Planning a "variant" purchase for the summer, and the NJ legal arsenal has definitely caught my eye.

Don't mind paying for quality, wanted to ask for opinions as to what other offerings are considered "top tier" AK?

If a PTR 32 comes on the radar this might be a moot point, figured I'd ask

most people will say that arsenals are THE top notch AK. i see no evidence otherwise BUT in my opinion you can get one just as good for a lesser price. it may not be as pretty but come on, its an AK.

 

that being said they do look GREAT, the only thing i would change if i had one is the plastic hand guards.

 

as far as other options at the "top tier" level, i hear good things about waffen werks, and VEPR. and of course, if you are handy enough to do it, a converted saiga is probably as close to the real deal as you can get.

To answer your question....YES.

 

The action is smooth as butter and the finish is top notch.

 

I have never seen the other brands in person, so I cannot comment.

 

I once had a MAK 90 and the finish was rough.  I sold it for a lousy $200 - yes it was stupid.

An Arsenal and a regular converted Saiga (the most common conversion) are quite different, with the converted Saiga lacking some of the Arsenal features. I don't have an Arsenal, but I'd pay for one if I had the money to burn. 

 

Quite honestly, if you're really looking for an AK, I'd look into something in the lower price range and spend that extra money that would get you an Arsenal on ammo, lots of mags, and other goodies for it.

 

If you can easily afford the price tag of an Arsenal, then get one and then get all the goodies as well.

Good input, thanks all

Seems like moderately priced "variants" are in the ~800$ range (+ compliance work, if needed, add more $$)

If NJ legal arsenal is +- 500 more, and the quality is commensurate to the price, I figure it's worth it.

Mags & ammo are still available "enough" that a 7.62 x 39 can pass my budget committee.

(Unlike my 7.62 NATO dreams)

Perhaps a WTB post in a couple of weeks may be in order..

what are you looking to do with the gun.. I found 7.62x39 to be awesome inside 100 yards... it goes through things... but at any significant distance it drops like a rock 

There currently are a ton of AK-74's on the market in the $725.00 to $799.00 range, ofcourse you would have to have it shipped to a FFL and made NJ complaint but that should still be under the typical $1000.00 arsenal cost right now. 5.45x39 ammo is out there and still cheaper then x39.

 

My opinion is that you can get just as good for less over an Arsenal.

 

http://www.classicfirearms.com/long-guns/ak74riflewusparts-549

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1TGAK74&name=AK74+5.45x39+Rifle&groupid=6

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1TGAK74PLUM&name=AK+74+5.45x39+Rifle+w%2f+Plum+Synthetic+Stock&groupid=6

 

On the higher end.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1JRAK74&name=JAMES+RIVER+ARMORY+AK74+5.45X39+Rifle&groupid=11

 

Center fire has a bit of everything in stock.

http://centerfiresystems.com/firearms_longguns.aspx

To answer your question....YES.

 

The action is smooth as butter and the finish is top notch.

 

I have never seen the other brands in person, so I cannot comment.

 

I once had a MAK 90 and the finish was rough.  I sold it for a lousy $200 - yes it was stupid.

Too bad on the Mak one of the best AK's out there as far as I am concerned, well made robust, excellent trigger. I put them above almost

anything out there in the civilian AK clone market including the saigs.

There currently are a ton of AK-74's on the market in the $725.00 to $799.00 range, ofcourse you would have to have it shipped to a FFL and made NJ complaint but that should still be under the typical $1000.00 arsenal cost right now. 5.45x39 ammo is out there and still cheaper then x39.

 

My opinion is that you can get just as good for less over an Arsenal.

 

http://www.classicfirearms.com/long-guns/ak74riflewusparts-549

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1TGAK74&name=AK74+5.45x39+Rifle&groupid=6

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1TGAK74PLUM&name=AK+74+5.45x39+Rifle+w%2f+Plum+Synthetic+Stock&groupid=6

 

On the higher end.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1JRAK74&name=JAMES+RIVER+ARMORY+AK74+5.45X39+Rifle&groupid=11

 

Center fire has a bit of everything in stock.

http://centerfiresystems.com/firearms_longguns.aspx

Yeah all the nicer ones that I have been seeing lately are AK74's. The ammo is cheap. Is it hard to find mags for these things in NJ?

How are they to shoot compared to the 47's (7.62x39)?

Good luck finding 5.45 right now. The only places I've heard have it is gun shows and they are asking top dollar for spams.

 

I'd get a 47 over 74 if you're talking about the current situation and you don't have much of either ammo. It's much easier to find as are mags.

Good luck finding 5.45 right now. The only places I've heard have it is gun shows and they are asking top dollar for spams.

 

I'd get a 47 over 74 if you're talking about the current situation and you don't have much of either ammo. It's much easier to find as are mags.

Ammo~> http://gunbot.net/ammo/545x39/

Any AK assembled on a commie factory is the best one (receiver, trunnions + barrel, everything else doesn't really matter). 

Arsenals have good reputation, but a big part of price goes for the name. Basically you are paying for expensive Saiga conversion. 

You get some extras vs simple converted Saiga, but you have no use for them in NJ: bayo lug has to be shaved, muzzle brake has to be welded. In general muzzle brake was created to stabilize AK during auto fire, on semi it gives you only louder noise, bigger flash and (since it's welded and can't be cleaned) place to collect rust. 

Also a lot of people change Arsenal's trigger to G2. 

 

5.45x39 (AK-74) is more modern, has better accuracy and more effective over 200 meters + cheap surplus ammo (it's corrosive, but real AKs have chrome lined barrels, so you don't really care about it). 

 

Some good AK-74 deals this weekend: Tantal $599 , Waffen Werks 74 for $799 with 4 mags (need to check if they will replace 30 rounders with 10 rounders)

 

 

All above is IMO.

Good luck finding 5.45 right now. The only places I've heard have it is gun shows and they are asking top dollar for spams.

 

I'd get a 47 over 74 if you're talking about the current situation and you don't have much of either ammo. It's much easier to find as are mags.

Simply not true, it's been in stock here for the last 2 months. Gun broker also has a wide selection, prices on X39 and 5.45x39 have dropped big time. It's still not at the $190.00 a tin yet but has been coming down and it's still cheaper per case then x39.

 

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=6974&dir=18|830|851

I would also be weary of the polish tantals, they had some real issues not so long ago due to the incorrect diameter barrels being used. Many we're key holing from day one, once the bores were slugged it was found they were more suited for the 5.56 and not the 5.45. Gotta love century!

I would also be weary of the polish tantals, they had some real issues not so long ago due to the incorrect diameter barrels being used. Many we're key holing from day one, once the bores were slugged it was found they were more suited for the 5.56 and not the 5.45. Gotta love century!

I think it was a while ago, those with keyholing issue have specific serial #s

Simply not true, it's been in stock here for the last 2 months. Gun broker also has a wide selection, prices on X39 and 5.45x39 have dropped big time. It's still not at the $190.00 a tin yet but has been coming down and it's still cheaper per case then x39.

 

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=6974&dir=18|830|851

 

I guess since I haven't needed any for a while my quick searches at popular ammo sites haven't brought up much. But that's usually the case, shops with less traffic have stock while more popular shops don't. 

 

 

I would also be weary of the polish tantals, they had some real issues not so long ago due to the incorrect diameter barrels being used. Many we're key holing from day one, once the bores were slugged it was found they were more suited for the 5.56 and not the 5.45. Gotta love century!

 

There have been numerous posts on AK forums that this has been resolved. Well, at least most people getting Tantal's nowadays are posting pics and range reviews and having better luck with them. The Century monkeys were beating on them quite a few years ago, but they have seemed to up their QC a bit more lately. Every so often you will still find a canted sight WASR though. Most of their higher priced firearms have much better QC, such as their milled receivers.

what are you looking to do with the gun.. I found 7.62x39 to be awesome inside 100 yards... it goes through things... but at any significant distance it drops like a rock

 

Fills a slot in the "must have" category

 

Any AK assembled on a commie factory is the best one (receiver, trunnions + barrel, everything else doesn't really matter).

Arsenals have good reputation, but a big part of price goes for the name. Basically you are paying for expensive Saiga conversion.

You get some extras vs simple converted Saiga, but you have no use for them in NJ: bayo lug has to be shaved, muzzle brake has to be welded. In general muzzle brake was created to stabilize AK during auto fire, on semi it gives you only louder noise, bigger flash and (since it's welded and can't be cleaned) place to collect rust.

Also a lot of people change Arsenal's trigger to G2.

 

5.45x39 (AK-74) is more modern, has better accuracy and more effective over 200 meters + cheap surplus ammo (it's corrosive, but real AKs have chrome lined barrels, so you don't really care

Some good AK-74 deals this weekend: Tantal $599 , Waffen Werks 74 for $799 with 4 mags (need to check if they will replace 30 rounders with 10 rounders)

 

 

All above is IMO.

 

 

Thing is, I've already got a kick-ass AR so ballistically speaking,5.45 is similar enough I definitely want 7.62 x 39

So .30 cal it is

But...if I can spend 1400 on an arsenal, I can spend 1500 on a ptr 91, or 1700 on a springer m1a right?

Thing is, I've already got a kick-ass AR so ballistically speaking,5.45 is similar enough I definitely want 7.62 x 39

So .30 cal it is

But...if I can spend 1400 on an arsenal, I can spend 1500 on a ptr 91, or 1700 on a springer m1a right?

Or, if you want AK platform with cheap ammo, just wait a bit and get something for 6-8 hundred. 

Preferably Saiga or WASR. 

If I were you, I'd get something in the 800-1000 range and then spend the extra 500 bucks you would have spent on the Arsenal to stoxstock up on 10-20 mags and ammo.

if I were you... I would wait until AKs didn't cost as much as they do now... they are silly expensive for what they are.. 

 

imo

Yep, prices slowly dropping down, few more months and could be back to pre-panic.

Probably wise to wait for prices to stabilize a bit, make a decision down the road..

 

Unless you have a dictator friend and want to give him a nice gift - there is good deal right now, gold plated WASR   for only $4300: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=333281005

i hear waffen werks makes a decent ak platform 

i hear waffen werks makes a decent ak platform 

Yes, I have one of those, not bad for US made, specially at that price.

Finish (for those who care) is MUCH better than original AK, kind of too god. 

But they make only 74s, at least lately.

Unless you have a dictator friend and want to give him a nice gift - there is good deal right now, gold plated WASR for only $4300: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=333281005

 

See, that's EXACTLY what I had I mind, lol

Unless you have a dictator friend and want to give him a nice gift - there is good deal right now, gold plated WASR   for only $4300: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=333281005

 

That's from Saddam's personal collection.

Unless you have a dictator friend and want to give him a nice gift - there is good deal right now, gold plated WASR   for only $4300: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=333281005

Sorry guys beat you to it, I just made an offer to the seller. Now I gotta find gold plated ammo!

Finish is shitty on the slr101