View Full Version : AK? Manufacturer to trust? With AR's we know but AK?
I have been told by buddies who are SF that if they could use anything and they do that they use a AK when in the right Theatre. We know if we buy Colt, S&W, LWRC, Knights, LMT or whomever we trust in the AR world that we will have a reliable rifle but who manufacturers the best AK that I can buy, not who makes the best but is impossible to buy. I saw a video of a kid that had his ak ran over and the barrel was bent and he beat it back to straighten it out with a Rock and also bent it a bit inbetween a fence it worked, it really went on working. I would love to buy a AK even though I would never pick it up to go to battle or take on a security detail , at least not yet. Can anyone reccomend a great manufacturer?
Take some time to read the threads that have been stuck at the top of the forum.
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=30850
Short answer....
Currently -
Pre 1989 Import Ban semi autos (China, Egyptian Maadi, Mitchell or American Arms imported Yugo, Kassnar Hungarian SA-85)
Post 1989 Import Ban guns from Bulgaria, Romania, China, where you simply replace enough foreign parts with US parts to bring the number down below 10 and you technically have a US made weapon that you can have pistol grips, folding stocks, threaded muzzles, etc.
Arsenal Inc.
A SAIGA conversion or a kit build buy a well known and respected smith who knows their way around an AK.
And that's about it. The ban on importation of barrels and receivers has severely impacted the quality of available AK's. Avoid AK's with a US made barrel.
Go with what Templar said, but...
My M70 Yugo with a US barrel shoots very accurately - now, will it hold up if I shoot thousands of rounds for years? Don't know.
But I'd take my SA 85 hands down. Chinese are nice. BUt, the price has gone up.
Did they make the barrel band and ACTUALLY know it would mess us up in this way?
Be nice if DD would roll out barrels... But likely no market.
Avoid AK's with a US made barrel.
^^This. A hundred times This.
It sure is sad how the AK market in the US is limited compared to the AR market. This is the reason why I went from wanting an AK to an AR. Mind you, I still want an AK, but that's something I want to learn how to build later on. And this would be a "toy" for me regardless. I am aware that many homebuilds suck because people don't know WTF they're doing.
I was trained from birth on the AR platform and the M-4 is what the Gov trained me to use and my dad and grandfather said the AK was a commie weapon and to only trust US made weapons but it's funny he keeps his FAL out of the safe not his M4. I have heard that the AK is indestructible so I would lOve to own such a weapon. But I would really like a good one. Not a pieced together replica. Who makes the Russian military AK. Thanks for all the responses
I was trained from birth on the AR platform and the M-4 is what the Gov trained me to use and my dad and grandfather said the AK was a commie weapon and to only trust US made weapons but it's funny he keeps his FAL out of the safe not his M4. I have heard that the AK is indestructible so I would lOve to own such a weapon. But I would really like a good one. Not a pieced together replica. Who makes the Russian military AK. Thanks for all the responses
This is the current Russian military issue rifle in semi auto vs. select fire. It's made in the same factory by the same people who supply the Russian military with their small arms, Izmash.
http://www.k-var.com/shop/product.php?productid=17659&cat=354&page=1
Think of it as the Russian version of a Colt 6920.
If you don't want to spend that much, the fixed stock version is several hundred dollars less.
http://www.k-var.com/shop/product.php?productid=17038&cat=354&page=1
Arsenal makes some pretty high quality AKs. I've got two AK 74s from them, one Russian and one Bulgarian folder. That said, it is sort of hard to screw up an AK. I would look for a chrome lined barrel as most Soviet ammo is corrosive, at least the surplus stuff. I do have an ATI/Century milled Polish 1960 AK47 which is probably the most accurate AK I've fired. It has a really nice trigger right out of the box.
As Templar pointed out, if you want the closest thing to a current Russian AK, go with the Arsenal SGL 31-94. A well made AK built with a Russian receiver. I own several of the Arsenal Russian and Bulgarian folders. I started collecting AKs in the early 1980s and have a nice selection of these pre-ban rifles, some mentioned above. Lurk around Gunbroker, Auction Arms and other sites to locate some nice examples.
The 1998-1999 Romanian Cur 2 and Romak series of rifles were actually well made. I have one of the first 25 Cur-2 serial numbered rifles Intrac Arms of Knoxville, TN brought in. My wife is an FFL holder in additon to general ranching activities, and we started selling them in early 1998. Personally, stay away from the WASR series of Romanian AKs, and I won't go into the reasons just because it tends to stir up arguments. Some folks are happy with a $350 AK, but just like any other firearm, you generally pay more to get a quality weapon.
OH58D
A good parts kit built on a Nodak receiver with a combloc barrel by a known smith will be every bit as good as an Arsenal.
Buckshot Barry
03-18-11, 21:19
I own a Colt LE6920 and Arsenal SGL-21 and am very pleased with the quality of both.
This is the current Russian military issue rifle in semi auto vs. select fire. It's made in the same factory by the same people who supply the Russian military with their small arms, Izmash.
http://www.k-var.com/shop/product.php?productid=17659&cat=354&page=1
Think of it as the Russian version of a Colt 6920.
If you don't want to spend that much, the fixed stock version is several hundred dollars less.
http://www.k-var.com/shop/product.php?productid=17038&cat=354&page=1
I have owned about 14 AK's from Polytech to Bulgarian ,All are Gone but My Russian Saiga Made by Izmash ,It was a fixed stock ,But I put a Russian Side Folding triangle stock Now a AK-103 .
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h86/PFC-JB/DSCN0025.jpg
I have owned about 14 AK's from Polytech to Bulgarian ,All are Gone but My Russian Saiga Made by Izmash ,It was a fixed stock ,But I put a Russian Side Folding triangle stock Now a AK-103 .
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h86/PFC-JB/DSCN0025.jpg
Most importantly, where'd you get the vodka? ;)
No distributor locally :(
Most importantly, where'd you get the vodka? ;)
No distributor locally :(
My cousin picked it up for me in Dahlonega, Georgia it was only 24 Bucks very cool has a picture of Him when is was young On the inside of the back label.:D
I have been extremely impressed with and happy with the Kreb's AK-103K I have had for the past 12+ years. It has had a zillion rounds down the barrel with never a failure to feed, fire, or extract.
Arsenal gets a lot of attention on the boards (with good reason) but I never hear about Krebs offerings.
I have been extremely impressed with and happy with the Kreb's AK-103K I have had for the past 12+ years. It has had a zillion rounds down the barrel with never a failure to feed, fire, or extract.
Arsenal gets a lot of attention on the boards (with good reason) but I never hear about Krebs offerings.
Krebs makes a fine AK but they are expensive and there aren't a lot of them out there as compared to the cheaper alternatives. Most people would love to have one but can't afford them...
Spooky
and if you want the 6920 of 7.62x39...
SGL21 Series – 7.62x39 Caliber Russian Stamped Receiver AK-47 Variant Rifles (http://www.k-var.com/shop/home.php?cat=353), k-var.com/
and if you want the 6920 of 7.62x39...
SGL21 Series – 7.62x39 Caliber Russian Stamped Receiver AK-47 Variant Rifles (http://www.k-var.com/shop/home.php?cat=353), k-var.com/
Not affiliated with AIM Surplus, but they have the SGL-21's for about $30.00 less than K-Var.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1ASGL2161&name=Russian+Arsenal+SGL21+Saiga+7.62x39+Rifle&groupid=11
My 105 is at In Range getting an extensive rework after a rather incompetent smith first put her together.
In Range is a builder you can trust.
For my 2 cents
If you want an off the shelf AK its hard to beat an Arsenal build. If you don't mind a little wait you can get just about any AK and send it to Rifle Dynamics. For what it's worth Gabe Suarez makes his living on AK rifles and his go to gun is a Fuller build.
Moose-Knuckle
03-22-11, 17:00
I own six AK varients, three of them are Arsenals. You cannot beat the Arsenal product line. It is the closest we the people can get to new factory Eastern bloc mil-spec rifles short of an Act of Congress.
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