2001 SAR-1 Review

[AKfreak47]

Recently purchased my first AK. A 2001 model Romanian SAR-1. Before I paid for It I looked everything over, and field stripped and inspected the fit and finish. I was very impressed. After shotting many of my friends AK-47's and 74's. A few Maddi's and a true Russian. My expectaions of my Romanian were a bit lower. But after the first time to the range I have to say that this gun is just as good or better (the price was right) than any other I have shot before. No it's no magic sub-moa nail driver, nor is any AK. But I hit what I was aiming at and after 3 trips and roughly 400 rounds I have not had a single jam. I have fed it every type of ammo I can get my hands on; from the expensive brass cased stuff, to the many Russian surplus and new stuff. It likes the Barnaul hollow points best. Today I put thirty rounds through a paper cake plate at 100 meters " yea the little ones" This is assisted with the Russian PK-A red dot scope, Not disrespecting the iron sights. (they work great too) I just wanted a red dot to shoot with both eyes open, and in low light conditions. It also works great with my night vision. From what I hear the 1999 and 2000 models wern't too impressive. I recomend that anyone that is thinking about buying one that they look it over very well before the exchange. Espicially look at the gas block and front sight to check for alignment. I checked mine and it was fine. Only a slight elevation adjustment (1/2 turn) zeroed the iron sights. I have found that the side rail is also a bonus when you consider all the optic choices they are. My money is on the red dots. Either the Kobra or any of the collimator types like the PK-A. The Stock and handguards all match in color and finish unlike previous models, but the finish is a bit rough. That doesn't bother me though. It still gets the job done, and with the money saved you can accessorise or stock up on ammo. :)

[AKfreak47]

http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000034739/1000034739_3182002115607pm.6913655.jpg

[AKfreak47]

can someone tell me how to sucessfully post a pic!!!

[DeltaWolf]

this link will go to the tell all page

www.gunsnet.net/forums/misc.php?s=&action=bbcode#imgcode

Some servers will not allow pics on their server to be linked
in such a manner because of bandwith issues.
in this case it may show once then all you get is the red X

[fiend]

Is there a year on the gun, or would I have to ask what year it is?

What do you mean by look at the gas block?

[Zip06]

Fiend - The year of manufacture is included in the serial number. The last four numbers are the year.

[fiend]

Where is the serial # located?

[Zip06]

On the SAR 1 - As you hold the SAR. Left side of reciever near the front of the receiver and up from the bottom about two inches, or on the left side just below the receiver cover at the front of the receiver.

[fiend]

Do you have to take anything apart to see it?

What about the gas block?

[Zip06]

On my SAR 1, a 2001 model, on the left side of the receiver at the lower forward edge is the stamped words,

SAR 1
Cal 762.39

above that inscription about an inch are two rivets about 3/4 inch apart and immediately above the rivets is a crease and on it is the serial number. For a SAR 1, it will begin S1 then 5 numbers and the year, 2001. It is external.

[AKfreak47]

like I said, a 2001 SAR-1. That is the year of production. I purchased it in late September. I planned to get one earlier, but I did not have the extra money. After 9-11, My friend and I both scrounged up $300 and got two. Both new in box, and both shot great. His is fit and finish was also good as mine. From what people tell me, we lucked out and got some really good ones. After I saw a few more in some other gun stores then I reailised that people who diss the SAR don't know what there talking about. Sure prior to '01 they didn't look too well, but they still performed the same. From my experiences the only difference in the early models and the 2001 is that the 01 is put toghther better, and the finish on the stock and handguards match. The parkerising or whatever it is, also looks better. I would reommend that anybody that want's a great first AK get you hands on one of these. I just got a K-VAR black polimer stock set, and a few waffle mags. This really looks killer. Major upgrade from the original stock set. I plan to get a AK-74 style muzzle break next, and then im leaving it alone. Even though I would love a folding skeloton stock, but Im gonna keep it leagal. Ive had a streak of bad luck lately and don't want to push it if you know what I mean. Oh and what I mean by gas block. It is the machined block on the barrell that transfers the gas from the barrell to the gastube and piston. If you need to, then look at a exploded view. Im sure that you can find one on the net somewhere.

[Ramirez24]

I don't understand when everybody brings up the Price as a selling point to get a SAR-1, but then go on about upgrading trigger system to get rid of bad trigger slap, also redoing the wood stock with Polymer because the wood looks like Crap. It sounds like another $150 just went into this low priced Gun to me.
Just buy a SA M-7 and be done with it. Plus you will getting a Milled receiver.

[AKfreak47]

Another person that does not know what thay are talking about. Sorry "Z" Just like my CRX has your Z24 beat, My SAR-1 has your solviet beat in all places. Price , functionality, And I bet it I could outshoot you. Hell Ill even shoot offhand.

[pbgear]

Last week I purchased a 2001 series SAR-1 to go along with my National Match M14, M1 Garand, and DCM AR15. While the price was attractive, so was the overall fit, finish, fuctionality and accuracy. Using cheap Wolf ammo I can consistently place 3 rounds into 2 inches from the bench at 100 yards (not National Match grade but AK sufficient).

The SAR-1 is very cost efficient even though I too added an $80 trigger upgrade. If there exists a stock AK style rifle at any price that comes equipped with a match grade trigger adjustable for weight of pull, overtravel, and take-up (read 1 stage vs. 2 stage) I was unaware of its existence. Had I spent $800 on a finely milled AK I still would have added the trigger.

I now have a SAR-1 that cost in total less than $450 with a single stage 2.5 lb trigger that is remarkably crisp and meets or exceeds my National Match rifle triggers, and at a price of over $1000 less.

[imanaknut]

AKfreak47 - I can't believe it, a fellow car and SAR nut. I have a CRX in my garage also. It is my toy just as my SAR-1 and -3 are my toys!

Both are great inexpensive fun.

Shoot n scoot!

AK-nut

[survivor99]

AKfreak47,

I couldn't agree more. I love my 2001 SAR-1 also. Great look, feel, finish, and overall great gun. I have a milled Bulgarian also, but this SAR will be the most fun to shoot. Next time I think we'll invest in a SAR-2.

survivor99

[Secesh]

Originally posted by Ramirez24
I don't understand when everybody brings up the Price as a selling point to get a SAR-1, but then go on about upgrading trigger system to get rid of bad trigger slap, also redoing the wood stock with Polymer because the wood looks like Crap. It sounds like another $150 just went into this low priced Gun to me.
Just buy a SA M-7 and be done with it. Plus you will getting a Milled receiver.

I agree, You forgot to mention the Hammer forged barrel, which is the key to the accuracy of the Bulgarian, Hungarian, Polish & Soviet AKM barrels.

However a SAR can be tricked for under $50.
If you own a Dremmel( which everyone ought too anyway)
the Trigger fix is free and takes about 10-15 minutes.
Polish the contact points on the hammer and disconnector with emory cloth or sandpaper and steel wool, you then have an excellent trigger.

Add a Muzzle brake, Refinish the wood and your done.
or you can add an E.G. stock set.
I have about $375 in this one.
http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000031914/1000031914_315200283037PM0.8732111.jpg

Sorry about the crappy pic.
This SAR will open a group up about an 1" or so when compared to my SLR-95. Not the average SAR by any means.

[randywt]

I have a 2000 SAR-1 and out of the box it was flawless and accurate. I let a few buddies fire it too, and they were impressed and quite accurate overall. I plan to keep mine for years. We fired over 400 rounds of mixed ammo and had not one failure.

[DeltaWolf]

My SAR-1 is also a 2000 model
It came out of the box with everything straight,
all matching wood and nice cherry color,
and accurate as I could want a combat rifle to be.
That is with Iron sites, I bet it would be even better
with a scope because I can't see as well as I used to :)

[ohrion]

got a hungarian sa-85 recently from a collecter,bet it'll out shoot the romanian sar-1.....well under 2"with 10 rounds at 100 yards,nice smooth trigger,light trigger pull and a excellent firearm,not to be found even at gun shows anymore,none that i've been to.nice blue finish,used to own a maadi,but it doesn't even compare to this weapon,thicker barrel,better trigger and all foreign made,course paid a good price for it with 5-30 rds mags.,east german nite rear sights, front vertical fore grip,etc.$600 bucks(had to talk the guy out of it for 6 months),"bump firing" with the polished disconnector are excellent,i'd say over 750rds. per minute,i can dump one 30 rd. mag in less than 3to 4 seconds maybe less....really accurate on semi-auto,less than 2"at 100 yards off the bench(which my ex-maadi would do also)...anyways,all responses are welcome.....wait til i put a scope one it for multi-deer shooting this upcoming season........... r

[Buster Charlie]

*

[Buster Charlie]

Hammer forged barrels are the cheapest (non setup, per unit) to produce and most INACURATE method of rifling a barrel. It was developed by the germans to speed up production of machinegun barrels (MG-42 ate barrels)

NOW, the sar-1 must use hammer forging. Why? Well cut forging is the most accurate, but it is extreemly slow, and more expensive (per unit). The more common method is button rifling. This faster but still expensive, but produces a more accurate rifle.

that leaves electronic rifling burning (forget the name of it) which is still very fringe and used only on american commcerical guns that I know of

OR HAMMER FORGED.

Sorry, but the whole 'hammer forged is the best' is a myth. Hammer forged is the least accurate, but quickest way to produce a rifle barrel. And thus it is very popular with the military which is more concerned with production over a slight increase in accuracy potental.



Originally posted by Secesh


I agree, You forgot to mention the Hammer forged barrel, which is the key to the accuracy of the Bulgarian, Hungarian, Polish & Soviet AKM barrels.

[pbgear]

I don't argue with your contentions on cost to produce (I know nothing about that), but I must admit that the hammer forged barrel on my Steyr SSG PIIK makes it one of the most accurate tactical rifles in the world.

Just my $.02

[Buster Charlie]

Originally posted by pbgear
I don't argue with your contentions on cost to produce (I know nothing about that), but I must admit that the hammer forged barrel on my Steyr SSG PIIK makes it one of the most accurate tactical rifles in the world.

Just my $.02

I'm not saying hammer forged = inaccurate. And I am *SURE* that some barrel makers have found ways to increase accuracy (Steyr might have a method for example). See I belive thatone thing that makes cut and buttoned rifling more accurate is that impose less stress on the metal, so if for example, steyr, relieves the stress properly, you can get a good barrel.

My point was simply to point out 'hammer forged' is not the magic barrel technology some people think. I can't blame them, I thought the EXACT same thing untill I talked to a machinist. Then I did some research on barrel making.

So I'm not trying to poop on anyone, just saying that you may want to rethink your view on 'hammer forged' barrels. Sure I bet some hammer forged ak barrels are better than the SAR-1's.

[Rotti]

For $299 I recieved matching color (nice looking cherry) furniture, 1 each 10 & 30 rnd mags, sling & cleaning kit... Just to get a Bushmaster AR-15 I had to shell out $749 - no sling, no cleaning kit, no hi-cap mag... hmmmmm. It was a great gun, but since all I intend to use mine for is under 250 yards, the SAR-1 is a great value.

A friend of mine introduced me to AK's about a month ago, custom built Krebs (beautiful guns). I thought that I would not be happy until I dropped all the cash to make my SAR-1 (2001) look like his Krebs, but it actually looks really nice! I watched a friend shooting it & I decided that it looked just fine for now. So, so much for having to shell out an extra $150 or so just 'cause it's a SAR...

No trigger slap on mine. Clean, crisp breaking trigger w/ very little travel, easy to bump (I'm an amateur & I can dump a 75 rnd drum!) - accuracy is all I need: 2" to 4" at 120 yds. I rapid fired it thru several mags & it was invincible! After heating it up, I shot off hand out to 120 yds slow fire - it put the shots in the kill zone even after the abuse! I'm impressed.

I do agree that you should look thru for the best one that you can find at your dealers as I have seen a few that have slightly canted front sights. But other than that, their great for what their for. :cool:

[dryfire]

Hammer forging is used by everybody. Where some people have got confused is due to the ad that Arsenal ran a few years ago. They said their SLR 's used Steyr technology to produce their barrells. People took this as using Steyr barrells on their AK's. Everybody uses this technology. I have had the Bulgie and Chinese forged receiver AK's. They were not any more accurate than any other. In fact, the most accurate AK I have owned is the SAR. It is also the cheapest. The next most accurate was a Maddi with a 20 inch barrell. I am not counting my 308 Saiga, it is as accurate as my FAL, and I have a very good FAL.