WASR AK47

[Guest]

I am going to buy a WASR AK47 - since this will be my first AK I am a little concerned with picking a good one, without any issues. I saw a company online that sells "certified WASR" the ad says that they pick through them and correct any issues that they have. the company is henderson defense.
has anybody had any dealings with this company or have purchased firearms through the internet. and what are the concerns or issues with buying a weapon this way?
thanks

[jmsneorrcom]

company is Henderson Defense industries

[1Admin]

Never heard of the company but that specific rifle from Century arms can have some issues with the front sight assembly being canted and the gas tube being canted.

If they are guaranteeing them free of that and not adding greatly to the price, it might be a good way to go.

A couple Christmas back, KVar was running SGL21-61 Arsenals for $499. Not sure what the current price is, but we own a couple and they have been excellent weapons, very accurate, very well built.

[Spock]

the current price on SGl21s, retail, is $769.

keep in mind for that ordering a rifle also involves paying transfer fees at the ffl. that $419 is probably gonna be $460-475 when its all settled.

[jmsneorrcom]

I know about the FFL fee. at the local sporting good store the WASRs are going for 499.00 anyway. the web site at henderson are going for 439.00. So it would be pretty close to what i would pay anyways.
are there any other issues about buying weapons on the internet that would be good to know?

[Spock]

yeah make sure they ship it to the right ffl. i'd go to your local gun shop see what the price is, pick one out that straight haggle and see what they do for cash.

[splat23]

If the difference is $60.00, I would go for the one in the store. At most, your only saving $30.00 or so when you add in the transfer fee. If you get a bad one, you could go through a lot of hoops getting it fixed. Plus, if you buy in store, you could walk away with it and have it now.

JMHO

Good luck!

[Elza]

WASR’s seem to come in two versions: ones that run like a fine watch and ones that the Good Lord himself can’t make run.

I had one and returned it for refund after numerous attempts on the part of the dealer to make it right. Others seem to shoot forever and never miss a beat. Luck of the draw apparently.

[baldsith]

WASRs are at best ok...they are cheaper and quality control is less than desirable....I have a yugo M70AB2 underfolder...milled reciever and is just all around a better rifle...out the door was like 500.00...I also have a 1960 Polish AK...again milled reciever and a better 1 piece recoil spring and guide rod.. was around 600.00 for that one.....when you pick up a stamp reciever vrs a milled one trust me you will know the difference..go with a milled one trust me you wont be dissapointed

[Mjollnir]

Might want to check http://classicarms.us/ scroll 3/4 of the page down. Take a look at the Romanian GP-1975 rifles for $419.... heard they were decent but can't speak from first hand experience. They also sell converted and unconverted Saiga rifles. Anymore than $500 I would just save and hold out for an Arsenal.

[Jeremiah2913]

I am going to buy a WASR AK47 - since this will be my first AK I am a little concerned with picking a good one, without any issues. I saw a company online that sells "certified WASR" the ad says that they pick through them and correct any issues that they have. the company is henderson defense.
has anybody had any dealings with this company or have purchased firearms through the internet. and what are the concerns or issues with buying a weapon this way?
thanks

Milled, stamped, Russian or chinesese they're all the same IME and anyone who says otherwise is trying to sell you theres or justify what they spent. The best ones I've shot were made in someones garage! Save $500 and buy a parts kit and a blank and DIY if you have the tools and skills.

[tarheelsman71]

I bought 2 from classicarms.us and they are great. I have shot hundreds of wolf ammo thru them without fail. They were the stamped versions, but for a 150 yards out of the box gun that is pretty reliable (I have heard of canted front sites, but havent seen any) you cant beat the price tag. I paid 450 each for mine, and it came with 4 mags, crappy sling, and a bulldog bag for each.

[kilowhiskey]

I've purchased from Classic Arms too. No complaints so far. Romanian guns are not pretty compared to all the other AK's out there. The machining is rough as is the finish. I've got more than one Rommy AK's and am completely happy with them. They work, and my semiautos are working guns and not purchased for looking good.

[rice paddy daddy]

I bought a WASR 10 also, and it's adequate for my intended purpose. It's not a benchrest target rifle, after all. The sights and gas system are on straight, it does not have the magazine wobble that is mentioned so often. I has gone bang every time I have pulled the trigger.The only drawback is the silly vertical foregrip. It may be usefull on a full auto weapon, but otherwise not. Since I only paid $319 + tax, it's not going to bother me one whit when I remove said vertical grip with a handsaw and a wood rasp.
Oh, mine's a Century International.

[Grinnan Barrett]

WASR model 10-63 or whatever they call it now is a good starter AK. As one poster put it the gun comes in two flavors, very good and very bad. Remember this gun was originally set up to meet the single stack 10 round magazine rules set by BATF years ago. When that went away the guns sat in a warehouse unable to be sold (Except in California). To get them out and into sales they opened up the mag well to accommodate the double stack mags. the stocks are cheap and you will want to replace them up front. Look at the front site of any gun you plan to buy. if the site post is canted off far to one side that means the barrel is OFF. Move away from that gun. test fire the gun as soon as you can after purchase. If the seller allows, test it right then.

Most of all enjoy whatever gun you buy. With AKs you will find that some are very consistant like the Arsenal guns. Look out for some guns built a few years ago with an Ohio ordinance receiver. they only heat treated the areas where they rivets were put in. These will warp on you badly as they heat up. Many of them were underfolders.