hrmm.. well okay, I guess this AK thing ain't half bad. :)

[Kaylee]

Thanks to another member I finally traded into an AK clone this last week. I figured just in case the ban battle went against us, it'd be nice to have one around. (Kinda odd that.. I doubt I'd have ever tried to get one if it weren't for the prospect of not being able to at some point in the future )

Besides, might as well learn to use the thing, ya know?


Well all the cracks I'd ever heard about this rifle came flooding to mind as I lengthened out the sling and hung it over my shoulder...

"where's the rock for adjusting the front sight?"

"the perfect rifle for equipping a conscript army that has yet to master the fine art of indoor plumbing.."

"cheap Commie piece of %!@#$%...."



And yet, the more I handle this thing, the more I see why some of y'all are so attached to it. The very idea that something can be made..well.. this cheaply, this crudely, and still not only work, but work well... wow.

That's just pretty darn cool.

Sure the 1000 yard sights are hilariously optimistic.. sure the mag is a PITA to change.. but as I get more accustomed to it it's not as bad as just trying out a friend's at the range. Even the wonky safety is starting to be ..well... I'll just say it's less annoying than it was last week.

Y'all know what?

Rifles are just cool.
Even the ol' Commie junk.


(And any of y'all with ugly AK wood, ask NevadaPistolero about refinishing... I didn't know AKs could look this nice! )

 

[Beetle Bailey]

I doubt I'd have ever tried to get one if it weren't for the prospect of not being able to at some point in the future )

That's why I am thinking about getting another SKS even though I hardly shoot the one I have now.

Besides, sometimes having a "blaster" to (safely) cut loose with is just the thing to break up the monotony of shooting for groups on paper .

BTW, are you getting the 75-round drum ?

 

[FPrice]

Kaylee...

"Rifles are just cool.
Even the ol' Commie junk."

Ya know, I thought the same thing until my FFL offered me a GREAT deal on a SAR-1 and 3 hi-caps. I took it, went to the range, then spent some time kicking myself for waiting so long! They ARE fun guns and I had no problem thumbing my nose at those people who would try to ban these.

The only benefit to waiting so long is that I spent about half of what it would have cost if I had bought one earlier.

 

[son of a gun]

I doubt I'd have ever tried to get one if it weren't for the prospect of not being able to at some point in the future )

I find myself pondering if there wasn't such stringent regulations on US machine gun ownership. Would a bunch of people want them or would it be viewed as an inaccurate ammo waister, the metaphoric equivalent to a gas guzzler car.

 

[Jeff White]

The only AK I ever owned was a .223 Norinco and I hated it. I suppose I should try one in 7.62x39.

BTW, Jim Crews new Carbine manual has a couple chapters on the AK series including a good photo illustrated manual of arms for both right and left hand manipulation.

Jeff

 

[Kodiak AK]

son of a gun
That is my veiw point even with the restrictions in place .

 

[Redlg155]

Ahhh...another one has been assimilated!

I love mine. Reliable to the point of boring. I can't imagine shooting with a 75rd mag. Even with the 30rd mags you wonder when she's gonn a run dry.

The SAR1 also happens to be my first "serious" gun to grab in an emergency.

Good Shooting
Red

 

[AK103K]

Would a bunch of people want them or would it be viewed as an inaccurate ammo waister, the metaphoric equivalent to a gas guzzler car.

Its not the guns fault if you waste ammo with it. Even someone with a tack driving bolt gun can do that. Its all how you learn to shoot it. I think if the NFA rules went away, the first part of the statement would be the case. It would also go a long way in educating what seems to be the majority of shooters, especially the non full auto shooters as to what they really can and can not do with one, and when they should and shouldnt.
The AK's are great little rifles and way under rated, especially by a lot of US shooters. Just like the full auto's, I think its mostly due to ignorance and mis information. All the short comings seem to go away when you play with one for a little while and learn how they work and to use them. They can be just as easy to work and get in to action as anything else with just a little practice. At realistic ranges, the AK's are a formidable weapon in the right hands. Then again, most things are in the right hands. Its not the weapons fault if you cant shoot it.
As for the wasting ammo issue, hey it might be a waste, but if your having fun, and its all in fun, who cares, as long as you can be safe at doing it, its FUN. What scares the hell out of me though, its this 'bump firing' rage that seems to be going on. Full auto can waste ammo if you want to shoot it that way, but at least you still have control. Bump firing to me is a major accident waiting to happen, and to all parties present. Wasting ammo is the least of the worries here.

 

[DMK]

I figured just in case the ban battle went against us, it'd be nice to have one around.

That's the same reason I bought my SAR1 and a big Bag 'O Mags. Better to have it and not need it, than let the many blood sucking parasites tell me I can't have it when I want it.

It's still not my favorite carbine in the collection, but I can definately appreciate it's charm and the little rifle is nothing if not reliable and handy. With a red dot sight on it, and a couple 30 round mags, it's loads of fun! I was very surprised how accurate it can be with a decent sighting system and quality ammo.

 

[BryanP]

I figured just in case the ban battle went against us, it'd be nice to have one around.

As DMK said, this is part of the reason I bought a WASR-10 hi-cap recently. It's the same reason I will probably buy a FAL before I get around to filling some less-expensive holes in my collection. Those holes represent firearms that are much less likely to be banned anytime soon.

 

[Tomac]

I've been hooked on AK's ever since the late '80s when I looked inside a Polytech AK (only$289 for what is now a pre-ban! those were the days! [sigh...]) and said to myself "Is that all there is inside this thing???" I'm amazed at the simplicity, ruggedness and ease of maintenance/repair of the AK family (I now have an autographed photo of Kalashnikov on display). My current favorite is the 5.45 and I recently picked up a NIB SAR-2 to put back for my son "just in case" as well as an NDM-86 Dragunov in .308 for myself (going to be paying off that one for some time...) Get 'em while you can, no guarantees the future's going to be rosy for us gunowners...
Tomac

 

[son of a gun]

AK103K

Its not the guns fault if you waste ammo with it. Even someone with a tack driving bolt gun can do that. Its all how you learn to shoot it. I think if the NFA rules went away, the first part of the statement would be the case. It would also go a long way in educating what seems to be the majority of shooters, especially the non full auto shooters as to what they really can and can not do with one, and when they should and shouldnt.

What I was pondering was if the government hadn't made them forbidden fruit so to say, would people think there more bitter than sweet. Has the regulations motivated people to get them the way the AWB inspired KAYLEE to purchase an AK clone ?


I forgot to mention I didn't just buy an AK clone, I talked my dad into getting one also.

 

[AK103K]

I think the regs have probably scared more off than helped drive them to them.(although the 86 ban did in fact about double the number of transferable guns out there) Its amazing how many people will still tell you that they are illegal to own, even in our gun friendly state. I think all the paper work and leg work involved, along with all the incorrect babble by the internet/gunshop commandos who have no idea, also scares people away. I think what puts them more out of reach today is the inflated prices charged for them. An MP5 at $850 is over priced if you ask me, $10000 is insane, but I guess its what the market will bear. All this will just keep getting worse if we all just keep caving in to their 'rules and regs'. Its amazing to me, that we are supposed to be "The land of the free, and the home of the brave", and we, as law abiding citizens and taxpayers, can no longer speak out at an injustice in an airport line, or tell a cop 'no', or own what we want without harrassment and background checks(the tax part is legal, unfortunately), or pick any of the other things that we have lost, in both the name of security and safety, 'for the masses'. Its all for population control and its working, and in one, or at most two generations, its not going to matter anymore. They know us 'old heads' are a lost cause, thats why they are going after the kids at such a young age. Sorry for the rant on such a nice Sunday morning, but you got me started.

 

[Nick1911]

I have my eye on a WASR-10 high-cap at a local shop for $319. I figure that's a GREAT way to kick off turning 18! Anyone know where i can buy one of those drum magazines? It seems like a 'must have' with the magazine limit and all that gov't regulation BS...
Nick

 

[FPrice]

Just coincidentally...

The April 2004 issue of SWAT has a good article by Leroy Thompson about the "Pros and Cons of the AK-47".

 

[OEF_VET]

Ahh, another one converted to the faith. I got a SAR-1 a little over a year ago, and instantly fell in love. It's such a rugged, dependable, fun gun. Ok, it's not the most accurate weapon on the planet, but it wasn't designed to be.

Nick, check out www.tapco.com. They have 75 round drums and pouches for as little as $75 plus shipping.

Kaylee, you may want to look into the adjustable FCG's from Red Star Arms. From what I've been told, they are an absolute neccessity. I'll be buying one withing the next month. It's about time to put an end to that trigger slap problem.

Frank

 

[Tomac]

Tapco's G2 FCG for the AK is also a good cure for trigger slap. Excellent single stage trigger pull and much cheaper than the RSA adjustable trigger (which is also excellent but IMHO is better used in rifles such as the PSL/Romak-3/SSG-97 which can really benefit from the adjustment options).
Tomac

 

[goon]

It has long been my plan to hang my AK over my fireplace.
When I get a fireplace that is.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Kaylee, welcome to the Kalashnikov Kult. So what kind of AK did you get?

If your rifle has or develops trigger slap, check out Linx310's Romanian Kalashnikov Rifles Page at http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/index.shtml for how to fix it. Basically, you'll need a couple pair of needle nose pliers to get out the shepherd's hook, a Dremel tool, and a free half-hour. If you don't want to modify the stock parts, you can replace the fire control group with Tapco's G2 parts for about $40. I have a set in my Saiga and they work great.

Get a bunch of magazines. They are dirt cheap and if the AWB is renewed, you can bet that they'll become unavailable. I've come to really like the 20 round Hungarian mags originally made for the AMD-65. Because they are shorter than the 30s, they are handier when shooting from a bench or prone. Of course the 30s work well, but a lot of folks feel that the 40s (meant for RPKs) are too long for comfort. Tapco has the 20s for $7.99 each ($5.99 if you order 10 or more).

I suggest picking up a front sight adjustment tool at a gun show or from Tapco. If you zero at 100 yards, set your rear sight at the 100M marking and then zero it by adjusting the front sight with the tool. They run about $7 - $8.

If you want to put a red dot sight on it I heartily recommend the PK-01V, imported from Belarus. I got mine from FreedomOptics.com.

 

[Beren]

The threat of a renewed or expanded AWB is a major reason I've already purchased a Saiga-12, and I plan to purchase an AR, a WASR-10, and a SAR-2 this spring. I might just buy a second Saiga-12, too. They're cheap. Along with lots of magazines, of course, and a few drums if I can find them for a sane price. (This from the guy who once paid $90 for a 15-round Glock 20 mag!) If it weren't for the prospect of no longer being able to purchase them, I'd probably only have planned to purchase one of them this year.

 

[son of a gun]

How does the Saga-12 perform when you rapid fire it, I was told when semi auto-shot guns get hot the plastic on the shells starts to melt in the chamber causing jams ?

I have never had a high enough capacity shot gun to put this rumor to the test.

 

[SodaPop]

I figured just in case the ban battle went against us.

That's why I got an AR.

Plenty of doodads around even if it ranks 3rd Place in my favorite rifle ranking.

That's why I am thinking about getting another SKS even though I hardly shoot the one I have now.

I'm been thinking about doing the same thing. Those Yugos look nice, but I still would rather get another Russian SKS. I like the SKS a little more than the AK because its less bulk to shove in a safe or closet. Don't need to stock pile mags for the SKS.

 

[Kaylee]

thanks for the advice everyone!

Rifle is a SAR-1, all purtied up and lookin' something like a nice 60's AKM or so... excepting the sidemount, of course. And the evil features I can't have.

Anyhow, to be honest my interest in it is more historical and "example of the species to get acquainted with" than any kind of "serious" purpose, so I doubt I'll be getting big ol' drums or the like for it. Maybe eventually some kind of optic just to see what the rifle is mechanically capable of, rather than what I can do with those coarse open sights. And likely eventually I will replace the trigger group, just 'cause the hammer in there is already peened all crazy.

Also, it'd be nice to get a decent single-stage trigger, so thanks all for the recommendations!


Truth be told, I still much prefer a nice handy bolt rifle over all this military-style stuff anymore.. but I'll admit it's got some appeal, and it's definately comforting to have around until I can get the rest of my toys in the state.

-K

 

[riddleofsteel]

If I was actually involved in any kind of combat shooting i.e. law enforcement, Army, militia ect. I would choose a .223 in the AR-15 family in a heartbeat. Ammo availibility, parts, accuracy, ect.
However, for the weekend warrior out to shoot up the local range or backyard or the individual survival nut that thinks they need a battle rifle the AK/MAK family is the ticket. In 7.62 x 39 it is, hands down, the cheapest battle rifle to purchase and shoot. You can buy one for under $300.00, build one from cheap parts and gunsmith it in your garden shed without a machine shop or special tools. High cap mags are dirt cheap and tough as heck. There is plenty of hang on, add ons, out there for the neighborhood tactical squad.
I am currently building a Norinco MAK-90, with the best trigger I have ever pulled in any AK, up with three rail forend, front hand grip, ventilated metal upper hand guard (heat resistant), mounted Scorpion light and a Choate Dragnov synthetic stock.
One comment, if you are into HEAVY firing beware. An AK will melt a synthetic upper and lower hand guard off if fired continuously. I have seen wood hand guards smoking and too hot to put you hand on. If you are into HEAVY firing look into an all metal forend like the AMD-65 setup.

 

[longtom4570]

I understand that it is the guns fault, when you waste ammo. I know this first hand my SKS whispers in my ear to shoot all my ammo very fast, my M1 carbine does it also