{"id":1679,"date":"2025-05-21T11:10:50","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T11:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=1679"},"modified":"2025-05-21T11:10:51","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T11:10:51","slug":"best-ak-buyers-guide-field-tested","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=1679","title":{"rendered":"Best AK Buyer\u2019s Guide [Field Tested]"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Want to buy an AK? I brought in a few of the best AK rifles chambered for 7.62\u00d739<\/strong> and ran them through their paces to help you make your choice.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

AKs are probably more popular in the U.S. now than they\u2019ve ever been. Surprising, since the cost of the rifles and their ammunition is also at their zenith. Once viewed as the poor man\u2019s alternative to the AR-15, that is no longer the case. Today, you can get an AR for $400, and the cheapest .223 Remington ammo is less expensive than the cheapest 7.62\u00d739.<\/p>\n

No, the AK is no longer the budget option it once was. The AK has become a rifle purchased by historical enthusiasts, collectors and shooters just interested in owning the exotic weapon of the enemy. Given their inflated prices, however, you want to spend your money wisely and choose the best AK that you can for your needs and desires. So, I brought some in for hands-on testing and evaluation to help you make that decision.<\/p>\n

How I Made My Picks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The very first gun that I shot was an AK, and it\u2019s the firearm that sparked a lifelong interest in this hobby and led to my eventual career. Consequently, I\u2019ve spent more time researching Kalashnikovs than any other firearm platform and own more of them than I can shake a stick at. It\u2019s fair to say that I had some preexisting notions before starting this project, but it didn\u2019t stop me from testing and assessing the guns as objectively as possible. Many of my biases were confirmed, but there were a couple of surprises as well.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the goal of the testing was simply to identify any problems if they exist, ensure their reliability and juxtapose the shooting experiences of each AK side-by-side. Testing them like this allowed for some hair-splitting and revealed some nuanced differences between them. Based on criteria like their fit and finish, their cost, the feel of their recoil impulse and the included furniture, I determined what each model does best.<\/p>\n

The AK Review Process And Notes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First things first, I should clarify that this buyer\u2019s guide is only discussing 7.62\u00d739 AK rifles that are currently available new.<\/p>\n

To test each AK, I headed to the range with a duffel bag full of loaded mags and a couple of additional cases of ammo to top them off. 2,000 rounds of Wolf Polyformance 123gr HP<\/a> were provided by AmmoToGo <\/a>and an additional 500 rounds of Grom 124gr FMJ were provided by Atlantic Firearms. That comes to a grand total of 2,500 rounds or 500 rounds per gun.<\/p>\n

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For an AK, or any rifle worth its salt for that matter, 500 rounds is not a lot. It is, however, enough that any possible issues should rear their head. The good, and unsurprising, news is that not a single malfunction occurred. That means for all intents and purposes, you should expect all of these rifles to be equally reliable out of the box.<\/p>\n

A wide variety of magazines were used to see if any combinations of AK and mag didn\u2019t like each other. Between my surplus steel mags, various polymer mags (Bulgarian, PMAG, Tapco, and US Palm) and the mags included with each rifle, I didn\u2019t experience any issues, but that said AK mags sometimes require a bit of filing to properly fit. The AKs with tighter magwells needed some convincing to seat some polymer mags, but all worked fine.<\/p>\n

As for accuracy, I tested out to 200 yards with a steel half-size silhouette. Every rifle hit the target with ease. At the very least, they\u2019re all minute-of-man accurate.<\/p>\n

The rest of the differences I gleaned from the testing process will be discussed in the buyer\u2019s guide portion.<\/p>\n

The Best AK Rifles In 7.62:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
MODEL<\/strong><\/td>\nCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN<\/strong><\/td>\nPATTERN<\/strong><\/td>\nBARREL<\/strong><\/td>\nWEIGHT<\/strong><\/td>\nFURNITURE<\/strong><\/td>\nMUZZLE DEVICE<\/strong><\/td>\nMUZZLE THREADS<\/strong><\/td>\nSIDE SCOPE RAIL<\/strong><\/td>\nBAYONET LUG<\/strong><\/td>\nMSRP<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Century Arms\/Cugir WASR-10<\/strong><\/td>\nRomania<\/td>\nAKM<\/td>\nCold Hammer Forged, Chrome-lined<\/td>\n7.5 Pounds<\/td>\nWood or polymer<\/td>\nSlant brake<\/td>\n14\u00d71 LH<\/td>\nYes, AKM<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n$1,070<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PSA GF3<\/strong><\/td>\nU.S.<\/td>\nAKM<\/td>\nGas Nitride 4150 steel treated<\/td>\n6.5 Pounds<\/td>\nPolymer<\/td>\nSlant brake<\/td>\n14\u00d71 LH<\/td>\nYes, AKM<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n$700<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WBP 762SCS JACK CLASSIC<\/strong><\/td>\nPoland<\/td>\nAKM<\/td>\nFB Radom Hammer Forged, Chrome-lined<\/td>\n7.2 Pounds<\/td>\nWood<\/td>\nSlant brake<\/td>\n14\u00d71 LH<\/td>\nYes, AKM<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n$1,100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ARSENAL SAM7R-62<\/strong><\/td>\nBulgaria<\/td>\nMilled<\/td>\nCold Hammer Forged, Chrome-lined<\/td>\n8 Pounds<\/td>\nPolymer<\/td>\nAK-351 Muzzle Brake<\/td>\n14\u00d71 LH<\/td>\nYes, AKM<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n$1,930<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ZASTAVA ZPAP M70<\/strong><\/td>\nSerbia<\/td>\nYugo<\/td>\nCold Hammer Forged, Chrome-lined<\/td>\n7.9 Pounds<\/td>\nWood<\/td>\nSlant brake<\/td>\n14\u00d71 LH<\/td>\nYes, Yugo<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n$1,063<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Editor\u2019s Choice: Century Arms\/Cugir WASR-10<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"best\"best
A WASR-10 sporting replacement wood furniture and a surplus sling.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Country of Origin:<\/strong> Romania
Pattern:<\/strong><\/strong> AKM
Barrel:<\/strong><\/strong> Cold Hammer Forged, Chrome-lined
Weight:<\/strong><\/strong> 7.5 Pounds
Furniture:<\/strong> Wood or polymer
Muzzle Device:<\/strong> Slant brake
Muzzle Threads:<\/strong> 14\u00d71 LH
Side Scope Rail:<\/strong> Yes, AKM-pattern
Bayonet Lug:<\/strong> Yes
MSRP:<\/strong> $1,070<\/p>\n

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Pros<\/strong><\/h4>\n