So let me see if I got this right Arsenal>Romanian/Polish>WASR>Yugo/Zastava>IO
So let me see if I got this right:
Arsenal>Vepr/Saiga>Bulgarian>Romanian/Polish>WASR>Yugo/Zastava>IO
I'm not sure where Hungarian falls in this lineup.
My brother and I (I don't have the cash for one now though) both have been wanting to get AKs for awhile but I just don't speak the language! All the variations and models and countries just goes right over my head.
If my brother were to stay around $550 and under what specific AK would you recommend? Links would be great.
I took upon the same search a few years back...eventually I decided to save up more and buy an Arsenal. I have to diagree about the negative comments about the Arsenal AKs. I'd save up an extra $500 and get a guaranteed bad-azz weapon!! Yes, they are expensive, but man the quality is legit!! I'd put serious money on the fact that mine will outlast any stamped AK out there ... a true family heirloom. On the other hand you can almost buy 2 stamped used AKs for the price of one Arsenal beauty. As you suspect, many AKs have inconsistant workmanship that may require some serious jerry-rigging...such as Century and their sights. Arsenal on the other hand is a sure thing...pretty much guaranteed quality. The only thing I find annoying about milled AKs in general is their lack of options r/t interchangeable furniture. If you buy an arsenal make sure you get the stock you want on it.
Now will any AK fire a 1000+ rounds without a jam...yes (thank you loose tolerances). But will you get the quality and accuracy of an Arsenal?....questionable
I've had five AKs.
First was my SAR-2 AK-74. Good gun, my first semi-auto, and I'll keep it until I die just to have it. That thing got the treatment from collectible to tacticool and back again.
Next, my Saiga conversion AK-74. It was a nice conversion, looked great, functioned perfect. I miss being able to hold it up and be like, "No dude I turned this gun into this from a funky looking pile of junk!" Wish I'd kept it but wanted an AR more.
Bought a SAR-1 AK-47 clone for $400. Great little gun but the trunnion was canted inside the receiver and made it impossible to zero. Worst AK I ever had.
Next was my SLR-107. Bought it as my Post-Sandy Hook panic buy. It was prolly one of the worst AKs ever. I mean, it was good...it was cool. Fit and Finish was perfect. But....it wouldn't zero (I think this was 'cause of the ultimak but I had it on every other AK I'd ever owned without a problem so I personally doubt it), the trigger was godawful, recoil and concussion with the bare muzzle was stout...just not my favorite rifle.
Last was my MAK-90. NOW THAT was the best AK-47 type rifle I ever had. Mine was a welded on barrel nut and a ground off barrel lug away from being a Polytech Legend and was actually stamped so on the receiver, and then that was overstamped with MAK-90 but still plain as day underneath. Best trigger of ANY rifle I had until I bought the Geiselle. Accurate as hell. Reliable. Stout and kicked like a mule. Seriously, my PTR-91 left me hurting less than that AK-47 after a string of fire! Sold it off when I got out of the AK game entirely...
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