Thinking of Buying an AK, suggestions?

[CrazyIvan]

This would be my first foreign-made rifle purchase. I talked to the sales dudes about the different types of AK's.

I don't want to spend a lot, and am only going to use it for protection, plinking and just having fun.

I plan on keeping them pretty much stock. Iron sites, flash supressor, 2-point sling... I don't plan on babying the rifle. If it gets scratched up, oh well...heh. Much unlike my AR's which I encase in padded compartments.

I was thinking about the WASR, but was told they are a bit loose and not too accurate. How are they up to say 200 yards (remember iron sites).

So, we have the Yugo, the Chinese and the...hmm, Hungarian?? What are the big differences to note? Quality, ability, finishes, inside-barrel finishes, ability to withstand wolf ammo or non-FMJ's? Is there any difference in breakdown, cleaning. Are there any you believe should be absolutely avoided?

Thanks for the help.

[ruger22com]

I love romanian wasr-10's. cheap, NEVER malfunction....drag em through the mud, leave them overnight in a river, and they come up shooting every time.

[knightRider]

i agree with the above statement but i like the build , and trigger pull of my sar1 better .

[meatloaf]

My Yugo is stronger built then most Ak's I have seen. Has very little recoil when compared to my freinds romanian. His is lighter than mine but when you shoot it you get a harmonic slap from his collaspable stock so it makes you not want to put your cheek down on it to aim. That said his is also able to shoot without any problems, We go shooting about every other week and have both shot around 2000 rounds through our guns. I dont realy know if you can go wrong with any AK. For example look at the pictures of the war when we first invaded The towel heads were shooting AK's that were so old and abused that the stocks were rotting off , but they still shot with out missing a beat.

[NRAJOE]

Milled Bulgarian...all you ever need....

[billy]

Originally Posted by NRAJOE

Milled Bulgarian...all you ever need....

for $700 to $1000 for one? no thanks
to much$$$$ for me

[NRAJOE]

Originally Posted by billy

for $700 to $1000 for one? no thanks
to much$$$$ for me

After 35 yrs of shooting and a few crappy guns ya only live once...buy the best, get the best...the rest?

Of course I bought mine for $600 otd 5 yrs ago....

[SwedeSteve]

For a general purpose, kickaround AK, buy a WASR cheap. Later, if you so desire you can "black" it out, etc.

[NRAJOE]

WASR's are crap in my opinion...had two of them...had a SAR1 with lammy wood stocks that I NEVER should of gotten rid of......

[billy]

i shoot my wasr maybe once a year.
its fun but not THAT fun.
but my interests are changing.
now i want things that will hit a dime @ 100 yds. over and over....

[SwedeSteve]

Key Words are "I don't want to spend a lot,"
Where I come from, $750-1000 is a LOT! Especially for a 200m bulletlauncher.
Billy, going from blasting 500 rds to 3 or 4 at small targets is quite a change of pace!
Now a new Enfield too?

[billy]

well steve... i wear many hats..
yeah guilty as charged... new enfield. yeah but this ones really cool!

[Pred]

Hmm, WASR-10's are great guns for the money. But, make sure to check it out first. Stick a mag in it and see if it flops around really bad(should flop a little), and make sure the FSB isn't off to the side, should be strait. Other then that, just stick a scope on the side bracket and you should be fine. At 200 yards? I'd say hitting zombies should be fairly easy. AK's have gone up in the last few years. You could look around and try to find a MAK-90 or one of the Egyptian AK's for for around $350-$400. A Yugo shouldn't run you more then $500. Of course if you feel like getting your hands dirty, and have access to a decent supply of power tools, you could always pick up a stock Saiga and do the conversion yourself. The .223 and 7.62x39 versions are still around $300. Bulgarian AK's are about the best you'll find, but you'll also pay for them. Unless that is you get lucky like I did and find a milled Arsenal for $275.. or a new Mak-90 for $200..... Go check out Atlantic Firearms and look around. Lancaster Consulting is a newer(I think) company that is now producing AK's, the money isn't to bad and the quality is supposed to be good.

[billy]

i guess it depends on where you want to throw your cash.
im dropping $650 on a scope soon.
its just priorities.
my wasr is fun and i havent had one problem with it.
pull the trigger it goes bangbangbang.
i can hit clay birds at 100 m. over and over

oh yeah... CHICKS DIG IT!

when ammo was $0.09 a pop i shot it a LOT!

[wigmaster0]

I say go with the Saiga. Sure it only comes with an 8 rd mag (easy as pie to convert to 5 rds for hunting) But FBMG has 20 rounders in stock again as of 12/2007 (currently accepting pre-orders) This is one sharp shooting SOB! Most people say the shooter is accurate but coming from someone who isn't that great of a shot I can honestly say it is the gun in this case.

[Paper]

Originally Posted by billy

now i want things that will hit a dime @ 100 yds. over and over....

Billy,
Why do you hate dimes??

I was pretty close to buying a WASR a couple weeks ago... REALLY CLOSE.. My local gun shop said to go ahead and order one out of my many catalogs that I get as a C and R guy, and have it delivered to them. Then I only had to pay for the transfer..

Problem was I ended up walking out with 2 more used.22 rifles, using up my AK funds..

I'm saving for one, but somehow I got the Garand bug, so my AK funds have been spent again..

I'll get one someday..

[meatloaf]

why? .22? I dont see the point.

[Paper]

Originally Posted by meatloaf

why? .22? I dont see the point.

Not AK style .22's..

One's a German Single Shot and the other was a JC Higgins Model 31..

The go well with my other dozen plus .22's..

I like to shoot, and I'm cheap..

[billy]

that is an outstanding argument in favor of the lowly .22
that said now i want an anshutz!

[gandog56]

Originally Posted by Pred

Of course if you feel like getting your hands dirty, and have access to a decent supply of power tools, you could always pick up a stock Saiga and do the conversion yourself. The .223 and 7.62x39 versions are still around $300.

Got my .223 Saiga for 235 smackeroos.