AK advice needed

[seanc]

I need a bit of advice. I am starting to consider an AK. (well after my p2000sk sells). In past i have had a few noricos in 7.62 as well as .223 no issues, great guns, cheap and now non existant. I also currently have a century Galil so, the 223 is covered.

I am on the fence. First and foremost caliber. I am up in the air between 7.62 and 5.45.

I will be looking to spend in the +/- $500 range. Not looking for .5moa. Just looking for a good, reliable inexpensive AK. Factoring in cheap available mags and ammo as well..


Is the WASR still the way to go? Are there other better/ options?

 

[jaymce]

Saiga converted in desired cal.

5.45 is cheap now conversion will not be any different price wise 7.62 or 5.45

 

[mac1911]

5.45 is cheap enough on the ammo end BUT it seems tough to find here in SE mass at a reasonable price. Well its no cheaper than 7.62x39
I sold my 74 only because I could not find decent priced magazines and getting ammo was a pain. I purchased it when 5.45 seemed to be a bit more popular and you could find 1000 tins for less than 175.00...now it seems mail order only to free state friends

 

[flintoid]

$500 range will yield you:

-a WASR bought in Massachusetts
-a Saiga bought in Massachusetts (5.45, but more likely 7.62 because 5.45x39 saigas are getting more rare)
-money left over for conversion (not sure how much someone would charge you for this, but you could do it yourself)
-a post-ban Maadi (thumbhole stock, no bayo lug, no muzzle threads) bough OUT OF MA and transfered INTO MA
-a post-ban Norinco (same as above)

You can find post-ban AKs for CHEAP outside of Massachusetts because people don't want them anymore- they don't have all the nice features of a free world AK, so people off load them for little.

The same rifle in MA will yield $600ish when it goes for $350 elsewhere. You just have to be willing to look for them.


As far as calibers go: what do you want out of your rifle? 5.45x39 behaves similarly to a .223/5.56. It's more accurate than 7.62x39. But 7.62x39 is more fun to shoot IMO as it hits targets harder and has more recoil.

 

[seanc]

$500 range will yield you:

-a WASR bought in Massachusetts
-a Saiga bought in Massachusetts (5.45, but more likely 7.62 because 5.45x39 saigas are getting more rare)
-money left over for conversion (not sure how much someone would charge you for this, but you could do it yourself)
-a post-ban Maadi (thumbhole stock, no bayo lug, no muzzle threads) bough OUT OF MA and transfered INTO MA
-a post-ban Norinco (same as above)

You can find post-ban AKs for CHEAP outside of Massachusetts because people don't want them anymore- they don't have all the nice features of a free world AK, so people off load them for little.

The same rifle in MA will yield $600ish when it goes for $350 elsewhere. You just have to be willing to look for them.


As far as calibers go: what do you want out of your rifle? 5.45x39 behaves similarly to a .223/5.56. It's more accurate than 7.62x39. But 7.62x39 is more fun to shoot IMO as it hits targets harder and has more recoil.

This will be for generally cans, bleach bottles and punching holes in paper up to 200yds.
I am kind of leaning towards the 5.45, only because I have never had one.
A 5.45 saiga seems appealing. I assume conversion would mean furniture in this case and NOT a mod to accept standard AK74 mags?

A maadi could be interesting as well...

 

[flintoid]

This will be for generally cans, bleach bottles and punching holes in paper up to 200yds.
I am kind of leaning towards the 5.45, only because I have never had one.
A 5.45 saiga seems appealing. I assume conversion would mean furniture in this case and NOT a mod to accept standard AK74 mags?

A maadi could be interesting as well...

Conversion is a little more extensive than that. There are a few guides posted in the "Build it Yourself" section that describe the process. There are also shops that will do it for you.

You need to install a bullet guide in order for the rifle to accept standard AK mags.

5.45x39 will probably yield you better results at 200 yards. Tighter groups, anyways.

 

[seanc]

It looks like the saiga would take a LOT of work. Is the end product (saiga) far superior to a wasr or other available 74?

 

[flintoid]

It looks like the saiga would take a LOT of work. Is the end product (saiga) far superior to a wasr or other available 74?

Depends on what you define as superior. A Saiga in 5.45x39 will be as accurate as the platform gets. If you are comparing it to an Arsenal rifle in 5.45 (a Legion/Saiga rifle that is imported and then built into a traditional AK form with 922r compliant parts) then they will be equal, however the Arsenal will be professionally built thusly won't need conversion.

Anything else is a crap shoot unless you're having a parts kit built professionally by a reputable builder. You'd have to read about other rifle builds on other forums. For example, century sometimes puts out an excellent shooting ak74. But sometimes they produce one that has "bullet tumble" as part of it's "features." Which is very bad.