So it’s been a while since the import ban on Russian made ammo and guns… well, a little while. And 5.45mm ammo still seems (relatively) cheap. And most of the AK/5.45 threads are old. And seeing all the news coming out of Ukraine combined with my LGS getting an Arsenal SGL in 5.45mm has got me itching for an almost AK-74. Plus I was able to find one of the V1 AK VCAS slings at a retailer and now I need a rifle to attach it to…
So I’m going to need everything. Well. Almost everything. The important things: Magazines and ammo.
Or, I need to be unsold on the concept of buying a 5.45 AK (I have about a dozen 7.62 AK mags and just under a thousand rounds of ammo, but no 7.62mm AK).
Given your current mag/ammo situation, what’s the aversion to getting a 7.62 gun? Arsenal makes some nice 7.62s too. The 5.45s are pretty cool too though. You should really have at least one of each.
Nobody really makes a 7.62 gun that I like. Except for Sako/Valmet and Rifle Dynamics. The Valmets haven’t been imported in decades and are rare and correspondingly expensive, the Sakos have never been and likely never will be imported, and RD has recently stopped responding to my emails (maybe they’re busy, maybe I’m just a really annoying dude, maybe both). The C39V2 is a tempting “budget option”, though, with the impending arrival of Magpul’s Zhukov-S furniture.
What about the RD do you prefer? Could always do your own RD-esque build from a parts kit if you’ve got the time or tools, or from a base gun like a WASR/Saiga/Arsenal/whatever is in your budget.
Overall quality of workmanship. Rear sight. Finish (see also: fit and finish). Bolton gas block. 14.whatever-inch barrel with pinned muzzle device.
I’ve built AKs before. I’m not exactly keen to jump into it again. Especially not with something like a Bolton, where hand tools are needed to zero the sights… and once zero’d, that’s basically where they will be forever.
Well, the rear sight is simple… a small file and some cold blue would do the same thing. I did that for my dad on one of his AK’s, and it didn’t take but about 25 minutes. You could also buy one from RD if you really wanted.
The Venom FSB is also a breeze to install… so easy that I’m completely uninterested in any other gas block or FSB for any future build… slips on without a press, bolts on securely (bolts stayed tight in about 2k rounds), and already has a recess for you to drill and pin it, which I did as well. You can either file the front sight post to the height you want, or just use your rear sight to compensate. That’s what I did.
The barrel work is the only hard part, really. For what it’s worth, I emailed ADCO about it, and they said that if I send in just the barrel, they will give me their AR pricing to cut/crown/thread/pin a brake ($95 total, I believe). I haven’t done it just due to time and the fact that I’m super content with it as-is, but that was the most cost-effective route I found.
Just some options you could do yourself if you’re interested…
I think that if you’re looking at it from an “operator” standpoint, then it’s going to be hard to justify an AK-74 variant versus an AR variant. Personally, I just buy rifles that appeal to me. Sometimes it’s because they are technically near the top at what they’re supposed to do. Other times it’s just an emotional connection. I have a Bulgarian AK-74 that I built from a parts kit, an Arsenal SLR-104FR, an Arsenal SLR-104UR and several more AK-74 variant kits to build. I enjoy shooting them and appreciate them for what they are. I do not try to make them in to AR’s. The fact that ammo is relatively inexpensive is a bonus. I’m also fortunate enough to have purchased plenty of AK-74 magazines back when they were cheap. The bottom line is that you should buy it if you like it. If you ever change your mind, you can always sell it later and won’t likely take a loss.
I love the caliber. 7.62 in a wood stocked gun gets pretty jarring after a few mags. Like AKs and want to take a one or two day class? 5.45 is the way to go.
The import restrictions didn’t do a lot to the price of commercial 5.45 from what I can see. I think many people, like myself, never shot corrosive ammo if they could help it.
The only downside is the price of mags. They’re around $35-$40 in many places. But, once you get a good supply, and a stash of ammo, you’re going to have fun.
I have an old case of Wolf stowed away, any source for lot numbers?
OP, for 5.45 rifles at this point I’d go with Arsenal SLR series. And as noted above stay with Eastern Bloc mags; Polish and Romanian steel, EG and Russian Bakelite, Bulgarian polymer.
I remember back after the barrel ban when a few companies were making 5.45 guns with .223 barrels. This resulted in some nasty keyholeing. But don’t remember anything about 5.45 ammo being loaded with .223 bullets.
Back on subject. I’ve recommended the AK-74 since long before the surplus ammo boom and bust. I got an SAR-2 back in the day when they could be had for $300, mags were $7, and ammo was $120 for a 1000 round case. This made it a nice alternative to ARs. These days 5.45 is still a good round and the commercial ammo is priced right and not going anywhere. The price per case has increased but not terribly. Honestly, the biggest downside is the guns right now. Since the barrel FUBAR described above I don’t trust an AK with an American made barrel, which leaves only the pricy “luxury” guns as a viable option. Of course this applies to AKMs as well so its something of a wash, though the mags are more cost effective.
Bottom line, buy what you want. If it doesn’t work out, buy the next thing you want. As long as you don’t go into debt over it you won’t be loosing any sleep at night.
I fixed it for you.
In a properly working AK74 variant, any should work. They don’t all cost the same and some will be more “correct” than others depending on the particular rifle variant you have.
