AK Sponsor
Posted: 2/7/2026 2:08:02 AM EDT
|
Looking to get into ak’s and was wondering which is a good one? I would like to spend under a 1000 |
|
AK variants fall into two main categories. you have the Combloc imports. In this category country of origin is highly scrutinized, these examples arec often times highly collectible and may be worth a considerable amount because of import restrictions scarcity etc. Many of the USA made or lower cost imported AK‘s are of lower quality in some of the critical areas such as trunnion, bolt carrier, bolt etc. I find that Palmetto State armory has some of the best shooter grade AK’s. They have excellent fit and finish, metallurgy and heat treatment. Some of their models clone collectible imports such as Chinese Spiker etc. personally I like their AKE variant that has FN barrel, it’s very reliable and accurate. Check out SME, Robski’s AKopperatiorsunion on yt |
I'm in the just get a WASR camp for that price range. Especially if you can visually inspect it first. Although I don't agree that everything else sucks. Just buy a WASR, "Everything else sucks" |
|
There are some decent budget options for an AK now but there's still really no better intersection of value and build correctness (not necessarily quality - WASRs can still be rough) than a WASR. Don't forget to look at the various 5.56 options now as it's become cheaper to shoot than 7.62x39 for obvious reasons. |
|
I’d cruise the EE here or other places as people are selling off some AKs with cost of ammo. I’ve seen some WASR and SARs going for under $1000 lately. New , maybe PSA. I picked up a WBP full stock model a few years back to shoot a bunch of x39 I inherited. It’s over $1k , but very nice AK. |
|
I love my AKs, because I built them. I wouldn’t recommend buying one today. They’re way overpriced, and so is the ammo. The draw used to be cheap guns and cheap ammo. That’s now ARs. ETA: if you’re dead set, I’d probably say PSA first just to have one and support will be great if you have problems. WASR next, which is funny because they used to be the laughing stock, now they’re the standard. I know it’s different, it’s still funny. For a bit more, the Yugos are always good, but they’re slightly different that other AKs. Only really matters if you’re going to change furniture. |
|
Originally Posted By Mobilty6: Looking to get into ak’s and was wondering which is a good one? I would like to spend under a 1000 In that price range do your best to try to stay away from USA made AK's. They are NOT built to the same quality as imports trunnions, carriers and bolts. In most cases the USA AK's fit and finish can look better than Imports but that is where it stops. Romanian kit builds can be found at a good price within your price range. Romanian WASR 10's & RH10's are in your price range. Not the prettiest out of the box but proven. WBP's are also in that price range or a little more and the fit and finish on them are really nice. Zastava's are great and you will pay a little more. Finish is decent but just understand that they don't use AKM furniture. People here are going to say PSA. Before some of you start accusing me of being a hater you need to know that I own a couple of them myself. Im on my 2nd PSA Krink (Sold the 1st one) and a PSA 102. All 3 had/Have massive bolt lug issues and horrible wear at a very low round count which has always been an issue with PSA 5.56 and 5.45 AK's. The Krink I rebuilt using Bulgarian parts. The 102 hangs on my wall and will remain there until I get to rebuilding it. Now PSA does have a great lifetime warranty and all I have to do is send it in, but I already know it would just get fixed and do the same thing all over again because I would not be getting improved parts. I would just be starting over with the same parts as it had before only they are new again. Now im not knocking that its just the truth and the reality of it. That is totally fine for guys that just don't shoot there PSA's much and many on here are happy with them. There 7.62's have early wear but lock up good and do well. For the money it still makes more sense to buy an import because of there more proven reliability and if you ever needed or wanted to sell it they will always be more valuable. |
The voices in my head say I’m just being paranoid
Joined:
Oct 2013
Posts:
41589
EE: 100% (120)
KY, USA
Global Warming Hoax Skeptic before it was cool
Joined:
Jun 2007
Posts:
72149
EE: 100% (1)
WA, USA
|
Originally Posted By KDG_Dave: In that price range do your best to try to stay away from USA made AK's. They are NOT built to the same quality as imports trunnions, carriers and bolts. In most cases the USA AK's fit and finish can look better than Imports but that is where it stops. Romanian kit builds can be found at a good price within your price range. Romanian WASR 10's & RH10's are in your price range. Not the prettiest out of the box but proven. WBP's are also in that price range or a little more and the fit and finish on them are really nice. Zastava's are great and you will pay a little more. Finish is decent but just understand that they don't use AKM furniture. People here are going to say PSA. Before some of you start accusing me of being a hater you need to know that I own a couple of them myself. Im on my 2nd PSA Krink (Sold the 1st one) and a PSA 102. All 3 had/Have massive bolt lug issues and horrible wear at a very low round count which has always been an issue with PSA 5.56 and 5.45 AK's. The Krink I rebuilt using Bulgarian parts. The 102 hangs on my wall and will remain there until I get to rebuilding it. Now PSA does have a great lifetime warranty and all I have to do is send it in, but I already know it would just get fixed and do the same thing all over again because I would not be getting improved parts. I would just be starting over with the same parts as it had before only they are new again. Now im not knocking that its just the truth and the reality of it. That is totally fine for guys that just don't shoot there PSA's much and many on here are happy with them. There 7.62's have early wear but lock up good and do well. For the money it still makes more sense to buy an import because of there more proven reliability and if you ever needed or wanted to sell it they will always be more valuable. |
Selling agent for Algores carbon credit scam.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
|
Originally Posted By dryflash3: Well you never fail to post your dislike for PSA AK's. Well you always faiI to even read what I type, and completely ignored my criticism of the other AK's I mentioned. Why is it ok to criticize the others yet it not ok to criticize PSA??? You always assume that because of my experience and many others that I dislike them. I don't dislike PSA. There ARE better AKs out there in his price range. What's wrong with saying that when its true???? Like I said I had 3 PSA AK's and still currently own two of them. All 3 had or have issues. This guy buying his 1st AK should know that. Why is that wrong and how is that hate???? If I disliked them I would not keep them or fix them them. PSA IMO is right there with he best of them as far as assembling AK's and there finish can be really good. sometimes its horrible, but imports can have some pretty crappy fit and finish too. They just need to get the bolts and trunnions corrected for the timing and they would be as solid as the best of them. Is that to much to ask??? Stop accusing me of hating PSA just because I would like to see them do better. I would actually like to see them become the BEST! |
Global Warming Hoax Skeptic before it was cool
Joined:
Jun 2007
Posts:
72155
EE: 100% (1)
WA, USA
|
Don't care, you had your say, time to move on. Your post was not removed and you were not blocked from the thread. Like has happened in the past with this topic. I will let you have your say, if like this time it was respectful. You had your say. Now let it go. |
Selling agent for Algores carbon credit scam.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
Shooting and Reloading, one hobby feeds the other.
|
Originally Posted By dryflash3: Don't care, you had your say, time to move on. Your post was not removed and you were not blocked from the thread. Like has happened in the past with this topic. I will let you have your say, if like this time it was respectful. You had your say. Now let it go. I know you don't care. Nobody should be targeted or silenced simply for stating facts or experiences with there guns. This guy as well as any new AK guy deserves to hear all of our feedback and experiences. |
Global Warming Hoax Skeptic before it was cool
Joined:
Jun 2007
Posts:
72161
EE: 100% (1)
WA, USA
|
Every Time I see the Polish rifles I kick myself for not buying them. The fit an finish looks fantastic on them. I'd save a little and with Polish. I also have multiple PSA rifles in 7.62x39, and I really like them, especially my 104 with the FN hammer forged chrome lined barrel. Thing just shoots awesome. Another really good option these days in the Galil Ace, but that will cost way more than 1k, it is another worth saving for though. Good luck on your hunt and post pics when you find something! |
|
Originally Posted By MudEagle: Just say "nope" to PSA AKs. Explain this to the class. PSA does a very good job going after what customers tell them they want and they have evolved their AK line into a very good rifle. They are decently accurate and from my experience seem to hold up just fine. They are no ((10)) or Merlot but nothing else is. Nope away from century or IO built guns in general. VSAK and RAS47 are not even worth their weight in scrap metal. They will loose headspace and will blow up on you if you run them much. Import guns are generally fine. WASR is very durable. They tend to have sketchy/non existent QC, especially for older imports. Canted sights and such are basically the norm for them. I'm an Izzy/Vepr/Bulgy fanatic for AKs. Can't justify them for the price of AKs anymore. I happily run my Romy builds and PSA stuff. |
|
I'll be the 1st to say that I rarely shoot any of my AKs anymore, and my PSAs even less, so I do not have huge round counts on mine, however I have also had zero issues with my PSA AKs. I also buy the GF5 versions for the barrel and trigger upgrades. However, TX-Zen did send one of his for Rob Ski to test along side the one Rob tested and documented with his 5k test, and both have a large round count and both are still all in one piece. I keep hearing people poo poo on PSA, and never really seen anything to back up these claims. I also have not gone looking for them either. I'm sure there have been some bad apples, but PSA does have a lifetime warranty for what it's worth, even though that's still not good enough for certain people. I'm not saying a PSA AK is a go to war gun, but for casual shooting, there should be no way to wear one out. As for the Romanian guns, yes they're factory, but they're also the roughest factory guns to ever come in. Hell, I've seen them come in with no pins on the FSBs and the FSBs spin on the barrel. I've seen them so canted they're worthless unless you fix them yourself, or have a smith fix them. My point is, there is no 1 gun that everyone will say is IT. I love my Arsenals, but people complain about the finish, I like my Galils, but they're too heavy, too expensive, everyone has a gripe, and everyone has thier favorite. To the OP, I would decide what features you want, plain ol good enough wood stock AK, or something you can tacticool and use for war AK, or just something to pull out and shoot every once in awhile and say I have a cool looking AK. Then buy per the criteria you have set. |
|
The PSA 103 with the fn barrel was one of the nicest ak’s I’ve ever owned. Would not hesitate to get another. I’d look at them or zastava. When it comes to other models that PSA makes like the krink for example.. I’d absolutely not even consider the PSA krink as it doesn’t have a CL barrel and a zastava 92 is essentially the same money. |
AK Sponsor