School me on getting my first AK47

General Firearms Other Semi-Automatic Rifles
1

I’ve had the bug to get an AK47 for quite some time now, and think I’m finally ready to pick one up. I’ve always been an AR > AK guy, but I guess there’s something about the AK that I just need in my life right now. I’ve handled and fired them before, know how to field strip and maintain them, but I guess I’m just looking any generic advice from guys who have had them for awhile. I guess I’ll tell you what I’m looking at getting, and ask for any feedback or wisdom anyone has to offer.

In a perfect world, I’d like to land an Arsenal AK, either the SAM-7 or SGL-21. I need to get a fixed stock as CA will be a future duty station (not by choice), and I need an AK that will be able to comply with their laws with the addition of a bullet button. I plan to add some aftermarket furniture to it, either from Combloc Custom or IWD. I won’t be adding optics, and will probably shoot mostly Tula out of it. I may upgrade the trigger at some point. I’ve read that setting the rear sight to 1 and then zeroing at the 25m mark is the way to go, is this wrong? I know the AK has a reputation to run flawlessly regardless of condition, but I’m anal about weapons maintenance and am curious as to what areas require the most detail with cleaning? Any brands of magazines to avoid or seek? How are the Magpul Pmags?

I’ll be either selling or trading my Keltec KSG and a BCM 14.5" upper to help finance this purchase (or trade if possible), so if you’re interested in that keep an eye on the EE here. I’m a new member so I need 30+ posts before I can do that.

I’m sure there’s some other things I can’t think of at the moment, so if you have any input or general advice for someone looking at getting their first AK, it is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

2

Arsenal makes a nice gun. They make a great “go to” AK.

For the price, the yugo rifles(OPAP, NPAP) are good. Nice fit and finish.

Don’t discount a WASR 10/63 for a decent example of an AKM. I’d just make sure you can check if out before buying. They make a good rifle to beat on.

3

Kind of in the same boat, been reading all kinds of things past few months. Arsenal is still on my top list, of course I kind of want the folder because I can.

Have heard a lot of good on the N-PAP and O-PAP rifles. As far as WASRs go… if I was ordering an AK today looking at Atlantic Firearms The N-PAP is $529, the WASR is $515… I’d grab the N-PAP personally. Though I do see that htey have the Arsenal SLR107FR for $999… damn it! Me want.

4

Personally, I’d agree. The Yugo is a buy.

Now, if the AK is just a secondary, a Yugo will fit the bill. The $500+ difference between it and an Arsenal could buy a couple cases of 7.62x39.

5

Agreed, for just a rifle to get to know the platform the yugos aren’t bad and in truth have some nice features. Find a WASR at $350 or below and I’d say it would be worth picking up as well if it was in spec, trust me, saw one local pop up but wasn’t fast enough, for that, yeah would have bought it for a beat to hell rifle, but unless it is $100 or more(Mainly more) below one of the yugos I can’t see it.

For the extra $500 for the Arsenal… I’d gotten to where unless I don’t have the option or cash I buy top of the line for my needs/wants. Though knowing how I am I’ll end up with an N-PAP because I like the features and an Arsenal, or two. Considering the yugos are going local for $700+ the Arsenal looks even more tempting, of course local the Arsenals are going for $1200+ for ones without the features of the ones on Atlantic Firearms.

So many guns, so little money. Sigh.

6

Yugos are a good buy, but for an ergonomic carbine, you’d want an NPAP with a different rear stock. This totals from $600-700, but is a very good AK. The fore end mod are not as many, but they are out there.

7

I was sort of looking into an AK at one point in time but didn’t want to go with a different caliber than .223. You may be interested in a Definitive Arms AK. They retrofit the magwell to accept .223 and AR type magazines.

http://www.definitivearms.com/main_page.html

8

With the yugo rifles out there, there isn’t a real need to go with an Arsenal unless you’re after a factory style 100 series folding stock or have to have a 90° gas block, want 5.45x39, or those mac truck lugs on the front of the fsb they use for threads fur the muzzle device.

With you living in California, a folding stock is null.

9

Don’t overlook the Bulgarian SLR series, I actually prefer them to the Russians in some areas (spring-loaded firing pin, among others).

Basic “upgrades” that will likely be done out of the box:

Get rid of the shepherd’s hook/wire and replace with a Kreb’s retaining plate

Put a more American-friendly pistol grip on

10

I’m pretty sure the SLR series is banned by name in Kommifornia.

11

Are the magpul ak magazines good to go? Op asked this and I also want to buy several.

12

I actually just got home with my new AK, a WASR 10 that I purchased from Atlantic Firearms. They may not be the cheapest out there when it comes to WASRs, but they do perform a QC inspection on the guns they receive and have great customer service.

I haven’t had a chance to go over it in a detailed manner yet, but upon initial inspection this gun is leaps and bounds better than the WASRs I had seen in the past. Everything appears straight with no visibil cants. Mag lock up well without any excessive wobble. The gun came with one steel mag, one Tapco ribbed 30rd mag, sling, bayonet, oil bottle, cleaning rod, and a cleaning kit. The gun came with the newer unfinished hard wood furniture which does not have the trap door for the cleaning kit. The front trunion appears to be new production, as it has the guns serial number and no arsenal or production year markings.

The parkerzied finish is dry, and there is still some dried up cosmoline in the small nooks and crannies of the gun, but overall appears to be pretty decent. It’s not the beautiful gunkote that my Waffen Werks has, but it appears to be pretty even and they aren’t any major handling marks. The bolt and trigger aren’t as smooth as my Waffen either, but they are also bone dry and haven’t had a chance to wear in yet.

I bought this gun because it’s one of the few ways left to get an AK with a combloc production chrome lined and hammer forged barrel. I also wanted something as close to a standard AKM as possible. So far I’m not disappointed with it.

13

Jealous. I’d trade this stuff for one of the new WASRs in a heartbeat.

14
  1. Arsenal
  2. Yugo

I would stick with those two. Here is the thing, Arsenal’s were always in the 500+ range, Yugo’s were around $300 ish before the craze. WASR-10’s and most of the lower tiered AK’s were around $150 at one point. I think these pre-craze prices are accurate of their build quality and quality control process.

Nowadays an Arsenal is about $1,000 so that’s a 2X price inflation, Yugo’s are the same way. WASR-10’s on the other hand are up 4X+ times in price. From a strictly economic standpoint you would be better served buying a Yugo or Arsenal. I’ve handled many WASR-10 over the years, when they were going for $75 till the new ones going for $550 and they have been and are still $100 rifles. Yugo’s and Arsenals are IMO $300 and $600 rifles.

I would not buy a $100 rifle and pay $500.

15

Open market value on ak outside of the US is $250. Bulgarian, polish, Chinese, Romanian, Yugoslavian, didn’t matter.

In a sense, arsenal is scewin ya more than the rest.

16

Agreed, AK’s should be in the $300 range.

That said holding a SAM7 and than a WASR, I would say the Arsenal warrants double the price, or 5X as it use to be.

17

I have had several AK’s since I got involved with them. I have an Arsenal 107CR. It is nice. However I liked my Yugo OPAP so much I bought a second one.

18

Is there anything unique about the OPAP under folder that will not allow standard accessories to work? Mostly wondering if I can put an Ultimak gas tube rail and aftermarket grip on it?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

19

There is no OPAP underfolder. There are yugo m70ab2’s out there and NPAP underfolders.

Most grips fit, the do attach a little differently than normal AK’s.

Yugoslavs used a longer handguard than standard AKs and a thicker barrel.

Ultimak makes a yugo version.

20

While UF are way cool they aren’t good for the only/first AK. The stock catches on stuff like razortape. Stick to a straight stock. IF it is a Yugo, to an NPAP and get a fixed skeleton setup or an AR adapter. Then you can use an ultimak and still have the scope rail on the receiver. the UF does not have these.