AK-47s: What country makes it the best? Warning: I'm a newbie with military long guns - The Firearms Forum

waizen · 02-21-2007, 04:14 PM

I'm sure this has been answered a billion times before, but I can't find the answer around. Please don't hate me:

I've become interested in getting an AK-47. Since there are more countries building these things than you can count, and since they are basically identical (I think), it probably comes down to general quality control and craftsmanship as to which country generally builds the better AK.

In order, which country makes the best to worst version of AK's out there? I'm having trouble finding a Russian one but can get a Romanian. Romanian version decent?

Also, I'm new to these and other military long guns. How easy is it to get 7.62 X 39 ammo? Is it known by any other designation in the US, just like 5.56 is thought of like 223 REM, etc.

Anyway, thanks in advance.

Mosin_Nagant_Fan · 02-21-2007, 06:54 PM

Well, if you can find a AK with a milled receiver, you got a good gun. But, most semi-auto's are built from parts kits and usually have a stamped receiver. The best semi-auto AK, IMHO, is one made from a Romanian kit and a receiver no less then 1.5mm thick. (Always ask the seller how think the receiver is, in Millimeters.)

As far as ammo goes, its correct caliber name would be .30 Soviet, but 7.62x39 is what everyone calls it.

southernshooter · 02-21-2007, 07:42 PM

First off I have had several AK's with stamped and milled recievers and other than the weight of the gun, I couldn't tell the difference while shooting. Romanians and Yugo's are the best ones I have had, The ammo is really easy to find and cheap to buy in bulk. Their is also .223 AK's and 5.45x39 AK's

waizen · 02-22-2007, 03:55 PM

The one I'm considering is this one, although I'm getting it from a different source (same price, though):

Anyone familiar with this thing? I'm putting in an order for it tonight.

Thanks!

southernshooter · 02-22-2007, 07:58 PM

That looks kinda like a Shotgun News ad, They usually are but make sure they are a well established trustworthy company

waizen · 02-22-2007, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southernshooter

That looks kinda like a Shotgun News ad, They usually are but make sure they are a well established trustworthy company

I just pulled that image off the internet because it was the only image I could find to show you guys. The one I'm getting I saw in the dealer's supplier's catalogue, but I forget which company that is. It's one of his main suppliers, though.

I just wanted to show you guys the gun I am considering. It's the same model number: AK-RWUMPG, located just above the price on this image.

Anyone know this gun?

delta13soultaker · 02-23-2007, 12:50 AM

You're on the right track, but you're fretting a bit much.

It's an AK. The most genereric weapon in history....ever. An AK is pretty much an AK.

Buy it. Shoot it. Switching parts to get it like you want is too easy.

Get your AK and have fun. It's not like you're marrying it. If she ain't your flavor........

ps...7.62x39 is cheap/plentiful

waizen · 02-23-2007, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delta13soultaker

You're on the right track, but you're fretting a bit much.

It's an AK. The most genereric weapon in history....ever. An AK is pretty much an AK.

Buy it. Shoot it. Switching parts to get it like you want is too easy.

Get your AK and have fun. It's not like you're marrying it. If she ain't your flavor........

ps...7.62x39 is cheap/plentiful

Your post alone made me place the order. Thanks.

Now, as for ammo, I can get Wolf brand ammo real cheap. Probably anyone can, as I'm learning.

I've never used it. Never even heard of it until the other day. Is it okay? I'm sure the AK will fire rocks with firecrackers duct-taped to the tail end, judging by what I hear, but is Wolf okay?

Thanks, everyone!

delta13soultaker · 02-23-2007, 08:34 PM

Everyone has a preference for plinking ammo. I buy whatever is on clearence. Sometimes it's a good idea to shoot a lil' of this-lil' of that just to see what you like.

Wolf ammo is decent. The newer stuff has a different coating on the cartridge cases...check with the seller/retailer. Either way, I'd bet you'll be happy with Wolf.

Keep in mind that your AK will digest whatever you feed it. The important thing as that you feed it often and alot

southernshooter · 02-23-2007, 09:33 PM

Like Delta said an AK will feed anything that fits in the barrel. Wolf is a great AK and SKS ammo, Although it has a lot of issues in an AR

waizen · 02-24-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delta13soultaker

Wolf ammo is decent. The newer stuff has a different coating on the cartridge cases...check with the seller/retailer. Either way, I'd bet you'll be happy with Wolf.

Keep in mind that your AK will digest whatever you feed it. The important thing as that you feed it often and alot

... and ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by southernshooter

Like Delta said an AK will feed anything that fits in the barrel. Wolf is a great AK and SKS ammo, Although it has a lot of issues in an AR

I'm glad I joined this forum. Thanks, folks! I hear my AK should be arriving sometime in the middle of the week.

kfb2b · 02-28-2007, 04:14 PM

If you want the best of the best in a semi-custom format, then save your sheckles & rubles and buy a krebs, but remember, it costs more than AR-15!!!
if you want the best production gun out there, it is a tight race between the VEPR and the Arsenal Inc guns, and they are in that $600-700 range.

there is nothing wrong with the Romanian guns. I have one in each caliber and they are not as nice or as accurate as the first two, but then again, I bought all three for the cost of one krebs, so go figure.

02-21-2007, 04:14 PM	#1
waizen Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South-Central Vermont Posts: 33	AK-47s: What country makes it the best? Warning: I'm a newbie with military long guns I'm sure this has been answered a billion times before, but I can't find the answer around. Please don't hate me: I've become interested in getting an AK-47. Since there are more countries building these things than you can count, and since they are basically identical (I think), it probably comes down to general quality control and craftsmanship as to which country generally builds the better AK. In order, which country makes the best to worst version of AK's out there? I'm having trouble finding a Russian one but can get a Romanian. Romanian version decent? Also, I'm new to these and other military long guns. How easy is it to get 7.62 X 39 ammo? Is it known by any other designation in the US, just like 5.56 is thought of like 223 REM, etc. Anyway, thanks in advance. -->

02-21-2007, 06:54 PM	#2
Mosin_Nagant_Fan Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montgomery, AL Posts: 1,832	Re: AK-47s: What country makes it the best? Warning: I'm a newbie with military long Well, if you can find a AK with a milled receiver, you got a good gun. But, most semi-auto's are built from parts kits and usually have a stamped receiver. The best semi-auto AK, IMHO, is one made from a Romanian kit and a receiver no less then 1.5mm thick. (Always ask the seller how think the receiver is, in Millimeters.) As far as ammo goes, its correct caliber name would be .30 Soviet, but 7.62x39 is what everyone calls it.

02-21-2007, 07:42 PM	#3
southernshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep South Mississippi Posts: 5,943	Re: AK-47s: What country makes it the best? Warning: I'm a newbie with military long First off I have had several AK's with stamped and milled recievers and other than the weight of the gun, I couldn't tell the difference while shooting. Romanians and Yugo's are the best ones I have had, The ammo is really easy to find and cheap to buy in bulk. Their is also .223 AK's and 5.45x39 AK's __________________ Only you can see this

02-22-2007, 03:55 PM	#4
waizen Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South-Central Vermont Posts: 33	Re: AK-47s: What country makes it the best? Warning: I'm a newbie with military long The one I'm considering is this one, although I'm getting it from a different source (same price, though): Anyone familiar with this thing? I'm putting in an order for it tonight. Thanks!

02-22-2007, 07:58 PM	#5
southernshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep South Mississippi Posts: 5,943	Re: AK-47s: What country makes it the best? Warning: I'm a newbie with military long That looks kinda like a Shotgun News ad, They usually are but make sure they are a well established trustworthy company __________________ Only you can see this

02-23-2007, 12:50 AM	#7
delta13soultaker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Depends on Uncle Sam's whim every 3 yrs. Posts: 2,948	Re: AK-47s: What country makes it the best? Warning: I'm a newbie with military long You're on the right track, but you're fretting a bit much. It's an AK. The most genereric weapon in history....ever. An AK is pretty much an AK. Buy it. Shoot it. Switching parts to get it like you want is too easy. Get your AK and have fun. It's not like you're marrying it. If she ain't your flavor........ ps...7.62x39 is cheap/plentiful __________________ Never say die! "A nation who forgets its defenders is soon forgotten itself." "A good shot must necessarily be a good man since the essence of good marksmanship is self-control and self-control is the essential quality of a good man." – Theodore Roosevelt

02-23-2007, 08:34 PM	#9
delta13soultaker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Depends on Uncle Sam's whim every 3 yrs. Posts: 2,948	Re: AK-47s: What country makes it the best? Warning: I'm a newbie with military long Everyone has a preference for plinking ammo. I buy whatever is on clearence. Sometimes it's a good idea to shoot a lil' of this-lil' of that just to see what you like. Wolf ammo is decent. The newer stuff has a different coating on the cartridge cases...check with the seller/retailer. Either way, I'd bet you'll be happy with Wolf. Keep in mind that your AK will digest whatever you feed it. The important thing as that you feed it often and alot __________________ Never say die! "A nation who forgets its defenders is soon forgotten itself." "A good shot must necessarily be a good man since the essence of good marksmanship is self-control and self-control is the essential quality of a good man." – Theodore Roosevelt

02-23-2007, 09:33 PM	#10
southernshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep South Mississippi Posts: 5,943	Re: AK-47s: What country makes it the best? Warning: I'm a newbie with military long Like Delta said an AK will feed anything that fits in the barrel. Wolf is a great AK and SKS ammo, Although it has a lot of issues in an AR __________________ Only you can see this

02-28-2007, 04:14 PM	#12
kfb2b V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 56	Re: AK-47s: What country makes it the best? Warning: I'm a newbie with military long If you want the best of the best in a semi-custom format, then save your sheckles & rubles and buy a krebs, but remember, it costs more than AR-15!!! if you want the best production gun out there, it is a tight race between the VEPR and the Arsenal Inc guns, and they are in that $600-700 range. there is nothing wrong with the Romanian guns. I have one in each caliber and they are not as nice or as accurate as the first two, but then again, I bought all three for the cost of one krebs, so go figure.