HI all I posted this on another board but I think I’m more confused now than I was Before so maybe you can help.
Last year I was interested buying an Ak type rifle but things didnt pan out like I wanted so I had to put it on hold, but this year I’m sure I’m getting one.
I was pretty sure I was going with a 74 but after doing a little bit of research I realized that I had a better variety of ammo with the 47 and I’ve also been reading that there is an issue with 5.45x 39 Barrels “key-holing” due to being cut wrong, I think it would also be pertinent to mention that i already have a nice AR so maybe going with a larger caliber might be cool too. My choices in the Ak 74 are the 5.45 Waffen Werks Bulgarian Poly http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct1003.aspx which will cost about $700 with shipping and transfer (not bad) , the other is Red jacket Ak 74 http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct1070.aspx which will cost around $900 with shipping and transfer but has a lifetime warranty and finally there is the Arsenal brand Ak 74 SGL31-61 http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct890.aspx which will be a bit less than $900 with S&T.
If I decide on AK47 Wafen Werks and Rj are out and I’m going with Arsenal Ak 47 SGL 21-61 http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct838.aspx which will cost right at $850 with S&T
So that’s why here asking you guys the question AK47 or AK74 , which and why? Let the opinions fly! Thanks for your time.
Wait a few more weeks to see what else K-Var puts up for sale.
I was told they are getting a complete re-stock very soon.
I personally would wait for a carbine 5.45 (~12") side folder.
I already have a 12" side folder and I would get another one anyway. They are that awesome.
Personally, I would recommend you get an Arsenal, whichever caliber you choose. The Waffen Werks rifle you posted has an American barrel (not hammer forged), and the Red Jacket rifle doesn’t specify (plus I saw one particularly horrible Red Jacket rifle - my own builds were better quality). An Arsenal has a fresh factory barrel made on all the right tooling - you know it’s good. No problems with keyholing from factory barrels.
As for 7.62x39 vs 5.45, it’s a personal preference. I have one of each (that’s the real answer :D) but I haven’t used them enough side-by-side to give an honest opinion. 7.62x39 has a bigger hole, but more recoil and poorer ballistics. 5.45 is easier to hit at range, since your errors aren’t as critical. In fact, the 5.45 tends to have half as much drop or deflection from wind as the 7.62x39 (generalilzation).
They’re both great, and they’re both still in use. I wouldn’t worry about ammo variety, though - 7.62x39 does have a lot, but 5.45 is just now starting to get new ammo out (Hornady’s VMAX, for example). I think if you were to do 5.45, better to get in now than later.
Something else to think about. If you shoot cheaply with the 5.45 your going to have to clean you gun every time you shoot. That cheap 5.45 is corrosive. That’s something that turned me off to 5.45.
+1 If you look at the chemistry of potassium chloride (which I have ;)) you find that the best solvent is… water! 900 times better than ammonia.
On a standard rifle, yes. The only ones that wouldn’t be removable would be perm-attached ones to avoid SBR stuff - I don’t know if they have any of those.
I have both, if your just plinking and target shooting get the 545 ammo is cheap 10-12cents a round normally, without even looking to hard.
If you ever plan on hunting with it the 762x39 is a good cartridge for deer/boar sized animals.
Either would do for SD if needed. My 545 has almost no recoil, its fun to shoot. 762 x39 doesn’t have hard recoil, it just has annoying muzzle flip. l put a jtac47 brake on mine and its much better now though.
I also recommend arsenal, or even converting a saiga. You can have a nice russian ak with a saiga for 450ish for a basic back end converted rifle. If you plan on converting the whole rifle fsb,gb,hangards,threading barrel for brake, etc, your probably better off just buying the arsenal to begin with (ask me how l know). good luck
With a good muzzle brake and recoil reducing stock on a 7.62x39, I don’t know how you could argue about recoil anymore. The weight difference between 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 mags isn’t as huge as people like to think. Basing on the weights of AR mags, the difference would be about only 2 pounds for 210 rounds. For accuracy and trajectory, I’ll have to give it to the 74 guys. Can’t argue it’s a more accurate round with a better trajectory.
But the AKBC is the best of both worlds, so to me the question would be why not use it?
I’m not interested in good enough, especially if I can buy better.
One more thing you might want to take into consideration is the mag issue. 74 mags are harder to come by than 47 mags. Not too many suppliers seem to have them right now and prices have been going up. A year ago, poly mags were ~13-15 bucks. Now they are hard to find for less than 20 and there is a very limited selection.
