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Posted: 9/7/2010 6:33:50 PM EDT
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Hello y'all,
I'm looking at getting my first AK-47 type rifle. I'm not looking for a "best" discussion, just a good quality AK-47. Price isn't to big of a deal, anything under $700 (which from what I have seen is a lot for an AK). Would like to stay in the 7.62x39 range, not 5.45. I also have a soft spot for a nice wood stock set on AK's. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. |
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For that money you can get a WASR from AIM or Henderson, mags and ammo.
WASR's arent the prettiest but they work as long as you get one from a good dealer online or inspect it in person. They the cheapest you can get and still have enough left over to buy some mags and ammo. Some people don't like them because they are the "lower end" of the AK spectrum but as long as you get it from a good dealer you'll be all set. |
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Arsenal would be the first that comes to mind. A WASR is a cheap rifle, most will work well, but the wood furniture looks like crap. If you buy one online it is a crap shoot. Some have issues. Maybe a Yugo: http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/rifles/ak-47-and-rpk-rifles/p/yugoslavian-ak-47-rifle-m70b1-with-wood-stock-%2B-640rd-tin-7-62x39-ucw-package-deal!/cPath/209_214/products_id/4476 I would also consider a milled receiver AK like this (I know it's a CAI Build): http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/rifles/ak-47-and-rpk-rifles/p/polish-ak47-1960-model%2C-7-62x39%2C-w-milled-receiver-and-correct-type-1-bayonet-%2B-640rd-tin-7-62x39-ucw-package-deal!/cPath/209_214/products_id/4465 |
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Quoted: Need example links. It depends on the parts used. Some of the Arsenal rifles are converted Siaga Russian built guns. A Siaga conversion is a GTG rifle in my book.One question, went on arsenals web sight, for some models it says that the barrels are chrome lined, for some it doesn't say anything at all. Are they all chrome lined or not? |
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Chrome Lined Barrel The Saiga conversions also have chrome lined barrels.
Non Chrome Lined I'm guessing that it's not chrome lined, although it doesn't say in particular. Also wondering how hard is it to change out a stock on an AK? |
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Quoted: Chrome Lined Barrel The Saiga conversions also have chrome lined barrels. Non Chrome Lined I'm guessing that it's not chrome lined, although it doesn't say in particular. Also wondering how hard is it to change out a stock on an AK? The milled AK maybe a Yugo. The barrel on the Yugo's is non-chromed lined (someone correct me if I am wrong). I know my Yugo SKS doesn't have a chrome barrel. The chrome barrel is not an issue if you fire non-corrosive ammo and clean your guns. As far as changing out the stock, it is very easy. You may have to do some minor sanding to make it fit. |
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If you get an Arsenal you can put it in storage and look at it(it will be "pretty" afterall), but you won't have any money left for mags and ammo. Or you can get a WASR from a reputable vender or get a "certified" one from Henderson and have enough left to buy mags and ammo so you can actually shoot it, not just look at it and wish you could shoot it.
People think they're ugly and crude but who cares as long as it goes bang. Don't like the cruddy wood? Clean it up and refinish it. Don't like the metal finish? Clean it up and paint it. When you start talking about other rifles, the price is going to be higher thus cutting into funds for mags and ammo. My brother has a WASR that is ugly as sin but it runs like a sewing machine. Personally I couldn't care less about looks as long as it functions and I can afford to feed it. ETA: WASR from AIM $379 a Dozen Bulgarian 30rd mags $95 Case of GT 7.62X39 $179 Total $653 before shipping and transfer fees Getting to shoot what you own.......priceless |
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Quoted: I would buy one of the Yugo guns for a few more bucks. If you would have decided to get one about 3 years earlier, you could have built a Romy G for under 250 bucks (The kits were under a hundred back then)If you get an Arsenal you can put it in storage and look at it(it will be "pretty" afterall), but you won't have any money left for mags and ammo. Or you can get a WASR from a reputable vender or get a "certified" one from Henderson and have enough left to buy mags and ammo so you can actually shoot it, not just look at it and wish you could shoot it. People think they're ugly and crude but who cares as long as it goes bang. Don't like the cruddy wood? Clean it up and refinish it. Don't like the metal finish? Clean it up and paint it. When you start talking about other rifles, the price is going to be higher thus cutting into funds for mags and ammo. My brother has a WASR that is ugly as sin but it runs like a sewing machine. Personally I couldn't care less about looks as long as it functions and I can afford to feed it.  |
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Quoted:
Chrome Lined Barrel The Saiga conversions also have chrome lined barrels. Non Chrome Lined I'm guessing that it's not chrome lined, although it doesn't say in particular. Also wondering how hard is it to change out a stock on an AK? The Saigas are imported and converted by Arsenal. The SGL series rifles are Russian built. The SLR series rifles are Bulgarian built. Both have chrome lined barrels. The SA M-7 is built by Arsenal from a quantity of US made parts. I've never actually looked at one but from what I've read about them I believe they use US made barrels, most of which are not chrome lined. |
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Quoted:
I would buy one of the Yugo guns for a few more bucks. If you would have decided to get one about 3 years earlier, you could have built a Romy G for under 250 bucks (The kits were under a hundred back then)
If you go with a Yugo you won't be getting a CL barrel, which I'd rather have plus once you add in transfer fees and shipping the OP will be over the $700 limit so he'd start eating up the ammo/mags side of the equation.
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Quoted: I don't care if it is chrome lined. I clean my guns. Quoted: I would buy one of the Yugo guns for a few more bucks. If you would have decided to get one about 3 years earlier, you could have built a Romy G for under 250 bucks (The kits were under a hundred back then) If you go with a Yugo you won't be getting a CL barrel, which I'd rather have. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I don't care if it is chrome lined. I clean my guns.
Quoted:
I would buy one of the Yugo guns for a few more bucks. If you would have decided to get one about 3 years earlier, you could have built a Romy G for under 250 bucks (The kits were under a hundred back then)
If you go with a Yugo you won't be getting a CL barrel, which I'd rather have. Ok congratulations on that, so do I. The OP mentioned chromed lined so I think that might be one of his criteria. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I don't care if it is chrome lined. I clean my guns. Quoted: I would buy one of the Yugo guns for a few more bucks. If you would have decided to get one about 3 years earlier, you could have built a Romy G for under 250 bucks (The kits were under a hundred back then) If you go with a Yugo you won't be getting a CL barrel, which I'd rather have. Ok congratulations on that, so do I. The OP mentioned chromed lined so I think that might be one of his criteria. I have no problem with it. I don't think that a chrome lined barrel in a AK type rifle is important. If he wants one, there are many fine examples of an AK in his price range. I am just trying to say that if I had the choice between a WASR and a Yugo build, I would pick the Yugo every time. Also, the old Yugo imports with the stock carvings were the coolest guns around. |
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Quoted:
I have no problem with it. I don't think that a chrome lined barrel in a AK type rifle is important. If he wants one, there are many fine examples of an AK in his price range. I am just trying to say that if I had the choice between a WASR and a Yugo build, I would pick the Yugo everytime. And I'm trying to point out that for $700 he can get an entire package (rifle, mags, and ammo) that he'll actually be able to shoot and enjoy. The more he spends on the rifle the less he has for the other things that he'll need to actually shoot it. Can he go buy a nice, pretty Arsenal? Sure he can if he just wants to look at it. Can he get a Yugo? yup, but it doesn't have a CL barrel which he asked about. But if he starts going up in price for the rifle he loses on the other end. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I have no problem with it. I don't think that a chrome lined barrel in a AK type rifle is important. If he wants one, there are many fine examples of an AK in his price range. I am just trying to say that if I had the choice between a WASR and a Yugo build, I would pick the Yugo everytime. And I'm trying to point out that for $700 he can get an entire package (rifle, mags, and ammo) that he'll actually be able to shoot and enjoy. The more he spends on the rifle the less he has for the other things that he'll need to actually shoot it. Can he go buy a nice, pretty Arsenal? Sure he can if he just wants to look at it. Can he get a Yugo? yup, but it doesn't have a CL barrel which he asked about. But if he starts going up in price for the rifle he loses on the other end. I understand that. There are a lot of happy WASR owners out there. There are also some owners that have issues with theirs, like canted sights. Plus, the OP said he was a sucker for nice wood. I have never seen a WASR with nice wood. Sure it can be refinished, but I would not buy or recommend anyone to buy a WASR unless the could play with it before the purchase. I would also avoid any WARS that did not have dimples on the receiver. |
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Quoted:
If you get an Arsenal you can put it in storage and look at it(it will be "pretty" afterall), but you won't have any money left for mags and ammo. Or you can get a WASR from a reputable vender or get a "certified" one from Henderson and have enough left to buy mags and ammo so you can actually shoot it, not just look at it and wish you could shoot it. People think they're ugly and crude but who cares as long as it goes bang. Don't like the cruddy wood? Clean it up and refinish it. Don't like the metal finish? Clean it up and paint it. When you start talking about other rifles, the price is going to be higher thus cutting into funds for mags and ammo. My brother has a WASR that is ugly as sin but it runs like a sewing machine. Personally I couldn't care less about looks as long as it functions and I can afford to feed it. ETA: WASR from AIM $379 a Dozen Bulgarian 30rd mags $95 Case of GT 7.62X39 $179 Total $653 before shipping and transfer fees Getting to shoot what you own.......priceless I am a newb who bought his first AK yesterday,I have a thread asking the same on first AK's.I found out our Air base BX had WASR 10-63 in stockso i bought it. Before i went back and bought it i searched You Tube for WASR 10-63 and found all kinds of vids on how to inspect it, what to look for, how to disassemble etc. I shot it yesterday.Put 80 rounds of Wolf through it without any problems.Gun is something else.Century WASR have chrome lined barrels.Mine is a 1965 model. I have it completly tore down now to refinish the wood and detail the metal.I am really enjoying it.Cool gun.It was $446 out the door and no sales tax on base. I bought a tapco extra mag and last night i ordered 1000 rds of Golden Tiger from AIM. My You Tube Video 
Here is part of the tear down, its all the way now to parts. 
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IMHO you can't beat the Century NDS-74's still being sold by Centerfire for under $400. I picked up three of them and test fired all of them with both 7n6 and Silver Bear 60g. and all were solid without keyholing or failures. Russian surplus ammo is really cheap and the 5.45 round is actually more accurate and effective with far less recoil. The Nodak SPUD receiver that these are built on is among the best, if not THE best, AK receivers on the market. The only drawback is the crappy looking furniture, however it is functional and replaceable. If you want to pick up one of mine let me know (I'm a dealer). |
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