7.62x39, wood buttstock (regular, not thumbhole), wood handguard, either synthetic pistol grip or wood grip. High capacity magazines. Decent quality in the 500-700$ range. I want something better than a SAR 1. I was looking at an Arsenal SA-M7 but I prefer the wood instead... and I can't find a SA-M7 Classic. Anyone got suggestions on which model? Also, where can I get one? I'm looking for a rifle that has a good reputation.
You can get US made wooden stock sets for milled AKs, sometimes for very good prices since the milled AKs aren't as common and sometimes manufacturers have a surplus. SAM-7 or SLRs would be excellent choices if you want to go with a milled receiver.
You could also get wooden stock sets for stamped AKs, including stamped receibver versions from Bulgaria. For your price range and expectations, a Vector Arms build may suit you nicely. You could also probably get a Saiga sporter professionally converted to a more standard AK config, with one or two piece handguards. I am your man for Saiga furniture, other AKs I'm taking on gradually. If you get a standard AK and a wooden stock set, I can make a wooden grip. US made AK grips can be less common at times than the rest, which is often packaged with a synthetic grip.
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Stamped receivers are made with sheet metal bent into shape with receiver rails and other parts welded on. That has been the military standard for decades. Milled receivers are machined from solid pieces of steel. They will be heavier, stiffer, and more expensive, but the Bulgarian milled versions are made extremely well. If you want to achieve optimal accuracy with a side-rail mounted scope, an SLR would be an excellent choice, and you will have no trouble finding wooden furniture for it. Your take-off synthetic furniture will be worth something, in fact you may break even or come out ahead after the swap, maybe. Make sure your furniture is US made. If you don't know why, check the sticky on this forum - it explains the US parts laws for imported "non-sporting" guns.
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Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf
Yes, for between $500 and $600 (used to be below $500) you can get an SLR, $700 is what you'd pay for a SAM most likely. A decent scope and mount would run you up the majority of a hundred dollars (if you are so inclined to use one) and the net cost of switching to wood might make up the remainder. So yes, you should be able to get a SLR AND deck it out for $700.
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Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf
you could look at getting a MAK 90. i realize you said you dont want a thumbhole stock. I originally had a thumbhole stock until i legally installed US made compliance parts, i ordered a wood stock set with wood handguanrds, buttstock, and wood pistol grip. the site i got it from is www.ironwooddesigns.com
I was looking at the MAK90's and the only thing that really pushed me away from them was the thumbhole stock. Also read that some of them don't accept high capacity magazines? Not cool! I saw a Norinco at the local gun shop the other day with a laminated wood stock. Not thumbhole. I didnt see any kind of model stamping on it though. It was a fine looking rifle! It had a flat black receiver with a silver bolt too! Exactly like what I want! I didn't know what model it was though, so I didn't know if it was good to buy. I believe I would like a milled receiver but I guess I don't really know for sure because the difference doesn't seem that important to me. Basically just sounds like a higher quality receiver because it's more durable and tougher.
Look at the markings on the receiver. There should be some model name. Those markings tell all. If it is a Norinco with a standard stock, it is either a converted MAK-90 or it is a pre-ban. Price will tell if it is a good buy, so find out what you can and let us know so we can help.
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Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf
I went back to the gun store and looked at that AK. It didn't say MAK90 on it... but if I remember correctly, it said Norinco on the bottom of the receiver and said something like 7.62x39 SPORTER maybe? I don't think there were that many markings. I asked someone who worked there if it was a converted MAK90 or a pre-ban and he said it was the older one. The wood was kind of laminated I guess (somewhat shiny), the bolt was silver, there was a built in recoil pad on the buttstock. Wooden handguard, grips, and regular buttstock. The metal on the receiver looked alot more durable than the crappy WASR's and SAR's that were there.
There was a little piece that wasn't covered up (if you guys know what I mean) where the buttstock connected to the receiver, but I didn't take a picture. The guy said that Ironwood Designs makes a stock that fills in that little notch and he said the old ones came without it filled. Anyways, the price was a little crazy. 649.99$ That's about 250$ more than a normal MAK90 huh? It really looked like one of the converted Ironwood AK's... but tell me what you think guys. I took a crappy cell phone picture so I could show you, sorry about the quality.
If that is a pre-ban (the older one) then it's a good deal at that price. You really should have written down the receiver markings, including sets of numbesr and letters that don't make any sense (short of the serial number). That would have told a lot.
If the receiver is milled then that's a really good price. One way to check if it's pre ban or not is to see if it has a bayonet lug under the gas block and a threaded barrel with a muzzle attachment.
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Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf
I went back and looked at all the markings... there weren't that many. It was stamped and had a threaded barrel. On the side it said "CAL. 7.62X39MM SEMI-AUTO", also said "AK-47 SPORTER, LABANU INC, RONKONKOWA, NY." On the bottom it said "MADE IN CHINA BY NORINCO." On the bolt and the receiver surrounding the bolt, it was marked 1460. Another piece on the side was marked with 31460. Range numbers and the S/F marks were the only other things on the gun. No markings on the stock or anywhere else that I could see. Laminate wood furniture. Silver bolt. Recoil pad.
Last edited by mpikeat2002; 06-10-2006 at 05:52 PM.
Basically I've been looking at the Arsenal SAM7's and pre-ban Norincos. What price should I be looking at for the SAM7's? The SAM7A1R or whatever I think it is. Or the SAM7 UF is cool as well. I shot a Yugo M70 underfolder the other day and it was surprisingly accurate/well made.
Well, I was planning on spending some good money on building an AR15 right about now, but Atlantic Firearms is selling stamped bulgarian Armory USA/Global Trades SSR 85C2's in blond wood for 540$ shipped to your FFL while supplies last. I was planning on getting an AK later on after I built my AR15 but I was wondering if I should jump on this deal or not. Limited time offer to AR15.com members.
When it came time for AK buying time, I was going to get an Arsenal Inc. SAS M7 Classic underfolder, but I figure for half the price I can deal with a very nicely made 1.6mm thick stamped and fixed stock rifle instead. Especially for my first AK.
Does a deal like this usually come around this often? What do you guys think? I would rather wait until after I build my AR15 to buy an AK but if a deal like this doesnt come around often, I might want to jump on it now. Plus, I'm not sure how much they normally sell for. Someone enlighten me, soon please!
