Russian AK Magic

[Pappakap]

I’m hoping someone can comment on the magical status people assign the SGL series converted rifles espescially since the embargo on their importation lately. I’ve got a desire for an ak and I try to be a buy once cry once guy because it’s cheaper for me in the end. Is it kool-aid drinker nonsense that they outperform the other combloc variants? I’m not looking to collect it as much as I’m looking for a solid performing tactical rifle for classes and defense. Hoping for first hand experience on if the sgl 21 really should demand a 2x premium over the Pols, Serbs, East Germans, etc.

 

[ShooterwithNoName]

The SGLs are nicely built, for an AK. I've had them all, Bulgy, Russian, Yugo, Romy, East German, Norinco, US Made, etc, etc...

Bottom line is, every single one of them functioned perfectly. Never had problems out of any of them, they all ran the same: reliable. Shot the same: minute of man.

If I were going to buy one to shoot the shit out of and be a beater, get a Yugo or a Romanian. They run and shoot just like the high end models. Thing is, they are all most likely gonna be shooting the same, cheap, steel cased bulk ammo. They arent made for accuracy anyway, they are made to run forever and be simple to use and maintain.

If you are wanting one to shoot from time to time, but want to maintain resale value, go with the SGL.

 

[ShooterwithNoName]

By the way, my favorite AK I ever owned was an Arsenal SAM7SF. Milled receiver, just about the nicest AK I had ever held. The fit, finish, balance, everything about it was just right. I sold mine off unfortunately. But if I were going to drop coin on an AK to run training courses or for defense, you cant go wrong with the SAM7 or SLR Bulgy AKs. As far as quality goes, they are identical from the ones I've owned. The only difference is the name on the receiver and the price vs. the SGL series.

 

[wade2big]

I have been an AK man from back when they were cheap, including the SGLs. I sold all my high end AKs over the last few months. I sold a SGL21, two SGL 31s, two slr104fr, one slr 107fr and many others. I made thousands of dollars of profit on the rifles alone. I made several more thousands on the truckload of 5.45x39 ammo that I sold. Basically when AKs became collector items I cashed out.

Availability is what separates a high end combloc AK from a lower end combloc ak. It has very little to do with quality. A good wasr is every bit of an AK as an SGL. When they became collector items I cashed out of the “high end” aks. If you want a SGL and are willing to pay to play then by all means. Just don’t go into it thinking it will perform or function better than any other properly put together Ak.

 

[roamin]

I heard Classic had Galil Ace's for $999. Just sayin.

 

[Tonsofguns]

i've owned all the aks as well, and the sgl are great rifles. However, it makes little sense to buy one as a shooter right now, unless you have money to burn, and you want to shoot in style. They have become collector items with used sgl 21 fetching $1500, and folding stock sgl 31 now fetching $3k nib. Like Wade, i've sold most of my aks due to market demand, except for my 5.45s (vepr and sgl 31).

If you buy a sgl, and you want it to retain it's value, avoid serious modifications like barrel cutting, as they lose value on mods very quickly. Evan spending $300 on russian furniture, and not having the original furniture will only make the rifle worth less.

You can find 107fr here and there for around $1200 a pop, and they'll have the folding stock, instead of the fixed stock. People will argue they are higher quality than the sgl 21, however, I haven't found much of a difference between the two.

I have kept one 7.62 ak, and that is a romanian wasr 10/63. For $600 I found this ak can do anything my other ak's could do, however, the finish is crappy, but this ak it's not a collectors item, at least not yet. At this rate, it seems like all aks will become collectors items.

 

[DRAM40A1]

The last Romanian WASR I “gambled” on was an 8 MOA piece of garbage. I would never pay current prices for an SGL but I do have several I’m contemplating selling to buy an SR-25.

 

[Pappakap]

I suspected it was all hype. Interesting to hear you prefer milled @ShooterwithNoName . I read mostly people saying milled adds an imodicum of accuracy and a whole lot more weight. Sounds like Bulgy is the preferred alternative especially with the current climate. Just hard to believe places like Atlantic were selling SGL’s for $500 or so and now they are trendy and going for 3x that.

 

[Tonsofguns]

Personally, I haven’t found milled to add any accuracy, however they will make the rifle last longer. Battlefield Vegas has stamped receiver cracking at 150k rounds and their milled keep going.

that’s more ammo than most will shoot in all if their rifles in a lifetime.

 

[BravoSector1]

I've always gravitated to the builgarian AKs and Arsenal line. I've ran an Arsenal SLR-106 in 5.56 NATO for years. It's a sewing machine. As others have pointed out, if you just want a shooter, the Romanian with a chrome lined bore is a great option. Swap out the kindling furniture for something more functional and go. The SAM7 series have steyr cold hammer forged barrels.

 

[ShooterwithNoName]

I really liked my SAM7, maybe it was just in my mind, but it just felt right. Shooting both stamped and the milled SAM7 side by side I just preferred the milled receiver. The stock lock up was tight, it was a great handling rifle.

I never compared accuracy on them much. Other than zeroing the POSP scopes I never really tried to see if it shot better. Once they started going up in price, my SGL21 was the first to go. I just couldnt pass on the profit I made from it.

I only have 2 AKs left nowadays, an AK104 clone and an AK106 both home builds. They are both works in progress, I used all Bulgy parts to build them. I do have a Tortort 80% milled receiver tucked away along with a RPK7 barrel. I'll get around to getting the rest of the parts and build it one of these years...

 

[Tonsofguns]

I see that Dram had a bad experience with the Romanian Wasr. Correct me if I am wrong, but the early models could be hit or miss, but the newer models are much more consistent in terms of quality.

btw, if anyone wants to sell me their 104fr, hit me up on the pm. I am a huge fan of 5.45, and have a ton of 7n6 stored away. I really enjoy shooting the 5.45. You can shoot it out to 500 yards, and due to the lower recoil, you can shoot it extremely fast, especially with an alg trigger.

 

[BravoSector1]

Yes, the ealier WASRs had canted front sight bases and other QC issues that I'd lay at the feet of Century Arms. The new builds are much better but there is nothing fantastic about the fit and finish. They are the "glock" of the AK world.

 

[wade2big]

Yes, the ealier WASRs had canted front sight bases and other QC issues that I'd lay at the feet of Century Arms. The new builds are much better but there is nothing fantastic about the fit and finish. They are the "glock" of the AK world.

There is nothing fantastic about aks period. I dont mean that as a knock on them either. That is the whole point of them. I have been an AK man for a long long time and had most of the “good” ones which means not imported anymore in the ak world. Price has nothing to do with quality.

 

[DRAM40A1]

I see that Dram had a bad experience with the Romanian Wasr. Correct me if I am wrong, but the early models could be hit or miss, but the newer models are much more consistent in terms of quality.

btw, if anyone wants to sell me their 104fr, hit me up on the pm. I am a huge fan of 5.45, and have a ton of 7n6 stored away. I really enjoy shooting the 5.45. You can shoot it out to 500 yards, and due to the lower recoil, you can shoot it extremely fast, especially with an alg trigger.

Mine was a newer one from about 2016. Sights were straight and it was reliable but very inaccurate.

 

[Pappakap]

Not to derail but I will say I have been waiting for a month to get my account approved on AK files to ask the same question and I should’ve just asked the hide to begin with. This is my “home” forum if I was to have one and these awnsers are so much more productive than a lot of the toxic sludge I read from the file. I have a Polish 1960’s Circle 11 kit I’m sitting on with a Radom barrel and a Polish receiver on the way. I’d like to get it built classic since it’s a real hardwood kit and have that sweet combloc classic in the collection. That just left me wanting a shooter that I can drag to the range and classes. Sounds like a Sam7r (don’t care for folders) might be the winner. That or I could buy 2 Wasrs and a dremel and learn to tune them myself.

 

[BravoSector1]

I'd buy the WASR at $650, new ALG AKT trigger, along with magpul furniture and go shoot. The triggers are a significant upgrade and help close the gap on accuracy. Or, there are several NIB SAM7's on gunbroker at $1,350. You may be able to score one for less on the used market.