Official Gun Lovers Thread!!!

[Polypterus]

My guess would be a semi-auto version. I mean technically the "AK-47s" you can buy really arent that. They are usually AKM clones with their own manufacturer and model name. For example, the Romanian made SAR-1. Its name is SAR-1 chambered in 7.62x39mm it is styled after and functions similar to the AKM-47, but isnt an AKM-47. Most people dont even know what an AKM-47 is and just call it the AK-47 because the AKM looks similar to the AK. Im sure you know all that though...

I miss my old AKM clones. If the damn parts kits werent so high Id get back into building AKMs.

Well actually the Romanian guns are exactly the same as the Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanniy made in Russia. Aside from some minor changes to the FG and receiver for US import reasons they are no different. The Romanian guns and Egyptian guns (Maddi) are actually made on Russian supplied tooling. I have in some ways understood calling these "clones" but really they are not. In short you can change the common name to whatever you want but it's scientific name still remains the same.... AKM...

IMO the only knockoffs are the Yugoslav guns and the Galil, Valmet rifles (One could add a few others). The Yugoslav guns are very different on many levels from the Russian AKM. Anyhow semantics aside.....

There is definitely a huge difference between to AK-47 and the AKM.

So just in case you got a "real" AK Poly you might want to check it and then think to yourself hmmmm.. wierd even if I could own a full auto LEGALLY I wonder why I can't find a AK-47 I can find all the Ak-74 and AK-74Us I want but no AK hmmmm they are all more then likly owned by some rebel group trying to kill each other.

I do own one.. It is a 1952 Ishevsk that was imported as a parts kit from Israel it is a rifle captured from the PLO. (one of these days I need to put this together) They are around you just have to look.. Also If one really wanted one, they where imported by China as the Type-56 made by Polytechnologies. The milled receiver "Legend" series are AK-47s in manufacture and design. These guns are not the total crap Norinco ones. Only serious difference is that funky folding Bayonet they slapped on everything. Otherwise these where made down to the screw identical to a type 3 AK-47

 

[JD7.62]

Well actually the Romanian guns are exactly the same as the Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanniy made in Russia. Aside from some minor changes to the FG and receiver for US import reasons they are no different. The Romanian guns and Egyptian guns (Maddi) are actually made on Russian supplied tooling. I have in some ways understood calling these "clones" but really they are not. In short you can change the common name to whatever you want but it's scientific name still remains the same.... AKM...

IMO the only knockoffs are the Yugoslav guns and the Galil, Valmet rifles (One could add a few others). The Yugoslav guns are very different on many levels from the Russian AKM. Anyhow semantics aside.....

There is definitely a huge difference between to AK-47 and the AKM.



I do own one.. It is a 1952 Ishevsk that was imported as a parts kit from Israel it is a rifle captured from the PLO. (one of these days I need to put this together) They are around you just have to look.. Also If one really wanted one, they where imported by China as the Type-56 made by Polytechnologies. The milled receiver "Legend" series are AK-47s in manufacture and design. These guns are not the total crap Norinco ones. Only serious difference is that funky folding Bayonet they slapped on everything. Otherwise these where made down to the screw identical to a type 3 AK-47

Semantics...thats all we are discussing. Ive used the words "knock offs" and "clones" interchangably when talking about semi AK/M style weapons produced for commercial reasons.

I remember when those PLO captured AKs came in. At the time the price for a US made milled receiver (if you could find one) was crazy. Are they still high?

 

[Polypterus]

Receivers are still crazy priced (350 to 400) and I'm still waiting for one that is the correct screw in barrel and not a press and pin. Firing line in Oklahoma says they are going to make them again but thats been what seems some years now they have been saying this.

Can't say I'm thrilled about all the crap Firing line puts all over their reciever either but the are the only show in town right now..

 

[JD7.62]

Receivers are still crazy priced (350 to 400) and I'm still waiting for one that is the correct screw in barrel and not a press and pin. Firing line in Oklahoma says they are going to make them again but thats been what seems some years now they have been saying this.

Can't say I'm thrilled about all the crap Firing line puts all over their reciever either but the are the only show in town right now..

Thats a bummer. Thats the thing that sucks about building an AK. Youve got this original piece of history then the recevier says somthing like Joe Shmo Co. Plainville, Idaho all over it.

A little OT but an interesting story. I bought a used Romanian laminate AKM stock set and like most used stocks it had carvings in it. Well there was an entire name along with tick marks ( I assume for kills ) in the front PG. Well I googled the name on the stock and I came to a Romanian defense website! Sadly I couldnt read it and understand it, but her name was on a list of other women. Ive always wondered if she was receiving benefits from her fallen husband or what.

 

[Gdub1221]

isnt that an airsoft gun???

 

[Polypterus]

A little OT but an interesting story. I bought a used Romanian laminate AKM stock set and like most used stocks it had carvings in it. Well there was an entire name along with tick marks ( I assume for kills ) in the front PG. Well I googled the name on the stock and I came to a Romanian defense website! Sadly I couldnt read it and understand it, but her name was on a list of other women. Ive always wondered if she was receiving benefits from her fallen husband or what.

That is interesting.. Wonder if he was a Romanian volunteer in Bosnia? A lot of those parts sets came from guns captured or turned in after the war around Bosnia and Croatia. Romanian volunteers where in and around Sarajevo. Very interesting to think about.

 

[jcardona1]

isnt that an airsoft gun???

 

[Polypterus]

Finally.... After many months got to the range to zero in the new toy I posted awhile back. Took some patience and quite a few rounds to get this baby back to zero at Point of aim (as well as some field expedient bore cleaning and minor ersatz gunsmithing..Damn was that bore a mess)

It now pretty much punches in 2.5 inch groups at 275 yards with 147.8 grain Light ball without issue.. Polish silver tip rocks in these old guns every time others fail...

It fires Handloads of 148 grains into 1.5 inch groups every time at 275. At 100 they easily touch to make one 3/4 inch hole. when there is not a flier..

Shot Czech 148.3 grain before these with mild results and a lot of "sticky bolt" issues.. Might try this again now that the chamber is MUCH cleaner. This gun does not like lacquered cases... Normally the 148 grain Czech silver tip is my favorite surplus stuff to shoot with these rifles at these ranges. Handloads mentioned above use these bullets (Selected for.310 tolerance) with polished tweaked brass and standardized powder.

Anyhow.... Couple additional pics, for sitting through this, of the gun and one of the lovely Mrs. Polypterus whom reminded me why the Soviets had so many women snipers... She out shot me using this gun firing my handloads hands down with a 1 inch group at 300 yards...

 

[JD7.62]

WOW!!! A 1"group at 300 yards?! That is 1/3MOA accuracy. Rifles in the $10,000 range have trouble doing that! That is simply astonishing.

 

[Polypterus]

WOW!!! A 1"group at 300 yards?! That is 1/3MOA accuracy. Rifles in the $10,000 range have trouble doing that! That is simply astonishing.

Don't ask me how it was done... it just was.... I was having trouble keeping it around 3 inches most of the time....with the best being 1.5 at 275.. Should note these where 4 shot sessions from the bench with the gun pretty locked down. Was certainly not an offhand group...

Regardless it still outshoots every rifle I own and even puts the SVD to shame...