This FAQ
was compiled to help answer some of the basic questions regarding
the AK. It was also designed to help reduce the amount
of e-mail we get, so please read it.
What
Type of AK is for me?
Buying an AK?
How Much dose an AK cost?
What is the best AK?
Pre-Ban
Post Ban what is the difference?
Where can I get an AK?
Are AK's Legal in the U.S.?
What is trigger snap?
What is the difference between milled
& stamped?
What
is a US Parts Kit?
Are
full-auto AK's legal?
Where can I buy ammo?
What is the Chinese parts ban?
What
Type of AK is for me?
When
most people ask this question, one of their main concerns is
money. While there are plenty of AK variants available on the
market today, you want to purchase a rifle that fits your
needs as well as your pocket book. Since most AKs are in
the $300-$800 range this shouldn't be much of a problem.
However one feature can mean the difference between $1000.00
and $500.00. The difference is Pre-Ban
Vs Post-Ban, for more info on this subject Click Here.
Another Issue you may want to look at is weight.
Most AKs come with some sort of wooden stock
furniture, and will increase your weight considerably.
If you wish to change your stock to synthetic there are may
after market products for you to choose from, but the
lighter you make the rifle the higher the recoil so keep that
in mind. Another feature you may want to look for is a muzzle
break, while they do increase noise they eliminate a lot
of muzzle climb for quicker follow up shots.
Another major issue you should address is a scam. We
have herd countless stories about how people have bought
supposed Pre-ban type rifles only to find someone illegally
modified them and jacked up the price. Since poor
importation records were taken it is very hard to determine if
a rifle is a true pre-ban. Our suggestion is to learn
all you can about the variants that were being imported at the
time so you know what to look for. You should also keep
track of the current AK's so you can identify them as well.
Many post-ban AKs are now being legally outfitted with US
parts kit which enables the rifle to have a pistol grip
stock. For more info on these topics Click
Here
What should I look for when buying an AK?
When
purchasing an AK for the first time there are several key
features that will tell they quality of the rifle and the
conditions it has been exposed to. First when you pick
up the AK look and Feel over the rifle for
any burrs, scratches, nicks, rust and or worn
paint/bluing. Next shake the rifle (not vigorously)
to make sure there are no loose parts. If there
are this could be a sign of a problem in the future.
However do not mistake the gas tube for being a problem,
on some variants they tend to wiggle a little. Next
remove the magazine and make sure there is not a live round in
the chamber by pulling back on the bolt. Do take caution
not to allow the bolt to slam when you release the bolt.
While it wont hurt the rifle, anything that you can do to baby
your rifle will help it last longer. Squeeze the trigger
to make sure the trigger mechanism works, the trigger should
go back and allow the hammer to be released thus making a
"Chink" type sound. If you do not hear
anything check the safety to make sure it is in the down
position, other wise you may have a broken AK.
Next follow the Disassembly instructions and look for any worn
and or rust on the parts. next take your finger and push
down into the gas tube to check for carbon that was deposited
when it was fired. If they are selling the gun as NIB
(N= New I= In B= Box) and you find carbon in there they are
cheating you. It will also give you an idea on how often
the gun was cleaned and how well. If all in all is well
so far then you probably have a good AK and a fin investment.
If you are buying a pre-ban double check your Pre-ban
verification to make sure it is genuine, you are paying a lot
for this rifle you want what you are paying for. One
last key feature you may want to look into is a stamped
receiver Vs a milled receiver. A stamped receiver is
lighter, but a milled is more accurate. Have fun and
good luck finding your new AK.
How
Much dose an AK cost?
Most AKs
do not cost that much however some are up there in price.
Please take a look at some of the prices below. Please
note: AK-47.net dose not guarantee any of the prices below,
due to the fact that the gun market changes over night.
Plus Prices are mostly from 1995 thru 1999. New prices
will be posted within 90 days of Sept. 2, 2007
What
is the best AK?
Are
AKs Legal in the U.S.?
The answer to that
question is yes and no. As a private citizen without
conviction of a felony you may purchase and own a semi-auto
AK. However if you wish to obtain a real full auto AK
you would have to purchase a Pre-89 ban "Registered
Machine Gun" and pay a $200.00 tax stamp, as well
as go through the numerous background checks. Form more
information on machine guns Click
Here
What
is trigger snap?
Trigger snap is the
sharp pain you feel in your finger when the rifle is fired and
the trigger snaps back hitting your finger. This is a
fairly common feature of single arm triggers and is commonly
seen on Hungarian SA-85Ms, Romanians, Maadi's, MISR and other
European rifles. The main differences between the single
and double arm triggers are the cuts in the receivers and the
amount of hooked pieces of metal on the trigger. With
single arm triggers the trigger will have one hooked shaped
piece of metal and one cut in the receiver for it to fit
into. The double arm trigger will have two hooked pieces
of metal and two cuts in the receiver. To check
your rifle turn it upside down so that you can see the trigger
coming out of the receiver. If it has two cuts in the
receiver with two metal hooks going inside the receiver (one
on each side of the trigger) then it is a double arm
trigger. If you only see one then you have a
single arm trigger.
What
is the difference between milled & stamped?
There are two major
differences between a milled receiver and a stamped. A
milled receiver is machined out of one solid piece of metal,
making it heavier than the stamped yet more accurate.
The stamped receiver is made out of
several sheets of metal that have been riveted together.
While a stamped is lighter it is also less accurate than the
milled receiver. One thing you should keep in mind if
you plan on purchasing an AK is that a milled stock will not
fit a stamped receiver and vice versa. So the stocks are
not interchangeable between the two types of
rifles.
Where
can I get ammo?
What is the Chinese parts ban?
Bill Clinton has now
officially stopped the importation of Chinese AK parts in to
the U.S. So if you own a Chinese/MAK-90 type AK now is
the time to stock up on extra parts, because they may become
hard to find and expensive. Some on the key parts you may wish
to buy are:
Must Have parts:
1. Extractor with associated parts, such as retaining pin and
spring.
2. Firing pin with associated parts.
*Note: East European parts will fit and work in the Chinese
rifles.
Next Tier of parts to have:
1. Hammer
2. Bolt
3. Trigger
4. Disconnector
5. Hammer Spring
*Note: Even in this category, most European parts will also
fit and work.
Next Tier
1. Hammer axis pin
2. Trigger axis pin
*Note: These pins will be specific to the Chinese receivers as
the receivers are of
somewhat different dimensions compared to the European pins.
Next Tier
1. Spare Barrel
2. Gas Piston
