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Posted: 5/25/2012 11:44:15 AM EDT
| Noobie here. Been an AR guy for a while but wondering if u guys could give me some names of top of line makes of AK 47's in terms of just overall quality, accuracy, finish, track record etc etc...thanks |
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Pretty much any AK made by Polytech or Norinco, any Valmet, almost any Arsenal, Milled Arsenals in particular.
ETA: or I should say that have Polytech or Norinco markings on the AK. The cheapest and nicest AK IMO is a MAK-90, if you can get past the thumbhole stock. Check out this thread: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_4_64/141256_The_AK_Buyer_s_Guide___A_Beginner_s_Guide_to_the_AK_Platform__ask_all_new_AK_questions_in_here_.html |
| Being a AR guy I am sure you have noticed its the same type of story. Everyone has there own opinion and ideas as to what is best. I think there are two things all AK guys can agree on, one is Century guns are not that desirable they have put out quite a few lemons and their customer service is not the greatest. Second is the WASR its a great starter gun that will put rounds down range and get you into the game cheaply. I think after those two points things start to branch out into personal preferences. I have always had a thing for Saigas and Arsenals, to an AR guy those two would be in the same category as Colts. Everything else as you research you will find are pretty darn close. Just like the AR world we have custom and semi custom buidlers as well just like it was mentioned before you have companies like Krebs, Lancaster, Red Jacket, etc that can give you semi custom guns, and then their are the long list of builders who can make you a truly custom gun. Good luck with your search and purchase watch out the dark side I have found is much worse than the AR side of the house lol |
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Truth of the matter is, they all will function the same, its the QUALITY in terms of worksmanship that is the big difference when it comes to the price
My $350 WASR shoots as accurately and works as reliably as my $1200 Arsenal rifle, its just that the Arsenal is much prettier and has a ton of cool extra shit on it |
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POLYTECH =OVERPRICED = collectors item, cannot be imported anymore Does it shoot the same, sure but I'm not parting with my double underfolder for the same price as something one can go purchase anywhere. Most people who own chiacom prebans will feel the same way. For the OP I would suggest looking at the Arsenal line, don't expect much difference in accuracy from a $350 AK to a $1000 AK. People buy them for there origins or looks or overall fit and finish. Find one you like and blast away, they also have a habit of multiplying. Lots of good information in threads on the site, I suggest a lot of reading before taking the plunge. 
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Truth of the matter is, they all will function the same, its the QUALITY in terms of worksmanship that is the big difference when it comes to the price My $350 WASR shoots as accurately and works as reliably as my $1200 Arsenal rifle, its just that the Arsenal is much prettier and has a ton of cool extra shit on it Ummm no, just because your WASR is super awesomest AK ever for $350 does not mean the monkeys at Century assembled/modified them all the same. I've seen tons of lemon WASRs, SARs, Romaks, and Cugirs. Canted sight, misaligned gas tubes, grunions not properly installed into receivers. I've also seen plenty that were ugly but worked, and some that were actually pretty good. It's all over the map. That is why some companies offer certified WASRs, they've gone over them to see if Century did it right, or if it's a lemon. On the flip side, I can't say as I've seen many less than very good Polytechs, Norincos, Arsenals, or VEPRs. You do get what you pay for. Yes you CAN find a good functional value in a $350 WASR, you might also get a lemon. A grand will however get you quality if you buy one of the names at the beginning of this paragraph. |
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| 2k really isn't that much if mags and ammo is included in that budget. All my AK's function the same and yes my low end AK is a WASR 10/63. I got my WASR when they were $350 and it is as reliable and accurate as my MAK or any of my Saigas. My buddy got a AMD sold by Century but marked TGI that is titties. If I were in the market I would take a look at those too. A higher price tag doesn't necessarily mean a better gun. Remember ammo isn't getting any cheaper. |
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Everyone has an opinion. Some people will tell you that spending more money is the way to go. The bottom line is that it's an AK and they all function the same. Accuracy is the same with pretty much any of them. Canted sights or gas blocks can be straightened, or will function fine as is. Are you going to enter beauty contests or shoot it?
For what it's worth, even my Saiga came straight from Izhmash with a canted front sight. It happens when a factory produces a lot of rifles. You can overpay for someone here to fix all these issues, you could easily fix any of them yourself, or you can just accept that the AK is a mass produced and cheaply made rifle that is designed to function and not to gawk over. |
| You really take a chance with anything that uses surplus military components. That being said, there are plenty of low-end AK's that work just as well. My particular SAR-1 functions just as well as an upper-end Arsenal. Doesn't mean all SAR-1's are going to do that, but it depends so much on the individual rifle. My Waffen Werks is a great bang for the buck, and the finish is really good. It had a slightly canted front sight block, but a few smacks with a rubber mallet and it's fine now. |
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I would recommend getting one in 5.56 for caliber consolidation, there are even adapters so you can use AR mags, but I don't know a lot about them, other than they exist. I completely disagree with that. Makes sense if you're on a serious budget, but otherwise, who wants rifles that all basically feel the same to shoot? Variety is the spice of life, having a safe full of stuff that shoots 5.56 is just boring and unappealing to me. That's why I say guys who already have something like a 5.56 AR should get a 7.62 AK. To each his own though... everyone has their own tastes and priorities. |
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All Ak's shoot but they dont shoot the same. . I like the chicoms because the heavier barrels and thicker receivers. . Ive found in my experience they are much more accurate especially when hot. . you get alot more flex with the thinner barrels and and receivers that their euro counter parts. . .but having said that they are all "minute of bad guy accurate" if contructed properly and very seldom break. . even more so with the chicoms (if you look at the guts of the chicoms all the parts are same but they look like they are on steroids compared to the euro designs) but of course the extra weight aint always fun to lug around. There is no comparison between a double hook chicom trigger and treir single hook counterparts though. . the trigger on my polytech doesnt feel like any other ak Ive ever owned. . its crisp and light. . feels like dragging your finger through a pringles potato chip. .
But its gonna be your ak. . and the opinion of no internet rambo is gonna matter (myself included). .so my suggestion would be to step away from the computer. . go to some gun stores and try to put your hands on some different options and buy the one that gives you that warm fuzzy feeling. . .and then shoot the hell out of it 
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I would recommend getting one in 5.56 for caliber consolidation, there are even adapters so you can use AR mags, but I don't know a lot about them, other than they exist. I completely disagree with that. Makes sense if you're on a serious budget, but otherwise, who wants rifles that all basically feel the same to shoot? Variety is the spice of life, having a safe full of stuff that shoots 5.56 is just boring and unappealing to me. That's why I say guys who already have something like a 5.56 AR should get a 7.62 AK. To each his own though... everyone has their own tastes and priorities. I can see your point. |
| Any feedback on liberty arms? Atlantic firearms sells an AK by them that looks reasonable. Would the Russian red by VEPR be that much better? I'm leaning towards that. Although the combo of a folding skeleton stock and wood forearm that Arsenal makes is sooooo nice but 3500 is way high to me thx again fellas. My S12 build is what got me more than intrigued with buying a full blown AK |
| The Valmet M76 in .223 will out shoot an AR any day of the week! There's a little more to AK's than better fit and finish, some have better, more accurate barrels, some are built by true craftsmen, and some are a slapped together POS! You get what you pay for. For entry level, I would get a MAK-90, or a Romanian SAR. |
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Any properly assembled AK will GENERALLY function and be as accurate as the next regardless of the price.
Ask yourself what is important to you. Looks, collect ability, brand name...and so on, and go from there. A properly assembled WASR will function the same and be as accurate as a POLYTECH. |
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