Best AK-47 Model?

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lotus

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I'm looking to get an AK and was curious what everyone's preferred model is. I'm leaning toward the Zastava ZPAP M70 which seems like the best price to performance ratio.
 
I asked an 'Ak' buddy the same question last week and this was his response;

(If you want that battlefield pick up look. Go to Atlantic firearms and check out the Hungarian AK63F. It's a Hungarian parts kit with new polish hammer forged barrel on us made Childers receiver. It should be a hell of a shooter. If you want factory built new gun I would go Serbian Zastava arms zpap or Bulgarian. And the Romanian guns ain't bad either and a little cheaper usually. Mags I would go gun mag warehouse for Bulgarian 30 round steel brand new )


I have zero AK knowledge but I think I need one just because.....reasons.
 
What is your primary reason for getting the 'best' - collecting or a range gun?
 
Infamous1 said:
I asked an 'Ak' buddy the same question last week and this was his response;

(If you want that battlefield pick up look. Go to Atlantic firearms and check out the Hungarian AK63F. It's a Hungarian parts kit with new polish hammer forged barrel on us made Childers receiver. It should be a hell of a shooter. If you want factory built new gun I would go Serbian Zastava arms zpap or Bulgarian. And the Romanian guns ain't bad either and a little cheaper usually. Mags I would go gun mag warehouse for Bulgarian 30 round steel brand new )


I have zero AK knowledge but I think I need one just because.....reasons.
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Thanks!

Dan0311 said:
What is your primary reason for getting the 'best' - collecting or a range gun?
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Range and just in case a war breaks out lol
 
Selling one w 5 mags and carry strap right now...see the rifles classifieds section. I did my homework up and down and concluded the same as you.


lotus said:
I'm looking to get an AK and was curious what everyone's preferred model is. I'm leaning toward the Zastava ZPAP M70 which seems like the best price to performance ratio.
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My AK experience
My own builds, an AMD65 and a Romy G. My friends Mak90 and another friends VEPR

They are all AKs. They all work flawless and have similar accuracy
 
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I’m partial towards the ZPAP’s, they are built like tanks and have chrome-lined barrels and the reinforced trunnions. They look great too. WASR-10 is also a good option if you prefer lower weight and standard AKM-pattern furniture. PSA’s GF3 AK is a good low-cost alternative.
 
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Chinese and Russian made, if you can find them, will hold up in value the best because they’re no longer being imported. For quality, Bulgarian and Polish are tough to beat. You may also want to consider AK 74’s. The Polish Tantal is one of my all time favorites and fires 5.45 x 39 which is flat shooting, minimal recoil and the bullet spins pretty nasty inside of 100 yards. The Afghans called it the poison bullet because of the damage it inflicts.
 
The WASR's have been dropping in price lately, hovering around 7. They are still the best beginner AK as far as I'm concerned.
A patient man might be able to get one cheaper by waiting out the market, so long as nothing screwy happens.
 
PSA Gen 5! Do some YouTube reviews. Thinking about getting my second one with a folding stock. Also, a lifetime warranty with a company you can get parts if needed. Do not come back to me and say DAMN, I WISH THAT I LLISTEN TO YOU ABOUT THE PSA 6 GEN RIFLES. ALG TRIGGER AND FN MACHINEGUN BARREL
 
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I would second the WASR-10 if only for the furniture and optic mount compatibility. If you're looking to change things out, having the AKM-pattern stuff available to you is a big help.
 
For just blasting, there's a few good ones mentioned.

For collecting, Russian, Chinese, Arsenal, etc. have skyrocketed in resale, but they're pricey.

I like the Serb PAPs. There's not too many factory-made, semi-auto AK's that are made on the same production lines as their country's military rifles. Maybe one day these will be the Norincos that many turned their nose at in the 80's, but are kicking themselves in the arse now for not buying as many as they could at $349 ea.

From 2020: https://www.americanrifleman.org/co...major components of the,for 922(r) compliance.
 
Of the five or six I've owned the only ones that haven't since moved on are a Yugo NPAP, and an Arsenal SLR.
It's a draw as to which I like most. In a perfect world I'd have a Krebs and a Rifle Dynamics AK. But the two I have work 100 percent of the time, so I can't complain.
 
the one you never had….that’s been my experience, I have had the Zastava, Vepr, Saiga…..all excellent brands but the only one I have is the PSA 3gen. All the rest was heavy or to fancy, guess I was to scared to shoot or use them. The PSA is cheap and I don’t care if it gets used….and it’s cheap!!!

isn’t that the lure of a good ak? Cheap to buy, cheap to shoot, have fun….
 
I mean, if you want 'best', that'd be the Galil Ace Gen 2.
It's an AK with:
* Reliable flat top for optics
* Bolt handle on the left hand side, where it should be.
* Free floated barrel and mlok handguards
* Standard AR stock tube
* Better safety
* Standardized, realiable mag well, instead of the weird variability of the average AK magwell

But it runs into the 'Ship of Theseus' problem. With that many changes to the AK platform, is it still an AK?
 
pinkbunny said:
I mean, if you want 'best', that'd be the Galil Ace Gen 2.
It's an AK with:
* Reliable flat top for optics
* Bolt handle on the left hand side, where it should be.
* Free floated barrel and mlok handguards
* Standard AR stock tube
* Better safety
* Standardized, realiable mag well, instead of the weird variability of the average AK magwell

But it runs into the 'Ship of Theseus' problem. With that many changes to the AK platform, is it still an AK?
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AK related? Yeah...

I think of the ACE like a relatively "Modern" car with a tried and true V8 installed in it in place of the "modern" computer controlled 4 or 6 cylinder engines.

That engine doesnt know what its in...it just runs.
 
There is no "best." There is your favorite and everyone else's favorite, as clearly evidenced in this thread.

To me it's a factory import over some American attempt. Imports > domestics. Hard stop.

I have models from everywhere from Russia to North Korea, but I always go back to older Bulgarians, specifically the sexy babushkas in the original SLR folder family (not the more recent SLR-107R). Out of the FR offerings, I'd say my all-time favorite is the SLR-104FR. It's not the best, it's not the worst; it's not the highest quality or the most accurate. But it's the one I cherish most. YMMV.

At the end of the day, it's the one you are proficient with, while having adequate mags and ammo. Search "WASR" on here along with my username, and you'll find the model I've recommended to new AK owners about 800 times.
 
B00ger said:
WASR 10, bonus for slightly wobbly mag well and canted front sight. Gives you that real "I just grabbed this from a dead terrorist" feel.
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While the issue with the sights was true once upon a time (personal experience) it's really no longer an issue since the ones now sold are new production from Serbia, pardon me Romania, the old ones were made by Century from parts kits. Mine sure was.

PSAs gen AK would also be a reasonable choice.
 
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Stogies said:
While the issue with the sights was true once upon a time (personal experience) it's really no longer an issue since the ones now sold are new production from Serbia Romania, the old ones were made by Century from parts kits. Mine sure was.
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One minor fix, above. And the WASR-10 has been largely g2g since about 2014, when Cugir and Century really ramped up QC.

As for military parts guns vs. commercial exports, there were once two versions of the WASR - the "10/63" used surplus parts, and the "10" used new commercial parts. Both versions had lemons back in the day, but a lot of that is overblown folklore, almost entirely the fault of American workers at Century and not Romanian workers at Cugir, and due to the fact that almost every AK owner had a WASR way back when because there were fewer offerings available and the Romanian guns were the cheapest to buy.
 
Stogies said:
While the issue with the sights was true once upon a time (personal experience) it's really no longer an issue since the ones now sold are new production from Serbia, the old ones were made by Century from parts kits. Mine sure was.

PSAs gen AK would also be a reasonable choice.
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Mine was made by a recent high school drop out with a gimp arm, a muscle tick, a raging Monster energy drink addiction and on a Friday afternoon right before free taco night at the local strip club.
 
Just got a James River Armory Gallant (Galil) from Classic Firearms.
Some reviews talked about metal shavings being in the receiver, or worn out springs, or wooden handguard being loose, safety sticking.

The rifle was in great shape, none of that. Handguard was tight, safety was smooth, trigger was nice. It was a great deal, imo. Will post some pictures tomorrow.
 
pinkbunny said:
Just got a James River Armory Gallant (Galil) from Classic Firearms.
Some reviews talked about metal shavings being in the receiver, or worn out springs, or wooden handguard being loose, safety sticking.

The rifle was in great shape, none of that. Handguard was tight, safety was smooth, trigger was nice. It was a great deal, imo. Will post some pictures tomorrow.
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While technically not an AK it's close enough in my book. I would love to add one to my collection eventually.
 
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