wlewisiii wrote: Wed Dec 08, 2021 7:21 pm
Surfacing for a moment or three to ask for some advice.
Given the circumstances of the current age, I'm considering buying an AK,
While I was considering a PSA rifle, I'm thinking that Zastava is probably a much better rifle for not that much more $$$.
The gotcha there is the choice between the Z PAP M70 in the classic 7.62x39 or the PAP M90 PS in 5.56. The ammo availability issues make me lean towards the M90 even though it's a couple hundred more, but I thought I'd enquire here at a place I have wee bit more trust in than most of the gun boards out there.
thoughts? suggestions?
Thanks!
William
PSA itself allegedly is tooling up to make 7.62x39, and they are not alone. So I don't think x39 is going to become as scarce as originally predicted. At this moment 5.56x45 is $0.47/rnd whereas x39 is $0.31/rnd.
Both the M70 and M90 are great shooters. With the latter I was ringing steel from 150yds with the factory zero. I may consider pressing in a 16" barrel later as an experiment.
The M70 has been flawless, and the only thing that would be a worthy replacement for it would be a Yugoslavian M70 kit build--maybe an M70B1 or M70AB2 that shoots equally well. Right now all I am finding for kits are milled. Might have to go that route.
PSA currently sells several different AK variants--from kit builds to their own PSAKs. PSAK owners are running into two significant problems that end users cannot correct: excessive bolt wear and FTEs preceded by a bizarre ejection pattern wherein one round may fly 15 feet up and to the right and the next may spill over the edge of the receiver and fall at the user's feet.
Supposedly, the Kalashnikov USA KR-103 is a better answer to the AK-103 and is more true to the original 103 design than the PSAK-103, which is more of an AKM hybrid. The KR-103 SFS was my second choice after the discontinued Arsenal SLR-107FR for my current project. I have checked out and fired a KR-103 and think it's worth investigating if you want a 103 clone.
Ultimately you will need to decide what series of AK-pattern rifle you would prefer--the Yugo M64/70/72/90 design, an AKM, or an AK-100 series.