AK Sponsor
Posted: 5/29/2009 7:56:21 PM EDT
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I am setting up everything for the end of days :) and I have decided to add an AK style rifle to the collection. I own quite a few different AR variants and have been wanting to add another rifle for quite some time. So I thought that I would turn to you all for some much needed information.
First, I will say that just buy reading I have already found a wealth of information. It still leaves me with quite a few questions though. I am looking for an AK that I can set up the way I want. Whatever the rifle is I plan to install different furniture (probably a m4 style stock, different pistol grip, and composite hand guard). There are just a personal preference. That brings me to the important questions. If I am going to pick up a decent quality gun to start with what should I look for without breaking the bank? I work in a gun store when I am not at the fire station and I can get pretty good deals on Romanian built guns and also Saigas. I have heard and read mixed reviews on the Romanian guns so I am not sure I want to go that route. I have thought about picking up a Saiga form the shop and doing the conversion, but to me it does not look quite as nice as some other versions and it would require quite a bit more work. Also, I do not believe that I could put the flash hider I would like on the Saiga. So what do you all think would be the best route? If I can make the necessary changes to the Saiga but have to do without the flash hider I can survive. It appears though that there a quite a few more parts on the market for the AK over the Saiga. Sorry as I am sure that this has been brought up before. I am just quite new to this weapon system and could sure use some guidance. Thank you in advance, Adam |
Adam, welcome to the AK world.  It sounds like you're wanting to basically overhaul an AK from its original look but want one cheap and one that works well. Perhaps a Romanian WASR rifle may be suitable for your needs. Despite what some folks write regarding their specific WASR's, they're a good rifle. Not built with beauty contests in mind but since you're stripping furniture off, it really doesn't matter. And a vendor or two is currently selling them fairly low right now.
You can move up a notch in price and get a Lancaster rifle that's essentially a Romanian "G" rifle kit built on a US receiver. Looks are more in-line with the traditional AK (dimple on the sides of the reciever). Or a Hungarian AMD-type rifle with the full buttstock. Another notch up the price line and you're in SAIGA territory. While I'm not a big fan of them, many folks enjoy the quality of them and tweak them to suit them. A final and very large jump up the line and you've got the pre-ban rifles - Chinese, Hungarian, Yugoslavian, etc. Awesome on looks but what you plan to do makes this option kind of moot. |
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Any properly assembled AK will be reliable given minimal maintenance.
An inexpensive AK will not be pretty. If the finish is important to you, plan on spending more money, or refinishing it yourself. Any AK with a good barrel will be sufficiently accurate to allow you to hit reasonably sized targets out to 300 meters. Specific rifles will do better, but better accuracy is generally NOT associated with increased price. 5.45 and 5.56 caliber rifles are generally more accurate than rifles chambered for the 7.62x39 cartridge. |
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I am not really that concerned with the finish of the gun. The plan is to more or less make this a project and take the opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the firearm. I thought that after I had the gun, the new parts I want, and some more money I might try something like applying a Durakote finish. It would be something that is more unique to me.
As far as price I have not made a final decision. I was hoping to keep the price of the rifle itself in the $500 range but I may be willing to spend a little more as need be. After that, I can save up and buy the parts as the money and the wife allows. Adam |
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Thanks for the information. We have a couple of them in the shop so I may have to pick one up. I would sure like to have a VEPR but do not thing that I really want to drop that kind of money on an AK styled rifle. Besides, that would not leave me wanting to do much to it and would just about negate the original purpose.
It seems like there are quite a few good options for add on parts on the market. If I do not want to fo with the stuff Tapco makes, are there any other good sources for parts I should know about? Specifically parts such as a collapsable stock. Thanks, Adam |
| With the route you're presumably going with, TAPCO is going to be your friend down that road for tactical, M-4 features. In keeping with the more traditional look for it, there are a great many more options for everything with it - (Russian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Egyptian, East German, Yugoslavian, Chinese, etc.). |
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Whatever you end up doing, always remember that an AK is an AK, and an AR is an AR, and trying to change the rifle to be more like something with which you're already familiar always ends in disaster, one way or another.
It is ALWAYS the responsibility of the shooter to adapt to the differences of a new rifle, not modify the new rifle to try and become something it isn't.
Enjoy the hell out of your new purchase, regardless what that may be. 
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AK Sponsor