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Posted: 11/20/2016 8:17:52 PM EDT
| As the title says I'm looking for advise on buying my first ak. I own and have built a few ar's but have never ventured into the ak world so I have very little knowledge on them. I've considered building an ar with a 7.62x39 upper but ultimately decided I'd like to own my first ak. Was hoping to get an idea of a few reliable reasonably priced introductory rifles. I'm not looking to spend a large amount on my first rifle but at the same time I'm not going to go buy the cheapest priced/made rifle I can find. Any help or advise on rifles I should take a look at and consider would be greatly appreciated |
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How much you willing too spend OP? What you going to do with it? Just range/plinking stuff? Or self defense/ protection? Or both? Maybe a WASR? I'm not a AK expert by any means, so waiting for experts to chim in. I'm not even sure what a decent ak goes for just because I know very little of them but I'd probably like to stay around the $700-900 range at most. Would be purchase as a range/plinker for the most part. |
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I have this 5.45 Arsenal. http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1ASLR10431&name=Arsenal+Bulgarian+SLR-104FR+5.45x39+Rifle&groupid=5388
I prefer 5.45 because it has lighter recoil, seems more accurate to me, and looks really cool. The only real drawback is that ammo is limited, as far as what styles/manufacturers you can find versus 7.62. And the magazines that used to be cheap aren't anymore. I got like two dozen Bulgarian black and Russian plum 74 mags from AIM for like $8 apiece a few years back, but now the same thing sells for nearly $40 each. It's very fun to shoot, and I love the folding stock. I thought at first that I would want to trade it for a metal triangle folder, but the feel of this stock has really grown on me. I also recently bought a DDI stamped AK (7.62) they made from a Hungarian kit. It is awesome as well. But it's not as awesome as the folding stock and 5.45 that the Arsenal provides. |
This is the next AKM type rifle that I want. From what I understand, its just a WASR with a non traditional front sight/gas block. Most AK peeps hate it because it's not following traditional lines. But I definitely like its looks. " />
I'm also hoping that in a few months, prices might dip down? Just a hope on my part. But my suggestion for a first AK would be something close to this. Aftermarket parts & support would be plentiful & easy. I'm also understanding that a company like DDI puts together a decent AK. And a online dealer like Atlantic Firearms is a no nonsense company. I have a CAI M70AB2 and its been flawless. I also have a Zastava M92 & M85PV pistols also CAI. same for them- Flawless. But, a good WASR AK is next on the list for me. I'm also new to the AK world, so take what I'm saying for that fact. |
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The one you posted above is a new all-USA-made DDI rifle. It is not a WASR with different barrel/sights. The WASR-like one you're thinking of is the RH10 - it looks really similar to the DDI one you show, but it is made in Romania in the same Cugir factory as the WASR. I searched Atlantic's site and no longer see a listing for the RH10. I had to find it via Google search, and it shows "SOLD OUT" instead of the usual "Out of stock". I guess the boat already sailed on that one. http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-rifles/rh10-ak47-magpul-ri2424-n-detail.html?Itemid=0 Edit: Actually, it looks like there may be a few available elsewhere: https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/century-arms-rh10-semi-auto-rifle-762x39-165-barrel-30-rounds-magpul-side-folding-stock-magpul-grip-magpul-handguard-black-finish-ri2424-n-787450387676.do Oh, thanks for the corrections. 
But if the USA made one is GTG, I'd buy it. 
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I picked up a Wasr on the equipment exchange a few months ago for around $700 including some ammo and accessories. It's fine, no complaints about it specifically. I just wanted an AK because they're cool, and I like them as an engineer, the design is very cool. I picked up some surplus Russian furniture for it on akfiles and installed it.
I've taken it out with a few friends, and they all prefer an AR as far as ergonomics go. I have to agree with them there. That's not so much a WASR problem as it is an AK "problem." I suppose you can get one with a telescoping stock and a cheek riser, but you aren't going to find that for the prices you're looking at. If the ergonomics of the AK work for you, then it's not a problem at all. Basically my advice is this: If you want an AK to have an AK, just get a WASR (or RH10 or whatever equivalent). It will almost certainly outlast you, and will scratch your "AK itch." Some people of course say it's just a gateway gun and soon you'll have 10 of them, but that's not the case with me. I'm fine with my WASR. I considered spending $1000+ on an Arsenal and am glad I didn't. Granted, I only have one AR as well, so I'm not really the collector type. I will say the AKs are more interesting as far as collecting goes, as there are so many variations and they're not as "mix and match" as the AR platform. If you want an AK as your primary rifle, you may want to look farther up the price scale, ideally in person so you can see how much you like it before you buy. |
| A WASR or NPAP would be a good choice. The NPAP is, in my considered opinion, nicer than the WASR, but it's built to the old Yugoslavian M70 pattern rather than the more common AKM pattern. What does that mean? Well, in a nutshell, furniture and some accessories are not interchangeable between the two. If you intend to keep the rifle bone stock, then the NPAP is a good choice. If you think you want to change the furniture, or there's a chance that you might want to change it, then you're better off with the WASR. |
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If anybody was considering the Cugir RH10 - looks like a good time to get one today. $699 with fancy Magpul furniture.
https://www.classicfirearms.com/ak47-rifle-ak-type-semi-auto-by-century-arms-w-zhukov-side-fold-and-moe-furniture-ri2424n-birdcage |
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A WASR or NPAP would be a good choice. The NPAP is, in my considered opinion, nicer than the WASR, but it's built to the old Yugoslavian M70 pattern rather than the more common AKM pattern. What does that mean? Well, in a nutshell, furniture and some accessories are not interchangeable between the two. If you intend to keep the rifle bone stock, then the NPAP is a good choice. If you think you want to change the furniture, or there's a chance that you might want to change it, then you're better off with the WASR. Two issues with the Npap, first is the recent issues we've read about with cracks in the receiver. Second it doesn't have the chrome-lined barrel the WASR does, to some guys that may be fine, and I have an M92 with non-chrome barrel, but I already own several more that do have it. I think for a first AK a guy would do well to start off with one that has that feature. |
| I use to keep up with the AK world on whats happening ..... But from my experience and opinion, if I could only have one it would be an Arsenal 106 ( 5.56 ) . Mags cost . Need only 4 ea. Last forever. I like the 5.45 round but ammo availability is the question. I own all 3 calibers. The 5.45 and 5.56 is where the ak shines.... Buy once cry once. Wardawg |
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I have this 5.45 Arsenal. http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1ASLR10431&name=Arsenal+Bulgarian+SLR-104FR+5.45x39+Rifle&groupid=5388 I prefer 5.45 because it has lighter recoil, seems more accurate to me, and looks really cool. The only real drawback is that ammo is limited, as far as what styles/manufacturers you can find versus 7.62. And the magazines that used to be cheap aren't anymore. I got like two dozen Bulgarian black and Russian plum 74 mags from AIM for like $8 apiece a few years back, but now the same thing sells for nearly $40 each. It's very fun to shoot, and I love the folding stock. I thought at first that I would want to trade it for a metal triangle folder, but the feel of this stock has really grown on me. I also recently bought a DDI stamped AK (7.62) they made from a Hungarian kit. It is awesome as well. But it's not as awesome as the folding stock and 5.45 that the Arsenal provides. |
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Two issues with the Npap, first is the recent issues we've read about with cracks in the receiver. Second it doesn't have the chrome-lined barrel the WASR does, to some guys that may be fine, and I have an M92 with non-chrome barrel, but I already own several more that do have it. I think for a first AK a guy would do well to start off with one that has that feature. If you're talking about BFV's guns, I don't lose much sleep over a cracked receiver on a semi-auto rifle that's been converted to run exclusively in full-auto. There's just no applicability to my (or the overwhelming majority of shooters') utilization of the rifle. The same goes for the barrel. Shooting semi-auto, unless you're stupid about mag dumps, you'd have to spend a mountain of money on ammo to shoot out the factory Yugo barrel. Actually, with its heavier profile relative to the pencil-thin AKM barrel of the WASR, I wouldn't be surprised if the NPAP barrel lasted every bit as long, given its ability to cope with heat. Heat, after all, is the great destroyer of barrels. To me, the only disadvantage of the NPAP is the idiosyncratic pattern it's built on. It's tough to say that you'll never want to upgrade or modify an AK if you've never owned one before. And let's face it, if OP is like the rest of us, he'll just end up buying a different AK for each project he thinks up. |
| Check out the Century Arms C39V2 I picked one up about a year ago and I love it! I bought it wearing the magpul Zhukov furniture and as far as ergonomics go it don't get much better when it comes to an AK. It falls right in your price point with the magpul furniture or you can get it in wood for cheaper. Definitely a solid gun with a milled receiver, it carries a little more weight but I feel it dampens the recoil some so I like it. Can't go wrong with 100% US made either. |
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Check out the Century Arms C39V2 I picked one up about a year ago and I love it! I bought it wearing the magpul Zhukov furniture and as far as ergonomics go it don't get much better when it comes to an AK. It falls right in your price point with the magpul furniture or you can get it in wood for cheaper. Definitely a solid gun with a milled receiver, it carries a little more weight but I feel it dampens the recoil some so I like it. Can't go wrong with 100% US made either. You can absolutely go wrong with 100% US made, in fact you're likely to. The c39V2 is one of the "better" ones, but AK rifles are one instance where US made is nearly analogous to low quality. About 10 minutes on google will show you anything you need to know about US made AKs. Foreign powers have been making AKs by the millions for decades for militaries around the globe, it's tough for a US manufacturer to compete with that until you get into high $ custom jobs. The US is great at ARs, not so much at AKs, at least not yet. Unfortunately companies like Century and I.O. have taken advantage of the assumption that something made in the US is going to be high quality, and market the hell out of it. |
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