Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Talked with Chet Durda of Lancaster Firearms at the Phoenix gunshow this weekend...he says he has 10,000 Bulgarian AK-74s coming in two months!

Not sure of condition (new/used) but Bulgarian AKs are TOP QUALITY in my book and this presents an opportunity for all you interested in acquiring one.

Ammo is still the cheapest...Bulgarian Military 5.45 is still around and AIM Surplus has the Russian mil-spec 7N6 for about 11 cents per round (+ shipping).

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/copy_of_5_45x39.html

Didn't get a chance to chat much with him as he was busy...so I am not sure what configuration (fixed/folding stocks). I hope they come in with plenty of poly mags.

My Arsenal Bulgarian 74 is very accurate and reliably shoots 2 MOA. I would love to acquire (a few) more. :D

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

I'll have to keep my eye out. A lot of buying to do before the American Communist Party takes over completely this Jan. 20.

Lock and Load!

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

I am unfamiliar with the commie 5.45 round... How does it compare with the shorty 7.62x39 ?
is it same case necked down, or are they different brass ? Do the 7.62 and 5.45 guns share parts, such as bolt carrier, trigger group parts?

The AK is a nice little carbine/ knockabout /truck gun.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

The 5.45 was the soviet's response to the .223. Its much lighter than the 7.62x39 with a straighter trajectory and better accuracy, its not as good as .223 though because it doesn't fragment. According to wiki it's parts are 50% interchangable with the ak47. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK74

I've been thinking about getting a '74 as a cheap, reliable alternative to the M16.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Different brass than the 7.62. Looks the same, but is not.

And while the 5.45 doesn't frag, it tumbles wildly, and makes some nasty wound channels.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Seen some video of the AK-74, looks like a great gun. One with a milled receiver would be the way to go though. I just don't like the stamped recievers.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

I really hope they bring in some more magazines.:bear_w00t:

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

AWESOME ! ~ it's on my want list. :wink:

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Not if you have a lifetime supply of cheap ammo stockpiled :wink:

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Why not get a Saiga or other variant in .223/5.56 and keep your ammo base the same?

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Sums up in one crisp sentance why I 've always stayed away from 5.45 x 39. :banghead:

Btw, I don't own a .223 either......

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

For one I don't have an ammo base yet, (unless .22lr count), and making an ammo base in 5.45 at $120/1080rds is a bargain compared to whatever .223 is going for.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Exactly! 5.45 is less than 2/3 the price of 7.62x39.

It's less than 1/3 the price of 5.56.

It's less than 1/4 the price of 7.62mm. It won't do what 7.62mm does, but it either equals or outperforms the others, except for 7.62x39's barrier penetration.

There may be a 5.45 shortage in the future, but I know certain houses that won't be affected.:wink:

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Holy sh*t you ain't kiddin' !!!.........just checked AIM surplus with 1,080 round tins for $119 and now know what my next rifle purchase will be. :wink: :bear_tongue:
BTW EatBeef ~ what do you think of the Polish Tantals ????

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

I'm wondering as well, the tantals are the only ak74 I'm seeing for sale in most places.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Steer clear of the Century Arms (CAI) versions...the word is that several owners are complaining their CAI-built Tantals are keyholing at 25 yards...purportedly the rifles are built with Green River 5.56 (unlined) barrel blanks instead of the correct 5.45 dia. blanks.

The BEST Tantals available are put together by INTERARMS which are sold by Atlantic Firearms utilizing MIL-SPEC CHROME-LINED barrels. I have one with black furniture on order, myself.

I am also eager to look at the Bulgarians when (if) they come in...

By the way, ATLANTIC FIREARMS website is down...EDIT: BACK UP

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

I would prolly pony up the extra cash to get an Interarms Tantal, or one of the better 74s. Heck, you can still grab a used SAR 2 for about the same price. Luckily, I stocked up on WASR 2s when they were 270 bucks each, and I've already worked through all the problems.

I'm saving my nickels and waiting to see which 5.45 AR upper is best. BTW, 5.45 ammo is going up, better get it while you can... Seems like Ivan and Chudski found out that the FRN aint what it used to be.:bear_w00t:

EDIT, you can still find the Tantal kits fairly cheap. Slap it on a Nodak reciever and you're GTG for less than the CAI gun. (BTW, just got off the phone with CAI today...they're great folks, but can screw up a ball bearing with a rubber mallet.)

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Thats why I sold my 74 and bought an AR. I figured it would be easier to get ammo if I used the same caliber as "the man " in a shtf situation. However the 74 was a great rifle that I liked alot.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Why not have both?

For the cost of 1,000 rounds of basic dirt cheap .223 you can have 3,000 rounds of 5.45x39 in seal tins with steel core.

For the cost of one decent AR15 (800 dollars with no ammo) you can have 1 Ak74 and 3,000 rounds of 5.45x39.

I'm in the camp that a shooter without either caliber could for the same price get either:

1 AR15 and 1,000 rounds of .223
or
1 AK74 and 6,000 rounds of 5.45x39

Don't know about you but I feel you really need 2,000 rounds of you primary go to rifle. 1,000 as a minimum and some for practice which normally means buying 1k rounds at a time for the discount. Again for the same price of .233 you're looking at 2,000 of .223 or 9,000 of 5.45x39 using the above cost difference between rifles and applying it to ammo.

9,000 rounds is going to last you awhile. Add on the cost of one more case of .223 and you're up to 12,000 of 5.45x39... :wink:

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Once the SHTF it will be to late to get more ammo....Right?

So, I think Im gonna go with the 74 and the cheap ammo so I can stock up.

I don't think I need to do alot of "Target" pratice with a gun like that....:wink:

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

An AR upper in 5.45? That is an interesting thought! What about mags? Would they be hard to find or expensive?

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Do a search for "5.45x39 upper" at midways USA and "militarygunsupply" aimsurplus will also have them, but they don't list on their website.

It uses standard AR mags and holds 27 rounds or 30 rounds with a special follower. I'm THINKING that the USGI mags with magpul followers will do just as well as the special 5.45x39 followers... time will tell. Midway says there price will be under 20 bucks in any event and places like 44mag.com say they will sell just followers as well.

Upper ranges from 550 for oly arms to 575 for the S&W. I've had a S&W on back order since March.. delivery date is pushed back yet again to next month.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Thanks for the info! I will check it out.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Bump

It's been almost two months :D any more word on these AK 74s ? Thanks.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

I have been wondering the same thing. Seems the deal I had in the works for a Polish Tantal fell through. Apparently, Atlantic Firearms is too busy for my business. :thumpdown

The local FFL here can't get them to return his emails and doesn't want to deal with them anymore. :no_ma:

I'll give Chet at Lancaster a call about those Bulgarians and find out the status...

Here is their website: http://www.lancasterarms.com/NEW%20A...OL%20PAGE.html

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Thanks SilverCity, I'll watch for your update.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

mags n ammo...

http://www.classicarms.us/

TANTAL MAGS
http://www.classicarms.us/images/TANTALMAG.jpg
ORIGINAL 30 ROUND BAKELITE MAGS FOR THE POLISH TANTAL RIFLES.........19.95 EA.

5.45X39 AMMO
http://www.classicarms.us/images/crletter%20198.jpg
IN A WORLD OF SKYROCKETING AMMO PRICES, WE HAVE FOUND A GREAT DEAL, AND WE ARE PASSING IT ON TO YOU. BULGARIAN, 5.45X39, NON-CORROSIVE, STEEL CORE, 30 RDS PER BOX IN 1080 ROUND TINS. THIS IS REALLY NICE STUFF. FOR YOUR CONVIENECE WE OFFER 3 DIFFERENT QUANTITIES . WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
300 RDS....$55.00.-----------600 RDS.....$99.95 ----------- 1080 TIN.... $175.00

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

175? What a ripoff!

Aim has Russian for 119. You can get wolf N/C for that price.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

I WAS THINKING THE EXACT SAME THING!

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

"Steel core" is a euphimism for "armor piercing" in the State of Florida. Florida prohibits the posession of many VERY COOL kinds of ammo, including, to the best of my knowledge, ANY armor piercing ("steel core", "tungsten core", "magnetic") ammo for a rifle.
If anyone here has better information on FL state ammo laws, PLEASE DO SHARE!!

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

:Sorry: Sorry.. didn't shop around... just came across it.

want me to pull it?:D

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

You can possess and sell steel core ammo in Florida. I know a guy at the Ft. Lauderdale show that sells it all day long is many different calibers and has done so many years.

Heck, I stocked up on 7.62X39 SC when he was selling it for 25 cents a round. Now he sells it a buck a round.

Tungsten core is also legal, Barnes makes a tungsten core round for big game hunting

Now explosive tipped ammo is a different story. That as far as I know is illegal.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Got to add me to the list of people who love 5.45x39. I started out with a SAR-2 back when you could get them from SOG for $199. I bought a few hundred rounds of ammo. Then I bought a thousand. Then I bought another thousand. That last thousand is still in the unopened tin. I used some of the other one to fill a bunch of 30 round mags. I probably haven't fired 20 rounds of it in the last year. So I'm not too worried about "running out of ammo."

I've shot some medium sized varmints with the round and was astounded at the damage. You don't want to take one of those in the chest!

I've got AK's in all three calibers and with three different stock configurations. I still love my AR's the best but AK's do have their place.

Gregg

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

Talked to Lancaster Arms this morning...they are looking now at about sometime between November 1st and mid-November for the Bulgarian AK-74's.

I would bet if he gets them in time, he will have them for sale by the crateful at the December 5th gunshow in Phoenix...I do plan on being there, Lord willing.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

At 12 cents per round, you can probably afford to buy all you will need, practically speaking, for many years to come...

Buy it cheap, and stack it deep!

Plus, when the Russians invade here, you will have immediate re-supply...if you manage to survive.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

There's a horsefly in the ointment.





.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

I love the "you'll run out of ammo" arguement.

Kinda like 6 FRN silver. "When it gets to 13 bucks, you won't be able to find any".

No poop sherlock. That's why I found it then.:rolleyes_m:


ETA: Silver City, do you have any idea what Lancaster will be charging? I'm thinking 750-1k. I would love to have one (ahem), but I doubt I'll fork over that much.

Re: Good News for AK-74 Fans
 

ETA: Silver City, do you have any idea what Lancaster will be charging? I'm thinking 750-1k. I would love to have one (ahem), but I doubt I'll fork over that much.[/QUOTE]

Don't know yet Beef...I plan on finding out and I'll let you know when they come in. Very disappointed that Atlantic Firearms wouldn't (couldn't) come through with the Tantal...:thumpdown