AK or AR plinker ???

[1911s4ever]

Hi all....I'am really on a budget and would like some help with my decision, I was wondering which would be the better value an AK(sar3) which is in .223 or the OLY AR plinker? i love the .223 round and the military style of these two weapons! planned use would be for the range and fun plinking. any info you guys have would be very helpful in making my decision. I know that there is a bit of a contrast between these weapons , however i have it boiled down to these two.

thanks !!!:confused:

[imanaknut]

This is a hard one. The SAR-3 runs around $300 or so delivered, the Oly Plinker runs around $530 delivered. If you can inspect the SAR-3 prior to purchace, you can check for crooked sights and gas block, as well as whether the wood matches and it's quality. You also have to make sure that the hammer hits squarely, but that can be replaced with one from Red Star.

There are some that complain that the Plinker is an inferior AR-15 because of it's cast receiver parts, but their quality has improved over the earlier ones. Olympic Arms has a lifetime warranty, Century has a 30 day on the SAR-3. The Oly has a match grade barrel, the SAR is an AK.

The SAR-3 requires Weiger mags, carried by Interordnance, to function flawlessly. The Plinker uses standard M-16/ AR-15 USGI mags.

It depends on how much you want to spend, and which style you want, AK or AR, big difference, both desirable.

[1911s4ever]

I really want an AR but i only have around $500 to spend. I just don't want to end up with a POS. In your opinion is the OLY plinker a decent gun or a POS? Thanks for your help!

[Rew]

is a great starter AR. They work, can't ask for much more. As iamanknut said mag's are easy to find still and it will, 95% of the time, be more accurate than an SAR3. The AR is much more user friendly. If you want a 7.62x39 go with the original and get an AK, if you want 5.56x45 go with the orginal get an AR. JMHO.



Rew;)

[UGACherokee]

What Rew said, plus

1. 7.62x39 as a general rule is always going to be cheaper than .223, a primary interest if you're buying a "fun gun".

2. 7.62x39 mags are going to be cheaper (<$10 for a new 30 rounder vs. >$20 for a used USGI AR mag.)

That said, you should probably look at Robinson's Vepr IIK rifle which at <$600 (including a few mags) is only slightly above your price point, and build/finish quality is going to be far superior to Olympic's product.

My AR (Armalite) and its magazines are reliable in their function because I put serious work into keeping them that way.

It's work that I have never had to put into the Vepr.

[TRKDVR]

You might want to save some more money and get a Bushmaster. No problems with mine. It's a 24" match grade barrel.