Which AK to keep?

[13MPG]

It’s been some time since I have owned an AK. At one time I had a nice collection of Arsenal rifles but I never shot them all that much, so they ended up getting sold off. Over the last couple of weeks I picked up a SLR-105 and a SA M-5, both at VERY good prices. The 105 was almost new and the SA M5 was NIB.

As much as I like AK’s for their history and all the different variants I still don’t think I will shoot them much. I am kind of thinking about letting one of them go and holding on to the other. I like them both and if I do this it would almost have to come down to a coin toss, lol.

Mags and ammo for the 105 are a bit cheaper but the SA M5 eats the same ammo as my AR’s. The ammo compatibility is nice but not a deal breaker for the 105.

So, if you were in my shoes which of the two rifles would you keep and why.

[SteyrAUG]

SLR-105 without even thinking about it.

For me it's a more correct and current AK. I think the SA M7 will sell higher in this market. If the SAM were a 7.62x39 I would have a tougher decision.

[Frankyoz]

Agreed keep the 105 added benifit is surplus ammo is still pretty cheap right now along with it being more correct etc. Also variety is good, however be warned shooting a case of ammo may leave you wanting a larger AK arsenal

[Torsion]

I'd keep the 105 also. I have 2 AKs left, Polish UF and a Bulgarian 74. With the cost of ammo and the way it handles, the 5.45 is my favorite.

[armakraut]

SAM5. You'll always be able to get ammo for it. It has a 1/7 twist barrel which means you can shoot good ammunition loads out of it if you need to.

5.45 guns are more of a curiosity. If I wanted an AK-74, I'd buy a real Russian AK-74M with the polymer sidefolder from K-Var and be done with it.

[13MPG]

5.45 guns are more of a curiosity. If I wanted an AK-74, I'd buy a real Russian AK-74M with the polymer sidefolder from K-Var and be done with it.

Agreed. This is the 3rd 105 that I have had. I think I keep picking them up just because they are neat and it’s a fun round to shoot.

For what I have in the rifle I could buy the stock and hardware (if I can track it all down) and have POH install it and still have much less in the rifle than what KVAR wants for the SGL31-94.

[mkmckinley]

If you're not short of cash I's suggest hanging on to both of them. You got them for good prices so why not spend some time deciding which you like best.

Personally I'd keep the 7.62X39 if I had to make a choice. The ammo is cheaper and it's easier to find parts/mags etc. I would probably end up using the money from the sold rifle to buy ammo for the kept one.

[13MPG]

Don’t really have to free up the money but it could always be used for a project of some sort.

The 105 is 5.45x39 and the SA M-5 is 5.56.

If I had a 105 and a SA M-7, I would keep the M-7 hands down.

[gun71530]

105 all the way...accurate and ammo is cheap.

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[m03]

Speaking long-term, I'd rather keep the SA M5. A couple of good reasons for this were already mentioned. Also, cheap 5.45x39 isn't going to last forever.

I'd put priority on going ahead and picking up proper magazines for it now rather than later.