preban .223 at a local shop

[raxar]

so out and about yesterday I came across a preban norinco .223 underfolder for $1300, I think it's an 84s but I'm totally uneducated on preban's so I don't know the model for sure. Over all the rifle is in really good condition, the bolt face and barrel are really clean. it mostly seems to have handling marks. Has a flash hider and 1 mag, no box.

I know that price is probably a little high given current prices, but my plan is to sell my wasr for that, then use the funds to buy the norinco. But since I don't have much .223, and mags are an issue, so I'd probably try to trade it off for a decent 5.45. Good plan? Anything I should look out for on it?

[Avanarts]

How many mags come with it?

At times like this it's best to just keep what you have.

[abpt1]

so out and about yesterday I came across a preban norinco .223 underfolder for $1300, I think it's an 84s but I'm totally uneducated on preban's so I don't know the model for sure. Over all the rifle is in really good condition, the bolt face and barrel are really clean. it mostly seems to have handling marks. Has a flash hider and 1 mag, no box.

I know that price is probably a little high given current prices, but my plan is to sell my wasr for that, then use the funds to buy the norinco. But since I don't have much .223, and mags are an issue, so I'd probably try to trade it off for a decent 5.45. Good plan? Anything I should look out for on it?

Preban could be worth 2-3 times to someone in a ban state! OR MORE.

[cevulirn]

Seems like a complicated plan.

[El Laton Caliente]

That isn't an unreasonable price for an 84 underfolder even without the current buying frenzy... Mags are a little hard to find but they come up now and then. IIRC, some have had success adapting the bulgie mags...

[videodon]

That's not a bad deal these days.
I had an 84s with 4 mags.
It was my most accurate AKM.
The mags are expensive though.
I sold it to finance something else.
I have an AR-15 now for the .223 itch.
:)

[raxar]

can you mod steel tantal mags to work in it? I'd buy it to keep but my 5.45 mag/ammo/rifle ratio is way better than my .223 ammo/rifle ratio

[Richard Simmons]

Was looking at one of these on a local board that is listed for $1650.00, LNIB with both mags, manual, bayonet, etc. Guess I'll just keep looking at it at that price?

[Schuetzenman]

so out and about yesterday I came across a preban norinco .223 underfolder for $1300, I think it's an 84s but I'm totally uneducated on preban's so I don't know the model for sure. Over all the rifle is in really good condition, the bolt face and barrel are really clean. it mostly seems to have handling marks. Has a flash hider and 1 mag, no box.

I know that price is probably a little high given current prices, but my plan is to sell my wasr for that, then use the funds to buy the norinco. But since I don't have much .223, and mags are an issue, so I'd probably try to trade it off for a decent 5.45. Good plan? Anything I should look out for on it?

Nope don't do it. Mags are scarce and high. .223 is running upwards of 50 cents a round now, not the time to get into this chambering. You want a 5.45 (I assume you don't have one yet) also not the best time to get into them. Their ammo is still nearly 100% linked to imporation and it seems to be all sold out at the momnt. Spam cans of the Russian were $120 a couple years ago, now they're hitting the $170 / can range and climbing. Still a reasonable round at 15 cents / round but the no real domestic source thing has always been a problem for me. If imports are cut off the ammo you have on hand will be the ONLY ammo you will have possibly forever.

[raxar]

I already have 2 5.45's, and more 5.45 ammo than 7.62x39 or .223. I have fewer 7.62 mags than 5.45 mags, but fewer 5.45 rifles , hence my desire to ditch the 7.62 in exchange for another 5.45

[Schuetzenman]

I already have 2 5.45's, and more 5.45 ammo than 7.62x39 or .223. I have fewer 7.62 mags than 5.45 mags, but fewer 5.45 rifles , hence my desire to ditch the 7.62 in exchange for another 5.45

I see, still if you want a 5.45x39 rifle I believe it to be better to go directly for one of those vs. take this intermediate swap strategy. Just remember the supply side of 5.45x39, it hangs by a thread of importation, cut the thread and no more ammo. This concern is a reason why I have liquidated all 7.62x39, 5.45x39 AK rifles from my collection as of Obama's first election to office. (That and logistics of stocking so many different calibers in my collection). Remington and Winchester do at least make 7.62x39 here in the US, they do not make 5.45 rounds here.

[imanaknut]

My 84S-1 is my most accurate of all my AK variants. $1300 for one in very good condition would be on the just a bit high side in normal times, but these days that is not too bad.

The 84S series originally sold with anywhere from one to three proprietary 30 round mags and I believe they all didn't come with three was due to dealer honesty. They had a narrow birdcage style flash hider which until lately was impossible to come by, but there are now many aftermarked copies available.

The issue is the mags, but I do remember reading about other mags, including German 5.45x39 mags working with just modification of the feed lips to allow the .223 to work. Never tried it, which is strange for me but I have enough 84S mags.

The 84S is a nice rifle, and would suggest if you get it to keep it as I really believe that when this current stupidity dies down, Chinese AKs will retain their value because their ban isn't a maybe.

[recon]

The Bulgarian waffle 223 mags will work in these. At least mine do. Of course there not cheap either!