AK 74

[ASmith]

Are there any good AK 74's out there for $500 or less, or should I just bite the bullet and spend the extra or get the 5.45 upper at fleet farm? I just want something to plink with 100yd or less and like the fact I can pick up 1080rd for $150

[Shawski]

I bought one from Atlantic firearms made by Waffen Works. It's really nice and shoots much better than I was expecting, being an AK and all. It was $639.

[Consummate]

You get what you pay for.

If you just want something to plink with, get a tantal.

[katmandoo]

I bought mine from Tennessee Guns a while back for around $300-350, not sure if they still get them. Bulgarian and it shoots dern good. Haven't had any issues with it yet. Damn, are they up over $500 Now? Think i would have to look at an upper if your into that price range, unless you want a second gun or don't already have a lower of course.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2 - its GROOVY

[katmandoo]

US Armory Corps has an upper for $410, if i didn't already have the AK i would look at picking one of these up.
http://www.usarmorycorps.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=53

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[antimatter]

I have a Tantal that I bought from Fleet Farm, and mine has functioned perfectly through about 500 rounds so far. That said, I'd suggest getting an AR upper in 5.45x39 and going that route. You'd get the modular benefits of the AR system, along with a lot more sight options. If you really want to go old school, Arsenal probably makes the best AK-74 variant, and you'll pay top dollar for one.

[WalkingEagle]

I have a Tantal that I bought from Fleet Farm, and mine has functioned perfectly through about 500 rounds so far. That said, I'd suggest getting an AR upper in 5.45x39 and going that route. You'd get the modular benefits of the AR system, along with a lot more sight options. If you really want to go old school, Arsenal probably makes the best AK-74 variant, and you'll pay top dollar for one.

I love my Fleet Farm Tantal too, just remember that Russian spam can ammo is corrosive and leaves a salt powder on the internals which you have to clean off with water, and the sooner you're done shooting the better or you get the orange rust. That almost never gets mentioned in ads for the ammo. Taste a little of that powder and you'll see what I mean. I use dish soap and some window cleaner for the ammonia and just dump everything loose in the sink. Then you have to dry everything off and clean and lube it like a regular rifle. It takes a while with the Tantal, I imagine it would take a good bit longer with the AR. First time I shot my Tantal I cleaned it like a regular rifle and put it away. Two months later I went to rack it and the gas piston was frozen in the gas tube. It bumped loose with a rubber mallet and cleaned up fine, but I was like WTF and went on YouTube and found out about the water cleaning.

[WalkingEagle]

Heres mine, I put a quadrail on it and an ACOG reflex and she punches real nice groups at 50 yds. Sorry for the crappy pics, they're great on my computer.

[antimatter]

I have a Tantal that I bought from Fleet Farm, and mine has functioned perfectly through about 500 rounds so far. That said, I'd suggest getting an AR upper in 5.45x39 and going that route. You'd get the modular benefits of the AR system, along with a lot more sight options. If you really want to go old school, Arsenal probably makes the best AK-74 variant, and you'll pay top dollar for one.

I love my Fleet Farm Tantal too, just remember that Russian spam can ammo is corrosive and leaves a salt powder on the internals which you have to clean off with water, and the sooner you're done shooting the better or you get the orange rust. That almost never gets mentioned in ads for the ammo. Taste a little of that powder and you'll see what I mean. I use dish soap and some window cleaner for the ammonia and just dump everything loose in the sink. Then you have to dry everything off and clean and lube it like a regular rifle. It takes a while with the Tantal, I imagine it would take a good bit longer with the AR. First time I shot my Tantal I cleaned it like a regular rifle and put it away. Two months later I went to rack it and the gas piston was frozen in the gas tube. It bumped loose with a rubber mallet and cleaned up fine, but I was like WTF and went on YouTube and found out about the water cleaning.

Yup, water and then a good blast of WD-40 to displace the water, followed by a standard cleaning procedure with patches and gun oil. I agree that the Russian surplus ammo stinks, and it's much better to shoot outdoors on days when there's a breeze. I have to say that the Nodak based Tantal seems to have been a good deal for those folks that picked one up after Century fixed the key-holing problems the early ones had.

[bensdad]

Honestly, I wish I'd bought four of them at Fleet Farm when I got the one I have.

[WalkingEagle]

No kidding, the AKs and SKS have just gone nuts, and handgun prices are always creeping up. Seems like the only fighting guns that aren't going crazy are ARs, Glocks and shotguns. And I won't even mention the SUB2000, selling for twice retail, well I guess I did mention it. But that's a little off topic. The other thing I learned is to keep my .545 and .223 well separated, they're easy to confuse and will load into each others' mags.

[Erik_Pakieser]

I love my Tantal. Reliable and accurate, plus ammo is dirt cheap. I'd bet my life on it anytime.

[WalkingEagle]

Sweet. Cheek-weld rod and recoil pad. Are you co-witnessing through your scope?