Best AK74 clone out there

[rauchman]

Greetings,

I currently have a Bushmaster AR flattop w/ 16" barrel. I've recently started to get an itch to get an AK 74 type clone. I saw a picture of a KTR that looked like something that Diane Fienstein, Schumer or any of them, would get their panties in a bunch......excellent Anyway, are the SAR's in 5.45 any good? Also, what other options are there for this type of AK. I don't have experience with it, but I think I would like the 5.45 round over the 7.62x39 ( which I have shot).

Thanks,
Ken

 

[Gary G23]

There is not an abundance of GOOD AK-74s on the market. I've been researching this idea myself the last month. It seems like a lot of the people that get the SAR-2 have to replace the trigger group due to painful trigger slap, and have to have the front sight straightened, and have to refinish the wood and sometimes the metal. The SSR-74-2 from Global Trades looks promising for $500 but they are not going to be available until April or later. There is a Special Edition AK-74 project going on over at ar15.com. Ohio Rapid Fire is building Bulgarian kits on Ohio Ordnance Works receivers for $700 for this SEAK project. Atlantic Firearms has a couple of 74s listed on their website. One has a Hesse receiver I believe and is priced at $399 and the other a OOW receiver and priced at $679. I personally am having one built by the Firing Line on one of their milled receivers. I'm using a new Bulgarian kit, Kvar green furniture, an Arsenal gas piston, and a Red Star Arms trigger group. Expensive yes but I think I'll be happy with it.

 

[Murphster]

If you don't mind a little additional weight from an RPK receiver, the VEPR is nice. Mine was accurate, reliable, and well made. The 5.45 is, of course, the Russian version of the .223. The 5.45 is slightly smaller and, if I recall correctly, is designed to tumble after it starts penetrating. I had no problem locating the ammo or magazines. I prefer the 7.62 but that's just me. Wish I'd kept mine.

 

[ARperson]

Our SAR2 (the 5.45 version) needed a new trigger (I recommend Red Star Arms), but not because of trigger slap so much as it was just a sloppy pull. It was also a single shot until we replaced the top cover; seems there was something binding on the bolt so it couldn't slam home. And my hubby put ugly plastic furniture on it since it was his rifle (I already had a CUR2), but I don't think our wood furniture was as bad as some of the others have been reporting.

Don't settle for the first one you see if it isn't a good specimen.

FWIW, I haven't seen one at the gun shows for a while now. I do think they're getting slimmer in the pickings category but I could be wrong.

 

[MrPink]

Check out arsenalinc.com. They have a .pdf file of a Small Arms Review article about the gun. Very, very well made.

 

[Gary G23]

Arsenal Inc is indeed very well made. I love my SA M-7. Unfortunately they only come in 7.62 and 5.56, not 5.45. If they did I would definitely buy one.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Without a doubt, the very best AK-74-style rifle is the Krebs Custom AK-74M. It's the closest thing you'll get to a real Izhmash AK-74M.

The down side is that it costs $1,000.00, being that it's custom made from a Saiga receiver by probably the best Kalashnikov gunsmith in the industry.

Observe:

And check out Krebs' rifles page.

 

[DF357]

the granddaddy of all AK sites.....

http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=77

If you want to know about it... it's there.

you might have to sign up to see it but it's no big deal.... free like other forums.