Help with purchase?

[longhunter]

OK, not going to ask which is best or which is most accurate. Figure that's been beat to death already. What I'm going to ask is which is the better buy. I've got friends with SAR-1s and WASR-10s and they're pretty decent guns. Thing is I really love the ones Global Trades are selling. Are these going to be that much better than the Romanians or is strictly a cosmetic thing? I want 7.62X39 because I already have a great SKS and would just like to keep the ammo the same. Next question is if I buy the Romanian and then decide later to dress it up with better stocks and maybe a brake should I have just went with the others. Perhaps I'd be better off building one but I have no idea whats involved. A FAL wasn't hard but is it worth it for just one? Help me make a decision please.

Thanks

Longhunter

[Packrat]

You'll get all sorts of answers, but this is my opinion: get a cheapie first. You've probably already shot them and like them, or you wouldn't be thinking about getting one. The SAR or WASR is a perfectly good shooting rifle. The Global Trades rifles are prettier; check the prices you'd have to pay for each, and they might not be that much more. On the other hand, if you want nice stocks (and like wood), you can refinish the SAR stocks and have really nice appearance, most of the time. And the SAR has a scope base on it already, if you want to add an optical sight. If you can build a FAL, you should be able to add a brake to a SAR.

AKs are throw-away rifles--they're not meant to be fixed, so rebuilding one is a bit of a job. I wouldn't recommend building your first one. I'd buy a cheap one to start. Then I might rebuild a Saiga into an AK. Then you can think about building one from a parts kit.

Anyway, however you do it, you've probably started on an addiction that will continue to get worse. I think I have about a dozen various types.

[longhunter]

Thanks Packrat! That seems to be the answer I'm getting from my friends who own the Romanians so that's probably what I'll do.

[dixieboy]

Just do what the rest of us AK nuts do. buy one of everything
and shoot them.after about 1000rd you'll know which one you
like.but you will always want one more.


dixieboy

[Dunsel]

Although I respect Packrats response I would have to disagree a bit. I would buy a better grade weapon then the SARs. So I would shell out the money for a VEPR. Well made, more accurate then most and accepts all the additions, and is backed up pretty well by the seller. As far as building one, why bother unless you really want to. Wait until we see if the AWB sunsets, if it does there will be more AKs then you can shake a stick at, the market will boom. If it doesn't sunset you will already have an excellent AK in the VEPR. So many items and such little to choose.
good luck
D

[oldjarheadfart]

A WASR 10 w/10 rd mag is incredibly cheap, and incredibly easy to convert to hi capacity mags.
With all due respect to packrat, an AK is easy to build. They say the AR is the easiest to build. Well, I'v built 3 of them, (AR) and I say the AK is by far the easist gun kit out there to build. (6 built, and counting) This is not meant to say that you can just slap the parts togather and go shooting, cause you can't. But a little forethought and planning, some tools, and someone who's done it before to assist the first timer, will get you a real nice, and real cheap, AK.

OJF

[ByronF]

I recommend buying whichever rifle is closest to your end specifications. Upgrading an SAR with furniture, better FCG, park job and guncoat will cost much more than buying a rifle already equipped that way. And you'll STILL have inferior metal work (tooling marks, fit, finish, etc).

I opted for the SAR1 and have resisted the urge to spend any money on it. If I decided that I must have a fancier AK I'll sell the SAR1 for nearly what I paid, then buy the one I want. The small loss I'd take on resale plus the price difference of the nicer AK would STILL be less than the cost to upgrade the SAR1.

Byron