worth considering.
 
im building a 5.56mm on a bulgarian kit.. you can actually modify the trunnion/bullet guide for cheap galil mags, which is what im doing.. but theres also a company you can send it in to thatll add an ar-15 type magwell and bolt hold open... then you can just use your ar-15 mags in it, though, thats going to decrease the reliability a bit of the AK, since AK mags are more reliable (being fully curved)
 
Edit: Looks like K-Var has them in stock at $45/piece. OUCH!
Click to expand...
K-Var is the only place I've ever bought these mags from. Last December, I had the presence of mind to pick up three more, and the cost then was $32.99. Soon after, they were out of stock. I've got to wonder if the new price is K-Var trying to take advantage of demand, or if they are just passing on a higher price from their supplier. I use these mags in a Saiga.
 
CURRENTLY...Here in ALASKA it would be a moot point since any ammo for 5.56mm, 7.62x39, 308 and even most 30-06 has disappeared.

The best AK I ever had for accuracy was a VALMET M-76 in 5.56mm. My buddies Arsenal in 5.56mm is a little more accurate than my arsenal in 7.62x39mm. No doubt due to the ammo consistency and not the firearm itself.

Also , he can reload his brass and all of my 7.62x39 brass is Berdan primed.
 
If you're considering consolidating your ammo with your AR and your AK then the Arsenal-106 will be good addition. Circle 10 mags are the best and prior to SH CT wasn't too bad on prices but yes more than AR or surplus AK mags.
 
personally I see no advantage to getting an ak in 5.56. to me the 7.62 x 39 is the perfect combat round. I walk in the woods with it and shoot rocks on cliffs 100-250 yds and it hits hard much better then 5.56. it is the best round for realistic combat where no one stands still in the open at a pre ranged position. carrying more ineffective to me rounds does not appeal to me. the 308 is good for shooting long distance at people who do not know they are being shot at
 
The AK type now is the SIg 551 A1 in 5.56. The rotary rear sight is so well thought out to match the front globe.
 
my 5.56mm ak will be awesome when its finished, going with galil mags, and yeah, i will consolidate my rifles into one cartridge, and though i dont like the ballistics of the 55 grain military ammo, im going to build my rifle around using 75 grain a-max bullets which calculations show beautiful ballistics for

im actually glad i dont have to use ar-15 mags, i dont like them, problem is ak and sig mags are very expensive, galil mags were about $10 each before the panic and only takes a slight modification to the rifle to properly use them.. this is the path id recommend going, and theres more variety in magazines with the galil mags too... steel, polymer, clear, more options in capacity, etc

id prefer a 1-7 inch twist barrel to optimize those 75 grain loads, while still being able to handle military surplus loads for plinking
 
The SLR-106 comes with the sights better than most other AK clones, and no obligatory muzzle attachments. I like the naked barrel.
 
The SLR-106 comes with the sights better than most other AK clones, and no obligatory muzzle attachments. I like the naked barrel.
Click to expand...

The SLR comes with the same tangent U notch sights as 100 million other AK pattern rifles. The -R has a receiver side rail that's very nice for mounting optics.

As for the muzzle, all the SLR-10X series (that I know of) have a 24mm threaded front sight block. You can use a flash hider, brake, or thread protector. Or leave the threads unprotected.

BSW
 
This is the SLR106U. Note the front sight.
Hundred million, what do you know.
 

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This is the SLR106U. Note the front sight.
Hundred million, what do you know.
Click to expand...

That model is not the standard SLR-106. It is the "U" version modeled after the AK74U but with a 16" barrel. I'm not sure by what standard you would consider the sights better. The rear sight is actually attached to the dust cover via a hinge so is actually a bit less stable than the standard AK rear sight. This was done to extend the sight radius as the AK74U required that the front sight be mounted on the gas block, significantly shortening sight radius. A longer sight radius is always preferable as it allows for more pracitcal accuracy. Unless you intend to convert it to an SBR I would stick with the standard AK configuration. However, doing so will most likely require some adjustment to the gas port.
 
They do come with different sights. I did not say all of them do.

The rear sight is not typical kalash. It is a flip up design. Yes it is mounted on the pencil box. No, it is not a big deal. (Unless one mounts optics and pretends to be a sniper) These sights work for me in rapid fire on targets, off hand. With all due apologies for the picture, THR reduced it.
 

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