Looking to buy my first AK and came across an article on the Centurion 39. As I am always skeptical when reading about guns in publications, is there anyone here that has experience with one of these firearms that could share some thoughts on it?
I found a couple of video reviews on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbocf3p_N_w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E1O0alPq6o
For the price, I think an Arsenal Saiga conversion or an older factory import would be a much better deal. If the price of the Century piece were half of what it is, I’d still think that springing for an Arsenal or similar would be the better bet.
This topic has been well thrashed here, search for the threads on this topic as there is a lot of useful information which boils down to, buy an Arsenal SGL.
Hell the fuck no.
Century specializes in making and/or importing the cheapest possible AK’s (and other rifles). There sole goal is to dump as much crap, yes crap, on American gun owners in effort to turn a profit as possible.
Yes, people often get guns from them that run well, but on the whole they are to AK’s what Olympic is to the AR market.
Arsenal, Saiga, pre-ban Norincos and Polytechs would all be a much better choice than anything bearing Century’s name.
Yes and no on the “imported by CAI.”
For example there is nothing wrong with an imported Romanian SAR rifle. But there is a lot to be desired from a Romanian WASR 10.
If they are simply the imported that isn’t a problem. If they make an imported firearm 922r compliant, you can have problems. if they are building rifles, you will almost definitely have problems. And if they subcontract the build out you can go either way depending on who does the build and what parts are used.
Maybe by now most of the SARs have been fixed, but I remember them having similar problems with canted sights, crappy finish, garbage Century triggers, and occasional non-working rifles OOTB. It was suggested back then (circa 2001) to go somewhere that had several of them in stock so you could pick out a good one vs. buying them sight unseen.
Thank you for the feedback, noted and I will go no further with the centurion 39. I checked out the Atlantic Firearms website and am looking at several different Arsenal variants of the SGL. Do any have a non Warsaw Pact buttstock? I have a PSL that I am going to put a DSM lab adjustable buttstock on because we just don’t get along. Any suggestions on which SGL variant? Anyone have experience with the .223 or 5.45x39 versions? Noted that 5.45x39 is hard to come by and it will cause a manure storm to ask about the 5.56 version with the 7.62 vs 5.56 argument, but I am curious nonetheless as to whether or not the arsenal’s function the same regardless of caliber.
Well, 5.45x39 ammo is very cheap right now, so that may be a consideration for you.
Personally, I’d start with either 5.45 or 7.62, and then move on to a 5.56 later if you decide that you like the handling of an AK. Reason being is that 5.45/7.62 will be easier to move if you decide that you don’t like it.
Mo3 great points, I would like to maintain value and did see that the price of the 5.56 was significantly less even to start with which led me to believe demand for them was not strong.
TOrrock, I am going to need you to get to the point faster in the future, the words “hell” and “the” were not required to make the point. Walter Sopchak would not be one to mince words. Mark it zero Smokey this is not 'nam, this is bowling, there are rules!! Dude this is a league game, this determines who enters the next round robin!! Anyway thanks for the advice.
That, and the magazines tend to be more difficult and expensive to source. Not that they’re hard to get, just more so than the other calibers.
Some did have canted sights, but most didn’t. Of the approx. 50 or so I ordered for customers they were all straight, but I have seen canted examples on the net so I know it happens.
Crappy finish? Sure, but that is kinda like shitty wood. Who cares? It’s a Romanian, if it’s a big deal go to poly furniture and problem solved.
Century triggers, yeah it’s an issue but the ones I have that didn’t get switched to G2 FCG really aren’t so bad. They are AKs not Rem 700s.
Not nearly as nice as an arsenal but for $400 then it was a much better option than the WASRs now. My point was only that there are all kinds of guns with Century markings and they are not all the same.
I was commenting on them as supplied by CAI, and yes, most issues have been fixed and triggers, etc. swapped out long long ago. I only mention the finish due to the earlier Intrac imports being considerably nicer in comparison.
Also, $400 would have been highway robbery back then. I remember them being priced at $279 or $289 at the last gunshow where they were available in quantity (prior to the lull and then introduction of the WASRs). Ah, memories…
So was I.
Everyone of the SAR1’s that I have owned were GTG out of the box. Sure the finish was rough but they all went boom and shot relatively straight. I also remember the good ol’ days of sub $350 SAR rifles.
Is Henderson Defense still around? I thought at one point they were selling WASR rifles that they had gone through and fixed any issues for a fair price.
Succinct yet sound advice.
I like it.
US made milled receiver, for under $1000 price points in my book. got one and love it. i stopped depending on name brands long time ago and went with a plus minus scale and it lead me to one of my favorite guns. i know this thread is old but don’t count the Centurion 39 out.