MAYBE a Bulgarian AK for my first AK? (what say you?)

[Brickboy240]

Well, with the obvious worry over what might happen in November...I guess its time I get off my duff and start thinking about what AK variant I want to have. My budget is no more than 550 bucks total. This is why I am forgoing the AR-15 - with the decent ones starting around 800 bucks....thats just too much money for a "fun-gun."

So, with that in mind, I noticed this little gem for sale:

Bulgarian AKSSR-85CPart #AKAGUN-SSR

(The Arsenal Bulgarian assembled AK)



Also, Classic Arms has this for a tad less:

Classic Arms Inc.

A Romanian G Code without the funky foreward verticle hand grip for about 439 dollars.


Since I have handled a few Romanian SARs and WASRs and was NOT impressed with the crudeness, canted sights and trigger slap, I am a bit leery of any AK that is Romanain.

I REALLY tend to be leaning towards the Arsenal/Bulgarian AK and will probably swap the furniture later on for a nice wood set.

Anyone own an Arsenal/Bulgarian AK? How do you like it? Any problems with the rifle? How about compatiblilty with surplus AK mags?

The Arsenals seem like well built AKs for the money. They do make higher dollar AKs, but for about 540 bucks, this one seems like a great deal. I am not totally ignorant onthe 7.62x39...as I have four SKSs and a Bulgarian AK to match my Bulgarian Makarov would also be really nice.

Any and all opinions on these or other AKs in the 550 bucks or less category would be appreciated. You may have a WASR, SAR or other Romanain AK and love it...but I don't think I want to roll the dice and want something that is finished out a little better.

Thanks!

- brickboy240

PS: I am looking to buy in the next month or so and will be paying cash.

[nsnate02]

Go to AIMSurplus, your home for surplus ammunition, guns and firearms and get one of the Saiga AKs that have been converted. Best around IMO. AIM Russian Saiga 7.62x39 Rifle Russian Saiga 7.62x39 Rifle

[newKid]

aim surplus had arsenal 106s for like 689. . .but i think they are gone now. . . . i wish i had had the coin for one.

[blefferd]

AIM also has the blonde bulgarians not sure what they want for them though.

*sorry just saw they where sold out! they went pretty quick i guess. they have the plastic stock versions though

[einheit 13]

I own 2 old Arsenal built guns....I can't build them any better. The newer ones seem to be a little lesser quality in the over all finish and sometimes fit (an entire shipment with the barrel pin drilled off centre made the barrels cant to the left), but they are great guns non the less. I'm a Bulgarian freak, don't care who builds them....SSRs seem pretty nice from what I've seen and shot of them. They ate all Euro mags and Chinese drums with no trouble at all.

[shyi3t]

you can try Elk tool & die (global trades) from houston .. they go to the gunshows here in houston.. i got my bulgarian ak from them .. militarygunsupply come to the gun shows an occasionally will have the bulgarian ..

[Oreo]

I second nsnate's idea. I love my Saiga to death, and have never had a problem with it other than a slightly canted sight.

I think the way they're described is an "AK varient built to hunting specifications." But it's nice.

[Ishpeck]

The G code rifles aren't bad at all. Definitely higher quality than your average WASR 10. I say give it a try.

[Brickboy240]

Ok...I did a little more resaerch but am still a bit unclear on my options.

I checked with Elk River (the former Global Trades) here in Houston. Forget it...they want 650 and up for any of their AK builds. Sorry, but that gets too close to AR-15 range. I can get a locally made High Standard AR M4 variant for around 699...so why pay 650-750 for an AK? The Elk River stuff, like the Global Trades AKs are nice rifles...but too close to AR prices.

The Saigas? Well, locally, they can be had for around 300-325 in "sporting" configuration. They seem well made and well finished, but to get them into regular AK configuration, I would have to buy about 100 dollars worth of parts and either experiment myself or pay some smith about 100 bucks to put it together the right way. That puts the converted Saiga AK (which is probably a good piece) at the same price as the completed, ready to go Arsenal Bulgarian AK.

AIM was out of their converted Saiga AKs..so the 549 priced version from them (which I MIGHT have bought) is probably not an option.

Can the Saigas, as they come, accept the standard AK 30rd magazines or are they single stack only and need to be opened up?

Also...does anybody have one of the Classic Arms G-Code Romo AKs without the foreward grip? For 439 bucks....if they work decently...this is probably the best AK deal going. I have a feeling that they're not of the quality of the Saiga or better Bulgie AKs.

Ugh...more reaserch still needs to be done...but I have a ceiling of maybe 500-550 bucks and if I cannot find a suitable AK in this range..I am sucking it up and going AR.

The AK does appeal to me more than the AR for two reasons:

First, I like the beater/utilitarian aspect of the design and don't plan on competiting with it and probably wont mount a scope on the thing. Second, I don't own anything in 223, but already have 4 SKSs that shoot the same round as the AK and don't want another caliber to add to a very long list of rifle calibers that I can hardly afford to shoot.

Thanks for the help...I am learning alot.

- Brickboy240

[blefferd]

Classic Arms has the G code rifles with and with out the forward pistol grip. if you are not a big fan of the pistol grip that thing came be replaced in about 2 minutes with something else.

*edit,

G code rifles where actual issue rifles, they chopped um sent them over here as kits and some importer prolly rebuilt them on a US receiver. nothing wrong with the fit or finish of a G code rifle. i have a 1986 kit that has just as good if not better finish than my Bulgarian Aresnal AKs-74. bulgarian rifles are not known for there finish lol