Two New High Quality AK47s Now Offered - Which is better?

G

Gino

New member
I want to get an AK47, but most of the ones I now see are REALLY poorly made. I'm not interested in buying junk.

We've heard from Mark's Shot Show report that Robinson Arms is going to start selling the Vepr II. It is a Russian made AK with just enough American parts to add a true pistol grip stock, and takes hicap AK47 mags. I haven't seen any yet, but I'm very interested.

Today I saw another nice AK47 type for sale. This one was called a Saiga II model AK103. It was all Russian made except for the furniture and the trigger parts. It also takes hicap AK47 mags. Comes in a black phosphate type finish. It is actually an AK74 chambered in 7.62 X 39 (what ever that entails). It's being imported by some company down here in Florida. Very nice looking rifle. This was a 16 inch version with a 2 inch muzzle compensator and the asking price was $565. Dealer said that they also have a 20 inch heavy barrel version.

Anyone know anything about the quality of each of these rifles? What is the difference between an AK47 and an AK74? I'm VERY interested in getting a "true" AK47 - hicap and pistol grip.

Thanks for any help,
Gino
 
The ak-47`s take the 7.62x39 round and the ak-74 uses the 5.45x39 round. Saw some robinson arms @ the last gunshow and they were nice! Too bad I was out of cash, those verp`s in 308 are on my next list!
 
The march issue of GUN WORLD has an article on the Saiga conversions that are done by Krebs. I hear on the AK forums that they are very nice(and expensive).
 
I'm sure both of your choices would be awesome.A friend of mine has the single stack Saiga and i have the Feg SA-2000 and as far as 10 rounders go mine is the nicer gun.
 
I've got one of the VEPR 308s. Very nice, indeed. What's been told to me (which may or may not be the truth) is that the VEPRs (imported by Robinson Arms) are made with extra thick stamped metal receivers. The Saigas are made w/ the thin stuff, like all the other cheaper AKs. Only a handful are made w/ milled receivers.

I haven't been able to really test my VEPR yet, it seems that my scope/scope mount is a little screwed up. When I went to sight in the scope, I put multiple rounds through one hole at 50yds (couldn't ever achieve PRECISE point of aim,) then I couldn't get any consistency at 100yds?!?!

I'm not blaming the rifle, I think it's the scope which I mounted myself (I'm no gunsmith!) BTW, it is the scope which I got w/ the rifle (Russian Sniper scope.)

J. Wise

PS: Has anyone come up w/ a 20 rd mag that will "fit" the VEPR?
 
I have a VEPR II in .223. This is a fine rifle. In comparison to the Saiga or Krebs, much better especially cause it's cheaper too! The rcvr's are made using a RPK rcvr, that's why they are heavier than a standard AK. 1.5 mm versus 1 mm if I remember correctly. The finish and fit of the components are about the best I have ever seen. While I know there are some good Saiga's out there, I've heard more bad than good about them. I have only shot their 12ga AK style shotgun, and it was okay--nothing special.

The Krebs are nice made guns but again, more $$ than the VEPR which is a top quality gun. My VEPR .223 is as accurate as my AR, it has a semi-bull barrel and without a doubt is my favorite/best AK to date.....In all fairness, I have never fired a Krebs, I am going off of what I have been told and read and of course the dollar price of purchase. Rob Arms guarantees you will like the guns and happy with the accuracy. That is a good option. I bought mine direct from Rob Arms which I think is the best way to purchase, no middle man to deal with.

View
 
There are two different companies making AK103 rifles from SAIGAs.

Marc Krebs sells them and is also making them for KUSA.

Some outfit, DGS I think is also making them but the do not have as good a reputation as the Krebs guns.

Mark Krebs puts his own design muzzlebrake on his rifles - it is very effective.
 
The Krebs is a wonderful gun, according to all accounts.

If you get an AK-103, make sure its a Krebs. The
best way to insure this is to call Marc and order
from him directly.

I can't imagine why anyone who wants an AK-47-type
rifle would want a VEPR. The things look nothing
like an AK. The barrels are long, and the buttstock
is ugly. The entire concept is ugly, stupid, and
pointless. Its an AK which has been "sporterized",
because thats all they can import. If you are
going to use it as a base for a custom gun, fine.
If you want a sporting gun, get a genuine one.

Another option is to buy a parts kit and have
Mike at The Firing Line (same name as this
forum, a coincidence) at Wyandotte, Oklahoma,
assemble a custom AK for you on one of his
high-quality US-made milled and threaded
receivers. I believe they even usually have
some rifles ready to go.
 
what hi-cap clip are u using in 223 verp
are they coverted ak74 clips
how much a pice
will they fit other 223 ak's
krebs does make good ak103 whould like to have one
there's one argicle in gunworld in which wols advertice new 40cal pistol ammo 22 match and 7.62x54
and another article is in http://www.cruffler.com/
check them out
 
Gino,

A few months ago I was in the market for a "beater" rifle that I could stash at my hunting camp. I bought a "junk" AK (sar-1) and must say I was very pleasantly surprised. Its ugly (mediocre finish on furniture, machining marks on metal) but I would hesitate to call it junk after firing it. I've put @800 rounds through it without a malfunction- its a solid rifle. Groups are around 4" (average for an AK) but I didn't buy this rifle for its accuracy. That said, my next purchase will be a Krebs AK-103. Same reliability in a much more accurate and aesthetically pleasing package (though considerably more expensive). If you want a super nice rifle, get the Krebs. If you just want a fun, cheap, shooter I'd go with a Romanian SAR. While its true that the Romanian rifles are roughly made, they're real AKs (PG & hicap mags)and not pieces of junk, which is what I thought before I got my hands on one. BTW I paid under $300 for the rifle and 6 mags.
 
I am using Bulgarian Poly Waffles in 5.56 for my VEPR II. Rob Arms uses AK-74 mags with a modified follower, but in my testing, the 5.56 mags work fine. The reason Rob Arm went with the AK-74 mags and new followers was due to availabiltiy. Like any thing in life, some people will not like the VEPR II, so beit, but if you want an extrememly accurate .223 AK, then the VEPR II is the best choice for under 500.00, period. This is an AK, made off of a RPK rcvr. The barrel is superior to the standard AK barrels. Yeah it's got that funny front site, but I will put this AK up to any Krebs or Saiga any day IRT accuracy. I have a SLR-95 and a SA-85 that are "real" AK's and this gun is much better. To each his own, what ever you buy, enjoy it. All AK variants are fun guns to shoot and easy to maintain.
 
I have a VEPR II in 7.62x39. Contrary to the opinion offered above, I really like the look of the rifle. It is not the traditional AK look with the wood furniture, but many of the AK's I've seen have looked like junk. The quality of the parts and finish is excellent, as good as my BM AR-15. I've haven't been able to test the accuracy, so I can't attest to that yet. Except for a minor complaint with regard to the front sight that appears to be resolved, I've been happy with this gun.
 
jinx,

The Krebs AKs are based on the Saiga AK recievers from all I have heard. If this is the case they are no more real AKs than the Veprs are...
 
Dangus, that is correct. The Krebs are Saiga's that have been "tuned" up to work right, at a 750.00 price tag. They are no more of a real AK than a VEPR II. They may look more like a real AK, but a copy none the less. I'm sure the Kreb's guns are good, but for 270.00 less you get a VEPR II which is a quality gun that is extremely accurate right out of the box from the get go......That was my point, the VEPR II is a accurate rifle, made really well and is alot cheaper. If you're more intrested in the "look", then pay more. I'm into accuracy and performance, looks and authenticity are second for me...
 
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