Want to buy AK 47. Advice greatly appreciated

[littleitaly]

I want to buy an AK that before all the price increases, would have been going for between $700 - $1,100.00. Round count not a main issue as long as the gun was taken care of. I would like the classic wooden furniture, 7.62 x 39. If you have one that you have been thinking about selling, I am obviously interested. I live in the Marietta area and am willing to drive a reasonable distance. If not, any advice on manufacturer, milled receivers vs. stamped, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Many people are telling me to wait it out, however I am itching to have an AK next to my AR in the safe. Thank you all.

 

[Stringbender]

Are we to assume you are buying this for investment and or collecting or for shooting? Obviously, a collector type AK will shoot great but so does my cheap WASR. I am gonna get flamed for this, but I like shooting my wasr just as good as I did my MAK90 and have never had a problem with it. As you said, the demand is very high, so my advice would be to try a wasr and see if you like the platform and then when all the hype dies down search out a nice specimen at a reasonable price. Just MY opinion sir.

 

[littleitaly]

Thank you sir. I will most likely wait until prices get more in line, however my philosophy on guns is shell out a little more money and buy quality since I buy guns to keep. I plan on buying one to shoot and hold onto for decades. I like to shoot whenever I can, but I live in metro Atlanta so I dont have alot of outdoor options for shooting. I have heard good things about Arsenal, but the general opinion I am gathering is that they will all go bang regardless of price, and that everyone has their own preference so its hard to get advice. It may sound corny, but part of the reason I want one is for the historical value of having the AR-15 and the AK 47 in the same collection (part of the reason I want traditional wood and not polymer). The reason I don't want to buy too cheap is that some of the cheap ones I've seen rattle and look like the stock was carved with a chain saw.

 

[littleitaly]

Also, I haven't shot enough AK models to rate them from personal experience. For example, shooting a Mossberg Vs. Benelli, or Sig VS. Taurus, there is a clear difference to me, but maybe in the AK world there is not much of a difference. I plead ignorance on this topic.

 

[jloneill17]

top tier AK = Krebs, Arsenal
middle = Mak90, Maddi, Yugo
lower = WASR

Though some are built better than others and might have a cleaner finish, I would say all in all, they will shoot about the same. Just like with any gun, some will keep their value better than others. I've had a bad experience with century and wasr's twice, but I've heard of people having great ones. I'd say try and pick up a Mak or a yugo. Wasrs are getting too pricey for what you get. just my opinion

 

[mtnsmith]

I would also advise to be sure you get a 1.5mm stamped receiver as opposed to a 0.9mm receiver. The 1.5mm receivers have a longitudinal bulge on the upper front of the receiver. I have a good one, I believe, advertised for $950.00 on the ODT. It is at:
http://www.theoutdoorstrader.com/threads/344106-YUGO-AK-47-M70B-1987-Century-950.

 

[mtnsmith]

I would also advise to be sure you get a 1.5mm stamped receiver as opposed to a 0.9mm receiver. The 1.5mm receivers have a longitudinal bulge on the upper front of the receiver. I have a good one, I believe, advertised for $950.00 on the ODT. It is at:
http://www.theoutdoorstrader.com/threads/344106-YUGO-AK-47-M70B-1987-Century-950.

This one is sold pending meet.

 

[renovationman]

If you get cheaper aks ans have any firing issues a Red star Adjustable trigger by power customs work excellent only takes 15 minutes to install.

 

[Inbonuscivis]

A yugo is a personal favorite of mine and can be found within your price range.

I would avoid the tapco mags though and try and find surplus steel mags if you can.

Welcome to the dark side.....as a bonus you can clean your new rifle with a shoe string and motor oil.

 

[CCW]

Find a MAK-90 sporter for $700-$750, buy a fixed stock and pistol grip, thread the barrel and screw on a slant brake, drop in a G2 trigger and call it a day. It's the last AK you will ever need for shooting.