My first AK

[AnthonyS]

So this weekend in San Antonio I was browsing TGT, and saw a place with a lot of AKs in stock. Never having owned or shot an AK I went there curious. They had $480 WASR-10s (Bulgarian AKMs), Zastavas (Serbian AKMs), a few Arsenal AKMs (Russian), and other assorted AKs. They also had the VZ2008 which is nothing like an AK. It's light and if you want a forged folder pretty cool.

So after reading up on WASRs the night before I picked the nicest of a dozen or so. It was ugly as hell, but the sights were on straight and the mag wobble is minimal. Some even had no wobble with steel mags. So after paying tax and filling out some paperwork I was on my way back to the hotel with my first AK, the cleaning kit and a sling. I'm ordering the more Russian looking green canvas one soon.

So today after obtaining some Minwax Gunstock stain, I took it apart and started sanding wood. Damn this is one simple rifle. I love ARs (have several and shot M16s in the Navy), but I get what this AK thing is about now. It's just dirt simple. I know it's not going to be accurate but ammo is cheap. I can get a Vortex red dot or Primary Arms for it and and viola, instant fun for 100 yards and less. I'm looking forward to taking it to the range with my cheap ammo soon.

The horror stories of Century shipping these things with metal shavings inside, rust, etc or overblown. I didn't see a hint of any such thing at the dozen I looked at. Mine was super clean inside. The finish is definitely worn. I'm thinking about picking up some gun blue next and rubbing it into the metal too. If I do that it will be tomorrow. I'd like to reblue the gas tube and some things like that which have potential for some rust.

My WASR has the Tapco single hook trigger. Any advantage to going to the double hook more like the original? Now I need more magazines and more 7.62 X 39 bullets. I think Santa is going to be bringing me bulk ammo this year in various calibers.

I'm also considering reloading 7.62X39 but that seems kind of silly. I'd need to start buying brass cased 7.62X39 and it is definitely more expensive.

[Semper299]

Yeah, I never could justify in my mind to reload 7.62. It is a pretty cheap caliber to shoot.

Congrats on your AK. I am neither an "AK or AR" guy as I own both and enjoy both. Each has its advantages and limitations, but the AK is a blast to shoot and to tinker with. Its simplicity is amazing, and they are fun to work on.

[Chas_svo]

If you want an "accurate" AK, it's a MAK90. I have one and it's hurt lots of feelings of folks that don't think any AKs are accurate.

Congrats. I have both too, but I had the MAK90 for more than 20 yrs.

[ram57ta]

I want one!!!!

[brandon01rt]

I love the ak. I got lucky with my WASR when i bought it online. I had no idea about any of the issues at the time.
I also have a Yugo M92 PAP, AMD 65, Polish Underfolder (at JBI being built) and a Khyber Pass build (at JBI being built).
Congrats on the purchase

[phaux]

It was ugly as hell, but the sights were on straight and the mag wobble is minimal.

False, there are no ugly AK's, well, except the AMD series, but they're special in their own way I guess.

but I get what this AK thing is about now. It's just dirt simple.

One of the many reasons the AK is far superior to the AR

Wait for it...

My WASR has the Tapco single hook trigger. Any advantage to going to the double hook more like the original?

Unless you're receiver is setup for a double hook or you want to bust out the dremel it's staying a single. As for advantages... I've never had any problems with any of my single hooks (all my AK's) but I did nab this from AK files:

the original design was a double hook, the only reason a single hook exists is because the rate reducer used in the AKM takes the space the second hook needs. The design advantage to a double hook is redundancy, if one breaks off the other keeps on working, a single hook breaks the rifle is down until a replacement is done.

In a semi, there is no functional reason to use a single as the rate reducer is for FA fire. However, most stamped receivers are setup for a single hook as that would be the "correct" one to use if one is trying to duplicate an original AKM as much as possible.

The main opening for the trigger has a slot going forward, this is a clearance for the bottom of the trigger hook when it is pulled. A double hook trigger would require a second slot be cut or the bottom of the hook ground away to clear. If this is done slowly and carefully with test fits done between cuts, you can modify the parts so the trigger comes to a hard stop in this area just as the hammer is released, creating an overtravel stop.

A couple other advantages exist in a semi build. Many setups allow the hammer to slide left and right a bit in the receiver, some have reported enough for the single hook to miss the hammer when it is slid all the way over. The double will always catch at least one side. Some also think the trigger pull is more even with a double as the force on the parts is spread out with no torqueing of the parts. A single holding only one side can allow loose parts to twist and bind on the pins. Some feel the double is twice the friction so it makes the trigger worse. In those cases, a careful filing on the underside of the second hook will leave a miniscule gap between the hook and the hammer, leaving the exact feel of a single hook but still have the backup functionality of the second if the one breaks.

I'm also considering reloading 7.62X39 but that seems kind of silly. I'd need to start buying brass cased 7.62X39 and it is definitely more expensive.

Unless you just have tons of free time, it's not cost effective. The brass and projectiles are hard to come by and costly. When all is said and done you're saving a few penny's per round and to me, my time is worth more than .02/rnd

[CJ]

Meh, AK's. They can be fun to collect though. As far as simple, full auto AK's have a ton of shit packed inside of them.

[Moose242]

Indeed. AKs are relatively complex but they are very fun. Post some photos when you get done with her Anthony!

[AnthonyS]

Well I'm done messing with it for a while. My wife said I forgot to take before pictures. Guilty. It's not too pretty, but I didn't want a really pretty AK. That would be stupid. I sanded the wood, put on some Minwax Gunstock and some poly and steel wooled it. I see a few spots that need some more steel wool love. I also used a bit of bun blue on this thing and steel wooled that too, mostly to cover the more bare metal areas and fill in most of the scratches. I didn't bother with the safety scratch though. It's going to be there. I then put it back together and used a bit of Hoppes oil that I have too much of. I normally use CLP, but I have so much Hoppes I guess I can use it on the AK. It cycles much more smoothly now. I also installed an M16 style flash hider. I just need more steel mags and ammo now. Then it'll get a mount and red dot and be finished.

I'm going to shoot it in a couple of weekends. I will report back.

[AnthonyS]

Funny. I rotated those and saved them over the original.... thanks photobucket for not sharing my edits. Oh well. It looks the same, even if you rotate the photos.

[YALE]

That looks great dude!

[AnthonyS]

Thanks I got a green canvas sling for it tonight, and now it looks the part. It's going to the range next weekend (not this one). And then I'm going to put Primary Arms red dot on it by Christmas too. I've got to get a red dot for my new Colt AR first.

[AnthonyS]

I took it to the range today. Honestly it's the cheapest firearm I've ever purchased, and for that it's a great deal. It's more accurate than expected and it shoots 30 cal sized rounds with authority for dirt cheap. It doesn't kick as much as other 30 cal rifles and it's not much more kick than a .223 chambered AR. Even the wife tried it. She prefers the 10/22 though LOL.

Well it's a keeper as far as I'm concerned. I'm going to get a mount for it and a primary arms or vortex red dot and enjoy it. It'll be good to have around if the SHTF and it'll be a fun shooter otherwise.

I wish I'd have bought the Arsenal a few weeks back... I could sell it for twice as much, get one of these, and have plenty of cash left over. Oh well, you never know what the gov't is going to ban next.