SO I'm on the hunt for my first AK. I'm likely picking up a mosin from a guy at work this week for $100, figured I'd dive deep into commie weapons while i'm at it. admittedy the mosin is in rough shape from pics, but as long as it SHOOTS, how can I pass up a rifle for 100 bucks??? I'll check it out and shoot it later this week. anyways, back to AKs...
the following two are catching my eye: http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/com...a-n-pap-fixed-wood-stock-detail.html?Itemid=0
thoughts and opinions? not looking for top shelf stuff. just a fun range toy that will eat whatever ammo I throw into it. this is one of those ventures where I've always considered one but now the itch to HAVE one is insatiable... so let's hear it. are there others in that price range that are better? decent guns for fun? I'm all ears..... I know little t nothing about AKs. lecture/talk/give me advice. I wanna keep it below 1k, cheaper the better, provided it's not a total POS.
Get a WASR if you can find one at a decent price. Excellent entry level AK with a chrome lined barrel. Stay away from the Century C-39 as it is made with cast parts and NPAPS due to quality of build issues. See AK Operators Union 47-74 videos on you tube. Rob Ski puts these rifles through torture tests and the WASR prevails.
N-PAP is a good one and C39V2 is awesome....I have one!
WASR is good but mine HATES HP ammo, LOVES FMJ though. You can't go wrong with Yugo or Romanian, both are great entry level AKs. My favorite are my Chinese but you said under 1K, not under 3K
I paid $329 for my WASR, that shows you how long I have had it. GREAT AK - GET ONE!!!
I bought a ddi from Atlantic couldn't be happier. Wasrs are decent probably best budget ak, I/o stay away from and c39v stay away from. Also look at the akoperatorsunion YouTube channel a lot of nice reviews on there. I think I paid 900 for my ak shipped and ffl fees.
My first and only AK was a Saiga 12, and when configured properly, you'll have a hard time finding something with more firepower a regular Joe can carry. But I'm not known for being practical. :supergrin:
I have a Century C39 and it's good to go. It's funny because it wasn't even that long ago that everyone was being told to stay away from Century WASR-10s because they were junk.
Well, to be fair, there have been tons of issues reported with century builds. The v2 has less issues, likely because its milled. But i still personally wouldnt be happy with a cast bolt.
Wasr used to have issues as well, but their quality improved over time.
I have an npap. Not a fan of the wood stock at all. If you dont hold it a certain way, you will get cheek slap. Got rid of the stock, problem solved. They are yugos, and dont take standard ak furniture. But there are plenty of aftermarket parts for it now.
I would recommend a vepr. Hard to beat a russian factory built gun. Not much more than what you posted.
You might find later that you want them to be in standard ak configuration. Plenty of people convert them. Id recommend jbi armory or firing line out of oklahoma.
In these trying times when we do not know the outcome of the future, one cannot afford to spend on a weapon that is not reliable. Meaning that if you get a weapon today, and if it is not reliable you may not have the resources or the ability to send it back to get it fixed. Yes Norincos are nice and they are reliable, best bet is to go to your local gun store and get hands on. see the quality. If you like the overall fit and finish pull your phone up and do a search on pros and cons on the rifle. You never know you may end up finding something else there you may like.
Well, to be fair, there have been tons of issues reported with century builds. The v2 has less issues, likely because its milled. But i still personally wouldnt be happy with a cast bolt.
Wasr used to have issues as well, but their quality improved over time.
I have an npap. Not a fan of the wood stock at all. If you dont hold it a certain way, you will get cheek slap. Got rid of the stock, problem solved. They are yugos, and dont take standard ak furniture. But there are plenty of aftermarket parts for it now.
I would recommend a vepr. Hard to beat a russian factory built gun. Not much more than what you posted.
You might find later that you want them to be in standard ak configuration. Plenty of people convert them. Id recommend jbi armory or firing line out of oklahoma.
These newer VEPRs are not produced at the Molot factory. The Robarms imports are the real deal. The ones posted above are basically Saigas, which is not necessarily bad. Just not really a true VEPR.
I did grab this from the description. Not sure what this actually means. Definitely not the first time if they are Molot produced, but I don't believe they are. Mine is.
For the first time ever true factory Molot AK-47 style rifle in the US market
These newer VEPRs are not produced at the Molot factory. The Robarms imports are the real deal. The ones posted above are basically Saigas, which is not necessarily bad. Just not really a true VEPR.
Wait, what? All VEPRs are produced by MOLOT. They are not Saiga's, which are produced by Izhmash (now Kalashnikov Concern).
Are you thinking of the VEPRs that aren't RPK-based (Legion USA sells these)? These are less common and essentially just a MOLOT made AKM. They are, however, still VEPRs.
The new K-var offering is "special" because it is replacing their SGL line. The SGL line did not come in dressed as a typical Saiga, and that appears to be the case with the new VEPR from K-var/Arsenal/FIME/whatevertheycallthemselvesnow. They are a "first" to come in with an RPK receiver without needing converting, just furniture and a magwell opening.
I find it humorous that K-var is calling it a MOLOT AK-47. This it is not. It is not milled and it has an RPK receiver. It is essentially an over-priced chrome-lined Yugo that takes standard furniture. I guess I'm one of those few people who don't like VEPRs. They're good guns, but they're excessively heavy for a semi-auto rifle. If I wanted that much extra useless weight, I'd just spring for a milled receiver SAM-7.
To the OP, the best buy right now is a hand-picked and inspected WASR-10 made in 2015 or 2016. Following that would be an N-PAP, but I personally don't have a very high opinion of ex-Yugo rifles (or magazines). From there it's a big step up in price to an Arsenal, which may or may not be worth the money they are currently commanding. If you can find them for a good price, old Norincos are also worth considering.
Avoid anything American made like it has gonoherpesyphilaids.
As has been touched on. Stay away from the Century made C39v2 and RAS47. You can google it and you'll see why....crappy metallurgy and cast parts. Best option for a low cost reliable AK is slim right now. 700+ for NIB WASRs is a bit pricey to me, but the market is what it is right now. WASRs ain't pretty and they are a bit rough on fit and finish, but they are crazy reliable and will provide you a lifetime of service. Battlefield Las Vegas runs them on full auto and has them into 80-100k rounds! Reference below link and it will tell you all you need to know. Go WASR. http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/06/03/how-many-rounds-can-an-ak-fire-before-it-breaks-down/
again, thanks all for the insights. I am buying a jeep today which happened quite unexpectedly. I hope i can find the funds to secure an AK pre-election still.
Apparently Palmetto has come out with a Kalashnikov pattern rifle and it is getting great reviews. Several models basically just different furniture. Currently out of stock but may be worth checking into.
I'd look hard at the psak47. Not Combloc but you don't seem too concerned about that.
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