AK-47

[brushbustin]

I have decided that with the Tax rebate the Govt is giving us,this spring,I will buy another AR or an AK,i really want an AK since i already have an AR.I was thinking the saiga would be the best.But i don't know.Which kind is the best and which ones should i steer clear of?I was also thinking about the AK-74 it shoots the 5.56x39 not to be confused with the 5.56x45.I do believe the ammo is cheaper for the 7.62 though.Anyway,your help will be appreciated.

[Paul L Mohr]

I've owned a saiga and can tell you it's far from the best. Probably the cheapest POS gun I have ever owned in my life. You would probably be better off with a high point carbine in my opinion.

And if I had to choose between an AR and a AK it would be an AR hands down, unless it was just going to sit in the gun case to look cool.

I would also rather have a SKS over an Ak as well.

My opinion anyway.

Paul

[oldsmellhound]

If you want an AK to round out your arsenal, a couple bits of my opinion:

- Get a higher-end AK, not the Romanian surplus ones you can find for $300. You can find some customized, refinished teflon-coated models that are much nicer in the $500 range. Don't expect it to shoot as accurately as your AR, though - not anywhere close.

-I wouldn't recommend getting the 5.45 x 39mm version, mostly because of ammo availability. You can walk into almost any gun store nowadays and get the 7.62 ammo - in hollow point, ball or soft point. It's plenty cheap too.

-An SKS wouldn't be a bad idea instead of the AK. They're cheaper & generally better made. Get a replacement stock for it, and they're not bad rifles. You lose the 30 shot capability of the AK, though.

[jtb1967]

Without spending a ton of money, you can get a nice dependable AK by buying one of the Yugos or a Romanian built on the G kit like Centerfire Systems is selling. They are built on U.S. receivers and not the sloppy WASR receivers you'll find on the Century Arms built guns.

[BigTiny]

My Saiga in .223 shot pretty well, probably not as well as one of the good AR's, but good enough, and much better than average for an AK. I hear good things about the .308 and shotgun versions, but everyone with the 7.62x39 has hated it. There are plenty of AK's out there chambered for .223, since you already own the AR. If you go with the standard AK, the Yugos, Bugarian, and Romanian are pretty nice. I don't like the century rifles either.

[Seif5034]

i've got a SKS(7.62x39) and the ammo runs about $5 for a 20rd box of FMJ