I’m considering adding an AK to my collection.
I’m new to AK’s so please don’t roast me for my ignorance.
What are some good brands I should look out for?
I’m currently undecided if I want a 47 or a 74.
I’m not looking to spend too much on this. I’m just looking for a simple reliable gun for fun.
I am under 21, therefore I am unfortunately unable to purchase stripped powers. Therefore I likely won’t be building one.
What’s a realistic budget to have for a base rifle? (Stock funiture, etc)
I was thinking around 5-600, but I’m unsure if that’s too low.
I know Century Arms AK’s are within that price range, however I know they are not Russian made/ imported and I believe I’ve heard issues with them. Unsure if that’s the right brand I’m thinking of.
Again, just something reliable, if I realistically need to spend more for reliability, I will.
Century distributes AKs, but they also market ones like the C39…which is cheap and often what is in your local gun shop. Steer clear. Do some Internet research on it and check the major AK forums for more information. It ain’t pretty.
I just sent you a PM though, I have something you may be interested in.
i have a Romanian PSL sniper rifle, its an amazing rifle, very cheap to shoot. great hunting buddie. mine came with the original range finding scope, you should give it a try…no very expensive too.
I’m looking for something compact. Literally as small as possible before it’s considered NFA haha.
Can’t do pistol either, since I’m in WA and all sales must go through FFL. (And I don’t want to do an unfinished receiver)
I can build an AK pistol, but I don’t think its worth it. I’ve heard building an AK for starters is similar to witchcraft and summoning Thor himself.
594 apparently has gotten one person to date, but that person was over 21 and transferred a pistol to someone who was 19. Technically speaking… Its already illegal under federal law, so it wasn’t knocking someone for transferring a rifle to someone who can own one.
No one here is violating the law though, people were at first, but now everyones going through FFLs.
The 10% added tax for all transfers really… really sucks.
The SAR 1 is a true AKM where as Arsenal is a 100 series esque type rifle and the Vepr is just a heavy RPK style rifle that wasn’t properly unbanned after importation. The SAR 1 can be un-banned to be a true correct AKM pattern rifle and you can use traditional AKM furniture or modernize it. I’d take a SAR 1 over any of the ones discussed in this thread. Hell I’d take a SAR 1 over any other 7.62x39 AK ever imported practically and I’ve owned quite a few. Some of the early SAR 1’s and Wum 1’s had very clean engraving on the trunnion along with nicely pronounced tac welds, clean lines etc. Anyone here pushing a WASR isn’t an AK guy, at all. The WASR is a turd that could have been the next SAR after the ban sunset but Century cheapened out by saving a couple bucks not ordering the magwell dimples as a factory option- which no matter how you cut it, looks like absolute shit.
That stuff doesn’t do much for me. I have a few “correct” AKs and some that are not and I just don’t care if it has dimples or correct gas block for the era. I’m not sure I could care any less. Not having a bayo lug doesn’t bother. It brothers me in the sense that it was a stupid law and a stupid reason to not have it but as far as it being there …no I don’t care.
I have a few old kit builds. Old enough that they still had original barrels. Built by professionals not some monkey at home with a Dremel. A mostly debanned MAK90 (no bayo lug) a few arsenals and a RobArm import Vepr 545, the “Iraq contract” Romanian AES10B and one very old 5.45 build from the late 80s using a Bulgarian front end, Norinco 5.56 receiver and Russian 100 series folding stock and FCG.
I’m not really into tactical crap but not into correct era looking rifles either. There’s enough stuff out there to deban Veprs, that I’m not concerned about.
To the OP, just FYI, there is nothing particularly magical or mystical about the The SAR 1 is a 7.62x39 AKM., Md90 era, some people have a sort of fetish over it thinking they are somehow getting a more “authentic” AK.
Truth is, unless you have an actual select fire Автомат Калашникова, you ain’t got a “truly authentic” AK, just a non-select fire civilian variant that you can shoot really fast if you want and satisfy your Red Dawn fantasies.
Stick with European made AKs from the oldest and most well established gun makers…they have been making them for many decades and have the equipment and workforce knowledge to do it better than the vast majority of people trying (and stumbling, faltering or failing) to make them well here in the USA.
I meant that I’d add a little more money at this point and get the Arsenal. There’s not much difference between $700 and $1000ish. Esp if the SAR needs de banning
SAR 1 debanning consists of a 14x1 LH die and a tig welder to build up the lugs. Basically unpin everything, use a mallet to align the blocks, re-pin with slight taper in the pins, thread, build the lugs, cold blue- done. Then take videos of it shooting underwater to rustle some jimmies on AR boards.
It may be that simple to you but I’d have to ship to a competent AK’smith and pay for all that. I’m handy with things that can be fixed. I don’t attempt when something can’t be corrected or is too expensive to correct
As far as the OP… You have two choices.
buy cheap for an entry level to see if you even want to invest in an AK but be aware that they’re harder to sell and don’t bring as much money in today’s climate
Risk buying expensive and not liking it but it would be easier to sell and hold its value better.
