RAS47 or DDI AK for my first AK?

[Wulf202]

If you want good looking wood send it to zteknik for refinishing. In my opinion they're like work trucks. Scratches and other character are just part of the deal.

Ak47s are 2-6 moa depending on a bunch of factors. Ak74s tend to shoot quite a bit tighter 1-3 moa.

[Great-Kazoo]

Timely thread. I've never been a big fan of AKs, even though I've handled/shot a few of them but I'm warming up to the idea of adding one to the collection. There is a Yugo NPAP listed for sale that looks interesting. Not looking for anything fancy, but something that has the historic look of an AK (wood furniture, slant muzzle break...etc).

I realize accuracy will be more in line with the 300 Blackout AR than my DMR, but what other expectations need to be in check when looking at an AK? Number of comments above on fit and finish. This in reference to wood to metal fit and basic finish (bluing/parkerized finsih)?

Did the previous owner use corrosive ammo and clean or not clean after use, is the bbl chrome (corrosive ammo issues if not) lined. How many rounds fired through it?

Outside of trigger slap and canted front sight (both easy to fix) the fit and finish of the higher ends one, they all do the same thing. Some better than others, it's up to you what price range you want to stay in.

That NPAP caught my eye too. Zteknik does outstanding furniture refinishing

[Marine24]

Appreciate the insight. Recall reading about the canted front sight but had to look up trigger slap.

[skoodge]

3rd party trigger upgrades get rid of the trigger slap; easy $30 fix. I wouldn't get hung up on the finish either. AK's arent known to have great/lasting finishes unless you duracoat, park, etc. on your own. Refinishing the wood is pretty easy IMO if you're handy.

But what the Great-Kazoo said, definitely look canted sights and any rust/pitting from corrosive ammo. Good luck!

[osok-308]

Timely thread. I've never been a big fan of AKs, even though I've handled/shot a few of them but I'm warming up to the idea of adding one to the collection. There is a Yugo NPAP listed for sale that looks interesting. Not looking for anything fancy, but something that has the historic look of an AK (wood furniture, slant muzzle break...etc).

I realize accuracy will be more in line with the 300 Blackout AR than my DMR, but what other expectations need to be in check when looking at an AK? Number of comments above on fit and finish. This in reference to wood to metal fit and basic finish (bluing/parkerized finsih)?

I checked it out too. If he had waited another month or two (when I had all the money saved up), I would have snagged it immediately.

[UrbanWolf]

Arsenal or converted Saiga. WASR isn't bad if you can find a cheap one. VEPR is decent but swapping furniture will be a challenge due to the forend configuration and slant cut receiver.
If you can find a MAK 90 or MAADI they are decent as well.
All of the US made rifles (less the RAS47 and C39) are just kit builds from foreign part sets and as such, only as good as the assembly of the parts.
Scratch the RAS and C39, I have seen issues with them that just scream NO!

Believe it or not, some of the Century "kit build" AK's are damn good rifles. Just inspect it closely for workmanship.
I have had a slew of Kalishnakov platform rifles, pre ban CommBlocs, post ban, kit builds etc.
The one that has stayed with me is an early Yugo M70. It is a Century gun assembled from a matching numbers part set from the Croatian conflict.
It's a tank of a rifle that is accurate and smooth.

I would listen to this guy.

[Bandrew1989]

you cant beat a wasr for a starter AK!

[def90]

Run.. don't walk away from the RAS47! and don't even think about IO..

Arsenal just announced a new stamped receiver AK that will be in the $800-$900 range.. That's a bargain. VEPRs run about the same. The new WASRs are a good deal as well.

[jreifsch80]

If you can find one for a decent price also check into the feg made amd-65 rifles I had one for a while and they're pretty well built. Also as for com bloc made ak's the Romanian sar series are very well made over all I have a sar-2 (5.45 converted to aims-74 config) that is an absolute sewing machine. My advice for a "true" combloc ak would be to keep an eye on the firearm forsale section on theakforum

[Shooter45]

I've got an older Arsenal, back when the receivers were from Russia and love it. While it was a little more pricey than many others, the quality is there big time. It only has a few thousand rounds through it but It maintains around 2 MOA if not slightly better. However, Arsenal has gone through many problems and are now all made in Bulgaria; with their finish being one of the bigger downfalls. After seeing some of the DDI's and reading reviews they seem like the best bet for an AK around $800 and made in the USA; one that works from the USA. That's what I'd go with.