Posted: 6/30/2014 7:20:34 PM EDT
| I'm personally more of an ar guy. More recently looking to add an AK style rifle to my collection. Was in the local gun store today and saw a Century arms wasr 10 for 600$ . I've read decent and bad reviews about the company does anyone have any in site about the rifle, or the direction I should take? Any information or personal experience is always apperciated Thanks |
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I'd speculate that most folks start as AR guys, ARs are so beautiful, clean, democratic... but failure to fire, feed, extracts, broken parts, or other frustrations of the ARs often lead the most dedicated AR guys of us to become AK guys. Without admission of ownership of any of these items, I have seen several ARs have any of the failures that I mention, while none from several AKs, including Century Arm WASRs. I mean, literally no problems with the latter. I/they clean them each the same and of similar frequency too. Both groups largely get Wolf variety steel-cased ammo - maybe ARs don't eat that as well as brass... whatever, you didn't ask for an ARvsAK debate and I'm not trying to go there, I will just say, after my congratulations to dipping your toes into the AK world, that you can't go wrong with an AK, including those imported/assembled/whatever by Century Arms.
$600 is more than than they once were, but what isn't? If it's minty and in good shape, why not? Why squabble/stress over a hundred bucks or whatever. Now, you can find better Chinese Norinco's or Polytechs and others that may be more money, slightly better quality, milled rather than stamped receivers, bolts with springs keeping the firing pins back, whatever... or you could start with the one you have and move from there if you like the platform. I don't care what other gun snobs say, I have never seen a Century Arm WASR fail in an capacity. And do yourself a favor and get a decent Magnamatic front sight tool for $30, not the $10 crap that bends and messes with your front sight. Oh, and once sighted in the WASR will remain sighted in. I can't say that for ARs either. My 2 cents, not hating on ARs, I love them too, despite what this post sounds like :) PS. Does the WASR accept a double stack or single stack mag? The former is preferable for availability of magazines, speed of loading the magazines, etc. The WASRs come in both. PPS. I have no affiliations with Century Arms or Magnamatic or anyone else gun related in any way |
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The problem with WASRs (and pretty much everything else made by Century) is their quality control. If you're going to buy something made by them you have to inspect it in person, buying it sight unseen from an online seller is a huge gamble. Assuming you find one with no build issues (straight sights, no mag wobble, etc.) they are serviceable rifles. The finish is typically pretty rough on them but they are not any less reliable than any other AK.
There are better values out there though, you can still find MAK-90's in the $600-700 price range. They are leaps and bounds above a WASR quality wise. |
| I bought my WASR from JG Sales. Here . They had no problem shipping it to NJ, as long as your FFL will accept it. It's already NJ legal with a welded nut, no bayonet lug. Just tell them in the notes NOT to ship the 30rd magazine. |
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Being an AK guy mostly, ive seen my fare share of shitty Century AK's and ones that were flawless. If its built by Century, always spot check it if you can. If its Imported by Century it doesnt mean its built by them. For example some Century imported Romanian AK's were built in Cugir and then were imported and modified by Century, like the mag well and shit. Then they stamped Century Arms International on the receiver.
That being said, if you can i would look for a Romanian SAR-1. Beats a WASR in quality any day. If you want to spend more you can pretty much buy any AK you want as long as it doesnt say AK-47/74 on the receiver, and have it modified by a smith for NJ compliance before transferring it to you. If you want FUN, try and find a TGI Imported AMD-65. Easy to have the stock fixed. They used to go for $450, but i dont see them being too high on the EE. Build by FEG in Hungary. This guy on the EE here has a SAR rifles and even some MAK90's. LINK |
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Quoted:
The Century C39 (2nd gen) is getting decent reviews.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lw6SBjbw3Q&feature=youtu.beHeard its been through some torture tests and still runs fine. |