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Posted: 2/28/2008 9:09:48 AM EDT
| I have read that most of the issues relating to WASR's pertain to mag problems. I bought one for $200 with tapco pistol grip and hand guard and have found no issues with mags. If this is the case, is the rifle still sub-par based on other reasons. Did I make a dumb purchase? I have not had a failure of any kind and have deemed it to be reliable. Should I be expecting problems in the future or will it wear out faster than any other AK? In other words, why all the WASR hate? I am just curious as the rifle seems to function just fine. Thanks. |
I do not own a WASR but for most people who get one it ends up being a basic blaster grade AK. If they have problems most of the problems will be easily fixed. A few will have a jamamatic that will never run right. Many will look down their nose at the WASR with utter contempt regardless of its performance. If you paid $200 for a WASR that goes bang everytime you pull the trigger, you did good but as far as resale value it will always be a "used WASR" worth $200-$300 no matter how much Tapco you dip it in  I'd say you did good if you bought any AK "deemed reliable" for $200. |
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I got a WASR back when ammunitionstore.com was still alive. It had some metal filings in the action, but I cleaned it before I shot it, and have had zero problems with the gun ever. Just a simple, cheap, rugged, and a little rough around the edges firearm. I guess I got lucky because nothing was canted. The furniture is dry and it looks like plywood, but if you have a little stain and some time, you can make it look great. |
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Good gun at a great price. Here is a good site about WASRs, and the way to fix any problems. www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/index.shtml |
| My dad owns on in 7.62mm and I own one in 5.45mm. I have never been a huge fan of 'pretty' AKs. They are meant to put lead down range IMHO. Some guys love pretty AKs. They don't do much for me. If they don't do much for you, then a WASR is great option for you. The QC issues where from a few years ago, I think for the most part they have been rectified, but people who have never owned them will jump on a thread as fast as they can telling you that they are POSs. It's ultimately your decision, but if you are looking for a shooter just to get into the AK platform, I would recommend them. |
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I have two friends that have acquired WASR's recently and both run fine. As long as the sights are reasonably straight I see no issues with them. Friend one put about 100 rounds through his right after he got it and it shot quite well with zero malfunctions. Friend two put about 200 rounds through his at the range the other day and again, zero malfunctions and decent AK groups. I was at the range during both WASR test firings. During the second range session I brought along an Egyptian Maadi ARM, two MAK 90's, and a pre 1989 Polytech AKS 762 underfolder. With exception of the Polytech I saw no major difference in shooting ability of the WASR compared to the others. The accuracy of the Polytech was noticeably better than all of the others but I was shooting some vintage 1994 copper washed Chinese ammo. I have two more friends that are looking at picking up one of the 5.45 WASR's since the ammo is so cheap right now. I picked up a Romanian MKII a while back and it has rekindled my interest in AK's and caused quite a fascination with the 5.45x39mm round. |
I bought my WASR10 two years ago and have run around 5000rnds through it with zero malfunctions, so I say they are a fine rifle. Since then I've built 15 G-kits(rivets/park), and purchased a milled Bulgarian. I shoot them all the time. I can not detect any difference in the reliability, accuracy, or all around performance of any of them. They all shoot reliably. And as far as accuracy, all of the G-kits, the WASR, and the milled Bulgarian shoot the same, good enough to hit a man at 200 meters with iron sights. That's basically what they are for. Once again, I give the WASR a thumbs up.
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IMO-nothing. The WASR is pretty much exactly what soldiers and jerkoff's are fighting with the world over. Its a represenative example of a military AKM. Keep in mind, that when governments are buying AK's, they are paying around 60.00 a piece. I have owned several AK's including Norinco's/Polytech/Vector Polish and none of them were "better" than a good WASR IMO. Accuracy was about the same and all were rock solid reliable...just like an AK is supposed to be. WASRs lack the mag well dimples, but this isn't really a big deal. If the rattle bugs you there are really easy fixes for this. I have owned more WASR's than I can remember and out of probably 10+, I only had one that was bad. The action would bind shut after one round, not eject and wouldn't open for anything...Other than that, thier performance has been equal with any other AKM I have owned, though fit/finish is lacking. FWIW, cave-dwelling fundamentalist assholes everywhere aren't using 1k+ milled Arsenal's or something. They are full auto WASR's with mag dimples. |
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You have made a great purchase. Any issues that you may have with your WASR can be repaired and you will still be ahead dollarwise. You can laugh your ass off at the range while you fire your 200 dollar "piece of crap" with boring reliabilty, as others polish and caress their expensive black rifles. BWAHAHAA!! |
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I had one and it ran great, no cant and the mags locked up tight. It looked like ass and had horrible trigger slap but to me that added a lot of character. Put about 900 rounds downrange and never had a single hiccup. After I stained the wood and tidied it up a bit I ended up selling for more than I paid for it. Actually regret having sold it now, I didn't realize what a value I had at the time. I don't see what all the hate is about either, but I guess some of it applies to the risks of buying one sight unseen. If you can get your hands on one first you can get a pretty good deal out of a WASR. Some people are AK snobs, so you can be sure those are probably most of the people spreading the anti WASR diatribe. I've got 2 Saiga's and an SLR105...no you can't really compare the fit and finish with those and a WASR, but they all go bang and some of them I'm not afraid to drop on the ground ;) I wouldn't necessarily go to war with a WASR but I have no problem with having them as handy beater guns. Hard to beat the value there. Z |
I'm glad your WASR is good, but I have to say that's what all the reports seem to be. I've not heard of anybody getting one in the last couple of years that said anything BUT "oh I lucked out, mine is great, but I've seen them before that were crap." It makes me think that they've just come into a reliably good rifle even if it needs some TLC to look nice and purty. People don't buy many other AK's (or Glocks, etc) and then wipe their brows and say "Oh phew thank goodness mine is okay" when they (practically) all are, why are people still doing so with the WASR? |
Cave-dwelling fundamentalist assholes also use whatever they can get their feces encrusted hands on, not which AK's they wish they had. 
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I bought all mine sight unseen.. Out of eight Ak's, only two have been turds--a used yugo UF bought off the EE (wish I could remmeber the guy's username, squirrel something)...and a NIB WASR2. The other six have been fine. This is in the last two years. Except the mak90 in 1991. |
You'll fix or disclose the problems before it hits the EE, right? |
A may sell it to help fund a Milled AK in the near future.
Sure, as long as you tell me what parts you think will break on my WASR that is not found on your typical AK clone or original AK-47? They even installed a chrome lined barrel on it...which is more than they did for my Yugo M70 have |
Woops, you're right....I did say I thought my Yugo would be better used as a Boat anchor. And yes I offten wonder if it's screwed. So I would agree, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. That is why I started mentioning people should look into pre-bans rifles or buy from a good builder. Or at the very minium, be able to check out the rifle live and in person. |
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