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AK-47 Help....The right one to buy

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JLud View Drop Down
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    Posted: December/24/2010 at 22:04
Ok so had the christmas urge to buy an ak, never had one.  Looking, there are a TON to choose from.  Read a bit on stamped vs milled, not sure many people agree that milled is worth paying more for.....
 
Other then that, found these 3 that seem ok....
 
Lancaster Arms ak in the Russian Red...wood matches, looks nice as much as they can, stamped, about 700 bucks
 
Century Arms 1960 polish with milled receiver for about 500 bucks.
 
Century Arms gp 1975 for about 400 bucks, stamped, seems lower end.
 
Now, not looking to shoot competition, just want to put hits within an 8" circle at 100 yards or better with iron sights.  Mostly just a weapon to have since I dont have one, and want best bang for the buck.  Probably put 1,000 rounds or less through it each year.
 
Any advice?  Merry Christmas!
That thing on the left....my old ride, some days I miss her.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/24/2010 at 22:39

"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
Bobby Paul Doherty
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JLud Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/25/2010 at 17:51
Know anything about Interarms?  Any feedback?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/25/2010 at 18:43

Interarms firearms importer is out of business since the Early 90s, they were the primary importer for quite a few firearms makes, including Star, Mauser, Walther, Rossi, Llama, other small makers, etc.


"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
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JLud View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JLud Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/25/2010 at 19:48
Hmmmm...Atlantic Firearms recommended the Interarms one as the best value out of a few I was looking at on their site
 
Interarms IAC 47 W
 
Koraynovich Arms
 
Red Jacket RJ132
 
Soooo many to chose from.  Thanks for the links, I looked through the ones you sent as well, just trying to stay under 500, already stretching to 600. 
That thing on the left....my old ride, some days I miss her.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/26/2010 at 06:46
Im sure you will find a lot to choose from but research it first to know what you are getting. Lots of gunsmiths wont work on the evil AK.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/26/2010 at 09:48
A perspective here :
the best ak47's are Galil , (don't you think it's ironic that the best ak was made in Israel?)
the next are Arsenal milled ak's,
the next are various stamped makers, and some of the better are
Maadi/egypt. -- early Mak--bulgarian
what makes the differences?
most ak parts are very soft, and the hammers, trigger sears, and bolt edges will start to "flow" losing dimension, especially when used on select fire.
the chrome lining in the barrel is not uniform among the various guns by the same maker let alone across the weapon system.
the coatings on the outside range from flakey to pretty good.
gunsmith's tend to choose an area of expertise, why work on a $300 gun that will have a $100 labor charge--- when you can work on a 2k gun that will have a $2-300 charge. anyway most people would not pay the price to have the ak worked on.
The galil run from 2k TO 5K IF YOU CAN FIND ONE.
the arsenal's around a 1k
so we are back to why the ak was invented in the first place, -- an exceptional all around gun for about $500.  comparing which brand doesn't work because the production lots even among themselves in this price catagory vary. Just get one and have fun.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JLud Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/14/2011 at 20:56
Well heres an update.....
 
At first, bought a WASR against someone heres advice.......
 
Before even fired it, found a great sale on Aresnal SGL 21, so bought one of those.
 
Took both out today to shoot....now, had very limited range, and crappy set up to shoot off of because it was at friends farm and I didnt want to drive too far.
 
So used some bulgarian surplus mags, tapco mags, and a romanian 75 round drum.  All worked good in either, both went bang every single time using some Yugo Surplus ammo (which seemed great btw, what a steal).  Anyways, it wasnt a fair comparison as I had bought a scope rail and Tac 30 for Arsenal, and open sights on the WASR.  At 40 yards, a crappy rest, and surplus ammo, had no problem keeping shots in a half dollar with the Arsenal.  The WASR worked great, and with open sights wasnt much worse then scope, id say 2 to 2.5 times the impact area.
 
Anyways, not sure what the hell if anything I proved....but Aresnal is nicer finish, seems to have the potential for more accuracy, and didnt have a crappy slant brake that was loose like the WASR.  Having said that, happy with WASR as well, it held its own.  If I had to pick one, it would be the Aresnal, but it was 280 more then the wasr.  Didnt have time to switch the scope and try it on the wasr.
 
 
 
 
That thing on the left....my old ride, some days I miss her.
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willua11 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote willua11 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/20/2011 at 21:12
If you have the money....get a milled version.  Other than that an AK is basically an AK.  They are all the same.

W
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SevenSixTwoX39 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/20/2011 at 09:44
Yeah you really can't go wrong with a WASR for the price. I wouldn't buy a milled AK as they're really just heavier and have no advantage over stamped. A converted Saiga would have been a good way to go as well.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 338LAPUASLAP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/20/2011 at 18:26
Arsenals are pretty much the top of the list for me while I do have 3 other makes the aresenals are the best fit best quality.  All the others go bang and are pretty accurate once setup correct with the front sight adjustment tool and some trigger work and stock kits.

I do own a Galil and a Golani and I do believe them to be very reliable as well while it is not in the 7.62 it might be worth a look...

Another nice 7.62 like the AK I enjoy is the Hk91 Series in PTR builds or JLD's the Cetme does not have as nice of trigger...

But back to your AK.

I think arsenals take a lot of crap because of the price and the mill vs not milled but I would pick either.





Edited by 338LAPUASLAP - March/20/2011 at 18:27
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Duce View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Duce Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/31/2011 at 15:34
I have one that has an Ohio Tool Works receiver, it was owned by a local gunsmith that wanted to try one to improve the accuracy. He did work on it but it is still and AK spray gun. If you care about accuracy the AK can be very frustrating. I guess a few have managed to work on them and improve the accuracy to where they were happy with it.  His thoughts on the AK were the bolt opens so quickly it is hard to get consistent chamber pressure. You may want to borrow one for a couple of weekends and run a couple hundred rounds through it and see if you still want one or if the new wears off quickly.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HuntMaster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/31/2011 at 19:32
The WASR is great for what you pay for it. I have one in the AK74 model, it has fired many, many rounds without a hiccup, or parts breakage.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bricat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/31/2011 at 20:46
I am also happy with my WASR 10/63
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JD548 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/31/2013 at 09:56
the best aks are made in finland. IAI's would be the next , too bad their not importable any more.

century is very hit or miss , though the do make a good one every now and again.

milled is certainly worth more.

 i don't think they shoot any better than the stamped ones.

if i was buying i would buy milled as they are the more "classic "-- a milled with red russian wood stock sets or blond bulgatian  , or maybe a random-polish 88--LOL!


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