The All Purpose AK Thread

[AKFTW]

Bulgy kits are good to go. What kit are you purchasing, there are several types out there, and the AKM kits are actually Russian AKs or at the very least Russian parts that were sent to Bulgaria, so those are a screaming deal for what they are.

[retrospeaks]

deal JUST literally ran out. i'm mad as hell. may have to cough up some dough for a "certified" CA-legal century ak from henderson. oh well.

[Lucas_061287]

Okay, so here's a question regarding magazines.

I know the mil surp steel mags are good to go, but my local fun store also has some others. I'm avoiding ProMag and Tapco mags like the plague, but has anyone any experience with Thermold mags?

Any other high quality but reasonably priced mags out there? Or should I just stick to mil surp steelies?

[Kommander]

Okay, so here's a question regarding magazines.

I know the mil surp steel mags are good to go, but my local fun store also has some others. I'm avoiding ProMag and Tapco mags like the plague, but has anyone any experience with Thermold mags?

I would be very wary of these Do they have a metal locking lug and the other bits that make the bulgies work?

Any other high quality but reasonably priced mags out there? Or should I just stick to mil surp steelies?

I always thought the milsurp steel mags were a high quality reasonably priced mag.

[Lucas_061287]

I'm skeptical of the Thermolds, to say the least, as the lugs are indeed polymer. I've read some good reviews, but also a couple bad.

I think I'll just stick with the steelies, unless I find a good deal on some Bulgy waffles.

[Jeriah]

Here's a question, speaking of magazines:

I bought some AK-47 magazines, used Eastern European steel 30-rounders, for $10 apiece at Knob Creek. They're in okay shape but I suspect some may have weak mag springs. One caused failures to feed; I marked it (ha ha, piece of Shoot-N-See, hope that's still on there...) and want to either fix or replace the magazine springs. Can a magazine spring be profitably "stretched" to restore proper spring to it, or do I just need to buy replacement mag springs? (Assuming that it won't help much, so I might as well try it, since it doesn't work now, there's nothing to lose, and long as I leave it marked as "experiemental.")

Assuming a weak mag spring can't be "fixed," follow up question is, what is the best source for replacement AK-47 magazine springs? I have heard good things about Wolff brand springs of all kinds; do they make a good AK mag spring and if so, where's the best deal to buy 'em? (I would probably buy a 10-pack if that helps with pricing.)

[Kommander]

Jeriah once a mag spring is toast it's toast. Stretching it out is just going to cause more problems. Just replace it, AK mags don't cost that much. You can probably get replacement springs for AK mags, but for what they will cost a new mag would probably be a better idea.

[Jeriah]

Jeriah once a mag spring is toast it's toast. Stretching it out is just going to cause more problems.

That's what I figured. I may try stretching one I know is no good, just as a science experiment, but I'll plan on replacing them.

Just replace it, AK mags don't cost that much. You can probably get replacement springs for AK mags, but for what they will cost a new mag would probably be a better idea.

Yeah, my concern though is that if I keep buying the inexpensive used East German surplus mags at ten bucks a pop, I'm going to get more with shot springs. It's sort of like paying $2000 to fix my junk car's transmission, vs. paying $2000 for another junk car: if I fix the tranny, at least I know I've got a junk car with a good tranny. Buy a $2K junk car, and its tranny may be on the way out as well. This, by the way, is not a hypothetical; it's a decision I may have to make in a few days.

Anyway, I thought I'd price out mag springs in case I could bring new life to a bunch of mags rather than replace 'em with others that might be problematic...

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?p ... ber=870880

$22.50 for a three pack, that's over seven bucks a spring...hrmm...

http://www.gunsprings.com/index.cfm?pag ... D=2&mID=77

$5.59 if you buy 'em by the ten pack, though...if a few more mags show signs of weak springs, could be worth it.

One factor here is that because I live in Chicago which has a mag cap of 10 rounds, I can't mail order mags; I've got to buy 'em in person and then keep 'em in a remote storage unit. I'm curious, though: if I did want to just replace these mags with other, quality mags, what's the best bargain in AK mags that won't come with worn out springs?

[Dave_M]

I'm skeptical of the Thermolds, to say the least, as the lugs are indeed polymer. I've read some good reviews, but also a couple bad.

I think I'll just stick with the steelies, unless I find a good deal on some Bulgy waffles.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=53792

[Lucas_061287]

You have a writeup for EVERYTHING!!! I love you, in a totally hetero way

I'll have to read that completely tomorrow. Just skimmed through it because I'm about to go to bed.

[SteamPunk]

I'm looking at getting my first AK and I am now torn between two choices.

1st. Saiga 7.62x39 or 5.45x39 then modified at my leisure (pistol grip, folding stock, full mags etc.)
Pros:
Cheaper than the Henderson (before modding it)
Known quality (Russian build)
More customizable.
Cons:
Will end up being more expensive than the Henderson after buying the parts for it.
Need time and skill to modify it (no previous experience with modding firearms and limited machining experiences)
Not able to get an underfolding stock for it.

2nd. Henderson Defense "hand picked" AK (http://www.hendersondefense.com/store/p ... 50p107.htm) is the main one I'm looking at.
Pros:
Underfolding stock
Won't have to modify it
Cons:
No knowledge of quality
More expensive initially

That's all I can really think of so feel free to add your own pros/cons for this one.

I'm really leaning toward the Henderson right now based on that fact that I wouldn't have to modify it or anything but I wanted your advice before I made a final decision.

Thanks!

[gelgoog]

Get the Saiga, only for the reason that it is not a WASR.

Romanian = bottom quality AK, low quality parts that were made even worse by century monkeys screwing with them.


Saiga = "Top Tier", modern AK-101 made by skilled Russians in russia itself.



Now Henderson might hand pick their wasrs so they don't have canted front sights and other issues that century guns are plagued with, but at the end of the day its still a WASR. The Saiga once converted is about as good as AKs get (until you get into custom weapons like krebs).

[Regular Guy]

IBDP, search function. It will be a good friend in your effort.

[Facejackets]

Henderson Defense makes sure they don't sell crap guns. But like said previously, the Saiga is much better


Why not look into an Arsenal?

[Mythfit]

A sturdy folding stock is my number one option on any gun IMHO. The ability to conceal said gun in a backpack to be able to get out of town without a "shoot me first and take my nice gun" sign on my chest is invaluable.

[SteamPunk]

What do you guys think of this over a Saiga?

http://www.hendersondefense.com/store/p ... 50p271.htm

[SpetsNazGRU]

What do you guys think of this over a Saiga?

http://www.hendersondefense.com/store/p ... 50p271.htm

"New US made barrel" typically means no chrome lining in the barrel or the gas block. I prefer my AKs mil spec.

[JTNieman]

What do you guys think of this over a Saiga?

http://www.hendersondefense.com/store/p ... 50p271.htm

"New US made barrel" typically means no chrome lining in the barrel or the gas block. I prefer my AKs mil spec.

Which mil?

[SteamPunk]

I guess I'm going with the Saiga.

Thanks for the serious advice guys.

[ei8htx]

So I'm looking at an SGL21 for my next combat rifle (admittedly probably after Nov 6, 2012). The description states it has a scope rail. Where is it? I can't see it in the picture and no combination of googling SGL 21, optic, mount, or scope leads me any closer to the answer. Since it's a saiga, is there any reason an ACE folding skeletal stock or Hogue grip wouldn't work?

[AKFTW]

So I'm looking at an SGL21 for my next combat rifle (admittedly probably after Nov 6, 2012). The description states it has a scope rail. Where is it? I can't see it in the picture and no combination of googling SGL 21, optic, mount, or scope leads me any closer to the answer. Since it's a saiga, is there any reason an ACE folding skeletal stock or Hogue grip wouldn't work?

The scope rail is on the left side of the receiver. It is made for Russian scope mounts, and mounts such as the BP-02 give you the rail space for western optics.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I know I posted this question earlier, but since everyone is focused on stocks and the like, I'll ask again.
Does Interarms make a decent AK or should I run away screaming ?

Also, if someone could possibly list which AK makers to avoid and which ones to buy from, that would be great. Thanks.

[SeerSavant]

So I'm looking at an SGL21 for my next combat rifle (admittedly probably after Nov 6, 2012). The description states it has a scope rail. Where is it? I can't see it in the picture and no combination of googling SGL 21, optic, mount, or scope leads me any closer to the answer. Since it's a saiga, is there any reason an ACE folding skeletal stock or Hogue grip wouldn't work?

The scope rail is on the left side of the receiver. It is made for Russian scope mounts, and mounts such as the BP-02 give you the rail space for western optics.

You can get them from several different places...

Personally I like the one that K-var has...



But if you prefer more traditional styles, try Kalinka Optics, I'm saving up and keeping an eye on them, they have a wide array of choices, both integrated scopes and mounts and just mounts....







I got my Arsenal SGL21-71 a few months back, and I absolutely adore it...
If the pricing looks high, I ordered mine thru a local FFL at the range and had him order it from KVAR, think it came to a little over 700 after all said and done....

[ei8htx]

Awesome. Thnx for the info, AK and SS.

So would some AK furniture not work on the SGL21, being a Saiga? Specifically something like the ACE folding skeletal stock, or swapping the handguard/gastube for something with rails.