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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Best AK Model? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 3/9/2010 2:58:29 PM EDT
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So I'm looking to buy/build a AK style rifle to replace my AR-15. My AR is a great rifle but it just lacks a certain something that I think a AK would fill. But with all of the different AK-47 and AK-74 models out there I cant decide on what I want. I guess like anyone else I am looking for the best out there. The most reliable, the most accurate, and the over-all most bad ass.
So what AK is considered to be the "best" by the majority? |
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This is relative to what you want to do with it.
If money doesn't matter, then here is what I suggest. If you want to add stuff and play dress up, get a stamped ak: In 7.62x39 Arsenal SGL-20/21 Mak-90 In 5.45x39 Arsenal SGL-31 If you want bragging rights, get a Milled AK. Bulgarian SA-M7 |
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My WASR 10/63 is accurate, dependable and with the $400 price tag on the rifle, the $30 for the Polish hand guards and $15 for a Romy G buttstock, functions and looks pretty doggone close to "badass" for a lot less than one would pay for a "premium" AKM You are also right. But the OP wanted to know the top contenders.. The romy's are spotty at times as far as overall QC .. I think that this is an "out of the box" question that does not allow for "cherry picking" through a bunch of rifles and getting a good one. You have an excellent one and congrats on that. |
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So I'm looking to buy/build a AK style rifle to replace my AR-15. My AR is a great rifle but it just lacks a certain something that I think a AK would fill. But with all of the different AK-47 and AK-74 models out there I cant decide on what I want. I guess like anyone else I am looking for the best out there. The most reliable, the most accurate, and the over-all most bad ass. So what AK is considered to be the "best" by the majority? Whats your price range? AK's run from $400 to $2000+. Knowing what you are looking/willing to spend makes it a lot easier to narrow down all the choices. |
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...The most reliable, the most accurate, and the over-all most bad ass.
Considering the above information and your location, it sounds like a pre-ban Chinese might fit your bill. Simply an opinion but a Polytech Legend might be a great choice. Plus, if you get a bit bored of the look you could make it even more "bad ass" and unique by having it customized with a underfolding spike bayonet front sight base, and a tweak of the trigger guard to give it an "old school" 1950's-1960's era Chinese military Type 56 spike bayonet look. |
We all know that a buyer has to check a lot of critical points on romy stuff..
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Thanks for the information everyone.
Let me clarify a little bit. I want a AK for mostly range shooting but I also want a high quality one to be used in a SHTF TEOTWAWKI type situation. I may live in Cali but I can buy something called a magazine lock which would allow me to own any type of AK that meets federal law. My price range is anywhere from 400-1000(ish) depending on how much I sell my AR-15 for. Where could I get a Bulgarian SA-M7? Are they new production models or Milsurp? |
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Thanks for the information everyone. Let me clarify a little bit. I want a AK for mostly range shooting but I also want a high quality one to be used in a SHTF TEOTWAWKI type situation. I may live in Cali but I can buy something called a magazine lock which would allow me to own any type of AK that meets federal law. My price range is anywhere from 400-1000(ish) depending on how much I sell my AR-15 for. Where could I get a Bulgarian SA-M7? Are they new production models or Milsurp? SAM7 will be over $1,000 these days. I'd look into the Arsenal SGL21 and SGL31. |
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Here's some contrast for you.
You are selling an AR.... I have seen some Polytech Legends sell for absurdly low prices lately. I finally shot mine and it is absolutely accurate for an AK. However, my AK Hunter is just as accurate (cheaper too  ). If you don't mind the extra weight, milled is the way to go for accuracy.
I too have a Wasr 10/63 and it surprisingly accurate for what it is. I could see it filling the role of it's intended purpose good enough. Ahem.... killing paper  You could get at least 2 Romys for what a single Legend sells for, but the Polytech slays the Romy as far as the "cool" factor goes and they are simply put.... gorgeous 
So, practical and good enough= Romy .... you can beat it around without feeling guilty about it .... people on arfcom can tell you what a piece of shit it is even though it probably works fine and has never had a hiccup, like mine "cool" factor and top notch accuracy= Legend or other milled AK .... people can drool over it at the range.... and on arfcom! |
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Any chinese ak will last you a lifetime! I only buy chinese or arsenal from now on. I have Norinco Mak 90 and couldnt be happier with it. I love it! This is good advise. Get the best you can aford and don't listen to the Wasr crowd that could only get a purchase order from their wife for $350.  
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I guess like anyone else I am looking for the best out there. The most reliable, the most accurate, and the over-all most bad ass. The premise of the question is faulty. Any properly assembled AK will be reliable, given minimal mantainance. Spending more money won't get you a more reliable rifle and will only get you a more accurate rifle by sheer accident, if at all. All that being said, in most cases people who ask your question are happier if they spend as much money as possible and get the "best". The only acceptable rifle for you is a NIB preban Chinese double underfolder. Without a doubt those are the most "bad ass" AK clones ever imported. 
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So I'm looking to buy/build a AK style rifle to replace my AR-15. ... The most reliable, the most accurate, and the over-all most bad ass. So what AK is considered to be the "best" by the majority? Quoted:
since you live in CA you need to go pre-ban chicom. IMO that's your best option. Agreed! I sampled a few ChiCom MAK90s before I settled on a pre-ban Norinco Type 56S. |
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I guess like anyone else I am looking for the best out there. The most reliable, the most accurate, and the over-all most bad ass. The premise of the question is faulty. Any properly assembled AK will be reliable, given minimal mantainance. Spending more money won't get you a more reliable rifle and will only get you a more accurate rifle by sheer accident, if at all. All that being said, in most cases people who ask your question are happier if they spend as much money as possible and get the "best". The only acceptable rifle for you is a NIB preban Chinese double underfolder. Without a doubt those are the most "bad ass" AK clones ever imported.
I don't agree with all of this. One can properly assemble an AK but if it's assembled out of shoddy or inferior materials than it can be unreliable as well as inaccurate. A superior rifle is both properly assembled and contains better materials and maybe a superior manufacturing process. Thus Valmet>Wsar, Chicom>Wasr, slingshot>Wasr, Cuban cigar>El Producto and so on! 
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I guess like anyone else I am looking for the best out there. The most reliable, the most accurate, and the over-all most bad ass. The premise of the question is faulty. Any properly assembled AK will be reliable, given minimal mantainance. Spending more money won't get you a more reliable rifle and will only get you a more accurate rifle by sheer accident, if at all. All that being said, in most cases people who ask your question are happier if they spend as much money as possible and get the "best". The only acceptable rifle for you is a NIB preban Chinese double underfolder. Without a doubt those are the most "bad ass" AK clones ever imported.
I don't agree with all of this. One can properly assemble an AK but if it's assembled out of shoddy or inferior materials than it can be unreliable as well as inaccurate. A superior rifle is both properly assembled and contains better materials and maybe a superior manufacturing process. Explain the following: 1. Exactly how are the materials and manufacturing processes used in non-Romanian AKs superior to the materials and processes used in Romanian AKs? Be specific and base your answer on your personal experience. For example, what are your test results on the steel used in Romanian and non-Romanian AKs? As another example, what differences in critical production tolerances have you measured? 2. What is your explanation for all the AKs assembled from Romanian AKs (both in the US and Romania) which are as reliable and as accurate as AKs assembled from parts made in countries other than Romania? |
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Welcome to the AK side. Much like the AR side, the more money you spend, the bigger your dick is, as observed. Innernet myths are gospel as well. LOL. Some truth there. My Brother has a nice Chinese AK. It is indeed nicely built with a thick receiver and barrel. It is also a heavy ass bitch varient of an already heavy ass design. Just something to keep in mind. I own 3 Romanian built rifles. And yeah, they assemble AK's like drunken monkeys. My WASR-22 gas tube is bent off true by something like 15 degrees... good thing it's just for show. My first Draco was twisted at the front and rear trunnion. The front sight was tweaked all the way left. My PSL (yeah, not an AK) is built ok. A lot of the WASR's are fine rifles. But a lot of them just aren't built straight. |
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I guess like anyone else I am looking for the best out there. The most reliable, the most accurate, and the over-all most bad ass. The premise of the question is faulty. Any properly assembled AK will be reliable, given minimal mantainance. Spending more money won't get you a more reliable rifle and will only get you a more accurate rifle by sheer accident, if at all. All that being said, in most cases people who ask your question are happier if they spend as much money as possible and get the "best". The only acceptable rifle for you is a NIB preban Chinese double underfolder. Without a doubt those are the most "bad ass" AK clones ever imported.
I don't agree with all of this. One can properly assemble an AK but if it's assembled out of shoddy or inferior materials than it can be unreliable as well as inaccurate. A superior rifle is both properly assembled and contains better materials and maybe a superior manufacturing process. Explain the following: 1. Exactly how are the materials and manufacturing processes used in non-Romanian AKs superior to the materials and processes used in Romanian AKs? Be specific and base your answer on your personal experience. For example, what are your test results on the steel used in Romanian and non-Romanian AKs? As another example, what differences in critical production tolerances have you measured? 2. What is your explanation for all the AKs assembled from Romanian AKs (both in the US and Romania) which are as reliable and as accurate as AKs assembled from parts made in countries other than Romania? I do not have to explain anything about Romainian rifles, it's widely known that wasr quality from rifle to rifle is questionable at best and if you think a Valmet or even a Chicom AK aren,t better quality in fit & finish than a wasr then I don't think you have owned or handled many. I own 3 Valmets and 9 Chicom prebans and 2 Mak 90's. I have handled and shot enough wasr's to know the difference. The wasr's are popular because of their price point not their quality. |
Why waste time giving him recommendations which are not off list firearms? He lives in California. There are named firearms he can not own in California aren't there? Those are the ones being named repeatedly. Has the law changed concerning those firearms strictly banned by name in California?
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I do not have to explain anything about Romainian rifles, it's widely known that wasr quality from rifle to rifle is questionable at best and if you think a Valmet or even a Chicom AK aren,t better quality in fit & finish than a wasr then I don't think you have owned or handled many. I own 3 Valmets and 9 Chicom prebans and 2 Mak 90's. I have handled and shot enough wasr's to know the difference. The wasr's are popular because of their price point not their quality. Boy your panties got in a big ol bunch right quick. You still cannot say that the materials that make up a Chinese/Russian/Yugo/Hungarian/etc are any better than Romanian materials. Why not? Because they aren't. The machining is better sometimes, the wood is finished better, materials, the same. |
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Legal in CA? Readily available in CA? Apparently you missed this..... Quoted: I may live in Cali but I can buy something called a magazine lock which would allow me to own any type of AK that meets federal law.
No clue what is or isn't readily available in CA, but he did say he can get whatever he wants. |
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More proof. Cost = bigger dick They will defend it vehemently. Meh, I admit that any properly built AK will work just fine and be just as accurate as any other. The only variable with that is the American made kit builds, some of those are shit. I got a SAM7 because I wanted as close to an original Type 3 AK as I could get. I actually almost got an SAR1 but changed my mind after comparing the two. I just prefer my stuff to be nice. My milled AK cost a bunch more than an SAR1 my brother had several years ago. The biggest difference functionally between them was how smooth the action was. The SAR felt like it was full of sand and the bolt was constantly hanging up on the hammer, the milled one is smooth as glass. Everything about the milled gun was just nicer and to me. The downward sloping stock on the milled guns is much more comfortable to shoulder. After a year or so, guess what happened... my brother sold the SAR and bought a couple Polytechs. I guess he decided that the nicer gun was worth the added cost. When it comes down to it, get whatever it is you want and can afford. Who gives a shit. People are suggesting nice guns to this guy because that is what he said he wanted. |
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II do not have to explain anything about Romainian rifles, it's widely known that wasr quality from rifle to rifle is questionable at best In other words, you have no specifics to back up a claim of inferior materials or processes. Instead you simply repeat the claims you've read on the misinformation superhighway. and if you think a Valmet or even a Chicom AK aren,t better quality in fit & finish than a wasr then I don't think you have owned or handled many. I own 3 Valmets and 9 Chicom prebans and 2 Mak 90's. I have handled and shot enough wasr's to know the difference. The wasr's are popular because of their price point not their quality I have owned a Chinese made AK longer than most people. It's reliable and about as accurate as any other AK. I own one WASR. It's reliable and about as accurate as any other AK. I have built several rifles from Romanain parts. Those rifles are reliable and about as accurate as any other AK. I have built several rifles from Polish parts. Those rifles are reliable and are about as accurate as any other AK. I have fired several dozen other AKs in the last 2 + decades. Not surprisingly, I have found those rifles to be reliable and all of the 7.62x39 rifles will shoot 4" to 6" groups at 100m if the shooter does his part. Apart from rifles assembled from worn out parts and those improperly assembled, AKs are reliable. The reason for that is there were 2 primary goals for the design: 1. Make the rifle reliable. 2. Make the rifle simple and inexpensive to produce. Since the design succeeded on both counts, the origin of the parts or rifle is irrelevant, except in the minds of people who simply do not understand the point of the exercise. |
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After a year or so, guess what happened... my brother sold the SAR and bought a couple Polytechs. I guess he decided that the nicer gun was worth the added cost. The irony is that when the Chinese made rifles were being imported they didn't cost much and many people derided them as "junk". If I had a dollar for every time some one told me that my AK would probably blow up because of the soft Chinese steel, I would have retired much earlier. |
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I guess like anyone else I am looking for the best out there. The most reliable, the most accurate, and the over-all most bad ass. The premise of the question is faulty. Any properly assembled AK will be reliable, given minimal mantainance. Spending more money won't get you a more reliable rifle and will only get you a more accurate rifle by sheer accident, if at all. All that being said, in most cases people who ask your question are happier if they spend as much money as possible and get the "best". The only acceptable rifle for you is a NIB preban Chinese double underfolder. Without a doubt those are the most "bad ass" AK clones ever imported.
I don't agree with all of this. One can properly assemble an AK but if it's assembled out of shoddy or inferior materials than it can be unreliable as well as inaccurate. A superior rifle is both properly assembled and contains better materials and maybe a superior manufacturing process. Explain the following: 1. Exactly how are the materials and manufacturing processes used in non-Romanian AKs superior to the materials and processes used in Romanian AKs? Be specific and base your answer on your personal experience. For example, what are your test results on the steel used in Romanian and non-Romanian AKs? As another example, what differences in critical production tolerances have you measured? 2. What is your explanation for all the AKs assembled from Romanian AKs (both in the US and Romania) which are as reliable and as accurate as AKs assembled from parts made in countries other than Romania? I remember my mag release fell off my rommy RPK after some use. I'm not going to say all Romanian AK's are bad. |
| Sigh... sometimes this website reminds me of a country club... how much you spend is WHAT and WHO you are. There is so much brand snobbery it's disgusting. There is nothing at all wrong with a WASR so long AS: the person purchasing said rifle has the common sense to know what he is looking for. Everything has good and bad. I have seen Arsenal AKs with canted sights.... OH MY GOD I SAID IT!!!! I love Arsenal AKs, but that does not mean that you cannot find a WASR with proper sights and take the time to refinish the stock/metal. I have refinished a number of WASRs and they come out fantastic. When it comes down to it the original question was for a functional AK for SHTF and a range gun.... and a WASR can easily fit that bill. CHECK WHAT YOU BUY!!! make sure the front sight is not canted, the trigger assembly and gas block are not canted, and there is not excessive magazine wobble... thats about it. Anything cosmetic you can fix yourself, and in the end you get it to look exactly how you wanted it to. The best quality AK I have ever shot as far as function, accuracy, and authenticity to the Russian? My MAADI... I refinished it and it is perfect and a clone of the Russian AKM. It outshoots my friend's Arsenal and he paid more then double what I paid. When it comes down to it... buy what you feel comfortable with. There is no need to spend $1000 on an AK unless that is what you want. |
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]In other words, you have no specifics to back up a claim of inferior materials or processes. Instead you simply repeat the claims you've read on the misinformation superhighway. Mr. PolyPam, with 6365 posts I think you are the king of the superhighway bloviaters!
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]In other words, you have no specifics to back up a claim of inferior materials or processes. Instead you simply repeat the claims you've read on the misinformation superhighway. Mr. PolyPam, with 6365 posts I think you are the king of the superhighway bloviaters!
I rarely concern myself with what others think. This is especially true for those who have demonstrated a limited capacity for that activity and a much larger capacity for merely repeating what someone else told them. |
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Legal in CA? Readily available in CA? Apparently you missed this..... Quoted: I may live in Cali but I can buy something called a magazine lock which would allow me to own any type of AK that meets federal law.
No clue what is or isn't readily available in CA, but he did say he can get whatever he wants. I didn't miss that. They can buy a gun if it is off list. Those that are on the ban list can not be imported into the state. Has something changed in the last few months? |
| I'm confused on why everyone wants a milled AK? The AK action places little to no stress on the receiver. There is no need to have a milled receiver. It's not like anyone has ever seen an AK out of action because of damage to the receiver. I would rather have a stamped AK, save the weight for extra ammo and save the money for another AK. |
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Any chinese ak will last you a lifetime! I only buy chinese or arsenal from now on. I have Norinco Mak 90 and couldnt be happier with it. I love it! This is good advise. Get the best you can aford and don't listen to the Wasr crowd that could only get a purchase order from their wife for $350. HAAAA!! 
Get a MAK// Don't look back..
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]In other words, you have no specifics to back up a claim of inferior materials or processes. Instead you simply repeat the claims you've read on the misinformation superhighway. Mr. PolyPam, with 6365 posts I think you are the king of the superhighway bloviaters!
I rarely concern myself with what others think. This is especially true for those who have demonstrated a limited capacity for that activity and a much larger capacity for merely repeating what someone else told them. No hard feelings man, have a good weekend and good luck shopping for that Toyota! |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Best AK Model? (Page 1 of 2)
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