Starting out with an AK - noob question

[wygito]

List,

New (long ago member) here. I am wanting to try an AK (been a FAL/M1A guy for decades), and I do not know where to start. Would prefer to pay once for a higher quality piece with magazines, rather than buy/sell my way up the ladder.

So...I would like advice as to which rifle would be the 'best' first candidate. I have researched quite a bit and the options are overwhelming (Polytech, Norinco, Beryl, WBP, PSA, WASR, Hungarian, Arsenal, Yugo, Maadi, etc.). Stamped, milled, US made/foreign, etc. Not looking to pimp the piece, but keep it stock and as reliable as possible for the long run.

Spend amount - up to $1200 or so. Thanks very much for the help. (BTW I am in WY, and would prefer to purchase privately in state if possible).

Read More

 

[Knobgoblin]

Yugos are solid. Especially with the heavier stamped receiver.

 

[User 1234]

If I was in Wyoming I'd ask around at ranges or hunting clubs. For $1200 you'd probably find a nice Norinco Mak 90 or Romanian-made Draco.

I would avoid Century C39 and early IO imports.

 

[DB is Here]

@Ura-Ki would know.

 

[Unka-Boo]

1st choices, factory built "com bloc" guns:
Bulgarian Arsenals
Fegs
Norincos/Polytech
Romanian ( sar, wsar, wum )
Maadi
yugos
maybe the newer Polish guns ( havent touched one myself)

2nd, quality builds off factory barreled kits
( subjective and depends on who made it and how well it was assembled)

3rd, US offerings...latest PSAs seem great, I wouldnt look twice at a Century made gun

As always, my opinion is what you paid for it

 

[ZA_Survivalist]

I'd go with a Zastava if you want a good AK you intend on actually shooting and not just buying as an investment. I own many.

PSA is a quality budget AK and there is nothing wrong with them. I own a few of these too. Never had a single issue.

 

[Ura-Ki]

1st choices, factory built "com bloc" guns:
Bulgarian Arsenals
Fegs
Norincos/Polytech
Romanian ( sar, wsar, wum )
Maadi
yugos
maybe the newer Polish guns ( havent touched one myself)

2nd, quality builds off factory barreled kits
( subjective and depends on who made it and how well it was assembled)

3rd, US offerings...latest PSAs seem great, I wouldnt look twice at a Century made gun

As always, my opinion is what you paid for it

^^^^^This right here!^^^^^
I don't have a finger on the AK market any longer, so I don't know where to get them or kits to build them. That said, I would check all the local shops in your area and see what there is ( Bad time to be looking says me) but you never know! Might be worth the time to make a trip to Colorado, there are still halfway decent shops in Denver and a couple of half way decent gun shows now and again, might be the best option, I don't know much about Wy or the gun shops there!

 

[Unka-Boo]

^^^^^This right here!^^^^^
I don't have a finger on the AK market any longer, so I don't know where to get them or kits to build them. That said, I would check all the local shops in your area and see what there is ( Bad time to be looking says me) but you never know! Might be worth the time to make a trip to Colorado, there are still halfway decent shops in Denver and a couple of half way decent gun shows now and again, might be the best option, I don't know much about Wy or the gun shops there!

I'm a bit outta the loop too..my last was a home built $69 Romy kit ...
I have had a dozen or more over the years of many makes....can help with opinions if he gets some options narrowed down

 

[Nosferatu]

I'm not on the up and up on AKs, so the others here are better for that, but if you haven't been buying metric bubblegumloads of magazines already, start buying metric bubblegumloads of magazines!

 

[Aero Denezol]

I'd go with a Zastava if you want a good AK you intend on actually shooting and not just buying as an investment. I own many.

Yugos are solid. Especially with the heavier stamped receiver.

Agreed. Zastava is probably the best value in AKs right now.

People also rave about the Polish Beryl, but I have never handled one.

IMO stay away from Arsenal. If you want canted sights and gas ports out of spec there are much cheaper options. Once upon a time Arsenal were good but the last batch that came into the country have *very* poor QC. People are losing $4-$500 dumping them on Gunbroker.

 

[Unka-Boo]

Agreed. Zastava is probably the best value in AKs right now.

People also rave about the Polish Beryl, but I have never handled one.

IMO stay away from Arsenal. If you want canted sights and gas ports out of spec there are much cheaper options. Once upon a time Arsenal were good but the last batch that came into the country have *very* poor QC. People are losing $4-$500 dumping them on Gunbroker.

Interesting....my last Arsenal was '08ish...only complaint back then was meh paint they used for finish, build quality was great.

 

[Aero Denezol]

Interesting....my last Arsenal was '08ish...only complaint back then was meh paint they used for finish, build quality was great.

Yes. Those were some of the ones that skyrocketed in value, especially the first SAM-5s they did.

 

[MTpockets]

I don't even like AKs...but I like listening to Rob's accent.
He has a bunch of informative videos on his channels.

View: https://youtu.be/okvX52kRT-M

View: https://youtu.be/waL6JsrkXjQ

Edit to add: What about a 3pack covering all the bases? Good/OK/Bad?

K-USA Tri Caliber Kit

The Kalashnikov USA Tri Caliber Kit includes some of our fundamental firearms in an exclusive package. Our KR-103SFSX is our classic 7.62x39MM rifle with a button barrel. Also included KP-9 is a pistol caliber carbine based off the Vityaz submachine gun. The KS-12T is our tactical shotgun ready...

kalashnikov-usa.com

 

[Unka-Boo]

Yes. Those were some of the ones that skyrocketed in value, especially the first SAM-5s they did.

So...I could have been rich!

 

[64MercurysRule]

I still cannot figure how there can be a canted sight when there's fixturing involved in setup . Poor people process ?

 

[Knobgoblin]

I still cannot figure how there can be a canted sight when there's fixturing involved in setup . Poor people process ?

 

[Jcon268]

I think @Boboclown was who I got some good information from back when I was in the market. Not sure if he has anything he can add.

 

[GrayGoose]

I still cannot figure how there can be a canted sight when there's fixturing involved in setup . Poor people process ?

Those workers are now building airplanes at Boeing.

 

[FATAL125]

+1 for PSA

 

[Ducati_Meister]

Great AK resource.

Soviet Firearms/Kalashnikov - Thinline Weapons Wiki

thinlineweapons.com