Im looking to move into the realm of the AK. WASR since they're cheap and if I can find a good one.   Ive heard all of the rumors of canted barrels, front sights, mag wobble.   How do you tell if the barrel or sights are canted?  I mean, obviously if the they're out alot youd see it with the naked eye.  what if its a small amount and how do you tell?  look straight down with the barrel pointed at your face?

If you don't mind the "sporter" style, a Saiga is always a good choice. They are quality and brand new.

Im looking to move into the realm of the AK. WASR since they're cheap and if I can find a good one.   Ive heard all of the rumors of canted barrels, front sights, mag wobble.   How do you tell if the barrel or sights are canted?  I mean, obviously if the they're out alot youd see it with the naked eye.  what if its a small amount and how do you tell?  look straight down with the barrel pointed at your face?

Haven't owned a WASR, but I had a kit of mine (Polish) assembled on a NoDakSpud receiver.  Anyway, the guy who put it together was a home gunsmith and assembled it with canted sights (or maybe the sights were already canted, who knows?).  The front post sight is adjusted to maximum right, but it still hits dead center.  Point being a canted barrel/sight isn't a world ender, it can be corrected by sight adjustments (to a degree).

As for telling when your sights are canted, it's usually pretty obvious, especially when you take off the top cover and remove the recoil spring/bolt carrier.    Let me snap a pic real quick and I'll get it on here.  And no, you look from the rear of the receiver towards the front sight.  Not at the front sight towards the rear of the receiver. 

If you do get a WASR and it's really afwul, you can re-sell it or send it into a gunsmith (just about any will do the job, but I'm particularly fond of Rifle Dynamics) and they'll make it right for you.

-Jason

Here we are:

Im looking to move into the realm of the AK. WASR since they're cheap and if I can find a good one.   Ive heard all of the rumors of canted barrels, front sights, mag wobble.   How do you tell if the barrel or sights are canted?  I mean, obviously if the they're out alot youd see it with the naked eye.  what if its a small amount and how do you tell?  look straight down with the barrel pointed at your face?

I like a cheap AK that I can abuse, so I got me a cheap YUGO WASR underfolder from OGC, the first one had random chamber issues but no other issues. Carter took it back, got me another without any fuss whatsoever.  I think I spent more time looking at other guns than actually transferring it back to him and picking the new gun up (aside from the stupid human tricks you must undergo downtown.

If you are going to buy one..I suggest going to OGC Tactical. He is cheaper than anyone else and you cannot beat his customer service.

Don't you shoot AKs from the hip anyway?

Don't you shoot AKs from the hip anyway?

Nope,

When it comes to AKs, I apply Minute of Man VS Minute of Angle! 

I bought mine at OGC also. Got a romanian. Every AK has it's own personality. Yugo's are  usually built with more quality than the romanian and cost a little more. I was fortunate to get a no mag wobble, straight sighted romanian. Best advice would be to rack it a few times and check for the obvious. Have fun with the search

2A:  Saigas are cool but im looking for the authentic look for cheap, and wood furniture, conversion, bullet guide and whatever will push me into the realm of overpriced.  been watching youtube vids on guys refinishing wasr's with that cherry russian look.  my plan is a authentic look ak then another ak tacticooled out with foregrips folding stock and rails.  i actually really like the way the Saigas look bone stock with the crapo stock.

jason:  holie krap that thing is jacked up.  thanks for the tip.

voodo and banana:  what did you pay if u dont mind me asking?   Im on Maui so trying to figure what id spend for ak, shipping and ffl.  found them online for 380-420 the pricier coming with extra mag acc and case.

 

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voodo and banana:  what did you pay if u dont mind me asking?   Im on Maui so trying to figure what id spend for ak, shipping and ffl.  found them online for 380-420 the pricier coming with extra mag acc and case.

I can't recall. I bought a case of ammo with it as well. I think it was under $500 bucks.

It's a funny story. I looked on line on jgsales and went in to ask Carter at OGC how much it would cost to bring in the cheapest AK47 from jgsales? I told him the cheapest I saw was $399. He told me "You know what, why don't you jus buy it through us for $399 and you don't have to pay shippng or an FFL charge and you don't have to wait cause we havem in stock."So yup everything came out to $417 out the door ... Painless... 

It's a funny story. I looked on line on jgsales and went in to ask Carter at OGC how much it would cost to bring in the cheapest AK47 from jgsales? I told him the cheapest I saw was $399. He told me "You know what, why don't you jus buy it through us for $399 and you don't have to pay shippng or an FFL charge and you don't have to wait cause we havem in stock."So yup everything came out to $417 out the door ... Painless... 

Sounds about like business as usual with him. I intend to buy my guns from him even when I am on the mainland.

If your into the Russian Izhmash deal, Saigas are nice. Though a bit different, they are not forgiving when it comes to buying your standard AK products. with a Saiga, a lot of times you Have to get Saiga specific products to fit. That being said "Make your AK the way you want it, so when all is said and done you'll will be happy." 

2A:  Saigas are cool but im looking for the authentic look for cheap, and wood furniture, conversion, bullet guide and whatever will push me into the realm of overpriced.

There is a huge difference between overpriced, and paying more than you are willing. I'm hoping you mean the latter, because IMO the $150 (or less) you will spend on converting a new $340 Saiga will yield you the best value for an AK on the market. It's possible to get a passable rifle from Century (purveyor of WASRs and various other POS's) I've heard some good things about their Bulgy 74s,  but in general it's buying a pig in a poke.... I just wouldn't mess with them.

I bought a Century Arms Romanian WASR-10 from Carter.  It came with 2 mags (one steel and one plastic tapco) bayonet and other accessories.  No canted sights, never had a jam or hiccup.  It was the side folder and I didn't like the folding stock.  The hinge would buckle every time you would shoot and the butt pad was really thin and would poke into my shoulder.  I spent 100 bucks and bough a Timbersmith furniture set and installed it with a breeze on my WASR.  Now it looks and feels way better.  The only gripe i have from the WASR is that it came really dirty.  As if the weapon was in a crate that was buried... 

Eh howzit REVN556.. Just wondering if your side folder stock is the wire type? Does it buckle because it's defective? I'm asking these questions because I've always wanted a side folding option on my WASR. Let me know if you wanna sell it. I'll give you like $25 bucks for it!

^^^ My guess is if the stock is buckling it isn't a wire sidefolder, they're usually pretty sturdy... even the Romanians. Probably one of those plastic tapcos. I've got an extra E German wire folder I might be willing to get rid of but it would cost you a lot more than 25 bucks.

10/4 tundah, thanks will let you know. I'm trying to sell a car right now. That money will go to gun related stuff. Might consider buying an under folder AK. I was always fascinated with the short compact AK look. Unfortunately we can't have Draco pistols....

Anything that says Century Arms on it will have issues, Ive owned 3 AKs assembled by them (WASR 10, M70AB2, and M70B2); with AKs youll getwhat you pay for.  You need to inspect any rifle banged together by that company before you buy, otherwise youre begging for crooked sights and trigger slap.  Atlantic Firearms has more than a few models built by more reputable companies in the $500-700 range.

My side folder was a Tapco stock.  The hinge had a heavy spring that would compress every time you'd fire it and it would cause the buckling.  If you still want it I'll give it too you for free.  I don't have any use for it and I'd hate to take money for something I don't care to have....

Howzit REVN556! PM SENT.......