[davesretired1]

My friend is thinking of getting an AK in 7.62x39. He's got a budget of $500. I've seen some inexpensive ( to me ) rifles from Classic Arms, but to be honest, after reading a bunch of posts here, I'm confused and don't know what to tell him. I bought my Mak-90 in the 80's, and haven't looked at another since. Any help would be appreciated. Dave

[post-apocalyptic]

Technically, you couldn't have bought a MAK-90 "in the 80's".

If you bought a Chinese AK pre-1990, you've got a superior pre-ban Norinco rifle.

With a budget of $500... I'd advise him to wait until he can add ~$300 to that and to buy a SGL-21 variant and be "done".

[my762buzz]

Originally Posted by post-apocalyptic

Technically, you couldn't have bought a MAK-90 "in the 80's".

Only if someone else bought it before him in the 90s and then went back in time and sold it to him in the the 80s. I hear Huey Lewis bringing on the song.........
"Tell me, doctor
Where are we going this time?
Is this the fifties?
Or nineteen-ninety-nine?"

[Tailhunter]

Budget of 500. Wasr and ammo.

[davesretired1]

Gee guys.....sorry if I'm off a decade or two. Tough crowd here. BUT, you are absolutely correct. I was a dealer back then, so a check of my old records shows I logged in the rifle in March of '95. Receiver is stamped ' Mak-90-Sporter' and 'Norinco'. Really not too bad since I can't remember what I had for dinner yesterday! NOW, do the two who jumped on me have a reccomendation for a rifle for my friend??

[zeme05]

Yeah, I had my FFL in 90's buying SKSs for $79 and MAK 90s for $169 I think ammo was like $99/1000.

Bought this froom Centerfire for $399:

[muscogee]

Originally Posted by zeme05

Yeah, I had my FFL in 90's buying SKSs for $79 and MAK 90s for $169 I think ammo was like $99/1000.

Bought this froom Centerfire for $399:

I like these. If they have the barrel issues worked out, a Tantal in 5.45 would be nice.

[my762buzz]

Originally Posted by davesretired1

NOW, do the two who jumped on me have a reccomendation for a rifle for my friend??

Well, my next question would have been "Have you seen Doc Brown's flux capacitor inside the DeLorean?"

Under $500 I would say tell him to buy a Saiga and gradually change it according to how his budget allows.

I got about $550 my cost into this one. It did take a bit of labor but
I would much rather have it than most anything that retails for $500 or less.

[zeme05]

I was wondering how do you install the bullet guide in the Sagia conversion, rivet, drill and tap, weld?


The ony problem with the barrel was the US added muzzle brakes were sometimes would send it down the range. I think it was soved when they were assembled in Hungry.

[WayaX]

Originally Posted by zeme05

I was wondering how do you install the bullet guide in the Sagia conversion, rivet, drill and tap, weld?

Drill and tap, and weld.

I'll second on waiting for another $300 to come in and get an Arsenal SGL, though. With the exception of custom shops like Fuller (rifle dynamics), converted Saiga's aren't as nice as an Arsenal.

[my762buzz]

Originally Posted by zeme05

I was wondering how do you install the bullet guide in the Sagia conversion, rivet, drill and tap, weld?


The ony problem with the barrel was the US added muzzle brakes were sometimes would send it down the range. I think it was soved when they were assembled in Hungry.

There is two ways to do this.
The muzzle can be threaded with a 14x1 left handed die.
The front sight block can be replace with an AK74 front sight block which has 24mm threading.

After market non-threaded on brakes were the ones launched. I would never recommend to someone to use one of those.

[ArmoryDoc]

Definitely save a little more $$ and get the Arsenal. Great rifles !

[GlockAzona]

Start out with a WASR. Sure it's cheap, but it runs every bit as reliably as the pricer stuff.

When all your snooty friends make light of your cheap, yet reliable WASR, you can always go get something a little spendier.

There's nothing like a good excuse to buy another gun ...

[CGP]

Get a Saiga and do a pistol grip conversion. AMD-65 is also good, but a little non-traditional as far as AKs look. Nothing wrong with a WASR 10/63, rough but reliable.

[ArmoryDoc]

Avoid ALL the hassle. Buy an Arsenal and be done with it.