Arsenal SAM7 AK-47 Range Test

[JCooperfan1911]

Hello friends and a good day to you. As some of you may know I recently purchased what I hope to make my primary fighting rifle, an Arsenal SAM7R-61 AK-47 chambered in the 7.62x39mm cartridge and made in Bulgaria.



After last weeks initial range test of 440 rounds that went off without a hitch, I went back out to the Mojave with the little Arsenal, this time equipped with an Arsenal-made SM-13 side scope mount rail and an Aimpoint H2 microdot. While the open Kalashnikov sights work well enough, I greatly prefer a dot for most uses.

The SM-13 rail locked up nice and snug after adjusting the screw clamp mechanism, and fits the gun very well. Over the 200 rounds fired today it didn’t shift a bit and held zero perfectly. I am very pleased with the mount at this time, and of course the Aimpoint dot is stellar as always.



After initial sight in, I fired for groupings at 50 meters. Testing two loads, Red Army FMJ gave a consistent 1.75” group. Next was Golden Tiger FMJBT and wow, that load shot great. About 1.25” at 50 meters. The above photo shows two groups one atop the other as I zeroed in the Aimpoint.

Needless to say, I am VERY pleased with the initial accuracy groupings of this milled receiver Kalashnikov, and am excited to get it to the local 100m range soon for more thorough groupings. As is the weapon seems more than capable of putting all rounds inside the lethal zone of an enemy combatant at 300m, which is of course the original AK design parameters.

The rifle has a very good trigger for sure, nice and light and allows for rapid firing. It has fired about 650 rounds without fail. Recoil is very tame, the gun is not over-gassed and the additional metal in the tough milled receiver gives the gun a great balance and rock solid feel. I really like the intermediate-length stock too. Not so short as a standard Warsaw Pact stock, nor as long as a NATO length, but right in the middle and for me it is perfect.

I LOVE THIS RIFLE!


-J.C.F.

 

[Ignition Override]

So, a 1.25 " group with these "fat" bullets, which never had the ballistic characteristics of the svelte, healthy diet-conscious 5.56/.223. Comparing Apples and little tangerines. I would be surprised if most ARs in 7.62x39 can do that.

That's interesting, even at 50 yards or so. As stated in a PM I sent, if a box of thick cash (unseen by others) falls in front of my car, it will probably be spent on a Bulgarian exactly like yours, which will accept wooden furniture.

* For better ergos etc, you might consider, despite the present cost, two/three Hungarian 20-rd. Tanker magazines.

Ammunition for AK-47 AKM and derivatives (akstuff.com) This appear to be the best deal for the bulk ammo. Low shipping cost to here, and any sales tax seems 'opaque'. My total was about $310.

Tested: Arsenal Inc. SAM7SF-84G Bulgarian AK-47 Rifle | An Official Journal Of The NRA (americanrifleman.org)

Their Bulgy (Arsenal Inc.) SAM was tested at 100 yards, using a traditional scope, achieved really good results, and at 100, instead of 50 yards. Their objective was to reach a certain group size during the assembly process.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

So, a 1.25 " group with these "fat" bullets, which never had the ballistic characteristics of the svelte, healthy diet-conscious 5.56/.223. Comparing Apples and little tangerines. I would be surprised if most ARs in 7.62x39 can do that.

That's interesting, even at 50 yards or so. As stated in a PM I sent, if a box of thick cash (unseen by others) falls in front of my car, it will probably be spent on a Bulgarian exactly like yours, which will accept wooden furniture.

* For better ergos etc, you might consider, despite the present cost, two/three Hungarian 20-rd. Tanker magazines.
I gave away three eastern Euro metal 30-rd. mags, and now just a set of Hun. Tankers. Very rugged, and they look tough.

** A secondary, indirect benefit is that the typical guys who feel that they must always Fill Up magazines (why march to "their drum" ?), will go through less ammo with H. Tankers, and probably not overheat barrels as often.

Lol! Thank you sir.

I think you’d love it! Those Hungarian tankers mags look VERY handy and today the 30 rounder I had proved not the most convenient for shooting off the trunk of my car. I’ll snag a couple. I am now going to obtain a chest rig and some spare 30s to work on my reloads.

This weapon begs to be fired and luckily, 7.62x39mm is the cheapest centerfire ammo on the market period, rifle or handgun. Tough to believe but makes life a bit easier on us combloc weapon owners, and it’s a very nice cartridge.

 

[RGSB]

Lol! Thank you sir.

I think you’d love it! Those Hungarian tankers mags look VERY handy and today the 30 rounder I had proved not the most convenient for shooting off the trunk of my car. I’ll snag a couple. I am now going to obtain a chest rig and some spare 30s to work on my reloads.

This weapon begs to be fired and luckily, 7.62x39mm is the cheapest centerfire ammo on the market period, rifle or handgun. Tough to believe but makes life a bit easier on us combloc weapon owners, and it’s a very nice cartridge.

Cant go wrong with a good AK and 762x39

 

[brunowbe]

Nice shooting. You will find that Kalashnikovs are far more accurate than most think they are. In regards to the ammo, you may want to check the head stamps, Golden Tiger and Red Army are both being made by the same factory recently.

Once you get settled in with that rifle, save some pennies and get an AK74, join the 5.45 master race!

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Nice shooting. You will find that Kalashnikovs are far more accurate than most think they are. In regards to the ammo, you may want to check the head stamps, Golden Tiger and Red Army are both being made by the same factory recently.

Once you get settled in with that rifle, save some pennies and get an AK74, join the 5.45 master race!

No, I’m good. The 5.45 is tough to find in my area, is more expensive online, and doesn’t do anything for me really lol. But they do have minor recoil and are smooth shooters. I like the 7.62x39mm.

 

[d2wing]

Hello friends and a good day to you. As some of you may know I recently purchased what I hope to make my primary fighting rifle, an Arsenal SAM7R-61 AK-47 chambered in the 7.62x39mm cartridge and made in Bulgaria.

View attachment 1016169

After last weeks initial range test of 440 rounds that went off without a hitch, I went back out to the Mojave with the little Arsenal, this time equipped with an Arsenal-made SM-13 side scope mount rail and an Aimpoint H2 microdot. While the open Kalashnikov sights work well enough, I greatly prefer a dot for most uses.

The SM-13 rail locked up nice and snug after adjusting the screw clamp mechanism, and fits the gun very well. Over the 200 rounds fired today it didn’t shift a bit and held zero perfectly. I am very pleased with the mount at this time, and of course the Aimpoint dot is stellar as always.

View attachment 1016170

After initial sight in, I fired for groupings at 50 meters. Testing two loads, Red Army FMJ gave a consistent 1.75” group. Next was Golden Tiger FMJBT and wow, that load shot great. About 1.25” at 50 meters. The above photo shows two groups one atop the other as I zeroed in the Aimpoint.

Needless to say, I am VERY pleased with the initial accuracy groupings of this milled receiver Kalashnikov, and am excited to get it to the local 100m range soon for more thorough groupings. As is the weapon seems more than capable of putting all rounds inside the lethal zone of an enemy combatant at 300m, which is of course the original AK design parameters.

The rifle has a very good trigger for sure, nice and light and allows for rapid firing. It has fired about 650 rounds without fail. Recoil is very tame, the gun is not over-gassed and the additional metal in the tough milled receiver gives the gun a great balance and rock solid feel. I really like the intermediate-length stock too. Not so short as a standard Warsaw Pact stock, nor as long as a NATO length, but right in the middle and for me it is perfect.

I LOVE THIS RIFLE!


-J.C.F.

You have been doing alot of research and it has paid off for you. Excellent accuracy for a AK. I am happy for you. Good shooting. You have made me reconsider the platform.

 

[The Glockodile]

If we made AK derivatives of such awesome quality here, entirely on U.S. soil...

...I wonder what the price would be?

 

[sarduy]

Now you have a solid all around rifle, it’s time to get training training and more training

 

[Speedo66]

As is the weapon seems more than capable of putting all rounds inside the lethal zone of an enemy combatant at 300m, which is of course the original AK design parameters.

"The .30 Short Russian is a pitiful cartridge past about 200 yards.

Too much bullet drop and bleeds energy tremendously. It's an extremely inefficient cartridge." quote from JCooperfan in the post "SKS or M1A: SKS May Be Batter

I like the 7.62x39mm.

All your quotes regarding the 7.62x39, you seem to flip/ flop on this cartridge. lol

 

[mudstud]

ttt

 

[MechAg94]

If we made AK derivatives of such awesome quality here, entirely on U.S. soil...

...I wonder what the price would be?

Kalashnikov USA is getting a decent start. We will see how their track record goes the next few years.

 

[The Glockodile]

Kalashnikov USA is getting a decent start. We will see how their track record goes the next few years.

I'm not sure if irony is the proper term - one probably CANNOT make an AR in the backstreets of Lahore (perhaps an AR-18) - but AKs, definitely.

Curious why we can't whip up a Rolls - Royce AK "just like that" given all our CNC Machines, education, and know - how.

 

[Ignition Override]

The Glockadile:

According to years of reading AK builders' comments on the AKfiles, the goal of Quick Profits and trying to offer competitive retail prices seem to be the main reasons why some US AK companies don 't use better, more durable grades of steel in components, and why they rush assembly or miss inspections of quality.

You realize that IO no longer produces AKs? IO's CEO Uli Wiegant sent a complaint 'letter' to Rob Ski of AKOU, after he tested an IO to 3,500 rds., or so (assuming the rifle was still ok with Robs headspace gauge....).
Bad publicity killed that operation. Some videos of IO guns (supposedly) straight from the box showed weird malfunctions while firing at other ranges, and Not due to the magazines.

But it might appear strange about how popular the higher-priced imported versions are? Huge numbers of people are looking forward to Atlantic Arms (distributor) receiving their next batch of Zastava ZPAPs (this month-from an Atlantic Rep on AKfiles), and the Polish WBP Fox, plus the milled Bulgy Arsenals.

Maybe Century's subcontractors don't have the exact skills or labor staffing to produce such guns (?), on a very consistent basis, even if they allowed more production time per gun. I don't know.
* Countries which produced, and still have the equipment to produce reliable, durable weapons (milspec quality steel and assembly) for the Cold War, strangely and paradoxically (?) learned to sell commercial versions commanding far higher prices than these US-made guns. This - allegedly with lower labor costs.........

This includes the Czech VZ-58, a pricey, very unique alternative to the AKM.

 

[Kano383]

Curious why we can't whip up a Rolls - Royce AK "just like that" given all our CNC Machines, education, and know - how.

For a large part of the US manufacturers (not all of them) the question is "What can I get away with?" and not "What's the best I can do?". They'd rather spend money on marketing than on quality, and polish a turd calling it all sorts of hyperbolic names. You can get a good AK from small custom builders though.

The Eastern Europeans were building tools: it had to work. They didn't really care how it looked, but they sure cared if it got the job done or not.

If you want a Rolls AK, get yourself a Swiss-made SIG 550 series, or a Galil Ace, the Galil being the closest to the AK, and the SIG being the most "take what's good, and improve the rest".

And if you want the toughest com-bloc AK, the Arsenal is a good contender to the title, all forged and milled, high quality steel and machining processes. Probably the most expensive "original" AK to produce.

 

[Ignition Override]

Kano383: well-spoken.

Being mostly unfamiliar with the Galil Ace , it receives very consistent, positive reviews. And it has very unique sliding components to help keep dust from entering the gun.

if we could only receive large shipments of the Sig 550 series———to push prices very much lower. I passed two Swiss soldiers riding bicycles in Interlaken, with what looked like the 550 slung on their backs, four years ago.

 

[BreechFace]

The PSA Gen 5 AK47's I've been around have shown some really good promise. Actually, any of the PSA after Gen 3 have shown promise.

 

[amd6547]

PSA’s foray into the AK74 5.45 have been less of a success.
Ahhh…remember the days when you could buy a Saiga Sporter, a genuine Kalashnikov made in the Izhmash plant, for $239?

 

[Ignition Override]

This Russian disaster series "To The Lake", which I'm watching on Netflix (this guy is a civilian) got me interested again in the AK-74, but the cost for imported versions isn't acceptable. My rifle focus is only on 7.62x39.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

The milled Bulgarian AKs are some of the finest Kalashnikovs ever built. I'm glad I bought mine back when AKs were cheaper than AR15s. I have two, an SLR-101SG in 7.62x39 and a SA M5 in 5.56 NATO.

I used to shoot both of them in practical rifle competition, especially the SLR-101SG. I cannot recall it ever malfunctioning.

Many years ago, I cut the lower tang and installed an Ace folding stock. It locks up solidly and feels just as good as a fixed stock. I configured it to fold to the left so the "knuckle" wouldn't be on the right side and bump my nose, since I'm left handed. It can fold even if there's an optic attached to the receiver scope mounting rail.

I also replaced the rear open sight with a Mojo peep rear. It's a definite improvement IMHO.





As a ban-era rifle it has a permanently affixed muzzle brake. If you're off to the side it can be obnoxious but it's not bad for the shooter, and it works well at controlling muzzle flip so I never de-banned it.

I'm planning to install a Primary Arms 1-6x LPVO using a Midwest Industries rail on it. They should arrive tomorrow, AAMOF. My eyes ain't what they used to be. I'm thinking of making this my main defensive rifle again, and optics > irons.