Help me choose/find the right AK

S

SHNOMIDO

New member
So, ive been waiting for the combined holiday/tax return season to buy an autoloading rifle. Ive been looking at this and that, and need some feedback. Ive settled for an AK, its cost effective and im avoiding .223 on purpose. (gotta have a reason to get an AR someday!)

With that being said, heres where i sit, Ive found two offerings which interest me-

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/1050/products_id/411546098

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct439.aspx

The second one seems pretty much better in every single way. Longer sight radius, comes with the additional 6 point stock and foregrip, and a more reputable company. (talking about this M-M importer, not Buds, i guess theres some pretty bad M-10s slipping through, where as people seem to wholeheartedly recommend Atlantic's customer service)

SO-
Im looking for an AK style rifle, with at least a top rail for an optic. I would like a bottom rail as well because im interested in using a grip, but all things considered ill settle for just a top rail. the additional side rails i can go either way, dont really care. Id like to stay in the $400-$650-ish range.

I dont know very much about AKs, chinese, romanian, converted saiga...this and that... Im just inexperienced and overwhelmed, and dont want to get ripped off or be unhappy with my purchase

Would you recommend the Atlantic piece? Am i thinking incorrectly and the M-10 is actually better? Is there additional options that you would recommend? What should i be looking for when it comes to WASR, MAK, M-10, Romanian, converted saiga, Century/M-M/Arsenal, pre-ban/no ban etc etc?

Im lost! Direct me please. Should i just get the Atlantic and stop overthinking it? Is there a secret to selecting an AK that a newbie wouldnt know?
 
Last edited:
It may just be me, but I like the idea of the scope mount on the side of the receiver. It seems it keeps it more in place while having it further back on the rifle then all the others.

The one from Atlantic looks better to me... Not an AK expert by any means, just looks like it has more goodies included.

Oh, and I would say a converted Saiga would probably be better, but those are usually more (think Arsenal).
 
6 position stock with a bunch of rails maybe you should start with an ar to begin with.
would also suggest you look for an ak with the rail on the side of the receiver much better mounting system for a scope or red dot easily removed if you want to just use the open sights should probably look at the converted saigas but there is alot of other models that do have the receiver rail also.
 
In my humble opinion, Get yourself a $299 saiga and then you can use the money you saved to modify it however you wish. They're quality guns despite the price.

I would say go with 5.45x39 for the sole fact that at the moment ammo is super cheap. less then half of 7.62x39 from what i've seen.
 
I'll say the Saiga...

But if you have a chance to inspect the wasr BEFORE you purchase it. Then you can get a very inexpensive shooter.

Just remember if you every buy anything "made" by century make sure you can check it out so you don't get a lemon.


your best bet is an Aimpoint on a low ring, mounted on an Ultimak rail
Click to expand...
I'll second this. I've got a ultimak on my Yugo and it's great. I have a Trijicon Reflex on it so I don't get to cowitness but I also don't have to worry about batteries dying or the heat frying the batteries.
 
Since you dont have much experience with them Id start out with a plain old AK, and skip all the "tac" stuff. I think youll find they are a lot more user friendly in the original form.

If you want a red dot, your best bet is an Aimpoint on a low ring, mounted on an Ultimak rail (it just replaces the upper handguard). You get cowitnessed irons, and dont loose any of the guns handiness.

The WASR's aint as pretty as some of the "fancier" ones, but they shoot just as well, and even better in some cases. Take the money you save, get a good Russian web sling, a 10 pack of good euro mags, and a couple of cases of ammo, and youll be set to figure it out. :)
 
This Should help....

Ive owned a Saiga (converted), A Norinco Mak-90, a Norinco NHM-90, And a Wasr 10

SAIGA The saigas are amazing, costly to move up the trigger housing to put a normal looking pistol grip on it. You dont have to pay for it, but it looks and feels really weird. CHROME LINED BARRELL IS IMPORTANT

Norinco Mak-90 Its nice, 1.6mm reciever instead of the flimsy 1.0mm
Only thing I dont like is the thumbhole stock. Chrome lined barrell.

Norinco NHM-90 My second favorite, 1.6mm milimter reciever. The thumbhole stock on it was very nice. chrome lined barrell.

Wasr 10 The most ugly wood, ugly metal, ugly everything period. But exteremely functional. THE OLD ONES, not the new century abortions. I will never buy century again. Buy cheap, shoot cheap, IT AINT CHEAP TO SEND IT BACK.

All in all....Some aks have the name that makes them, some have the tested and tried backing of millitaries around the world.

Go with a surplus type 56 or Russian Ak. ANYTHING milled reciever. But stamped reciever is also good if your budget doesnt exceed 1000 dollars

Hope that helps
 
I would say go with 5.45x39 for the sole fact that at the moment ammo is super cheap. less then half of 7.62x39 from what i've seen.
Click to expand...

Really??? I haven't seen that big a difference at AIM etc. Where are you looking?:)
 
thanks for the input guys, keep it coming.

Im not really interested in a tacti-cool'ed out rifle, but im not really embarrassed to own one either. I just want the option to have an electronic optic, or maybe a low magnification scope if i ever get out of state to shoot at critters.

If i were to get a plain jane rifle, would this be a good bet? This was my third option i was looking at, but didnt include in the OP cause i was thinking mostly about included rails:

http://www.hendersondefense.com/sto...ed-AK47-w-bayonet-and-two-magazines-50p10.htm

what would i have to do to mount an optic/rail on a plain rifle like this?

If i replace the handgaurd to get a top (and/or bottom) rail, what is the process of that? (feel free to be brief, or detailed. Just curious)
What are the best brands?

If i was gonna do what i call a russian style scope mount, i dont know what the best term for it is, where it wraps up around the receiver, i take it thats gunsmith territory? what do you think that would cost? If i removed the optic, would i still have good use of the irons?

THANKS for being helpful guys, im lost and this website has a great community. I know a thing or two about automatic pistols, but when it comes to pretty much anything else im undereducated
 
Last edited:
I think you'd be fine with that.

If you go with an Ultimak (www.ultimak.com), its a quick and easy swap. They are well made, and once installed, its rock solid. The rail is actually attached to the barrel with a couple of bands, and doesnt need to be removed. It sits low enough that you can still use your iron sights with the right dot sight and mount. Ive had a couple for a number of years now, and have never had a problem with them.

This is one on my Saiga conversion....
ry%3D400


If you want to go with the Russian type mounts, the WASR should have the side rail already installed. The mounts just lock on/off with a lever. Im not sure how well they hold zero though if you remove and replace them a lot.

Just be aware too, they sit a good bit higher than the iron sights (most allow you to see the irons under the mount), and most things mounted on them, wont let you get a cheek weld on the stock when you use the optic. For me, they ere not at all natural to shoot with.
 
thanks ak103, youve been especially helpful.

If anyone has anything to add, please do. ill take any advice at this point.

Im hoping to make a purchase early january, but i may have to wait for whenever my tax check rolls along. Ill be sure to make a thread when i hit a range, and report on what i went with and how it worked out.

Keep the comments coming! ive already learned alot, and i think im shying away from the tactical-ed out ones.

edit-

im a little confused by how the side of the receiver scope mounts work, and a very brief google-fu didnt help.

So i make sure my rifle has the two slots, then i buy a mount that clips in to the two slots, and then the top of the mount has a standard rail? or am i way off?
 
Last edited:
I found a new unfired old Maadi for $500 at a local gunshow. Its not one of the Misr series. Its really "authentic" looking and is an excellent shooter. The Maadi's were made on the original russian tooling and factory equipment. They basically moved an entire factory to Egypt. Anyhow, they can be found cheap and are good AK's if you dont wanna go the Century route.
 
that sounds very interesting zombie, ill look into it.

Thanks for the vid. it showed me how it worked and now i know what kind of products are out there. Might end up getting the one from the vid, i dont know any better

thanks again
 
Really??? I haven't seen that big a difference at AIM etc. Where are you looking?

surplus 5.45 generally for 130-140 for 1080 rounds. 7.62x36 from what ive seen gets you around 500 rounds of brown bear for about the same price.

could be wrong, just what ive seen on a few sites.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top