I know nothing about them.
Is there a current manufacturer that makes one as close as possible to the original kalishnakov. Something straight out the movie Red Dawn? Lol
And are the AKs like ARs where you can mix and match parts?.I would eventually like to get the red wood furniture on the AK if I purchase without the red wood.
Since the mag restrictions are going away I wanna hang one on my wall with the big banana mag. Lol.
I have a true Kalashnikov made the Ismash factory in Russia.
@JohnnyB I haven’t gone down the rabbit hole of costs yet, what does something like that cost? Value?
I don’t think you can even buy one these days, not an original that is, may be able to buy a kit then have it welded back together, you are talking thousands depending on the rifle model and year of production and the quality of the parts in the kit, most are Frankenstein kits. Out of stock kits I saw were running $2500-$2800 then you need to assemble it yourself or send it out, no clue what that cost is, I do know the in demand assemblers have a year back log.
If you go a kit rout here is a good read on what you’re in for.
If you are serious, start by joining this forum and ask a lot of questions, crazy knowledge on there.
I think I payed $500 for the rifle many years ago. It was imported legally as a sporting rifle, a loophole Kalashnikov used for a brief period. I got it from a gentleman from the old forum through a private transfer. he did not realize what he had.
It required lots of work an a good amount of money to restore back to a true Russian AK-47 but she’s a beauty now. Well worth the time and expense!
Straight out of Red Dawn? Then you want a Maadi ARM/Maadi MISR and a Valmet M78.
If you can find 'em, get a Saiga 7.62.
WBP Jack is a good close-to-Russian type AK.
Zastava ZPAP M70 will be good but it’s got Yugo style furniture.
The Century Arms WASR-10 is, from what I’ve heard, the go-to entry-level AK. It’s an AKM-pattern rifle (essentially the modernized version of the AK-47), license-manufactured in Romania and imported into the U.S. by Century Arms.
As far as new production goes, I would NOT recommend an American made AK.
Part kit builds can be hit or miss, depending on components and builder.
There’s a few good new production options that I’d recommend in this order:
Needless say I have a Zastava M70 - couldn’t justify the price for the SAM7 at the time.
If you want the classic models, 7.62x39 is good, but as expensive, if not moreso than 5.56. I’d also consider a 5.56x45 model, such as the Arsenal SAM5 family, or Zastava M90 family.
I would avoid 5.45x45 models at all costs as the ammo is scarce and pricy.
I have a Zastava ZPAP M70. Love it
That’s the rifle I converted! The Saiga 7.62x39.
Good info guys. Thanks.
Copyright © 2024-2025. All rights reserved. New Jersey Gun Forums LLC
