Final Advice ~ Decisions Decisions - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

nothingness · 04-12-2008, 01:51 PM

I can't decide which one of these is the better deal. I don't know anything about AKs. I have shot a cheap wasr a few hundred times and was told alot had to be fixed on it when originally bought.

I'm basically torn between these two:
The AKM 47RM Russian Red
or
Bulgarian SSR85

What are the pros and cons of these (if any)? I know some of you prefer wood over synthetic and neither really matters all that much to me as either can be changed to either later on if I wanted I guess.

I was originally going to go with a Polish ak74 for nothing more than ammo is way cheaper. I decided to go with the 7.62x39 because I prefer power over a few hundred FPS difference in ballistics. From what I understand, the 5.45 is more accurate over 7.62 in full-auto mode which sadly I really don't have to worry about and doesn't ever really go over the 1,000 lbs/energy mark..could be wrong on the accuracy info though, this is all second hand info and I trust you guys opinions. If there is a cheaper/better deal out there..let me know! I just want to stay away from the cheaper kits and wasrs. I don't want to have to fix things after dropping $500+ bucks on a rifle.

shyi3t · 04-12-2008, 02:03 PM

i'm not sure about the top one .. but i hear bulgarian are good .. but i think they are all good .. even wasr ( i have 3) . i was about to get a bulgarian but ended up wanting to get the RPK . you can check out classicarms.com .. they have pretty good prices .. i think just cause an Ak is cheap doesn't meant you have to fix everything all mine has worked... you can replace the wood if it's messed up.

all my ak's are 7.62x39

**einheit 13** · 04-12-2008, 02:22 PM

The 'Russian Red' looks like a Romanian Kit build, from the pic. Unless its a converted Saiga, I don't think so.

the Bulgie is a common price, and its a new gun. Some have come in with issues, but the warranty will fix any of that.

As for the ammo debate, the 5,45 walks the dog on the 7.62 in all aspects except barrier penetration-and the steel core ammo of the 5,45 is almost as good as its 7.62 counterpart. It has more energy bullet, it loses its energy faster and also drops faster.

5,45= 1188 on average
7,62= 1463 on average
5,56= 1322 on average

Polymerhead · 04-12-2008, 05:07 PM

The Bulgarian has a fixed brake, so you'd better be sure it's one you can live with. May or may not be important to you, neither of my AKs even have brakes or flash hiders.

GunnBugg · 04-12-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nothingness

I can't decide which one of these is the better deal. I don't know anything about AKs. I have shot a cheap wasr a few hundred times and was told alot had to be fixed on it when originally bought.

I'm basically torn between these two:
The AKM 47RM Russian Red
or
Bulgarian SSR85

What are the pros and cons of these (if any)? I know some of you prefer wood over synthetic and neither really matters all that much to me as either can be changed to either later on if I wanted I guess.

I was originally going to go with a Polish ak74 for nothing more than ammo is way cheaper. I decided to go with the 7.62x39 because I prefer power over a few hundred FPS difference in ballistics. From what I understand, the 5.45 is more accurate over 7.62 in full-auto mode which sadly I really don't have to worry about and doesn't ever really go over the 1,000 lbs/energy mark..could be wrong on the accuracy info though, this is all second hand info and I trust you guys opinions. If there is a cheaper/better deal out there..let me know! I just want to stay away from the cheaper kits and wasrs. I don't want to have to fix things after dropping $500+ bucks on a rifle.

Dude! I had the same exact issue

with the same exact web page and guns.

...but they were out of Bulgarians and didn't expect any soon

. So, I got the Lancaster yesterday. I am very pleased. It looks nice. Feels nice. Shoots nice. Comes with two mags and a nice bag to hook on its lifetime warranty.

Oh, and it has a super sweet bang switch!

So, I'm happy with the Lancaster....but, I will probably go back and get a Bulgy when it becomes available...if I have the dough.

nothingness · 04-13-2008, 05:11 PM

It never ends for me. I guess I just need to stop looking and choose one.
Someone recommended that I get THIS rifle over the 2 I listed in initial post.

Anyone try these? It's just a tad cheaper than the SSR.
If it's a better rifle all around over the 2 mentioned, I will pick it up instead of the SSR. (gunshow)

Only addons I had in mind was a ultimak optics mount that goes onto the gas tube and a flash hider (for the Vector) if it will even take one. I dunno.

any opinions are welcomed!

GlockConvert · 04-13-2008, 05:56 PM

I have a vector underfolder that is mostly polish. Excellent rifle. hard to go wrong with a vector.

D

akuser47 · 04-14-2008, 09:03 PM

Vector will be my next ak I like the one my buddy has and it is solid.

GunnBugg · 04-15-2008, 06:44 AM

Again, both are good guns. You mentioned that you didn't want to have to deal with a breaking gun, and Lancaster has a lifetime warranty. Between the two you cannot go wrong. Both are good quality AKs. Grab you nads, and your wallet, and hop to! You'll be glad you did when you receive whichever one you get.

nothingness · 04-22-2008, 07:45 PM

I have finally decided to go 5.45x39 over 7.62. All of the 7.62s I was looking at were on backorder.
I'm going 5.45 mostly due to ammo costs. I think 7.62 ammo will stay outrageous in price for awhile.

Going this route has opened up a whole new can of aggravation though, seems mostly everyone is backordered on the good stuff unless you want to go WASR, but I just cannot pay the prices 5.45 WASRs are going for right now online.

Anyone know of a store online that have some good 5.45 AKs in stock for under $600? I was looking at getting the Polish Tantal fixed stock model over at Atlantic but they said they are out for 4 or so weeks. I really don't want to wait that long because i'll probably have the money spent by then on candy, dvds and women.

04-12-2008, 01:51 PM	#1
nothingness XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ft.Worth, Tx / Depression Ranch Posts: 476	Final Advice ~ Decisions Decisions I can't decide which one of these is the better deal. I don't know anything about AKs. I have shot a cheap wasr a few hundred times and was told alot had to be fixed on it when originally bought. I'm basically torn between these two: The AKM 47RM Russian Red or Bulgarian SSR85 What are the pros and cons of these (if any)? I know some of you prefer wood over synthetic and neither really matters all that much to me as either can be changed to either later on if I wanted I guess. I was originally going to go with a Polish ak74 for nothing more than ammo is way cheaper. I decided to go with the 7.62x39 because I prefer power over a few hundred FPS difference in ballistics. From what I understand, the 5.45 is more accurate over 7.62 in full-auto mode which sadly I really don't have to worry about and doesn't ever really go over the 1,000 lbs/energy mark..could be wrong on the accuracy info though, this is all second hand info and I trust you guys opinions. If there is a cheaper/better deal out there..let me know! I just want to stay away from the cheaper kits and wasrs. I don't want to have to fix things after dropping $500+ bucks on a rifle. __________________ RON PAUL IN 2008 ~ tnfgh When the Government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the Government, there is tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson

04-12-2008, 02:03 PM	#2
shyi3t XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 2,135	i'm not sure about the top one .. but i hear bulgarian are good .. but i think they are all good .. even wasr ( i have 3) . i was about to get a bulgarian but ended up wanting to get the RPK . you can check out classicarms.com .. they have pretty good prices .. i think just cause an Ak is cheap doesn't meant you have to fix everything all mine has worked... you can replace the wood if it's messed up. all my ak's are 7.62x39 __________________ SA-XD sub-compact 9mm SA-XD service 9mm "Guns in the right hands prevent death." Survival means continuing to live no matter what. Running away is not cowardly — it is prudent. It may go against the grain of the macho types out there, but protection of your family IS YOUR ONLY DUTY.

04-12-2008, 02:22 PM	#3
einheit 13 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Virginia, C.S.A. Posts: 5,320	The 'Russian Red' looks like a Romanian Kit build, from the pic. Unless its a converted Saiga, I don't think so. the Bulgie is a common price, and its a new gun. Some have come in with issues, but the warranty will fix any of that. As for the ammo debate, the 5,45 walks the dog on the 7.62 in all aspects except barrier penetration-and the steel core ammo of the 5,45 is almost as good as its 7.62 counterpart. It has more energy bullet, it loses its energy faster and also drops faster. 5,45= 1188 on average 7,62= 1463 on average 5,56= 1322 on average __________________ Wer nicht zweifeln kann, ist ein dummer mann! (He who cannot doubt, is a stupid man!) “It is the lack of will power, and not the lack of arms which render us incapable of offering any serious resistance.”

04-12-2008, 05:07 PM	#4
Polymerhead XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: MO, USA Posts: 1,261	The Bulgarian has a fixed brake, so you'd better be sure it's one you can live with. May or may not be important to you, neither of my AKs even have brakes or flash hiders. __________________ No alarms and no surprises, please.

04-13-2008, 05:11 PM	#6
nothingness XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ft.Worth, Tx / Depression Ranch Posts: 476	It never ends for me. I guess I just need to stop looking and choose one. Someone recommended that I get THIS rifle over the 2 I listed in initial post. Anyone try these? It's just a tad cheaper than the SSR. If it's a better rifle all around over the 2 mentioned, I will pick it up instead of the SSR. (gunshow) Only addons I had in mind was a ultimak optics mount that goes onto the gas tube and a flash hider (for the Vector) if it will even take one. I dunno. any opinions are welcomed! __________________ RON PAUL IN 2008 ~ tnfgh When the Government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the Government, there is tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson

04-13-2008, 05:56 PM	#7
GlockConvert XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: PAC NW Posts: 274	I have a vector underfolder that is mostly polish. Excellent rifle. hard to go wrong with a vector. D __________________ Damien in Seattle I don't list my guns - I know glocks, FALs, and AKs but I'm not sure my ability to fill a gunsafe with guns make me an expert on anything. All that you can depend on from a 45 is that it will drill a .45 - .70 inch hole about 14 inches into someone. There will not be "energy dump", people will not fly backwards, and they will not necessarily fall as if they have been struck by lighting.

04-14-2008, 09:03 PM	#8
akuser47 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 15	Vector will be my next ak I like the one my buddy has and it is solid.

04-15-2008, 06:44 AM	#9
GunnBugg XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: El Paso del Norte Posts: 151	Again, both are good guns. You mentioned that you didn't want to have to deal with a breaking gun, and Lancaster has a lifetime warranty. Between the two you cannot go wrong. Both are good quality AKs. Grab you nads, and your wallet, and hop to! You'll be glad you did when you receive whichever one you get. __________________ GunnBugg I own everything that Rebecca Peters hates.

04-22-2008, 07:45 PM	#10
nothingness XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ft.Worth, Tx / Depression Ranch Posts: 476	I have finally decided to go 5.45x39 over 7.62. All of the 7.62s I was looking at were on backorder. I'm going 5.45 mostly due to ammo costs. I think 7.62 ammo will stay outrageous in price for awhile. Going this route has opened up a whole new can of aggravation though, seems mostly everyone is backordered on the good stuff unless you want to go WASR, but I just cannot pay the prices 5.45 WASRs are going for right now online. Anyone know of a store online that have some good 5.45 AKs in stock for under $600? I was looking at getting the Polish Tantal fixed stock model over at Atlantic but they said they are out for 4 or so weeks. I really don't want to wait that long because i'll probably have the money spent by then on candy, dvds and women. __________________ RON PAUL IN 2008 ~ tnfgh When the Government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the Government, there is tyranny. - Thomas Jefferson Last edited by nothingness : 04-22-2008 at 08:06 PM.

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