What's the Best AK(Non VEPR)

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bullfrog99

New member
What are the higher quality AK-47 rifles out their in 7.62x39. I've already looked at the VEPR, but i don't like the stock, it's too long for me. I've also looked at Marc Kreb's Ak-103 and found it to be the best of what i've seen, what other models am i missing. also what are the best accessories to get for an ak rifle, and are their any surplus AK mags to avoid, like bulgarian or hungarian are bad or something, i'm just starting out, so i want to get the best or a reasonable facsimile. Does anyone know if you can swap the butstock on the VEPR for a standard ak one? also, are the drum magazines reliable? any and all info will be helpful, i'm going to go on a mission on this board's search function(Great idea to whomever made it possable)to find some info, but i'll take any advice i can get Thanks in advance.
 
Have you looked at the VEPR II?

Have you looked at getting a differnent stock for a VEPR II?

If you want the BEST AK - Thats it. The only other worthy option is an SVD.
 
If your absolutely dead set against the VEPR, then I suggest the Krebs, or a gun built by Informer or one of the other 'Smiths on the AK boards.
A VEPR CAN look like one mean mutha AK(if you don't already think so).
Zane
 
it's not the looks fellas, though the nine pound weight is definately a trun off, it's the long butstock. I prefer LOP to be less than 13.5" I guess i spent too many years growing up behind a pellet gun with a 12" LOP and just got used to it.
 
for those of you guys who do have krebs ak-103 rifles, if you don't mind me asking how much did they soak you for, does anyone distribute them?
 
While I like the look of the Krebs guns the BEST "stock" AK made was the Hungarian (FEG) SA-85M. It uses all standard 7.62 mags and drums, had a rich deep bluing chrome lined bore and while it used a thumbhole stock it was actually a well made and handsome blonde wood. The bolt carrier and handle were also blued and it had a slightly longer barrel. Still, to make this into a 'military" look will require replacement of parts.

Next I'd rank the Romanian/Bulgarian guns. Some have blued finishes some painted but the romanian guns have a neat laminated dragunov stock. The romainian guns can also be had in 223, which is a neat feature but the mags for the 223 are more expensive.

The chinese guns can vary greatly in fit and finish but they work. The Mak 90 has more variation than a true AKS or ak47 sporter.

Last on the list would be a Maadi (egyptian) made rifle. Again finish might be blued or paint but the metal might be rough too. Thumbhole stocks for these feel like they are made from plywood boards.

STILL, its an AK was designed to be made simply and "rough edges" don't hurt it too much. They still go bang when you pull the trigger.
 
I second the FEG SA-85. This is one pretty rifle! Great fit and trigger pull.
In fact, several years ago, it was advertised as the "commemorative AK-47" in the American Rifleman.
(used a thumbhole stock, which although it is a pretty blond stock, wasn't the original Vietnam era stock).

I don't shoot the SA-85 much...too pretty. I shoot the MAK-90, the equivalent to the "beater".
 
Bullfrog99

I have a Krebs AK103K. I paid $700 for it. I like it enough I ordered another. Only bad thing is, I've been waiting about 6 weeks so far for this one. The first one only took a week. From what I've seen in the other AK's out there it was worth the money. Mine shoots into about 2-3" at 100 yards using Wolf and Barnaul. I have a Arsenal USA SSR-85C that is nice, great wood and finish, but it wont shoot under 6" at 100/yds. I paid $500 for that.
 
i thaught the pistol gripped romanians were crap, parts breakage and unreliable due to bad american internals or something. If they are good, how do they compare to the more expensive ones like the Krebs and Valmets? is it only the polishing and finish that is different?
 
I've had pretty good luck with the SAR-1's that I've sent out the door. I think that if money is an issue, that would be my pick.
 
Find a good Bulgarian SA 93 with a thumbhole stock. Can find them for $375-$450 range on auction boards. To make in to a Pistol Grip config, you need to replace 4 US parts. Get a K-var Polymer stock set $90, that 3 parts, and replace the gas piston for the 4th$20. You now have a Milled receiver Bulgrian AK with the cold forge Steyr barrel,with all Bulgrain Arsenal parts in a pistol grip for under$550 on the high side or $495 on low end. To me this a much better way to go than a parts gun for $700.
 
I purchased an SAR-1 and it had problems going full auto and then having light primer strikes. I sent it back to the importer and they fixed it correctly. It cost around 350 dollars and I think it was worth it. I even picked up a second one but it is still in the grease so I cn;t comment on it's reliability yet. I like the romanian mags for about 9 dollars each. The SAR is not an accuracy leader , but it groups about 8 / 9 inches at 100 yards. I think that is good enough for a weapon of it's type.
 
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