Your opinion, which gave you a greater fun factor? WASR AK47 Clone or an SKS

K

Kimio

New member
I'm only briefly acquainted with the AK47 the one I fired being a Chinese model, and it was a very fun rifle to shoot. Seeing as how the SKS is chambered in the same caliber round, I am debating on if I would want to get an SKS or an AK47 for my next rifle. I will first and foremost say I do NOT have a large budget to play with, ranging anywhere between $500-$600 max, and I still need some cash left over to buy ammunition.

Fun factor is a real big thing, I will be using this rifle at the range for casual plinking for the most part, and I live in Arizona, where a gun lover can enjoy some liberties with their favorite piece. I can see the appeal to the AK47 however, just from the reputation of the rifle itself and the history behind it, I've read that the SAIGA tends to be a good choice for the "Poor mans AK" while offering affordability while still maintaining a reasonably good mark of quality.

As for the SKS, it's just not as common at the ranges I go to. 90% of the time it's either some form of AR15 or bolt gun, occasionally you get someone unique with say an old lever action or even an automatic machine pistol or something.

What would you guys decide? I know ultimately it will be my choice, but it's always nice to hear what others have to say on the matter.
 
I think AK pattern rifles are more fun than SKS pattern rifles, but that's just an opinion. You may want to look at AK74 rifles that fire 5.45X39 rounds. Surplus 5.45X39 is about the cheapest thing around now days. $150 for 1080 rounds of FMJ is about the going rate.
 
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I second the AK74, I have been shopping around for one myself. I think u would enjoy one as well. Watch some YouTube videos of what your interested in, also the AK74 has almost no recoil whereas the 47's recoil is manageable it is still present
 
I've got both and I've always found the AK47-type to be more fun, mostly because reloading isn't such a chore. The AK47 also feels lighter and I think has better ergonomics than the SKS. My WASR has never failed and the only ammo I've ever run through it is the cheap steel cased Wolf ammo.
 
Both...My old Russian SKS paratrooper with a side folder and AK mag conversion.

It's the only 7.62 surplus gun I have ever owned, so my opinion is biased...:D

But it's a blast to shoot.;)
 
if you're in Arizona and you have up to 500-600 to play with for an AK, RUN, don't walk, to J&G Sales in Prescott!

They will help you find what you want, and give you a fair price on it :)

I vacation up there fairly often, it's one of the greatest places on earth.

Seriously, they have tons of different AK's and can help you find what will suit you.

Though, SKS' are a blast as well. For an SKS', the best deals going are through the C&R flyers such as centerfire, etc. Brand new in the box, never fired SKS for 359 I think it was.

They're both a blast. But yeah, don't buy without going to J&G in Prescott to at least look :)
 
Yow, that's a 360 mile drive to that J&G store where I'm at lol. 2:30 hour drive. Not sure if I'll head up there any time soon, but I'll browse around their website lol. Anyone have some suggetions on other places for me to look? As some of you have posted, the best prices I've found so far definitely are to be found at J&G so far.
 
I got an SKS when they were real cheap about six years ago, then a $300 WASR about four years ago. So I've got plenty of rounds down both. I'm going to hang on to both but if I had to choose one it's the AK all the way. Much lighter, much more fun. The SKS is a pretty decent rifle and more accurate but not enough to matter to me.

Since today they're about the same price the SKS isn't the bargain it used to be. I can't see paying $350 for one, that's well over twice what they went for just a couple years ago. On the other hand the WASR has only gone up about $100 over that time and is a bargain.
 
I second, or third, or whatever the AK74. Ammo is pretty damn cheap at just over $100 for 1,080rds...target acquisition is quick as 5.45 has the recoil of .22 and it is a definitely a man stopping cartridge as well.

But an AK47 works well also. Mine is the funnest out of all my firearms without a doubt!
 
It's the -47 for me

+1 for the AK-47

Playing "Thirty" is a fun challenge. The goal is to go through an entire 30 round magazine in either 5 or 10 seconds at close range. at longer range, 100m, you might 20 seconds. The winner puts the most rounds through the smallest diameter circle. Ammo is still relatively cheap.
Have fun, either is a good weapon.
 
Been looking around at J&G and I was wondering what kind of quality I should expect from the RomaniaN WASR AK47, J&G has it listed anywhere between 390-419 give or take. In the description I read that Century arms assembled these rifles, and I've heard more than a few complaints about their products. Poor fit and finish, rifles FTF or FTE, just very poor craftsmanship. Not to say there are not good examples from Century arms, but I heard a lot more negative feedback rather than good. The other option, which is quite a bit more is a Polish model of the AK47 listed on the site, going for about 580-600 dollars.

I really like the wooden furniture on the AK pattern rifles, the folding stocks just don't appeal to me all that much on them, anyone own one of these rifles? A milled receiver would be nice, but from the pictures provided on J&G most look like they're stamped.
 
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A good percent of the negative "feedback" on the WASR is from drunk monkeys repeating stories - monkey see, monkey do. Sure there are some bad WASRs out there but most of us are satisfied with the rifle. Inspect before you buy or have a knowledgeable friend go with you.
 
I enjoy shooting the SKS more than the AK. Perhaps this is due to the longer sight radius, longer barrel, and heftier weight of the SKS. The only advantage the AK has over the SKS is the detachable magazine and round capacity. Either rifle is very reliable.

One other observation I would add is that every SKS I've ever seen, has been constructed to a better quality standard than any Romanian AK I've ever seen.
 
At current prices if I were picking between the two I would just buy the AK. Back when SKS's were cheap I would have gone that route and saved the extra $200-$300 for ammo.

I actually like shooting my Yugo 59/66 SKS more than my WASR-10 AK.
 
AK. Reason being, further down the road, you'll be able to add options and change it around if you'd like. Also, the AK you'll be able to take carbine courses with if you so choose. Add red dot sights, different furniture, tac-lights or just leave it plain and KISS.

Also, what's more fun than a 75 round drum? (besides a 100 round drum?)
 
I think easy, reliable, and cheap high cap mags make the AK pattern more fun.

An AK-74 pattern would be a good choice since 5.45x39 is currently fairly cheap.
 
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