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Posted: 1/25/2004 4:46:43 AM EDT
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I am considering a new ARSENAL SA M-7 AK. since it would be my first AK, I would appreciate any feedback from actual users / owners- good or bad- on their opinions. Feel, reliability, accuracy, quality, etc. Have I put too much emphasis on the milled receiver aspect? Am I mistaken when I view milled components vs. stamped as quality and "other"? Thanks in advance........ Redfisher |
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Also highly recommend the Buffer Tech unit. I used to kind of poo-poo them because military Kalashnikovs don't have them, but then I realized that it's my investment that I'm protecting, and I can't just turn it into an armorer for free replacement. I've had bad experiences with the Black Jack units, they just don't hold up. |
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While we're getting off topic here, I will say I've never had a problem with the Buffer Techs in my Arsenal rifles, but I have had the blue Blackjack disintegrate inside the receiver of my Arsenal Inc. RPK. Funny thing is, I didn't even notice it until I got home to clean the rifle and there were pieces of blue rubber all over the inside of the receiver. The RPK kept chugging along. Don't try that with an AR-15  .I also have a buddy with a Class 3 AKM, and his Black Jack buffer did not survive for long either. |
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Yes, the SLR 101 hi-cap starts out as a whole rifle imported with a magwell that accepts single stack magazines. The smiths and techs at Arsenal Inc. open up the mag well to accept the standard military AK magazines, although most SLR 101's won't do well with 75rd. drums. |
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can you explain the Buffer thing for the novice? I did take delivery of the SA M-7s and want to be sure to give it all the TLC possible. I am thrilled with the decision to go with this make/model, as this is clearly way more than I imagined- quality and workmanship wise- than I had expected. after all, I had not actually seen the Arsenal version until it showed up WOW! |
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The common AK buffer is made of a synthetic material (read plastic) and is placed towards the back end of the recoil spring. It serves to act as a buffer between the back of the bolt carrier and the rear of the receiver (or rear trunnion in the case of the stamped AKM based receiver). This buffer will prevent metal to metal bashing during recoil, but it also prevents the bolt carrier from recoiling as far back as intended. In some cases (especially with the Bufer Tech buffers), the thickness of this buffer is just enough to cause the bolt carrier from going back far enough to let everything come into play for the next cartridge pick-up, which can cause a jam. This is not always a problem with these buffers, and most guns have no problem with the thicker Buffer Tech buffers. There are others making similar buffers, and are thinner in design, which usually allows the carrier to travel just that much further back. This usually allows things to function as designed. In any case, the fact is that these types of buffers do prevent the carrier from traveling all the way back, and this may or may not cause a problem in any given gun. The company that makes the thinner buffers (their name curently escapes me), also makes them in either a hard or softer synthetic. Some like the softer type, but the harder ones tend to last quite a bit longer during use. Hope this helps some :) |
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I've got an SLR-101SB, which is made by the same company that makes the SAM7-S. They cost about $100 less than the SAM7-S, but they are a single stack to doublestack conversion, and the receiver is Bulgarian milled instead of US milled, though I doubt either is better or worse than the other. Some AK mags were a bit of a tight fit at first, with the mag catch needing a bit of a push to lock in completely, but fit now. I'm guessing the 75 rnd drums are a tight fit, as perhaps they have an extra beefy mag tab catch on the back, thus some peoples complaints. I've been pretty happy, no jams, and much better build quality than my Romanian, but if you're only going to get one AK, get the SAM7-S, as others here have said. |
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Of all the AK's I have owned over the years, I can honestly say that the SA M7's and SLR95's have been the highest quality and most trouble-free (translation: NO TROUBLE) than any other AK variant on the market. "Temporary happiness over low price is outweighed by long-term dissatisfaction with low-quality." |
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