Teach me about AK's!!

P

Pond James Pond

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I don't mean the oldest of the old, I mean the current crop.

I get the impression that, as with ARs and 1911s, there is a design, that is then adopted by different companies and countries, with varying degrees of success.

I know it is not the most accurate, nor refined of rifles, but it is robust, and I like stuff that just keeps going!!

So, which brands of AK are good, these days, which are bad?

Where I live, I've seen ads for VEPRs, and another AK model that shoots NATO rounds (Saiga, I think). There's a FEG-SA-85. An Arsenal SAR M-1 (Bulgarian)

So which are the ones to keep a look out for?
(Just window shopping)
 
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Well, here in the US the Saiga is considered one of the best, as it's brand new from the Russian factory. I'm sure there are a lot more options overseas though.

When you say 'NATO rounds', you mean 5.56? The Saiga has a model chambered in that caliber, along with 308.
 
the bulgarian and saiga are both very good AKs. saiga has more caliber option(such as nato calibers) but they require quite a bit of work to convert them from factory configuration to AK47 configuration. if the saigas you are seeing are already converted then they will be a better deal for you, being on the other side of the pond.
 
Depends on what you're looking to spend. There aren't really any AK's that are unreliable per-say, but you will definitely see differences in the fit, finish, and quality of the product.

If you're looking for a classic, mil-spec Russian AK, the closest you can get in the US is Arsenal. They take the Russian SAIGA rifles in the sporter configuration(the only legal way for them to be imported) and convert them back to standard AK configuration using US-made parts.

Arsenal SGL-21 for 7.62x39 or SGL-31 for 5.45x39.

I have the SGL-21(among others) and it's a very, very good gun. Got it for just under $800.
 
@Chris in VA

TBH, I'm just repeating what the range guy told me, and trying to sound like I know what I'm talking about....:o I seem to recall an all black AK silhouette on their wall with the caliber .223 on the side.

Sound about right?
I only say Saiga, because the rifle the advertise online is a Saiga and looks a lot like the one they had on the wall (2nd hand I believe)
 
Generally speaking, I'd stay away from .223 AK's because many have problems with feeding reliably. That said, I fired a converted Saiga .223 and it was AMAZING. (that probably wasn't helpful.)
 
Shoot, on your side of the pond they should all be good. Ya'll don't have to deal with rebuilt parts kits like we do in America... That said, the Izmash (sp) rifles are generally considered among the best. I've shot a few Egyptian and Chinese AKs while I was overseas and they seemed like quality guns as well.
 
Vepr is generally more rubust than, Saiga but both are great Russian rifles.
You can find them chambered in x51 and x45 NATO calibers and there's also the Romanian's in 5.56x45 also. Bulgarian's are nice, a Chinese PolyTech is probably the caddy of them all for collecting and price wise.

Yugo's are cool too, I like them. The M70AB-2 is the underfolder variant :D Don't know what you want for a stock though.
 
IIRC veprs (as far as stocks are concerned) have very little after market support. Aks with milled receivers are also hard to customize the way you want because the milled receivers are shaped slightly different than stamped. Either Yugo's or Tantal's (cant remember right off) from what I hear have larger RPK front trunions, which makes certain things hard to do to it. Every thing Ive wanted to do to my saiga worked just fine. I dont know if aftermarket parts is something your looking into, but be aware that not all AKs are created equal when it comes to accessories.
 
I have three Vepr AK's,,,308 and 762x39 and 223/556 all Robinson Armament, bought off Gunbroker,,,very high quality AK'S,,,also have a couple of milled receiver Arsenal AK's,,,also very high quality and even more pricey than the Vepr's, however I would recommend either brand.

The Saiga AK rifles to me look like a great buy,,,if they are accurate and reliable as the Vepr or Arsenal,, and these are the rifles Arsenal rebuilds these days,, you can buy one for I believe around $300 and I have heard a bullet guide and a little file work on the magazine catch and they will then work with regular Ak magazines...thinking of buying one or two myself so my Ak's match in number my AR's!
 
I have heard a bullet guide and a little file work on the magazine catch and they will then work with regular Ak magazines...
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+1 on the bullet guides. Any normal magazines will work without any filing or tinkering also (I did have some circle-10's that were too "fat" for the magazine well though, some reason those mags were out of spec).

Allot of people say you don't need the bullet guide but once I started firing hollowpoint 5.45s, well the hollowpoints would jam against the breechface so I recommend getting one.

I made my own guide from a steel pipe nipple then just drill'd and tapped it in. Just make sure you don't interfere with the cam action of the bolt somehow when it goes into battery. It's easy to impede it if your bullet guide is too large.
 
I'm considering stepping into the world of AK variants too. Off the recommendations here I've been trying to find a Saiga locally but haven't had much luck so far. What are some great alternative to the Saiga that are around the same price?

Speaking of conversion. Who's a good online dealer for already converted Saiga's?
 
You can save a lot of money (or spend a lot more if you get shopping cart happy like me) buying a standard Saiga and doing the conversion yourself. It's easy, requires no special tools, and is rewarding. Literally just a case of grinding off the old trigger guard rivets and putting everything back together.
 
a nice entry level AK would prolly be the WASR-10
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A few years ago, I would agree... when they were $250-$300 they were pretty decent. I see them selling now for $450-$500 which is no longer a deal for the quality of the gun.

Spend another $100 and get a polish or another $250 and get an Arsenal.
 
A few years ago, I would agree... when they were $250-$300 they were pretty decent. I see them selling now for $450-$500 which is no longer a deal for the quality of the gun.
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you have to remember uncle malice that the OP is in europe so he can get a 100% WASR 10. it isn't a mix and match gun assembled by the chimpanzees at the century factory. I would think that an original WASR would probably be fairly decent.
 
IMHO, there is nothing wrong with the WASRs. Yes they do cost less. Every WASR I have fired, has been 100% reliable and shoots respectable groups at 100 yards.
 
Well, I like AKs. There is something about them.
No frills, no pretensions, just dependability.
Dependability in going bang when you want it to, whatever the conditions.

Although I'm in no position to buy, I like to torture myself with window shopping. I have seen a FEG SA85 for sale. The gun itself, Russian bayonet, shoulder strap, spare mags and a silencer (which I can't technically own right now: have to be a registered sports shooter). Very enticing, especially as it is one of the originals. Probably older than me!!
 
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