AK-47 brands

chiboxer · August 9th, 2008, 07:46 AM

Perhaps this has been asked and answered for before, but I am looking for a new AK-47. What brands or manufacturers are considered "good" or reliable brands. I recently handled a WASR-10 at Dunham's Sports and was not particularly impressed by the quality or workmanship of their product. Any help here would be appreciated.

Sarge45 · August 9th, 2008, 08:15 AM

Many good reports on the Yugo M70. Chinese Mak's are very good quality too.

SIXTO · August 9th, 2008, 10:29 AM

If you want a good quality AK, look for a Bulgarian built such as the ones sold under Arsenal brand search for SLR-100 series.

The cheap Romanians etc will do the trick but compared side by side piece by piece, they don't hold a candle to the heavier built, milled receiver of a Bulgarian gun.

cphilip · August 9th, 2008, 11:13 AM

Second the Arsenal Bulgaria guns ... And might add Norinco to that as a close second.

But there are numerous builders doing fine jobs on Demilled Kit guns of various country sources.

JrHawk · August 9th, 2008, 11:31 AM

Having recently been down this road on AK's its a whole new world. With the high demand there are a number of builders throwing parts together. As with anything else, it also depends on your budget. Vector makes a good firearm in the mid to upper $500 range. Arsenal is a good builder and overall has a good reputation - I recently picked up an Arsenal 107 F. These will run you around $800. For the top notch builders look to Krebs Custom and Rifle Dynamics. Long wait times on the build and over a grand in price. WASR's are entry level and if the parts and assembly are done right its a very reliable rifle. Those with more knowledge than I have on this subject tend to be cautious on the parts kit these are built on and many are sending their WASR's into Jim Fuller at Rifle Dynamics for a WASR package ( think of this as a tune up/reliability functionality update).

Ram Rod · August 9th, 2008, 02:06 PM

I'll third the Bulgarian Arsenal models. If you can find one, get one of the earlier milled receiver models like the SLR-95.

B52 · August 9th, 2008, 02:31 PM

I got a CIA GP1975 for $450 and added a few more items. Don't laugh the reflex sight's price is worth 2 times more than the rifle. The AK is pretty accurate and the parker finish is nice. I forgot to mention, it has been flawless so far 2000+ rounds of Wolf, Brown Bear, and Romanian FMJ/HP ammo. I did have to invest in a sight tool $7.00 when I was using iron sights.

cphilip · August 9th, 2008, 03:16 PM

This "was" and SA-93 from Arsenal Bulgaria that was transformed into a compliant clone of a Type III.... these were milled receiver guns and they are superb shooters.

J_Plum · August 9th, 2008, 04:08 PM

Why not convert a Saiga?

It'll cost the same, and in the end you'll have a brand new as-close-to-Russian-military-grade-AK as one could have in the US. All you need is a drill and a dremel.

If it helps in your decision, they're built at the Izzy plant.

Ram Rod · August 9th, 2008, 04:34 PM

Nice rifle cphilip! Don't hear much about the 93's or the 96's anymore. The 95's are the last ones I've seen of the older Bulgarian Arsenal clan. They dried up in a hurry I guess. I've seen SLR-95's on GunsAmerica every so often. The milled receiver rifles available must be a very small percentage. Don't these rifles come with a Steyr barrel? I thought I'd heard that before. Nice, accurate, good shooters for sure.

http://www.arsenalinc.com/about.htm
http://www.arsenalinc.com/milled.htm

Quote:

Arsenal milled receivers begin as a 9-lb chrome steel hot forging that is CNC machined into a 2-lb receiver, which is then heat treated for hardness and toughness. Arsenal is the last remaining original manufacturer to use this costly technique, used since the early 1950s. We believe the resulting strength, rigidity and accuracy are well worth the extra effort.

August 9th, 2008, 07:46 AM	#1
chiboxer Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 209	AK-47 brands Perhaps this has been asked and answered for before, but I am looking for a new AK-47. What brands or manufacturers are considered "good" or reliable brands. I recently handled a WASR-10 at Dunham's Sports and was not particularly impressed by the quality or workmanship of their product. Any help here would be appreciated. __________________ Si vis pacem, parabellum

August 9th, 2008, 10:29 AM	#3
SIXTO VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Here and There Posts: 10,077	If you want a good quality AK, look for a Bulgarian built such as the ones sold under Arsenal brand search for SLR-100 series. The cheap Romanians etc will do the trick but compared side by side piece by piece, they don't hold a candle to the heavier built, milled receiver of a Bulgarian gun. __________________ In a land of sheep, even a toothless wolf is king. Wake Up! The zombie invasion has begun years ago.

August 9th, 2008, 11:13 AM	#4
cphilip Distinguished Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,389	Second the Arsenal Bulgaria guns ... And might add Norinco to that as a close second. But there are numerous builders doing fine jobs on Demilled Kit guns of various country sources. __________________ www.cphilip.com

August 9th, 2008, 02:06 PM	#6
Ram Rod VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: crawford county, arkansas Posts: 5,190	I'll third the Bulgarian Arsenal models. If you can find one, get one of the earlier milled receiver models like the SLR-95. __________________ RamRod-----sans remords

August 9th, 2008, 03:16 PM	#8
cphilip Distinguished Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,389	This "was" and SA-93 from Arsenal Bulgaria that was transformed into a compliant clone of a Type III.... these were milled receiver guns and they are superb shooters. __________________ www.cphilip.com

August 9th, 2008, 08:15 AM	#2
Sarge45 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 373	Many good reports on the Yugo M70. Chinese Mak's are very good quality too.

August 9th, 2008, 11:31 AM	#5
JrHawk Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 119	Having recently been down this road on AK's its a whole new world. With the high demand there are a number of builders throwing parts together. As with anything else, it also depends on your budget. Vector makes a good firearm in the mid to upper $500 range. Arsenal is a good builder and overall has a good reputation - I recently picked up an Arsenal 107 F. These will run you around $800. For the top notch builders look to Krebs Custom and Rifle Dynamics. Long wait times on the build and over a grand in price. WASR's are entry level and if the parts and assembly are done right its a very reliable rifle. Those with more knowledge than I have on this subject tend to be cautious on the parts kit these are built on and many are sending their WASR's into Jim Fuller at Rifle Dynamics for a WASR package ( think of this as a tune up/reliability functionality update).

August 9th, 2008, 02:31 PM	#7
B52 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 571	I got a CIA GP1975 for $450 and added a few more items. Don't laugh the reflex sight's price is worth 2 times more than the rifle. The AK is pretty accurate and the parker finish is nice. I forgot to mention, it has been flawless so far 2000+ rounds of Wolf, Brown Bear, and Romanian FMJ/HP ammo. I did have to invest in a sight tool $7.00 when I was using iron sights.

August 9th, 2008, 04:08 PM	#9
J_Plum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: GA Posts: 46	Why not convert a Saiga? It'll cost the same, and in the end you'll have a brand new as-close-to-Russian-military-grade-AK as one could have in the US. All you need is a drill and a dremel. If it helps in your decision, they're built at the Izzy plant. __________________ Half measures availed us nothing...

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