Which 74 is the best to jump on?

I want to get into 5.45... I see TGI made Bulgys for $500 at centerfire, In Ranges at J G for $600, Lancaster bulgys for $600, and Saiga 5.45s for $360 at centerfire..

I could get the Saiga and convert it for a good russian quality gun for about the same price as a TGI from centerfire (scary, TGI..), and probably have a better gun? I have a few Saigas, and they are very nice. Is there any reason why the Saiga wouldn't be the best way to go? BTW who has the best deal right now? Or would an In Range or Lancaster made bulgy be a better investment so to speak?


Thanks

Chris

Saigas are new production Russian guns. The others are built from kits. The only question is, how much do you want to spend?

http://www.k-var.com/shop/home.php

1+ on the saigas

I was going to get the cheap unconverted Saiga and convert it myself.. I have a 12ga and a 7.62 one. Man those look sweet though.

TGI Bulgarian kit for 250 and receiver=350 total.

I got two TGI $500 builds, they are nice. I don't know what people are complaining about the rivits on mine are nice work.

If you're going to do the conversion yourself, the Saiga is a good rifle.

If you want a "ready-made" 74, absolutely get the Lancaster. I bought an In-Range 74, and had to send it back today because of the shoddy workmanship. Canted front and rear sites, bad finish, scuffed stock, excessive mag wobble, etc.

Hey Chris,

I have a Lancaster, which I purchased last month. Flawless build with beautiful finish. They use GK (GunKote), which I prefer over plain park. It does have a brand new chromed US barrel, so if you are wanting the original Bulgarian barrel, you may want to consider another builder. However, the barrel on mine is pristine and I get better accuracy than my Marcolmar '74, which had significant pitting, despite being brand new. :(

it appears alot of the recent builds have problems, get the saiga, you wont be disapointed

TGI Bulgarian kit for 250 and receiver=350 total.

I got two TGI $500 builds, they are nice. I don't know what people are complaining about the rivits on mine are nice work.


I'd really like to do a kit, but I have no way to bend out flats... and no experience. If someone in Seattle wants to teach me that would be really nice though :)

I have some, but not if price is your only consideration.

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/store/storeguns/pagestoreguns.shtml

You can't go wrong with one of these.... if you can find one.

Got a TGI-built AK74 from AIM. Came with wrong color furniture. Upon removing it in anticipation of the new furniture's arrival I noted the following:

1. Demilled kit was not thoroughly cleaned before assembly. Petrified cosmoline in seemingly all nooks and crannies.

2. Paint, well whatever it was they used, was thin enough to scratch off with a fingernail. Moreover, the rifle seemed to have been assembled while the paint was still wet.

3. But the thing that most concerned me was the riveting job. Although from the outside the formed rivets looked OK, not perfect but OK, the inside was another matter. The rivets were not symmetrically flattened at all. In fact, some were barely flattened enough to keep them in place and it looked like they could vibrate out. This, of course, is a safety issue.

Bottom line...seems "expediency" characterizes TGI's build philosophy. Maybe I got a bad one but it seems other's have had similar experiences. I'm very disappointed and although it will be a PITA, I'm sending the rifle back. Maybe an InRange or Lancaster build?....

Got a TGI-built AK74 from AIM. Came with wrong color furniture. Upon removing it in anticipation of the new furniture's arrival I noted the following:

1. Demilled kit was not thoroughly cleaned before assembly. Petrified cosmoline in seemingly all nooks and crannies.

2. Paint, well whatever it was they used, was thin enough to scratch off with a fingernail. Moreover, the rifle seemed to have been assembled while the paint was still wet.

3. But the thing that most concerned me was the riveting job. Although from the outside the formed rivets looked OK, not perfect but OK, the inside was another matter. The rivets were not symmetrically flattened at all. In fact, some were barely flattened enough to keep them in place and it looked like they could vibrate out. This, of course, is a safety issue.

Bottom line...seems "expediency" characterizes TGI's build philosophy. Maybe I got a bad one but it seems other's have had similar experiences. I'm very disappointed and although it will be a PITA, I'm sending the rifle back. Maybe an InRange or Lancaster build?....

ztruke, DON'T get the InRange. I recently bought an InRange (also from from AIM), and I had to send it back yesterday. The sights were canted, the finish left something to be desired, the "new" stock was chewed up, and in general it did not live up to expectations.

Also, I caught TGI lying about the InRange rifles. They claimed on another forum that you are "buying InRange quality" when you get one of the $599 InRange guns. But when I complained of the quality directly to Troy at InRange, he told me that he only built those guns with parts provided to him by TGI, and that these cheaper "InRange" guns are in fact NOT up to his usual quality standards.

Get a Lancaster. These are $599 (same price as InRange), and you won't be sorry with the Lancaster build.

I have some, but not if price is your only consideration.

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/store/storeguns/pagestoreguns.shtml

Yes gunplumber, your rifles are very nice!

It's just a timing issue. Given that new, very high-quality, factory Russian 74's can now be obtained for $800, it's really hard to throw down $1,000 on a Bulgarian kit-build. Even the very nice builds you have.

You may ultimately need to consider lowering your price, or consider holding onto those for awhile until the next panic. (There will be another one, eventually.) I understand that you have enough money into your rifles that you probably can't lower the price much, and make any money. It's an unfortunate dilemma that several builders have right now.

stevie73

Where can the Lancaster AK74 builds be had?

from.. lancaster......

stevie73

Where can the Lancaster AK74 builds be had?

Yeah, you can buy from Lancaster direct, or you can purchase from someplace like Atlantic Firearms. (I've had very good luck with Atlantic.)

BTW, I should mention, AIM Surplus took care of me when I had to send the InRange back. Aim is very good to deal with, and I would definitely buy from them again.

If you're going to drop more than 700 on a 74, buy a converted saiga....it only makes sense to buy a BRAND NEW gun, right?

I bought this saiga 5.45x39 for $319 from classic arms and combined it with a kit that I got here in the group buy for $275. Kept the top cover,trigger guard/mag catch, fsb, gas block, nice zigzag break front hg retainer, selector and cleaning rod. Sold the rest off for $300. Added a set of K-var furniture for $40 on sale and their fcg for $20.
Total of $410 in it.
Needs a refinish still.

I have fun being cheap....

http://www.norphar.com/saigaconvert.jpg

I picked up a Lancaster Tantal several years ago. I went through Atlantic and it was a smooth transaction (Good folks to deal with). The rifle is nicely built and finished. It shoots very good with surplus ammo and there are no issues.

SAR 2, SLR 105, SGL 31.

You can't go wrong with one of these.... if you can find one.
Good choice! I love my Interarms Tantal.

I have some, but not if price is your only consideration.

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/store/storeguns/pagestoreguns.shtml

I can attest to the first rate quality of ARS's AKs. I've got two of Mark's 74s and two 47s and they are flawless. No junk from this shop..!