My new SAR-1...

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Nick1911

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Ok... So I was born March 29th 1986. That makes today my 18th Birthday!
:D
So being an up-coming gun-nut I did the best thing I could think of to commemorate the occasion; I bought THE most politically incorrect firearm I could think of\afford.




That's right folks, AK for me! (SAR-1)

The guy in the shop was the new guy. (Why do I always get the new guy? :p ) He was really nervous for some reason - guess he hasn't ever worked retail before. It took quite a while, but in the end I kinda felt sorry for the guy - he was SO nervous!

Range Report:

This has got to be the simplest semi-auto center fire in creation. When cleaning and disassembling it, I really couldn't believe just how simple and yet workable everything was. Honestly it blew me away. Here is a gun that is cheap, simple, rugged, reliable, easy to tear down, for $339. The recoil was more then I though it would be. Don't get me wrong - I shoot my M1 regularly, but with the considerably smaller 7.62 x 39mm round, I didn't think that it would hit my shoulder as hard as it did. (In retrospect, this is probably because the gun is pretty lightweight.) I was later told by my father (watched me shoot) that the muzzle flash is horrendous... Awesome!

All in all, I love it. Everything about it - the fact that something cheaply stamped out could work so well. Ahh... If you don't have one - you really don't know what you're missing! :D

The guy in the shop also said that these were the last they could get; he said that they weren’t being imported anymore. Anyone know? Is this BS? :scrutiny:

Nick
 
congratualtions on the buy! I become 21 a week from today:neener: and i get to take delivery on my Sig.

SAR 1 are no longer being imported. That's why you are seeing so many converted WASR-10's popping up. Act as sort of a replacement.

I have a Saiga which is an AK is disguise and the muzzle flash is huge as well. i love it!
 
Congrats, on a nice rifle. The SAR's aren't pretty, but they are definitely functional.
 
I just sold my AK and a few other guns to fund my R6 purchase (a motorcycle) and the only gun I REALLY miss is the AK. Once I get a little more money I am going to buy it back.
 
Nick:

I bought an SAR-1 (well, actually, a WASR-10, but they're practically the same) about two years ago and my reaction was exactly the same as yours. In fact, I started a thread, as you did, expressing my amazement that something so remarkably simple could function so effectively. To this day, I continue to believe that, if it would not be so politically unacceptable, the US military could do a little tweaking and improve a few parts and come up with a service rifle, based on the Kalishnakov design, that would really be the cat's meow. There may be some FAL-types that are a step in this direction, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I share your joy at the elegant simplicity.
 
The nastiness of the felt recoil, is because the gun is so short and light, and the buttstock is so small with a steel buttplate, the M1 has a much greater surface area that rides your shoulder so the recoil is spread over a larger area.

get a past wearable recoild sheild (midway 19.95), and that sore wear spot on your shoulder wont be there the next day.

:)
 
Congrats!

http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/index.shtml

For all things related to Romanian AK's (and much applicability to other variants as well) this is hands down the most informative site I've visited.

Watch for trigger slap...the link above provides some ideas...I ended up swapping out my FCG...much better now.

I've had some jamming issues with mine (95% reliability isn't the greatest)...cleaned out the bolt...I'm going to switch from Wolf to Barnaul also to see if that makes a difference...will range test it a few weeks when outdoor ranges open up in my area.

To be completely non-PC...consider a 75 round drum magazine...the consensus seems to like Chinese better, but I'm pretty happy with my Romanian.

As for recoil, I don't notice any...but I'm fine shooting 3" magnum slugs in 12GA or 45-70 government from a borrowed Sharps...I actually like recoil :D.

Mag's are cheap and plentiful still...I like the waffles from K-Var or the steel Bulgarians from CDNN. The steel is definitely cheaper.

Vests are fun...especially with Russian labels...www.redsoldier.com has several to choose from...Centerfiresystems.com has some Blackhawk knock-offs in cross-draw that are pretty reasonable too...my buddy just gave me a Camelbak to go with mine.

Russian optics can be cool...www.nightvision.web sells a Kobra red-dot with mount that's fun...a bit of a pain to get sighted in because the adjustments are a little different...and don't lose the ball bearing if you get one!

Just remember to keep safe while having your fun, and be respectful of those around you...not everyone appreciates the noise of a rapid-fire expulsion of 30+ rounds of 7.62x39...or the flying brass that is sent about 25 ft to the right of the shooter.

SAR-1 is terrific starter AK...I moved onto a SSR-56 and a SAM-7S...better fit and finish and reliability.

Good luck and safe shooting!

CZ52'
 
To be completely non-PC...consider a 75 round drum magazine...the consensus seems to like Chinese better, but I'm pretty happy with my Romanian.
Click to expand...

Do these work good? :D Like are they reliable? I'm thinking about buying one, a local shop has em for $99.95, but Aim Surplus has them for $69.

As for recoil, I don't notice any...but I'm fine shooting 3" magnum slugs in 12GA or 45-70 government from a borrowed Sharps...I actually like recoil
Click to expand...

Ouch! jeez..., high tolerance for pain? ;)

get a past wearable recoil shield (midway 19.95), and that sore wear spot on your shoulder wont be there the next day.
Click to expand...

hmm... That's a good idea!

Mag's are cheap and plentiful still
Click to expand...

Say, does anyone know where to find 30 rounders? I looked at the normal suspects, Aim, and Tapco , but couldn't find any. :( I kinda thought that these were the most common too (though I could be wrong there), any other good online gun parts\accessories stores online?
Thanks all,

Nick
 
RE: Nick1911 questions

Do these work good? Like are they reliable? I'm thinking about buying one, a local shop has em for $99.95, but Aim Surplus has them for $69.
Click to expand...

Yup, they do...I bought mine on special from Kiesler's for that same $69 price before shipping. The Romanians do take some patience to load, but function just fine.

Ouch! jeez..., high tolerance for pain?
Click to expand...

I seldom see a mark on my shoulder...I played sports when I was your age...learned to fall properly...roll with the punches so to speak...that's carried over into shooting long guns...I'm firm but I give a little after the shots away...doesn't seem to mess up my accuracy much (I'm no 1000 yard shooter anyhow)...but I do well enough for my needs for now. When I say I like recoil, I like knowing I'm firing something of substance...makes me focus better which seems to provide decent results.

Say, does anyone know where to find 30 rounders? I looked at the normal suspects, Aim, and Tapco , but couldn't find any. I kinda thought that these were the most common too (though I could be wrong there), any other good online gun parts\accessories stores online?
Click to expand...

Bulgarian waffles
http://www.k-var.com/product.asp?0=202&1=204&3=9

Bulgarian steel
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ak7630bulmag.html

Polish Polymer
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Rifle_Magazines.html

Hungarian 20's (Always good to have some of these...better for shooting off a bench)
http://www.tapco.com/product_information.asp?number=MAG0610&back=yes&dept=155&last=73

More political incorrectness...fun for photos (40's)
http://www.tapco.com/product_information.asp?number=MAG0640&back=yes&dept=155&last=73

A nice package deal...I'm partial to the E. German raindrop pattern pouches
http://www.centerfiresystems.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CSI&Product_Code=PKG02

Good luck!

CZ52'
 
sharp recoil?

another reason the SAR-1 has a sharp recoil is because the receiver is very light weight, only 1.1 millimeters thick and also because it has the straight in line AKM style buttstock, it was designed to recoil straight into the shoulder to make it more controllable during rapid or full automatic fire, it tends to have less muzzle rise with the straight in line buttstock, also it has the single hook AKM style trigger that has a sharper feel to it than the old AK47 double hook design :cool:
 
Another idea...

...for what it's worth, I have 3-AK's so I tend to stock up on 7.62x39 (I like to be able to share the joy with others) :D .

For convenience and safety, I usually buy it by the case and store it in ammo' cans with these locks on them. (Case quantities are generally a bit cheaper too...Cabelas seems to have the best delivered price...you may do better with somebody in your area...or at a show...just bring a dolly with you):D .

http://www.armygear.net/ag/store/0517.html

I use the fuse cannisters cans, but I go about 217 (down from 235 a year ago) so I'm pretty comfortable sliding these around on the floor (don't do much lifting unless my 26 year old nephew is visiting just to show him I can still do it - 1400 rounds of Wolf in a fuse cannister can):D . Discretion being the better part of valor...the standard .50 Cal cans hold almost a full case of 1000 which is sufficiently lighter to move about (I still don't recommend carrying around unless you're a 300lb Football player) :p .

Good luck!

CZ52'
 
aimsurplus has the best deal on 7.62x39 1,000 rounds for 69.99!

i'd link it to you but their new website setup is having some problems at the moment.
 
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