Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

[Gasitman]

I know this is not a sniper rifle, but this is a huge community. I am not trying to bad mouth arsenal, but 2 weeks ago I bought a brand new sgl21 and have had issues right out of the box. I have been trying for over a week to get ahold of someone at Arsenal and the phone just rings and goes to voice mail.

I have left several messages and no one calls me back. I called the dealer I bought it from and he told me that got it from K-VAR. Guess what, no one is answering the phones there either.

Have they been hit by the ATF? Are they going out of business? I am at a loss. How can a company that charges double what other AK's are not answer their phones for over a week?

Does anyone know someone, or have another phone number for them other than what is on their website?

 

[VJJPunisher]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

contact Red Jacket, they will get ya set up right, hell might make it into a 1,000 yard sniper rifle for ya

 

[Gasitman]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

how is contacting red jacket going to fix a problem with an arsenal firearm?

 

[Inogame]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

Just a hunch, I don't think VJJ was serious.

 

[Gasitman]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

I thought maybe he meant they were a distributor or something. My funny part of my brain is not working right now.

 

[Gasitman]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

FINALLY!!!! The girl answered the phone! She said she was out sick with the flu for a week and apparently the production manager does not answer the phone. (pretty crappy if you ask me)

Anyways, she took down my concern and said she would get back with me later today or tomorrow.

 

[BBJones13]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

If you contact the manufacturer for a week with no response, you are not bad mouthing them. If you came on here first, that would be bad form.

Arsenal is known for pretty crappy customer service. They usually put out good rifles but are a pain to deal with if you get a lemon.

There is a reason why a top AK smith like Jim Fuller of Rifle Dynamics has an Arsenal fix/upgrade package right on his website.

What issues were you having?

 

[Gasitman]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

First off the receiver is not level with the bolt cover, or vise versa. Second it does not shoot accurately. And before someone starts saying maybe it is me, not the gun, here is what I have done in the past week.

At 25 yards the gun shoots 4" groups with open sights. (all shots are made with open sights)
at 50 yards I am at a 7-8" pattern.
At 75 yards it looks like buckshot.

I used wolf, Russian surplus, brown baer, and golden tiger. The last outing I bought a box of American Eagle ammo at $18 and here is how the 20 shots went down,all 5 round groups.

25 yards, 2" group, 50 yards about a 3.75" group, at 75 yards about an 8" group of 4, one not even on the paper. The last 5 shots were through a WASR 10 at 50 yards and it had about a 4" group if I remember correctly.

I have had others look at the rifle, and shoot it. I just ordered a 1-4 from SWFA, and I will throw it on with the K-var scope mount I also ordered today and see what happens. Maybe the sights are just messed up, I don't know for sure. But that will definitely tell me if it is me, ammo, or rifle.

 

[Afghanvet09]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

Go over to the brain trust of the AK47, and that's AK Forum. Membership is a solid group of serious collectors and smith's and builders. They know the companies, products and personalities in the world of the AK. Some live in Las Vegas where Arsenal is located and know a lot about the company. I get all my AK intel from that website. I also get all my AK stuff from there.

If you ever want another AK74 or AKM, get one of the good builders on the AK Forum site to just build from like a Romy or bulgy kit. I almost bought from Arsenal until I noticed most experience individuals on that site had theirs built by vendor/members. I paid about $300 for a kit and another $350 for the build. Could not be happier. My polish AKM built from kit.

 

[Gasitman]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

I am learning that very quickly. I do want an ak-74, just do not want to spend another $1000. And which ak forum are you referring to? I signed up at the akfiles 2 weeks ago and none of the mods have confirmed my posting status just yet. even sent them an email. Maybe you know someone that can help.

 

[Afghanvet09]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

AK Files I had the same problem and haven't been back. Type in AK Forum LLC, sign up for forum. If you post your problem, members are very helpful.

Next as far as Arsenal. People on this site love them. I've never owned an Arsenal but after all the complaints I heard over at the AK Forum, I opted out of buying an Arsenal. If there are AK gunsmiths advertising "repair or fix it packages" for somebody elses or another company's builds like one poster noted - that would certainly do it for me.

Dave Trevino of Cold War classics is a top builder. His finish is the closest thing to finish I've seen on real soviet AK's. He's a great guy and usually a waiting list like anybody who does top notch work. Highly recommend. Best AK receivers (most authentic US copies) are by a company called 74 LLC. Close to museum quality in detail if you are into that sort of thing.

Good luck resolving the issue.

 

[Boomholzer]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gasitman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">First off the receiver is not level with the bolt cover, or vise versa. Second it does not shoot accurately. And before someone starts saying maybe it is me, not the gun, here is what I have done in the past week.

At 25 yards the gun shoots 4" groups with open sights. (all shots are made with open sights)
at 50 yards I am at a 7-8" pattern.
At 75 yards it looks like buckshot.

I used wolf, Russian surplus, brown baer, and golden tiger. The last outing I bought a box of American Eagle ammo at $18 and here is how the 20 shots went down,all 5 round groups.

25 yards, 2" group, 50 yards about a 3.75" group, at 75 yards about an 8" group of 4, one not even on the paper. The last 5 shots were through a WASR 10 at 50 yards and it had about a 4" group if I remember correctly.

I have had others look at the rifle, and shoot it. I just ordered a 1-4 from SWFA, and I will throw it on with the K-var scope mount I also ordered today and see what happens. Maybe the sights are just messed up, I don't know for sure. But that will definitely tell me if it is me, ammo, or rifle. </div></div>

I'm not a AK guy but perhaps the added thoughts will help convey your issue or narrow it to a higher power.
- The dust cover fit should'nt matter at all.
- Grab the iron sight, especially the forward sight and look for play. Also index your hold to target per irons off a bench and look for gross cant or angle in rifle hold.
- How is the rifle printing on target? Generally vertical, horizontal, or totally random? "At 75 yards it looks like buckshot" Sounds random.
- How are you shooting it and how is the trigger slap? Did you try a heavy V-rest?
- What does the fired brass look like? Any discontinuity to photo?

HTH

 

[Gasitman]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Boomholzer</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I'm not a AK guy but perhaps the added thoughts will help convey your issue or narrow it to a higher power.
- The dust cover fit should'nt matter at all.
- Grab the iron sight, especially the forward sight and look for play. Also index your hold to target per irons off a bench and look for gross cant or angle in rifle hold.
- How is the rifle printing on target? Generally vertical, horizontal, or totally random? "At 75 yards it looks like buckshot" Sounds random.
- How are you shooting it and how is the trigger slap? Did you try a heavy V-rest?
- What does the fired brass look like? Any discontinuity to photo?

HTH
</div></div>

No play in the front sight at all. Print is straight, no key holing surprisingly. And yes random. At 25 yards I was low left, at 50 yards low right. I did not put the rifle in a gun vise, but I did have it sandwiched between about 6 sandbags. The spent shells looked fine. however some did have some primers that looked like they were fired through a glock, not a nice smooth "dot" from the firing pin. Not sure if that had anything to do with it.

 

[ffjoey]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

Arsenal aint what they used to be. Customer service is not good and most people are still unhappy with problem rifles after they are "fixed". I build my own AKs but if I were in the market to buy one already built I would look to a custom builder.

 

[DWood]

Re: Having a problem with an Arsenal AK,

http://theakforum.net/