Iron Clad Armory Side Folder AK-74 Review

[plouffedaddy]

All the above.

I posted the below on another forum where a question about the WW74, SGL, and ICA was asked. I think it should answer your question...

I'll rank them in a few categories off the top of my head as I'm not looking at them as I write this:

Reliability:

Tie---All have been 100% with the exception of a bad bakelite mag I had that has had failure to feed issues in all 3 so I don't put that on the rifles.

Accuracy (these are a sample size of 1 ICA, 2 WW74s, and 1 SGL31 all with 7N6):
1. ICA
2. Waffen Werks
3. SGL31

Finish:
1. ICA
2. WW74
3. SGL31

Expected durability:
1. SGL 31 (proven CHF CL barrel and new parts)
2. ICA (mine has the CHF CL barrel but it doesn't have the history of the SGL's barrel yet) and the parts looked like they had very little, if any use when I got them)
3. WW74 (4140CL barrel and the parts kit on 1 of the 2 rifles I have seemd to show moderate use before I got it; the other didn't)

Bang for the buck in today's market:
1. ICA
2. WW74
3. SGL 31

Customer service:
1. ICA/WW (tie---both are excellent)
2. Arsenal (this is a HUGE margin between the top 2. Many here know my experience with my SGL-21 and its' trigger and trying to get that resolved [i.e. bang head against concrete wall---repeat] )

Availibility:

1. ICA (you may have to wait but you can confirm an order)
2. WW74 (they're being made but getting one from Atlantic or RRC seems hit or miss these days because they don't stay in stock for more than an hour or 2)
3 SGL31 (at the moment)


I like all 3 rifles and would have 0 issue trusting my life to any of them in a gunfight, which is what I suppose really matters, so it's really splitting hairs here. The SGLs are commanding too high of a price these days for me; likely due to their reputation over the others.

[Doc. Holiday]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Awesome. Great info! Thanks for your homework!

[twistedcomrade]

Great, informative review. I really need to stop looking at your review threads. They make my wants outpace my wallet.

[Auto426]

I bought a Waffen Werks AK-74 from Atlantic last year. Beautiful rifle and the $700 price tag was too good to pass up, especially when the Arsenals were selling for right at $900. I haven't been able to shoot it yet because I have been too busy and my local shooting hole had been rained out almost the entire summer, but naturally right when I'm ready to go shoot it, ammo prices skyrocket and the ammo itself is nowhere to be found.

If they were carry these back then I might have went a different route. I wanted one of the side folders, but Arsenal and Krebs were about the only options and they were going for more than i wanted to pay.

[plouffedaddy]

I bought a Waffen Werks AK-74 from Atlantic last year. Beautiful rifle and the $700 price tag was too good to pass up, especially when the Arsenals were selling for right at $900. I haven't been able to shoot it yet because I have been too busy and my local shooting hole had been rained out almost the entire summer, but naturally right when I'm ready to go shoot it, ammo prices skyrocket and the ammo itself is nowhere to be found.

If they were carry these back then I might have went a different route. I wanted one of the side folders, but Arsenal and Krebs were about the only options and they were going for more than i wanted to pay.

Crazy thing is Krebs hasn't raised their prices and they're now the same price as the WW74 some places

As for ammo, I recommend you get on the backorder at sportsmansguide.com. It'll be here in June (they usually get in sooner than SG estimates) and they're still only charging $140/tin. With coupons you can get it for around $130/tin.

[96 SS]

Crazy thing is Krebs hasn't raised their prices and they're now the same price as the WW74 some places

I've been saying this for a couple years now. There is no real reason to not get the best: Krebs.

[SSPigboat]

Great review, thanks

[Vash1023]

video says private and cant view?

[plouffedaddy]

video says private and cant view?

Yup. ICA screwed a lot of folks and the owner is facing multiple felony fraud charges. So, I can't have people sending them money based on my recommendations so I took the video down even though the rifle they built me runs very well and I had a good experience.

[Vash1023]

damn, well good for you for taking down the video an keeping pople apprised of the situation.

also pm incoming.