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My Friend wants this AK help!

pietro75pietro75 Member Posts: 7,048 ✭
edited March 2013 in Ask the Experts
I have a friend that wants to invest in an Ak what do you think of this one?

http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=331063482
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Comments

  • drobsdrobs Member Posts: 22,620 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Those are decent. Note they don't have a chrome lined barrel so need to clean right away if using corrosive ammo.

    Century raised their prices across the board on their AK's recently.
    For that money I'd look for an Arsenal Saiga like these:

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=331208511

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=330980397

    Can also buy more or less direct from www.k-var.com

    The SGL rifles feature a Chrome lined barrel and are one of the better deals in a quality AK. If you can find one at the right price.
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  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    It is assembled by Century, so I would not even think abot bidding.

    Best
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  • rsnyder55rsnyder55 Member Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would read feedback about Century assembled firearms and then think long and hard before purchasing one. They appear to have a huge following...of discontented customers.
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  • yoshmysteryoshmyster Member Posts: 21,974 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    On investing in an AK I would get the one out of Tehas. I forget their name (do a search) but they are pretty and woth the cash.
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  • NordicwargodNordicwargod Member Posts: 102 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    My friend bought a Yugo AK back in the early 90s, took it shooting twice and twice it fell apart. This one looks newer and may not have the same issues. I have a Century FAL and have no problems with it. If you can get a Saiga for the same price I would go with it. Know and shot with several people who own them and all would recommend them. I have two Chineese AKs and I have had zero bad issues with them. For that much money I would look elsewhere!
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  • competentonecompetentone Member Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by pietro75

    I have a friend that wants to invest in an Ak what do you think of this one?

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=331063482


    Does he want an AK type rifle to shoot or is he really looking for some type of "investment"?

    The rifle in that auction was around a $600 firearm, prior to this recent panic-buying situation, so he would be buying something that has already appreciated significantly in value. If there is no national ban on them, prices will likely soften -- so anyone who "invested" in one now will see prices drop.

    If investment is a goal (meaning he's looking for collector value appreciation), he's going to want to learn more about them -- at which time he'll learn that certain Chinese models (no longer being imported) would probably be a better purchase for "investment" reasons.

    If he's just looking for an AK-type rifle to shoot, a Yugo, such as that one you show in the auction link, is an option, but I would suggest staying away from an under-folding stock. The recoil from the 7.62x39 round isn't anything overly severe, but that under-folding style stock will bruise a person's shoulder if one shoots a fair number or rounds through it.

    I also like "drobs's" comment noting the non-chrome-lined barrel. For any AK-style rifle one was planning on shooting, a chrome-lined barrel is a nice option -- particularly in a case where one ends up with corrosive ammo. (I don't believe the "non-corrosive" markings on a lot of imported ammo, due to personal experience with ammo marked as such, but clearly wasn't.)

    As for those suggesting Century Arms International (CAI) sells a lot of "junk," I suspect such complaints are from people who are not familiar with firearms or Century. Century is a huge importer/builder, dealing in a lot of surplus firearms (including foreign firearms that are build, or modified, for importation into the U.S. market).

    Generally, the stuff with CAI's name on it, will be decent functional firearms. They are known for being big volume sellers of lower-priced firearms, so a certain percentage of "duds" will get through, but if you talk with dealers who have handled a lot of their stuff, you won't find many who would have a negative opinion about them.

    (I'm not sure what you find if you search online, but any significant numbers of people claiming "problems" with CAI's items, would likely be the result of the volume they import/sell, rather than any serious problem with quality control by them. If you have a company importing millions of firearms, even a relatively small percentage of them having problems -- with people who complain online -- can "look" like a big problem when not understood in perspective of the volume of firearms being sold.)
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  • Sooeyman2035Sooeyman2035 Member Posts: 3,226
    edited November -1
    I have the Century AK rifle underfolder. It eats anything, never misfired or fail to eject & fairly accurate.
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  • the middlethe middle Member Posts: 3,089
    edited November -1
    Dont believe all the BS about century.....like eveyones else, they sell a few clunkers every so often. Early centruys had a few quirks, like canted sights and too tight mag wells. Once you know what to look for on them, you can avoid the bad ones...but even the bad ones still work...mag well can be fixed with a dremel, and canted sight, while they look bad, still shoot straight (as well has an AK can). I havent seen a bad century in a while....

    I own two, and both run very well...in fact one of them has never, ever, ever jambed in over a couple thousand rounds now. The second one coughs one up every now and then, but not too bad.
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  • pietro75pietro75 Member Posts: 7,048 ✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks guys for the input. He is buying it to shoot not as an investment. He won the gun for 950 and was able to drive over to the guy and check it out, said it looks brand new, did a FTF and he is happy to have it.

    Now his mission...ammo!
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  • competentonecompetentone Member Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by pietro75
    Thanks guys for the input. He is buying it to shoot not as an investment. He won the gun for 950 and was able to drive over to the guy and check it out, said it looks brand new, did a FTF and he is happy to have it.

    Now his mission...ammo!


    I'd suggest one of these; it will make shooting that folder more enjoyable. (No affiliation with the seller, but I have purchased from him before.):

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=331405326
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