AK Sponsor
Posted: 10/27/2005 8:38:51 PM EDT
I currently have an excellent condition Arsenal SLR-105 up for sale. I had someone offer me a used SAR-3 for a straight trade on this rifle. Is there something I am missing? Is someone hopeing that I am a complete idiot or is there something about these rifles (SAR's) that make them go up in quality and value by making the "used" rifles? 
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Honestly your asking price is too high by about $25-$65. You can buy the same rifle here for less, and it's new. www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=7030342 www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=7033674 Try and find a Sar-3 for $450. You can but it's not real easy. |
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I've always found the craze behind the Romanian SAR series to be insane. All the things you had to deal with. Canted front sight, trigger slap ,poor finish,etc. before the gun would go bang without a hitch. This is why I went to Arsenal and never looked back. Certain segments of the AK market are obviously consumer driven but doesn't necessarily mean it's always right. Attempting to explain to Romanian SAR lovers that the Arsenal is better is like pulling teeth. Even though the SLR 105 ban model was targetted for the budget crowd it still will run circles around a SAR and should be valued accordingly. Misc |
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SARs are about as close as you can get to a real euro AKM. They're made on the same dies as romanian military AKs (hence the Y stamping for the auto sear hole). The problems you list are exagerated IMO, and none of them have anything to do with going 'bang without a hitch'. A canted FSB, poor finsh, and trigger slap have nothing to do with reliablity. FWIW I have a SAR-1, and another SAR-1 and SAR-3 that are NIB. All have very straight parts and decent stock finishes (WAY better than WASRs). Trigger slap is less than a MAK-90 I owned, which many claimed to be one of the best AK triggers out there.  My SAR-1 also did a .8" group at 60-70 yards with a red dot. My factory romanian kits all have canted FSBs to some degree, and my bulgarian AKS-74 has some pretty bad cant on the FSB. Speaking in absolutes isnt a very good idea in the AK world.  Theres nothing wrong with SARs, but if you want a nice finish go ahead and go with arsenal.
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Thanks for the heads up! I had not seen this. Price will be adjusted. |
Keep in mind that DEERSLAYER40 seems to sell his stuff for $15 - $20 over cost. It's like he's trying to put an AK in the hands of every American, gotta love that ...
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Well said clange. I agree. I like the SAR's because they have the potential to be used as is or be turned into a thing of beauty if you so desire. I get mine refinished in a nice black coating, add a brake and put on some Polish furniture hand rubbed in tung oil. To me they are the best looking AK's out there. A real diamond in the rough. 
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