AK 47

S

Shrapnel762

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Even though I can't fund it right now, I got the itch for another AK. I haven't owned one since I was a teenager (20 years) and it was a norinco mac-90. Any I should look for/ stay away from?
 
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Avoid CAI/CIA/Century Arms.

Avoid anything advertised as "upgraded" or "customized."

Best bang for your buck (right now) will be Romanian (likely a WASR-10 [converted from single-stack to double-stack]) or Yugoslavian (either fixed, wooden stock or underfolding steel stock).
 
Whats the difference between a regular WASR10 and a CIA WASR10?
 
Joker said:
Whats the difference between a regular WASR10 and a CIA WASR10?
Click to expand...


The WASR-10, imported from Romania as a single-stack weapon, has the magazine well bored out to accept double-stack (i.e. regular AK-47 magazines).

Century Arms is hit-or-miss when it comes to serviceability in your firearm. They both employ retarded monkeys and also outsource gunsmithing to independent subcontractors that are run by retarded monkeys. If Century was ONLY importing the guns then there would be no issue. The fact that they work on the gun, or hire others to work on the gun, makes their guns almost worthless. That is, unless you have the opportunity to examine and test-fire the weapon before you purchase.
 
Avtomat-Acolyte said:
Joker said:
Whats the difference between a regular WASR10 and a CIA WASR10?
Click to expand...


The WASR-10, imported from Romania as a single-stack weapon, has the magazine well bored out to accept double-stack (i.e. regular AK-47 magazines).

Century Arms is hit-or-miss when it comes to serviceability in your firearm. They both employ retarded monkeys and also outsource gunsmithing to independent subcontractors that are run by retarded monkeys. If Century was ONLY importing the guns then there would be no issue. The fact that they work on the gun, or hire others to work on the gun, makes their guns almost worthless. That is, unless you have the opportunity to examine and test-fire the weapon before you purchase.
Click to expand...

I tend to agree.

Then again, I rolled the dice on a Century Romanian AK-47 WASR-10. It looked like it was in good shape with none of the obvious "no go" items (like a crooked front sight) and I got the rifle, mags, and some furniture for $300. For three hundred bucks I figured I'd take a chance. Luckily it runs just fine.

If you find the right deal and can take a bit of a chance they can be worth considering.
 
armaborealis said:
Avtomat-Acolyte said:
Joker said:
Whats the difference between a regular WASR10 and a CIA WASR10?
Click to expand...


The WASR-10, imported from Romania as a single-stack weapon, has the magazine well bored out to accept double-stack (i.e. regular AK-47 magazines).

Century Arms is hit-or-miss when it comes to serviceability in your firearm. They both employ retarded monkeys and also outsource gunsmithing to independent subcontractors that are run by retarded monkeys. If Century was ONLY importing the guns then there would be no issue. The fact that they work on the gun, or hire others to work on the gun, makes their guns almost worthless. That is, unless you have the opportunity to examine and test-fire the weapon before you purchase.
Click to expand...

I tend to agree.

Then again, I rolled the dice on a Century Romanian AK-47 WASR-10. It looked like it was in good shape with none of the obvious "no go" items (like a crooked front sight) and I got the rifle, mags, and some furniture for $300. For three hundred bucks I figured I'd take a chance. Luckily it runs just fine.

If you find the right deal and can take a bit of a chance they can be worth considering.
Click to expand...

You did great! CIA/CAI subcontracts a lot of their gunsmithing to dozens of random "guy in a garage" to either build guns or to modify guns. Some of the guys are really good. Some of the guys are really bad. Most are mediocre and their results fall on either side of the line. There have been a couple of guys on AR15.com that detailed their experience being contractors and showing the guns they built in their garages on an assembly line. There is no direct quality control from what I can ascertain.
 
Always be wary of the WASR rifles. Unless it has been certified by someone like Henderson Defense or another builder that knows what they are doing, they tend to be very hit and miss as far as quality and function go. RIght now, it seems the better imported AK's are the Zastava PAPs. The Serbians make excellent AKs and they newer generations have had the issues worked out of them. The "O" series is the latest evolution. They are Century conversions, but seem to be much higher quality than the WASRs. Prices should run between $600 (on sale) and $800.
 
I got lucky with my Zastava Yugoslavian AK-47 through Century Arms. Paid a little more for it than I wanted to...$390 a few years ago but it's been good to me. Extremely solid and reliable. It's got the underfolding stock...sort of wish I had a solid buttstock but I like being able to tuck it into a small bag or something if I need to.

Ak_zps0a1cceac.jpg
 
Your better Ak's are the Bulgarian, Hungarian, Yugoslavian/Serbian, Polish (rare),Egyptian (Maadi) and Chinese, Just about in that order. Like others have said, the Romanians are really hit and miss, mainly because of who's building them. Another option is a converted Saiga which is basically a Russian Ak. I was doing a lot of Saiga conversions before the supply dried up and still get one every now and then, if your the least bit handy you can do the work yourself. Here's an example of my conversions.

 
It is probably also worth mentioning Arsenal AKs from Las Vegas, NV. They are mostly made new in the US. They are probably some of the highest quality AKs out there but you pay for it. For the price, I'd prefer an AR or SIG556, myself.

A few years ago the AK made a lot of sense as it was cheap to buy, cheap to equip (lots of steel com block mags, lots of cheap com block web gear), and cheap to run (steel case). These days, a decent AK costs as much as a decent AR and the good steel AK mags are as expensive as PMAGs. The steel case ammo is certainly still cheaper, which is really the last big plus for the AK from a cost perspective.

If I was in the market for an AK I'd wait about 3-12 months for the "panic buyers" of the last year to start unloading their safes. I suspect some deals will crop up in the near future. If you are patient and hunt you may find one.
 
dont like AKs.

i went another route. just put together a 762x39 upper for your AR. the worst problem i see is finding mags.
 
Hey buddy. Have you tried AIM Surplus for 7,63x39 AR mags...Before this frienzy...they had them for cheap prices...I bought 3 from them.Back when I had the 7.62 upper...

Steve

Sorry...I just checked with them...They show the 6.5 and 6.8 but, right now, no 7.62 mags...but, you should keep checking with them...I think I paid like $11.00 apiece for mag....
 
Steve, ill bet you let them go with the upper.

i saw them on Midway and i think Brownels but it was a limit of 2 and $22 and $25, one of them was out of stock, maybe both.

i think they will show up soon. seemss like parts are coming down but ammo still has a problem.
 
Tigerstripe: I just got another 7.63X39 AR...It is a factory gun, not just an upper. It was made by U.S. Tactial Firearms out of Statesville N.C.

It came with 5 new mags...the rifle has not been fired, or the mags used....I did load one mag and dry ejected the mag full of ammo....it ejected all the rounds just great...

The mags are made by A.S.C. in New Britian, Conn.

You might Google them and see if they have mags...

Steve
 
ok, thats where the mag came from that Paco lent me. it is a 6,8. i need to get it back to him.

i looked at their site a while back but dont remember what they had.
 
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