doublegunshop.com - home Forums I want an AK47 and don't know anything about them

Watched a show and they were reported to be reliable and "GI proof". Don't care about accuracy out to 500 yards. Just want something that will put lots of bullets in the air and not be any trouble to keep running.

Of course I want one that is semi-auto, don't have the license for the real one.

I found a couple on Simpson's website:

One made in Yugoslavia: http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_info.php?products_id=32592

One made in Russia: http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_info.php?products_id=32585

I know they are all over the net.

Thanks!

Mike

You do realize you linked two differnt SKS rifles...not AK47 types.

These preceded the AK47, fired the same rounds...designed by the same dude....but are very different.

I have one of the Chinese ones.

Those are both SKS's not AK's.

I had an SKS - fixed 10 round magazine. Very cheap gun with plinking accuracy that ran 100% of the time but I sold it to make room in the safe for a gun I wanted more than the SKS. OK, I badly, very badly "needed" a Miroku made Winchester 1885 High Wall in 45-70.

I've kept my AK - detachable 30 round magazines - it really can put rounds downrange. Cheap gun with plinking accuracy that also runs 100% and I'll keep it forever.

I've also kept my AR - detachable 30 round magazines - it really can put rounds downrange. Expensive gun with very good accuracy that also runs 100% and I'll keep it forever.

For just plain old fun shooting the AK is the rifle you desire.

boneheaddoctor -
The AK was primarily designed by M.T. Kalashnikov and Hugo Schmeisser. The SKS was designed by S.G. Simonov. Some SKS carbines are both very well made and accurate. Additionally, some SKSs were designed for use with detachable magazines. There was also a sniper version that used the same (PU) scope that is normally seen on the Mosin Nagant M91/30 sniper rifle. Some of the SKSs from China that were made for export to the US in the late 80s or early 90s are pretty sad. Those made in the 60s can be very nice.

I wish to hell I had started buying AK47's and 74's back in the 90's. I think they've outperformed the stock market.

Steve has essentially got it right. Both of these rifle are battle and time proven and essentially idiot proof. Back when I was doing a lot of firearms maintenance we used to joke that it you removed the top cover of an AK and just held it under a faucet then shook the loose water out it would run just fine!
Try this with an AR16 and you'll end up with a frozen up and inoperable rifle!
The AK47 in no accuracy queen but out to a couple of hundred yards it accurate enough for defensive work. It was designed with simplicity and minimal maintenance in mind and this was necessary considering the educational levels of the commie bloc country users plus the insurgent organizations they were passed out to on a wholesale basis.
Bottom Line: they're cheap, functional and require minimal maintenance and made a good choice as a defensive weapon.
Jim
They are no longer the bargains the once were but still sell for lest that an AR16 semi-auto clone.

Mike,

Don't get one of the Romanian WASR's that Century sold. Its a POS. There are some manufactures that sell AKs with a milled receiver as opposed to a stamped receiver. They cost more, but are better made with a noticeable improvement in accuracy. A good compromise is a stamped receiver made from thicker gauge metal like a Valmet or similar, although the Valmets I've seen were in .223 rather than 7.62 x 39.

Gotta ask, is this your solution to taking too many quail with a single shot? Seems a bit overkill.

I paid $100 brand new for mine (the SKS) back on the latter part of the 90's.

Was taking delivery on the SKS and was picking up my rather unusual Colt Ar-15 variant ( chambered for a 7.62X39 round) literally as Clinton was signing his gun ban.

Got my Mini-14 right around that time too.

Yep...my bad...I knew that but why did I have that other thought stuck in my mind...

Mine wasn't too bad....the laminated stock was rather crappy...the metal parts were a lot better.

Was drooling for a Russian made Sniper Dragonuv at the time but just didn't have the cash for one then....