Current state of the AK

[awp_101]

Oh...you should buy it. No question.

My PSA Krink-thing is the most fun I’ve shooting in a long time.

You can thank me later...lol

The funny thing is it would give me a 5.56 AK pistol to go with my 7.62x39 AR pistol. I’m not sure if I’d be PDWing wrong or really really right?

[Bigghoss]

Bah, I really need someone to talk me out of the m85 5.56 pistol I mentioned several pages back. The shop is only open for transfers so every time I go in it’s still on the consignment wall whispering to me...

The Serbian guns have inconsistent heat treating in the receivers so it's a gamble if you get a good one or one with a soft receiver.. And if it's a model with the plastic AR15 magwell I heard those don't hold up well either. If it's not, then you have to hunt down the proprietary mags for it. Just don't do it.

[Suvorov]

Yugo guns have been plagued with shit QC and poor heat treat. Add in the non-combloc elements those guns have that limit accessories and they aren’t worth it.

The Serbian guns have inconsistent heat treating in the receivers so it's a gamble if you get a good one or one with a soft receiver.. And if it's a model with the plastic AR15 magwell I heard those don't hold up well either. If it's not, then you have to hunt down the proprietary mags for it. Just don't do it.

The issue of compatibility with COMBLOC elements is a valid point but seems to be countered by the fact that most of the top tier manufactures do make Yugo versions of most of their handguards, rails, etc. In the end I guess it depends on what you are wanting to do with the rifle.

As far as the quality control - my understanding is that the NPAP guns imported by Century were purchased at a price point that resulted in poor quality control at the factory. Century denies this but Zastava broke ties with them and is now bringing them into the country under their own banner.

Has the heat treating issue been solved? All I can go in is a sample of 3 that have not shown any issues with heat treating - the two Robski has tested and my own personal ZPAP that has about 1100 rounds through it yet (I realize not much time but about the time some of the Century guns were showing their poor heat treatment). Rob has also tested a number of newer Yugo "pistols" without issue.

I had some trigger issues with my ZPAP when I purchase and it but I also had trigger issues with my SAR-1 (although the SAR-1 came with crazy crooked front sight cant and a heck of a lot of trigger slap) - I just chalk that to buying guns from Socialist countries.

This will be the first place I'll post any issues with my rifle.

The newer ZPAPs have the 1.5 mm receivers which is claimed to be due to customer demand (although a cynic might say it is because they can't get the 1mm sheet metal properly heat treated) and chrome lined barrels. Given the asking price of $800, they are certainly worth considering against the Romanian guns.

Switching gears - I have an early Arsenal SA93 that I have put some Ironwood furniture on and would like to have the barrel threaded and proper gas block and front sight put on. Are there any good AK Smiths that you could recommend for a "de-banning"?

[Hizzie]

An instructor dictating weapon type? What was the reason for this? I’ve seen more than a few ARs that wouldn’t run worth a poop in a class for various reasons. We all have. Seems to me that if the instructor wants to do that, his own thinking or skill set may be in itself limited. I’d spend my hard earned money with someone else.

In fact one of the Instructors that told me “NO” had to cancel for low enrollment. I spend my money, or used to before marriage/house/kids, where it is appreciated. I was lucky enough to find good instructors.

[Hizzie]

The two bad OPAP’s I had were 1.5mm receivers with the bulged RPK barrel trunions. It’s not the receiver thickness that’s the issue, it’s their heat treat skill and lack of QC.

[JRB]

I have nothing revolutionary to add. Small bore AK's are a bitch because with 5.45 there isn't much choice for ammo but at least the mags are cheap just expensive instead of ridiculously expensive

Fixed that for you. Quality 5.45 mags were stupid cheap 15 years ago, but now one must pay $40+ each for decent milsurp mags.

The two bad OPAP’s I had were 1.5mm receivers with the bulged RPK barrel trunions. It’s not the receiver thickness that’s the issue, it’s their heat treat skill and lack of QC.

Personally I think the QC/QA issue is real but has been blown out of proportion. When the OPAP's came into the US my partner and I sold a boatload of them, mostly to our friends. Zero issues with any of them. Same with a lot of M92 PAP's we sold when dealer cost was still under $400.

But I am seriously thinking of getting an SLR-107R and selling my OPAP to offset the cost.

[Bigghoss]

Fixed that for you. Quality 5.45 mags were stupid cheap 15 years ago, but now one must pay $40+ each for decent milsurp mags.

What about the AK74 Pmags?

[JRB]

What about the AK74 Pmags?

Hit and miss. I bought four 5.45 Pmags, and two cause problems in both of my 5.45 guns. The other two work great.

I got six of the 5.45 AC-Unity mags sold by RTG parts and so far so good but I haven't shot enough with them to trust them 100% just yet. They also have an AC-unity 5.56 AK mag that many were looking forward to but I have no experience with those since I don't have a 5.56 AK.

My small accumulation of Bulgarian circle 10 and East German bakelite mags are 100% in both of my 5.45 guns. For serious use I'd still go 100% Bulgarian circle 10's.

[Bigghoss]

I got six of the 5.45 AC-Unity mags sold by RTG parts and so far so good but I haven't shot enough with them to trust them 100% just yet. They also have an AC-unity 5.56 AK mag that many were looking forward to but I have no experience with those since I don't have a 5.56 AK.

I have an Arsenal SLR-106 which is a 5.56 AK, mags are $50 each. I'll have to grab a few of the AC-Unity mags to try. I have a handful of the Bulgarian mags if for whatever reason I really needed 100% reliable mags. So even if the AC's are only mostly reliable I could at least have beater mags for the range. RTG says coming soon so it looks like they're not out yet maybe? I got lucky and found a 5.56 Saiga at the LGS as they were liquidating to shut down so it was only $500 and the SGM mags for that are *only* $28 a piece.

[GJM]

There is an AK, that was just in the news in Austin, that I bet can be bought cheap.