Here is the rifle. http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct1105.aspx
The price makes me nervous but the specs seem decent overall. Would like to get this and have some extra cash left over but also know that in general you get what you pay for. Anyone have experience with these or an opinion on them?
Josh
I have heard good things about Atlantic. Honestly, that price seems pretty reasonable as well, and certainly not in the “suspicious” category.
Atlantic is just the seller and they sell it all from the great to the greatest crap. They are there to sell guns, they don’t make them.
With that AK specifically, it is not a typical stamped Romanian so we are probably looking at another version of WASR junk and a US barrel (which they seem to be trying really hard to suggest is a military barrel) so that is probably crap too.
The bottom line is with the barrel ban, the days of cheap but good AKs are simply over. For $599 go track down a SAR 2 rifle and pay the difference.
How many topics have been posted about this gun in the last couple weeks. I think we need a sticky haha
Its a Romanian AK with a slightly different gas block and furniture. Reports of canted sights have surfaced, but Atlantic is a good dealer and will take care of you.
My apologies I looked through the thread posts quickly and didn’t see anything about it so went ahead and posted. As to the gas block that is what had me interested in the first place since my original plan was to buy an Arsenal and put A Bolton Block on it to get rid of the front sight and lighten up the front of the rifle.
This is what I was trying to imply, sorry if that wasn’t clear.
From what I gather, that rifle is made in Romania and converted to accept hicap magazines in the US. I’m pretty certain that the barrel is Romanian. There are two potential problems that I see. First, the distance between the front and rear sights is very short, we’re talking almost krink short. If you’re going to make an SBR, then that’s the tradeoff that you make. However, given that the barrel length is 16", I’d personally go with the typical setup that has the front sight at the end of the barrel if you’re not. Second, it’s not clear from the advertisment if the rifle will take standard AK74 hicap magazines. Military AK74’s have the cartridge feed ramp at the bottom of the trunnion. Many of these rifles had to have the feed ramp built in to the top front of the magazine in order that they could be imported. If it doesn’t take regular AK74 hicaps, I wouldn’t buy it. Of course they may be using the Promag simply because the cost of military AK74 magazines has gone up. Also, the rifles doesn’t have dimples around the magazine well. It shouldn’t effect function, but an AK just doesn’t look right without them to me. BTW, don’t assume that you can cut the barrel and have it function reliably. There’s a good probability that you’ll have to press of that front sight/gas block and open up the gas port.
Personally, I’d spend the extra money and go with a conventional AK74 setup like this for your first AK.
http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct1149.aspx
It’s a better quality Russian rifle and the distance between sights is longer. Again, find out from Atlantic if it will take military AK74 magazines. If it won’t, there are other virtually identical rifles available that will.
Before we speculate further (I did it too), somebody should just email Blaine and ask him. He’s an honest guy and will say what is what.
Ok I did a search and read a bit more on what people think of the 762 version of this rifle and what the general consensus seems to be. I agree I think it maybe too good deal to be true. The on thing that keeps coming up is the sight radius. This is the same radius that is used on the Rifle Dynamics AKs from Fuller. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone question it on his nor should they. But for some reason on this rifle it’s an issue. Do I think a longer sight radius is better, yes but if was an issue Fuller wouldn’t do it.
I just took a buddy out today for his first time shooting a rifle - which was his new M-10 (7.62) model, also purchased from Atlantic. Here are my impressions:
Above average Romanian work. It was more cleanly executed than most WASRs I’ve handled. Standard phosphate style finish, typical tooling marks throughout. The trigger was better than I expected - not sure what they are using but it was nice.
He really wanted it for the rails up front - they are functional but if you were to mount a flashlight in a Vltor style mount it blocks the sights - the same set up using an Ultimak mount allows you to use the stock sights.
We shot it from the bench to sight in his Vortex sight which was coming along nicely until the sight started to lide in his mount. We found an allen wrench to tighten it down but it still moved forward under recoil. As we thought we were getting it sighted in we noticed the movement but until then he was doing a great job of knocking the x-ring out of the target.
Overall, as an entry level rifle it is very nice. I would still personally buy a basic Arsenal (SGL or SLR) over one of these. But to get to the same level of operation you’d need end up spending at least $400 to $500 more going the Arsenal route. It isn’t nearly as pretty but just as functional as an Arsenal.
Thanks for the great info Spooky. I think I’ve decided I’ll either go with an Arsenal or go back to the original plan which was to buy an AR.
A Saiga can be had for 300ish a simple fcg/pistol grip conversion can be done easily for 150$, there isnt any functional reason that makes it necessary to convert the front (which isnt a novice task anyway).
Saigas are top knotch AKs made from NEW PARTS and correctly assembled at the Izhmash factory. Most other AKs are made from parts kits of unknown quality assembled by god only knows who.
l would take a Saiga convert or arsenal over anything else in there price range.
A converted Saiga is the only good deal left in AKs. Keep in mind l’m not talking about converting the front end, at that rate it be easier and almost the same price to just buy the arsenal. Just a rear end conversion and bullet guide can be done for 450 total easily, l’ve done a coplete saiga under 400$ total.
very happy with my purchase of the m10 in 7.62, trust me did my research between this or any saiga. well my obvious choice is the m10, for what it has to offer i think its a better choice for me over any saiga/conversion. as for the short sight radius i shoot fine with it, heck i got an ak variant with a 6" sight radius and dont have problems aiming with it
I just decided to SBR a Draco.
I like the M10 with bakelite furniture - very sharp looking!
Steyr,
You constantly post the same thing over…and over…again about US made barrels. It is not correct.
From the link:
Six U.S. made parts compliancy requirements with the following, brand NEW, U.S. made parts installed:
That being said I would recommend a standard pattern AK over the M10.
I questioned the reasoning behind shortening the sight radius, especially with a commercial screw-on part. I was told that it moved the “weight” of the FSB back to improve handling.
I don’t need to tell you why a shorter sight radius is less ideal, but I don’t buy the “improved handling” as being an acceptable tradeoff- even if Travis Haley himself said it was.
For an SBR, it serves a purpose, for the M10 and the RD-74, it’s just pimp juice, IMO.
Improved handling, eh? By that logic we should all remove our muzzle devices since they’re so heavy way out there on the muzzle end. I mean heck, my -74 and -103 compensators add 3 inches and 4 ounces to the very end of the weapon. :rolleyes:
The quest to replace mil spec parts with commercial parts of inferior function defies all logic.
(I do not denounce this practice for “AK Purist” reasons, but for practical ones)
If your irons are not a primary sighting system then I would say it would definitely be worth having an overall lighter rifle and better balance. And yes you are correct I do understand why it is not ideal to decrease sight radius. To that end do any of you guys know if tech sights would co witness through a h-1 on an ultimak?