Inexpensive AK

[Dogguy]

HI all,
I am looking for a inexpensive AK47 variant. I don't want to put too much money into one, But eventually would do some upgrades over time. I have heard horror stories about the WASR 10, but have recently been told that the quality has improved.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

The Dog Guy.

[RocKor]

AKs have gone up in price a tad, but the WASR-10 variants are probably the most affordable variants. They're great if you get a good one. If you know someone who really knows the AK I'd take them shopping to look for one, they can usually spot the bad ones, but yes, the quality of the WASR has gone up. Even if you get the most crooked one on the market, it'll work.

If you don't want the hassle, Arsenal makes a great AK and the fit, finish, and overall quality is vastly superior to the WASR. It is almost double the price though, so your mileage may vary.

Other brands like Inter-Ordnance, Interarms, and the non-WASR Century guns are somewhere in the middle in terms of quality and price, but vary a bit on type depending on what you're looking for.

I myself got stuck with a bad WASR (bought it a looooong time ago when I was young and stupid) and am still working the kinks out of it. Don't get me wrong, it works, but it's the most crooked thing on the planet.

If you have any specific questions, post another reply and I will be happy to help you. I'm a bit of an AK guy now after learning my first lesson with the WASR.

[Diomed]

You missed the boat on the cheap, quality AKs. WASRs are okay, maybe not $450 worth of it, especially if they've got the problems common to the type. Your best bet is probably looking for a Saiga in sporter configuration and reverting it to military trim. While they're almost as much as the WASRs, at least that way you get a modern Russian AK with a factory chrome-lined barrel.

And since Izhmash declared bankruptcy again, look for prices to rise on the sporters as word gets out and people start panicking.

[OakRidgeStars]

+1 on the Saiga rifle, especially if you plan to do the AK conversion yourself.

Or you can save up for a Arsenal AK. You won't regret it.

[Dogguy]

Thanks for the info, I mainly am looking for redundancy, I have a Yugo SKS and wanted another firearm in the same caliber. I ran into a deal on AK mags about a year ago and have about 25 of them, so for me the logical choice would be to get a AK. I looked into the Saigas, But to have a gunsmith convert it would cost about as much as the gun itself.
I have built a few ARs but, I have seen a few videos on converting Saigas and do not feel like I would want to get into it.

I read the main concern with WASR is the front sight and mag wobble. Anything else I should look for?

[OakRidgeStars]

I bought a WASR-10/63 Romanian Underfolder last year. You can find them in the sub $450 range from various online dealers as well as at gun shows. I have no complaints other than the el cheapo wood furniture is as rough as a corncob.



I did add a recoil buffer, which set me back a whole $9.

[GeneFrenkle]

Completely agree with oakridge. Get a saiga, mod it the way you want it, pay attention to 922r, and you have an excellent AK. Not many tools needed, either.

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[CSnyder]

+2 on the saiga, great guns, for one step up check out the VEPR

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[GeneFrenkle]

+2 on the saiga, great guns, for one step up check out the VEPR

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Agreed, just keep an eye on prices for ak's, vepr's, etc as some folks really overprice them right now.

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[Diomed]

+2 on the saiga, great guns, for one step up check out the VEPR

Of course, the VEPR is going to be heavier (since it's an RPK derivative) and you're going to be stuck with a very small selection of buttstocks due to the slant cut on the rear of the receiver.

Don't worry if you don't buy a Saiga right now, more are coming in about a month.