Is this a decent AK47?
 

Looking for opinions on this guy:

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/prog...asp?Prodid=424

Thanks.

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

Saiga is only $247 here: www.rrarms.com.

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

I was considering the Saiga as well, but thought for a bit more this might be slightly better. Pistol grip and comes with the 30rd magazines off the bat (no modifications). Convince me the Saiga is a better deal and I'd certainly consider it.

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

Are there any quality issues surrounding AKs and Saigas e.g. what should be avoided?

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

I have a flock of Saigas. Sure, you don't have the cool pistol grip, but it is every bit AK. In fact, it is made on modern equipment and it fires tighter groups than imported milsurp conversions.

My Saigas all take modified milsurp magazines - no changes to the gun. Just a couple changes to the magazine and, voila!

Saigas feel cheap, look cheap, ARE cheap, but they are everybit as durable as imported AKs and they are probably more accurate.

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

Saiga is an excellent low-cost budget rifle...they are a little more accurate than run-of-the-mill AKs due to a thicker barrel...IMO

Saiga are built by Izmash the same factory that makes Kalashnikovs for the Russian army...about as solid as they come.

I personally have both types and prefer the way the Saiga handles...more like a fast handling carbine and has a scope rail for mounting an optic, and chrome lined barrel, caliber options.

Downside is modified 30-round magazines from Surefire are expensive...~$35-50 depending on caliber.

modifying the rifle to accept high-cap mags yourself is rather easy...but there is something about violating 922r regs when you do this.

If you must have pistol grip/high cap mags...consider rifles made by Lancaster Consulting or Vector...they use dimpled receivers (a plus) holds mag better, and I believe chrome lined barrel (a must have) but no scope rail (a minus)...but you get a very good quality traditional type AK.

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

You want:
Dimpled receivers--keep mag from wobbling
chrome-lined barrel--a must have--you'll be shooting mildly corrosive ammo
straight front sight post--easy to fix
overall fit and finish--but what the heck...it's an AK

recommend Vector, Lancaster Consulting, Arsenal (best, expensive), Romanian SAR-1 dated 2001 or later, some people speak highly of Red Jacket AKs (seem overpriced), some people like Egyptian Maadis.

Romanian WASR10s put together by Century Arms have a spotty reputation, low-end but affordable...you must check for excessive front sight cant (fixable), excessive magazine well play (not so fixable)...in other words, cherry-pick them and you can find a very servicable one...they usually run in the $350-400 range...if you have problems with one Century will make it right...

Have not encountered any quality control issues with Saiga...

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

Let me ask then. If this was your first AK variant, and you went with the Saiga, would you get 7.62x39 or something different?

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

I have all 3 calibers.

Perhaps .223 for starters...Saiga will shoot ALL .223 ammo, US ammo (brass) and Russian (steel case), good accuracy

or 7.62x39 ...but, all the cheapest ammo is imported...window could close--also good accuracy


how much money do you want to spend?

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

Lol, as little as possible. If I get a Saiga I can pounce on one relatively quickly, but if I get something more expensive I'm going to be saving a bit longer.

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

new, used, what price?...

I have not met a dissatified Saiga owner...

excellent buy for the money

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

There is no fixed price in mind. A $500 weapon is probably the high end and will require some savings. Right now, I am probably leaning towards the Saiga. I would like to get new, but if I could find a used Saiga locally and avoid any paper trail, I'd definitely be interested.

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

$500...you could buy two! :D

that's how I got started...:wink:

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

Saigas do have a longer pull length, and I personally feel that my forward hand is pushed out a little in order to get past the magazine.

I've modded my magazines to work in a stock Saiga, and this is no violation of 922r. I've also chopped my 10-round factory mag to a 5-round magazine for hunting purposes. I'm thinking about carrying it in Wisconsin this year for whitetail season.

Saigas aren't pretty - just practical, durable, and reliable.

I prefer the balistics on 7.62x39 over .223. If you want to step it up, you can get the Saiga in .308 or .30-06, or... 12-gauge :shocked_ma:

The best thing about the Saiga is the price. I sold my Rock River AR-15 and bought THREE Saigas and 1,000 rounds!

PS - Get zinc-plated steel-cased ammo.

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

WASR's are the least examples of AK's. A good one will perform adequately but more problems are likely to show up in this series than others. A better AK from Lancaster or Vector doesn't cost all that much more in the grand scheme of things. Vectors don't have chrome lined barrels, neither do military rifles from Yugoslavia or Finland. You can live without it. Lancasters do have chrome lined barrels, and it is a nice feature. If you go with a Lancaster 1.6mm reciever you will be getting a rifle with greater accuracy potential than any standard 1mm reciever.

Saigas are a great value for the money. They can be converted to pistol grip and double stack configuration if you're handy and throw some money at it. Getting a bayonet and flash suppressor on will be trickier, though. In the long run a no-ban style AK will be a better investment than a ban-style AK since we will likely be facing another assault weapons ban if Ron Paul does not get elected.

Zinc plated Silver Bear 7.62x39 is good range ammo. The milspec lacquered case ammo is far and away better than any other case variant in this caliber in terms of water resistance and the zinc will oxidize and make a mess over time.

5.56x45 will shoot flatter over longer distances and weighs less. 7.62x39 weighs more and will penetrate barriers like brick and concrete block walls that will defeat 5.56x45.

Guns are cheap. You will spend many times the price of your AK, no matter which one you get, on ammo, magazines, something to carry ammo and magazines in and other necessary accoutrements.

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

Ain't that the truth.........it's even worse with the rising costs of ammo.

:confused_ma:

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

Classic Arms prices are generally about 10 - 20% less than Atlantic.

I've purchased from both companies and have NO complaints. They both are good companies to do business with.

If you like the front hand grip, consider the AMD65. Classic sells them for $450. Atlantic sells them for $530.

And as was said above, expect to expend at LEAST as much on mags and ammo as you do on the firearm. Actually you can (and SHOULD) spend as much or more on ammo. Having extra mags is a no brainer. At least five. I have at least ten per, plus two drums each.

Hey, it's just MONEY, right?

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

J&G Sales is another good source for well priced AK's :wink:

http://www.jgsales.com/index.php/rif.../cPath/209_214

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

Argent, you beat me to it...great minds think alike..:D

This would be one of my picks:

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info....oducts_id/1580

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

Here is a picture of the Arsenal .223...

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

Big amen and amen! :applause_

Re: Is this a decent AK47?
 

I have a Saiga in .308 and a WASR. I like 'em both.
If the S ever does hit the F and I have to grab just one.....I'm grabbing the Saiga.