What Should I Buy??

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OkieGentleman

New member
I am looking at buying a semi-automatic rifle. Now come the decisions. I have decided on the 7.62 X 39 mm round. The 7.62x39 fits the bill and is cheap and easy to get. But my big problem is I have no experience with any of the Soviet Blok produced weapons. So I am going to ask for input about which country produced the best of the AK 47 style weapons. I am also considering a Ruger Mini 30. I am looking for something I can plink with when I go to the range and let the grandkids (Teenage) shoot when I take them.

Now guys I do not wish to start a firestorm. If I could just have your opinions and if you know where to get one at a reasonable price with out starting a war that would be nice. :D

All opinions will be greatly appreciated and carefully considered. Thank You for you assistance.
 
If you want a semi-auto in 7.62x39....buy an AK and get a good one like an Arsenal.


Ruger Minis are overpriced wannabe ar15s for fudds who irrationally hate AR15s. Long ago they were well priced but key phrase was long ago.


AK in 7.62x39
Check Atlantic Firearms and their Arsenal AK selection

OR get a good (BCM, Colt, Noveske, DD) AR-15 in .223 Remington. Not many cheaper centerfire rounds than .223 Remington/5.56
 
Just my opinion, I have 2 - 7.62x39 a mini-30 and a SKS. You will be hard pressed to find enough ammo for the 7.62x39. The SKS would be cheaper than an AK, but I would suggest getting an AR. Yes, I know they are more money but an entry AR is about the same cost as a good AK and is a LOT CHEAPER for the kids to shoot.

Like I said, just an opinion.
Jim
 
SKS rifles are great too. Generally more accurate and much cheaper. Chinese SKS for shorter/normal people and Yugo SKS for tall people. Works for me.
 
Since one of things that attracts you to the 7.62x39 round is how affordable it is, don't get a Ruger Mini-30. They reportedly don't tolerate cheap, steel-cased ammo... you'll end up spending a lot more and have a harder time finding suitable ammo for the Mini. For 7.62x39 SKS, AK, or even Vz.58 would be the way to go.

The nice things about any of these guns is they're extraordinarily simple, reliable, and rugged. They're designed to be very easy to learn to use, so your lack of experience with Soviet bloc weapons would be quite easy to overcome.

The SKS will likely be the cheapest, and the nice thing is, there's not really such a thing as a bad SKS... whether you get Russian, Chinese, Yugo, Romanian, etc, they're all a little but different but they're all pretty good.

With AK's, the Arsenal AK's, like the SGL-21, are probably the all-round best AK's you can get, but they're priced in the $700's. You can actually get pretty decent AK's (they just won't be as nice in terms of fit and finish) in the $400 or $500 range. For example, I had a WASR 10/63 (sells for around $440), and though a little crude, it worked perfectly.
 
To answer yr original question...

Okie Gentleman--You asked
which country produced the best of the AK 47 style weapons.
Click to expand...
and the answer is clear: The USSR, where they were designed. That said, as indicated above, you'd be hard-pressed to find something better--or cheaper--than an SKS for plinking and casual range shooting.

The USSR, or Russian ones, are the nicest, and, of course, the most expensive by far. Any other country's SKS would do very well IMHO. The Yugo ones do not have chrome-lined bbls, but that is a factor only if you plan to shoot corrosive ammo and not clean the bbl. Some SKS's have more collector value than others, and if you're after a plinker/shooter, just get one that seems to be in good condition and don't sweat where it came from nor which variant it is. In other words, if it is all there, not all rusted to death, and the bolt works, buy it by price. Have a 'smith look at it if you're not sure.

The Yugos have a gas valve that sometimes leaks, but that is minor and an inexpensive fix, not a deal-killer.

Good luck in your hunt, and we'll need a follow-up report, with pix, when you get your weapon!
 
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After owning an AK for years, I have to concur...get an AR. The M&P Sport runs $630.

Yes, I know they are more money but an entry AR is about the same cost as a good AK and is a LOT CHEAPER for the kids to shoot.
Click to expand...

Actually, x39 is cheaper than 223, but recoil is considerably less with the AR and you won't have to spend extra for the adjustable stock.
 
Get a stock Russian or Chinese SKS. They are tough, reliable and more accurate than any AK-47.

If you have your heart set on an AK-style rifle, get a Saiga.
 
Why not get a Saiga and convert it, you need 5 US made parts I believe.

Check saigaforums out, Buy Tapco buttstock/tapco grip (2parts) and trigger group (3 parts) = 5 legal, pretty sure. Just have to look it up.


$380 for them these days, make it look like an ak101 clone or ak 47.
 
I'd suggest you try and handle both AK's and SKS's before making your decision. I think you'll find that the SKS's tend to be much better built, and have longer sight radius, which does tend to make them easier to shoot accurately. Stay away from the Romanians(most seem to be pretty worn), but the Russian and Chinese can shoot great. There's alot of chatter on the internet about problems with the gas valves on the Yugo's (part of their optional grenade launcher), but that's usually caused by poor maintenance. A plus for the Yugo's is that recently, a lot have come to market that are almost "new in box". Price for any of these common SKS's range from $175-300 in my area.
 
i have a sks. great gun, picked it up locally for $250. since i got it i added a tapco stock foregrip mag and gas piston and it feels like what id imagine an ak or ar would feel like for around $200 less. mine is a chinese i believe and would probably meet your needs if you could find one
 
Thanks for the Input

I would like to thank everyone that has put in their opinions about the different options avaible to me. I will do some research and make my decision.
 
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