WASR-10 Opinions

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AlBundy

Moderator
What are your thoughts on the WASR-10 AK-47? Have you had any experiences with them good or bad? Are stamped receivers as good as milled receivers? I always hear that you can drag them through mud, bury them, run them over, etc. Is that still the case with stamped receivers? Any upgrades you would recommend if I get one?

EDIT: Just a few random questions ... What is your favorite style stock? Normal, side folder, under folder? Also, can you put AK-74 muzzle brakes on the WASR-10/AK-47? Lastly, if I decide to get one, should I get a "new" one or would you trust a used one? I'm thinking about going pawn shop hopping ... :D
 
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The wasr 10 was a great purchase. I bought mine probably 5-6 years ago. I've loved it ever since. Probably put anywhere from 2500-4000 rds through mine. Not one malfunction. Don't buy it if your expecting accuracy. I never shoot mine for groupings. The the grouping I DO get from 50yds is appx 1 ft. Granted, it was steel cased and I cannot imagine how much copper fouling has plagued my barrel as I have given it a good cleaning once or twice. Overall I love it. I love the 7.62x39. I would reccomend this purchase
 
Thanks for the reply man, looks like your going to be the only one lol. 93 views and 1 reply ... THR here I come!
 
It happens. You gotta give it some time. Either it doesn't apply to the 93 viewers, or they just don't feel like answering. You'll get them, just takes time
 
Opinions---I have one and it's a great gun for what it's designed for. New WASRs (i.e. built in the last 2-3 years) have chrome lined barrels as well. I highly recommend you inspect one personally before buying though for canted sights and improperly milled/deburred magwells. Some even have improperly aligned receivers. A good bit of the CIA guns in the US have those issues. That said, if you get one that was assembled correctly, they're everything that is good about AKs---extremely reliable, durable, and reasonable accuracy at 200m and in.

If you can't inspect it personally, I recommend you pay the extra $20ish dollars and get one from hendersondefense.com. They inspect them all and have a guarantee that it won't have the issues I described above. I got mine in a trade (it had never been fired) so I inspected it first. Great gun.

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WASR

I like mine a lot. Originally it had problems. The front sight was canted and the magazine well looked like it was cut with an axe. Real Neanderthal work. I added the side scope mount and a cheap red dot and it is pretty accurate now, about 8 inch groups at 100 yds. I also put on a set of Hogue grips and a better stock since the original wooden stock was too short. Net, a lot of fun for not much cash. Ammo is relatively cheap, too.
 
I bought one about 5-6 years ago. Goes bang every time I pull the trigger. Have had zero ftf or fte after about a 1000 rounds. Accuracy - I get about 2.5" groups at 50 yards off of sand bags, could probably do better if not for the crappy sights. As others stated, check for canted front sight and gas tube. A lot of the people that complain about the WASR have never owned one.
 
I got one. I got lucky in that the front sight is straight but the magwell is just a little loose. If you get one make sure to inspect it before you buy it. I would consider buying another but only if I could look it over first. I don't think I'd buy anything from century arms without handling it and inspecting it first. Mine probably has a few thousand flawless rounds through it. The stamped receivers are plenty strong so don't worry about breaking it under normal use.
 
I just bought one a month ago from Classic Arms. Mine is very nice. The front sight is straight, magazines fit right, no mag wobble. Even the fit and finish is OK for the price. One range session so far with approx 100 rounds and it functioned perfectly. Accuracy was fine at 100 yards. I didn't shoot further yet.

I'd do it again!
 
I had a wasr10 and it was great, traded jt for something, now Im shooting the 74, 5.45x39mm version and it shoots great, psrfect magwell, nought cheap never fails lol, Im buying a 2nd with tax money for 2 in the same caliber, but going to the gun show and inspectjng before I buy, just to be sure. Ive never had an issue with either rifle Ive had.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. They seem pretty cool and I'm thinking about it. I want an AR also but I just cant see spending close to $1,000 on a rifle. I am a bit worried about the canted sights and mag wobble if I order online but at the same time I know the prices around here are ridiculous. I'm also thinking about an SKS because of the price difference but it's just not the same as an AK.

Also, do you guys think that I should spend a bit more and get an AKMS or converted Saiga? Is it a lot better and worth the money? What is your stock preference? Normal, under folder, side folder?
 
They don't impress me at all. There are many much nicer options.

But some people love them for what they are and I'm sure they're adequate for that.

If you want an AR, you can get one for $600-$800, they're not all $1000+.
 
That is true, but I'm talking about total cost. I figure $700 for a basic AR plus at least $180 for 600 rounds of ammo plus anything else, scopes, etc. So by the time I'm done it's a good amount of money(for me). I can't ever see spending much over $500 for a rifle. Even if I was rich I would be reluctant to spend that much money.
 
One of my best friends has a WASR. Never had any problems. I feel like they have become much less of a good value than they used to. They used to be around $300-$350(or even cheaper)... that wasn't bad. Now I see them for $500 - and that's just silly.

For that price you can get a Polish or maybe Bulgarian.

I went with an Arsenal SGL21 for just a couple hundred dollars more, and I couldn't be happier. The fit and finish on the Arsenal guns is head and tails above every other AK I've put my hands on.

Since I've had it, I have replaced all of thy poly furniture that it ships with(which is just fine for what it is) to upgraded parts:

- Midwest Industries Extended Universal Rail System
- VLTOR AR stock conversion kit w/ Magpul MOE Stock
- US Palm AK Battlegrip
- Daniel Defense vertical foregrip(from my DDM4)
- Troy QD sling mount on rail and one on VLTOR stock w/ 2-point adjustable sling

The upgraded furniture has cost several hundred dollars, but now this gun is complete modernized. It's comfortable to hold and shoot. It looks good, and it never misses a beat. The only thing I may possibly do to it at this point is have it done in a duracoated/cerakoted in some kind of desert or brush pattern.

I doubt that I could sell it for what I have into it at this point - probably around $1,200.... but you know what? It's exactly the AK that I want to have... and I don't plan on selling it, so I'll say it was worth it.

UPDATE: I should also mention that I can keep about 3 MOA.
 
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I bought one about five years and maybe 600 rounds ago. No problems so far. There was a problem with the front sight being canted on quite a few of these, but even that can be fixed. I paid $325 for this one and I think it's well worth it. Still has the original wood furniture, but I did stick a red dot on it. Accuracy is on par with my Norinco AK, about 6-7" at 100 yds.
 
I havent seen any WASR's with canted sights. I know the SAR's had the issue when they first showed up, but towards the end of those coming in, they seemed to have that pretty much squared away. I have a SAR that has a slightly canted front sight, but its really not bad, nor does it hinder accuracy.

My WASR is an early one, and looks like a SAR, and its sights are fine, as was its trigger. The SAR's were also known for some pretty bad "slap", which mine did have, and needed a replacement trigger to deal with it.

Both rifles shoot fine, and better than many will tell you you should expect. Its been my experience that they all pretty much shoot the same, or at least the import guns that were barreled in the country of origin do. You should reasonably expect 3-4" at 100 yards.

The mag well on my WASR was well done. There is a little "wiggle", but nothing that would cause concern. Every AK Ive owned has had some with some mags, so its not unusual. It is the one thing Id check though.

One thing to be aware of with pretty much all the AK's is the mag release. The part is a stamping and almost always has sharp edges, which tends to grab the tail on the mag, making it difficult to release. If you break the edges of the release with a jewelers file where it contacts the tail, releasing the mag will be much easier and smoother. You want to address this part and not the mags themselves, or else youre likely to end up with mags that are specific to the gun.
 
wasr 10

Two thumbs up on the WASR 10. No problems or complaints. Probably the most fun I've ever had shooting any gun. I put a recoil pad on the stock just to ad a little length to it and I swapped out the pistol grip for an ATI with the finger grooves. I'm not as young as I used to be, so I probably should look for more "geezer friendly" sights to replace the very small rear peep sight. If you're under 40 ish the original sights should probably do just fine.
 
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