Mak-90

[genesis]

I have been lookign for an AK for the last few weeks, and had pretty much decided I was going to get one of the lancaster's.
However, yesterday I found a MAK-90 for $450 used. Is that a fair price?
And what do I need to look for in this particular gun? Are there any aftermarket stocks and such for this gun?
I really just want a nice looking, good shooting, accurate (for an AK) gun for a reasonable price. And I need to get this and an AR before January.

[Tattooed Bard]

you want to make sure the receiver doesnt have the third rivit for the full auto, because even with it unused and plugged it is still a no-no for the ATF guys

other than that, you are good

[blefferd]

it is probably a Norinco mak 90 sporter those where all neutered aka no threaded barrel, no pistol grip stock etc.

[tbhahn]

That's what I paid for my Mak-90 in "like new" condition...Personally, it is one of my favorite rifles to shoot, even with the clunky thumbhole stock. It's just fun to shoot.

In what sort of condition is the one that you found? I think that as long as you comply with 922(r) regulations, you can replace the stock, foregrip, etc. The only thing I added to mine however is a sling.

[einheit 13]

Good price, see if they know if the receiver is square or angled at the butt stock, you want square, angled means you sither use a 'Dargunov' type stock or you fill in the blank spots where the butt doesn't hit the receiver. You may also luck out in the fact that if it has a barrel nut, it may be threaded underneath.

[Alaskapopo]

450 seems fair. This is my Mak 90 after all the US compliance parts were added so I could have a pistol gripped stock. I rented a tread kit and treaded the barrel for a flash hider.

[leper]

I bought one a few weeks ago for 400. It came with 2x5 round mags and 3x30 ones. The barrell is threaded. The gun seems to have had quite a few rounds through it, so 450 seems like a real good price, for yours.

[gomopar440]

MAK = Modified AK
90 = The year they started to import that varient (1990)

They're fairly solid Chinese AK's that were produced by Norinco from 1990 to 1994. As mentioned in the post above they were neutered by the US import regulations at the time. The barrel threads were removed (mashed over), the bayonet lugs milled off, the cleaning rod holder hole under the gas block was also welded shut and ground smooth (on mine at least). They were mostly built with stamped receivers using fairly thick 1.5mm steel, except for some that were milled ('93 only). This thicker stamped metal seems to lend itself to making the MAK a very solid AK IMHO. I can't personally comment on the original thumbhole stock as mine had the synthetic ATI Dragunov stock already installed when I got it.

I paid about $450 for mine a month ago and have been extremely happy with it so far.

I picked up a Blackjack Buffer to keep the action from beating the receiver up (saw some dings where it was making contact) but it's only a temporary fix. The proper way to fix that issue is to swap the recoil spring out with a heavier duty one.

The MAK's don't come with a side rail to mount optics so if you want to go there you'll have to add one. I just got my new rail in the mail Friday as well as the BP-02 low profile optics side mount and will be mounting it up soon. If you're not confident in your abilities to mount the side rail (drilling & riveting required) you'd better leave it to a gunsmith. Also keep in mind that if you add one you may have to swap out something else to keep the gun legal. My stock is already swapped out with the ATI (US made) so I'm good there.

BTW: The aftermarket top cover rails and gas tube cover rails are a joke IMHO. There's no way to accurately hold the rails 100% true to the barrel.

[PainTrane]

Originally Posted by genesis

I have been lookign for an AK for the last few weeks, and had pretty much decided I was going to get one of the lancaster's.
However, yesterday I found a MAK-90 for $450 used. Is that a fair price?

Buy the Lancaster! Don't go near any other AK-47, Lancaster's AK-47s are the best on the market! Hands down! I bought an AK-47 from Lancaster himself at a gun show and he gave me the whole rundown on it, he told me everything. Lancaster's AK-47s are different (and better) from all of the other WASR10 AK-47s because his AK-47s have a match-grade two stage trigger group, a chrome lined barrel, milled receiver (better than stamped), very nice Russian Red wood with a very nice semi-gloss finish, recoil buffer, and a special trigger plate system (spring loaded steel plates which reduces metal-on-metal contact, reduces wear & tear, and also reduces the number of lower-quality stamped parts found in most Yugo/Chinese/Romanian AK-47s). Get the Lancaster, trust me you won't regret it! LIFE TIME WARRANTY IS ALSO INCLUDED.

[seattleducati]

Sorry to break the news to you, but Lancaster does NOT make a milled AK...also another selling point of "chrome lined barrels," unless it's a Yugo it's chrome lined...last thing, the wood is dyed "russian red" to simulate what he thinks russian red furniture looks like. Are Lancaster's good guns, sure, but they're not what you're making them out to be...now if Rambo used one, then they'd be the sh*t...maybe Chuck Norris too.

Now back to the original poster. I probably wouldn't get a MAK90 for more than 350-400. The thumb hole stock is not comfortable unless you end up sanding it down. For the $450 you seem to be willing to spend you can probably find a "standard" looking AK without any mods needed to make it feel right.