AK 47 questions

[Jamie D Van Roekel]

With all the misery going on in Ukraine I have been thinking about AK 47s. This is the only group I belong to that I trust most of the input.

I was wondering what to look for if I bought 1 and some basic knowledge.

Thanks for any help.

 

[tombkeeper]

The heyday of Kalashnikov rifles in the US is behind us…. there was a time when you could buy arsenal built bulgarian, polish, romanian quality parts kits with forged trunnions & factory barrels for very affordable prices, & then build your own semi-auto on well-made US built receivers….. all included for around $500. The good old days….

There are some high quality imports that come in as half rifles like the beryls from poland. They are now completed in the US with US parts to comply with federal law. There is another company, that is suspect,that brings in guns from poland & use cast trunnions…. they are known to not be as “trustable” as the forged trunnion imports due to the less durable cast trunnions. There are some all US made ak manufacturers now that have a very good reputation as they are made with forged trunnions & bolts. Riley Defense comes to mind. If I were in the market for an affordable semi-auto AK I would look at these as well as do some research on the older used market…. there are many AK’s out there & they are not all the same build quality.

Russian ammo (the cheapest but still high quality stuff) is no longer importable as of last year…. if you want an AKM type rifle in 7.62x39 or AK74 type rifle in 5.45x39 you should go on the hunt now for the ammo as well…. it is being hoarded by many since the biden administration saw to stop importation in 2021.

 

[mark-hunter]

Check options here:

Home - Zastava Arms USA

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zastavaarmsusa.com

 

[CraigV]

I think Tomb is pretty close. You used to be able to get some good AK's - Maadi (Egyptian), Norinco and Polytech to name a few. Usually these were under $250.00, and were available by the dozen.

I'd look around for one of these, or a Bulgarian, Polish, or Romanian model. Try the online auctions/estate sales, and maybe a gun show. I think if you found one in the $500-$600 range, it would be a fair deal in today's market. Heck, it may even be a steal.

 

[ldmay375]

Check options here:

Home - Zastava Arms USA

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zastavaarmsusa.com

I would definitely look at these.

Zastava ZPAP M70​

 

[mark-hunter]

@Idmay375

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Zastava ZPAP M70: An Authentic AK For The U.S. Market

In the ZPAP M70 from Zastava Arms, AK-47 fans have an authentic, high-quality rifle that stays true to the Kalashnikov pattern while adding a few nice features.

www.americanrifleman.org

BTW, for acronym:
ZPAP means: Zastava Polu-Automatska-Puska, or Zastava semi automatic rifle.

 

[Vashper]

In my opinion, the best option is the original Soviet AKM of the 70s, with an obliquely cut compensator at the end of the barrel and a butt made of "delta wood", that is, special pressed plywood. I don't know if they can be found, perhaps in light of recent events they will appear on the secondary market. AK from the former Warsaw Pact countries are also good. The Yugoslav and Chinese variants have the disadvantage that the chemical coating of metal parts is not stable enough for them. Our volunteers in the Balkan wars complained that one night on duty under the snow was enough for the metal to "bloom". Otherwise, all are structurally identical.
There are very rare and scarce specimens with a side bar for attaching a night sight, this would be a very valuable find.
I can't say anything about more modern commercial models.

 

[leslie hetrick]

i had one built years ago from a east german parts kit and it has been a very good rifle, after a 100 round break in it has run 100 precent. cost at the time was 200.00 usd.

 

[Bonk]

I've been down the AK rabbit hole and the main thing I learned is they aren't the uber reliable rifles conventional wisdom would have you believe. Some are. Most aren't. Most are somewhere between ok and junk. Trying to navigate the myriad of origins to determine which source/countries/factories make the best rifles makes my head hurt. Add to that trying to determine under ever changing laws which rifles are legal and which aren't is a PITA. Guys that are into AKs know all about these things but as a casual user that just wanted a couple of decent AKs I found the AK world to be confusing, inconsistent and full of misinformation. I owned a couple but I got rid of them because neither one lived up to the hype. I know this will be considered blasphemy by the AK faithful but I prefer my Mini-30 over either of the two Ak rifles I've owned.

My favorite thing about the AK is the caliber. 7.62x39 is better than 5.56 at almost everything.

Here's my advice to anyone considering an AK. Go buy a Galil Ace instead. It's everything an AK dreams of being without any of the downsides. Except one. They're pricey. About $1700. Compared to the going rate for an Arsenal these days that's not out of line. However, I'll take my Galil over any AK pattern rifle including Arsenal. The Galil is accurate, reliable, well made and durable. I've yet to meet an AK that can check all those boxes. Allegedly Arsenal does but apparently nobody ever shoots their Arsenal rifle. They're always for sale NIB at ridiculous prices. YMMV.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Ruger Mini-thirty.

 

[Pondoro]

The best AK I ever tried was an East German made AKM..

But I will stick with my thrusty M14..

 

[YancyW]

I own a few , but I bought them at a time when good ones were everywhere and fairly cheap. I have a Norinco that is balls out good stuff, I also have a couple Romanian tanker models that I trust to never let me down, but both of those models are extremely hard to find right now and they cost several times what they did 10 years ago.

The Galil, as mentioned above, would be a very good option, but again, they have shot up in price in the last couple years.

None of my AKs would be first choice if picking up a rifle to use it for the most serious of purposes, but having one and learning its manual of arms is important, so go get one and learn to run it well. As Clint Smith says, "Cario Illinois to Cario Egypt, there are AKs everywhere, you need to know how to pick up one up and run."

 

[Rocco490]

My pick for AK in 7.62x39

SAM7SF-84E 7.62x39mm Semi-Automatic Rifle with Enhanced Fire Control Group

The SAM7SFArsenal, Inc., the premier American importer and manufacturer of semi-auto rifles, is proud to offer to American shooters the SAM7SF. This 7.62x39 caliber rifle combines authentic, high-quality features rarely seen in the American market. From its unique right-side folding tubular...

www.arsenalinc.com

SAM7SF-84EG 7.62x39mm OD Green Semi-Automatic Rifle with Enhanced Fire Control Group

SAM7SF Series 7.62x39 Milled Receiver with Enhanced FCG Side Folding Buttstock 10rd Mag OD Green

www.arsenalinc.com

SAM7SF-84EP 7.62x39mm Plum Semi-Automatic Rifle with Enhanced Fire Control Group

SAM7SF Series 7.62x39 Milled Receiver with Enhanced FCG Side Folding Buttstock 10rd Mag Plum Furniture

www.arsenalinc.com

SAM7SF-84ED 7.62x39mm Desert Sand Semi-Automatic Rifle with Enhanced Fire Control Group

SAM7SF Series 7.62x39 Milled Receiver with Enhanced FCG Side Folding Buttstock 10rd Mag Desert Sand Furniture

www.arsenalinc.com

SAM7R 7.62x39mm Semi-Auto Rifle Muzzle Brake and Enhanced FCG

Arsenal SAM7R 7.62x39mm Semi-Auto Rifle Muzzle Brake and Enhanced FCG. Also now available SAM7R-62ASR Arsenal Suppressor Ready. These limited edition ASR models were hand-selected and individually inspected to make sure they meet all the concentricity and coaxial requirements to work with the...

www.arsenalinc.com

SAM7R-61 7.62x39mm Semi-Automatic Rifle with Enhanced Fire Control Group

SAM7R Series Milled Receiver 7.62x39mm AK47 Rifle

www.arsenalinc.com

https://gun.deals/search/apachesolr_search/sam7r-61

My pick for AR in 7.62x39

RESOLUTE, Mk47, 7.62x39mm, 16.1" | CMMG - AR 15 and AR 10 Builds and Parts

It’s an AR! It’s an AK! It’s… a little of both? Originally released to the world in 2014, the C

cmmg.com

Also look at IWI Galil 7.62X39

Galil ACE GEN II Rifle – 7.62x39mm with Adjustable Buttstock

iwi.us

 

[ay2626]

Check out rifle dynamics. I’m not extremely knowledgeable about the AK but know that Jim Fuller at rifle dynamics is largely considered on of the best in the US for building AKs.

About

rifledynamics.com

 

[Red Leg]

I am not at all a fan of the 7.62x39. Unlike others, I believe the 5.56 with the right ammo is superior to it at almost everything. From the typical AK with open sights a 124 gr bullet with poor SD at 2400 fps is delivered in the general vicinity of the target out to maybe 200 yards before gravity takes control. Rather like taking a 30-30 to war but with a bad bullet.

Looking at the AK-12 specs, the Russians seem to have reached the same conclusion.

 

[Rocco490]

Lots of decent to great AK pattern guns that were made BUT there are also a lot out there that are complete junk! Buyer beware! Many AK have a finish that rusts readily when exposed to the elements. Most of them have triggers that suck. Many older models do not easily accept any sort of optic. Not ergonomic layout. Safety design not great to operate. Sights not very good and some guns sights are canted, a common problem a number of them have this issue. Be careful with what company does the double stack conversion or build. For a pure AK my preference would be Arsenal SAM7 milled receiver rifle in one of my above post submodels over any other AK. Second pick either a stamped receiver Arsenal SLR 107(BULGARIAN) or Arsenal SGL 26-61 (RUSSIAN). Hungarian FEG SA 85M was real nice too and supprisingly a MAK90 chinese seemed nice. Have not fired the Finnish Valmet heard they are fantastic(not exactly an AK though). Newer YUGO Z PAP should be good liked the O PAP before it alright.

 

[Henrysdad]

Palmetto State Armory is making some.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ak-47.html

I did some research ,online if that counts for anything, and it seems as they had some growing pains with there rifles starting out. As of late they seem to have gotten things figured out.
They have different generations, g3, g5, some forged.
I just picked up a blemish a couple weeks ago. Forged. Since the invasion the prices have went up on the blem’s about 11%.
Free shipping.
Still reasonable for something that gets you into the game. American made.
Reviews are favorable for there newer models. I unfortunately don’t have any long term experience with them.

 

[mdwest]

Im in agreement with @Red Leg ..

With modern loadings the 556 outperforms the x39 in just about every way you can imagine... there is a reason the russians and other countries have moved on to 5.45x39 (their version of the 556).. it just makes much better sense in a fighting rifle..

There was a time you could argue "reliability" in favor of the AK.. but that really isnt the case anymore.. I'd challenge anyone to put equal money into an AK and an AR and show me any real difference in reliability.. If youre comparing a DIY $400 AR built in someones garage with cheap parts by a guy that doesnt know what he is doing to a $1500 factory built AK.... MAYBE the AK wins.. but a factory (affordable) AR from S&W, Bushmaster, etc will hold its own against an AK with no problem these days.. the bugs in the platform, the ammunition, the magazines, etc have been worked out for decades..

There was a time you could argue ammo availability and cost in favor of the AK... but thats not really true anymore either.. the AR is the #1 rifle in terms of sales in the US and has been for a long time at this point.. and there are tons of people making low cost ammo for them as a result (to include all of the eastern european manufacturers that have been producing low cost x39 ammo for all of these years with steel cases, etc..

And the AR is simply more versitile.. for $300 you can buy another upper with a different length barrel.. or in a different caliber (hell.. buy one in 7.62x39 if thats your thing.. they make them)... you can build one in about an hour for $400 or less these days.. or buy one new off the rack built for $650 just about anywhere..

And if the whole AK piston driven system is your thing... you can buy piston AR's now.. or even convert your DI AR to piston for about $250 (Alexander Arms makes a great kit for that...)...

Other than owning one just for the sake of owning one (I love an AK.. and carried one on numerous occasions between 2003-2010 on various jobs in Iraq and Afghanistan.. ) I dont see any reason to buy one these days if youre in the market for a home defense (or even offense) rifle... There are better, more affordable, easier to support, options out there in the US...

 

[Rocco490]

I am not at all a fan of the 7.62x39. Unlike others, I believe the 5.56 with the right ammo is superior to it at almost everything. From the typical AK with open sights a 124 gr bullet with poor SD at 2400 fps is delivered in the general vicinity of the target out to maybe 200 yards before gravity takes control. Rather like taking a 30-30 to war but with a bad bullet.

Looking at the AK-12 specs, the Russians seem to have reached the same conclusion.

Depends what you want both have advantages. As for penetration 5.56 vs 7.62x39 the 7.62x39 absolutely penetrates typical barriers better like brick, concrete blocks, wood. 62 grain .224" has .177sd 124 grain 7.62x39 has .183sd the section density on both sucks. For whatever reason the 7.62x39 gets threw better. If that matters.

 

[mdwest]

Depends what you want both have advantages. As for penetration 5.56 vs 7.62x39 the 7.62x39 absolutely penetrates typical barriers better like brick, concrete blocks, wood. 62 grain .224" has .177sd 124 grain 7.62x39 has .183sd the section density on both sucks. For whatever reason the 7.62x39 gets threw better. If that matters.

Combat vets will tell you that has very limited (to negligible) value in the fight though... No one is looking to shoot through cover like concrete and brick with a fighting rifle... even a battle rifle in 762x51, etc.. as a matter of routine.. its simply not part of anyones TTP's...

In a very specific situation or condition, MAYBE the tiny bit more hard target penetration capability of the x39 pays off...

But in the vast majority of scenarios youre going to run into in the fight its a non factor.. and in some scenarios it can even be a detriment (hostage rescue, building clearing with non combatants present, etc.. the last thing you want to do is try to shoot a bad guy, have your round miss and hit a brick wall, penetrate through, and tag some 9 year old girl sitting on her bed the next room over)...