Educate me on the AK-47's

[ijacek]

Hey Gang, I am really itching to get an AK-47. I want it mostly for the “I have one” factor and to shoot it some on the range. Of course should the zombies come out, I’ll use whatever I have handy, but until that happens… I just want one.

Now, I have never owned one, so my knowledge is somewhat limited, to say the least. All I know is that the standard wood furniture is really appealing to me as is the standard 7.62mm caliber. I have been looking at some of the underfolders and that could be a possibility also. Other than that I am as green as the grass. What are some of the better ones to get? What to look out for? Any variations to avoid? How much is too much for a AK-47?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[chowchow]

check http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/

[gmachine]

Use the Glocktalk's search feature or type this into google
"ak47 site:glocktalk.com"

I have a Yugo underfolder and I like it a lot.

[Jonas101]

I bought a Yugo M70AB2. I like it a lot. I can ping an acetylene bottle at 75yds. all day with it. That's about all the accuracy you could hope for. With an AK, anything other than that is a bonus. I paid $499 delivered for mine a few months back when they were readily available. I think Centerfire Systems has some in stock now.

If you want the wood furniture, plain jane AK, go with a Henderson Defense "certified" WASR-10. They make sure all the sights are straight and the rifle functions before they sell it to you. For people who can't hand pick they're own AK at a store, this is the way to go.

WASR's have a bad rap mainly because of the trained monkeys putting them together at Century. Henderson Defense fixes this issue for you. I would go this route if I were you.

Welcome to the dark side.

[MrMurphy]

There is a Kalashnikov Klub here on GT just for this topic.

[Slab]

do you have a budget for your "gotta have one" purchase? have you held any and decided you like the feel of one over another? do you know anyone that has one you can try before you get one to see if you like that particular one?

[Dragline]

I recently bought this which I have been thrilled with.

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/programming/expand.asp?Prodid=493

But I bought it from http://www.classicarms.us/ who along with Atlantic, have some nice AKs.

[Apocalypse_Now]

My Norino AK56S rifles are 3 to 4 MOA weapons with iron sights and the original Chinese copper washed ammo

If you can swing it, buy a nice pre ban Norinco, or better yet a Polytech

[hardballing]

Having owned LOTS of these over the years I am partial to the products of Arsenal Inc. These days, their product line is stamped receivers (the 106 series I believe) and available in 5.45, 5.56 and of course, 7.62x39mm. This is a VERY high quality build but pricey, being in the $700 and up range. Formerly available models (the SAM series) were milled receivers and these too are great products. You do see these pretty regularly at gunshows and/or www.gunbroker.com.

I have had good success and satisfaction with the Yugo products (but I have not owned an underfolder). Them commies made a GREAT AK imo but there is no chrome lined bore/chamber as Yugoslavia had no natural sources of these materials. If you keep your rifle clean, or refrain from using corrosive ammo (which is easy to do) you should have no problems.

Have formerly owned Polytech/Norinco products and these too were fun pill slingers but they were not as accurate as either above, nor a super nice AK107 I had from Krebs Custom. That one was over $1000.00 but it truly was the finest one I have seen to date. Most accurate too in that, within the cartridge limitations (somewhat "rainbow" trajectory) it was easily the match of a standard AR15 or CAR15. I would say the same about either the Arsenal or Yugo products, with the nod being to the Arsenal.

Final thought from me is regarding accuracy. I don't, based on personal shooting, believe in the "inherrent inaccuracy" of this system. If the US standard, for M16 is 4 moa, you can find a LOT of AK rifles that will group in that parameter. A LOT of them will, and with a LOT less maintenance requirements than an AR. Not trying to start the standard, "which is better" argument, and I have recently begun shooting AR's again after a long hiatus, but those are my opinions, FWIW.

In short, pick up as many as you can and examine as many as you can. You will quickly be able to distinguish a "good" one from a "bad" one, or a "great" one for that matter.

And as previously stated, WELCOME to the dark side :)

[chowchow]

If some sheriff's dept approve of this in each of their cruisers to carry, that would be nice

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/admin/images/content/ssr85classic.jpg

[hardballing]

I hear ya chow. I think they think it's too much of , "Show me yer papers Komerade" but hell, if you put the brains of most of the chair warmers I worked under in a tin cup, well, they would all fit in a tin cup.

That AK will do a real good number on penetrating auto bodies. Nope, not gonna tell you how I know that :).

Nuff said I think.

[hardballing]

ijacek,

check out this site:

www.ak-47.net

it is, imo, THE motherlode of info on Mr. Kalishnikov's beauty.

[Cartouche]

Go here and watch, and get an Aresnal SAM7. Then you are GTG.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9130124155072902952&q=ak-47, you will not want any other.:cool: