What Are the Best Budget AKs?
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- Опубликовано: 17 янв 2024
- The AK-47 (AKM) is arguably one of the most common rifle styles in the world, along with the 7.62x39mm cartridge for which it is chambered.
Sadly, long gone are the days of the racks of sub-$500 AKs imported in droves for the American market. But that doesn’t mean there are not still some solid and affordable AK options on the market.
Here are a few of the more affordable AKs on the market, most coming in at well under $1,000. I took all these to the range, and this is how they ranked for me, saving my favorites for last. 
Развлечения
Kicking myself for not buying a dozen of those $299 WASRs and $599 Arsenals back in the day
I know the feeling well
The WASR's were junk because of improper heat treatment, but the Arsenals were and still are better quality AK's but their prices are unreal now.
I had just got into guns in 2011 but was a poor college kid at the time. I remember seeing sportorized Arsenals for $299. Nobody wanted them at the time. I remember when the German AKs were like 600 bucks. And the average ak, Hungarian AK63s and Yugos were like 500-650. I would have loaded the boat if I had my current income and knowledge of what was to come.
Who knew right. I guess if it makes ya feel any better the 7.62x39mm ammo is getting stupid expensive bc of sanctions. Ya end up paying 4 it one way or another.
$80 Parts Kits
Thanks brother.
Love them AK'S
On the pioneer, take the cleaning rod and pull down on it while pushing it further into the hand guard. There should be a cutout/detent to hold it in place. It takes a bit of a bend to get it there but it’ll snap right in.
I just got a PSA AK and without having a chance to fire it from finish to build quality I am very impressed.
yea psa is doing great things
If only they did a proper countersunk rivet.....
@@stoegerstewie8351I don't even know what that means so I guess for the price you can build one isn't that important
@@detroitsound9364 AK receivers are held together by rivets, if any of them aren't properly done then you're fucked
My first AK was a WASR-10, I payed $295 for it. Reliable firearms , funny how back then everyone ran them down and most people didn’t want them. I liked mine. PSA is making a great American made AK.
I have that red wood VSKA and i love it. I had the RAS 47 first which is the gun in my profile picture but i ended up pawning a few years ago. I just bought the VSKA a few months ago and i love it 💯
yup me too
I kept mine. 😂
@@jonmcclane7433lol I only pawned mine cause I needed the cash at the time. I didn't run into any of the problems that people were trashing it for. I do love my VSKA tho but I prefer the smooth metal on the RAS47. 🤷🏽♂️
I collect AK firearms and took a chance on pioneer the cheap cast model and very impressed beautiful tight AK!
Forget this list
1. WBP Jack
2. WASR 10
3. Zastava M70
That's the budget AK list. If you consider US made AKs get an AR15 or AR10.
This 💯
Psa would be the only acceptable "budget" American AK that I can think of. But at that price you can get a much higher quality ar.
Your right I have them all with a MAK 90 to boot...lovely firearms❤
the prices for them starts at $900 so i guess its no "budget" any more, i just got a WBP and its much better then the ras47 i had before
Congratulations on a really great, informative video. THANKS.
Don't listen to any advice in this video except for the WASR-10 bit.
Just ignore all the people complaining about which ones are good or bad. AK’s, for the most part, are like pickups. Everyone has their favorite and they stand by that opinion. Best advice, try as many as you can. You’ll find one you like. You’ll find that you can always customize. You’re bound to find one you like. Besides, more guns are always a good thing.
to be fair there are several that are objectively a safety hazard
@@harveyknguyen yes there are
I own a RAS 47. Picked it up new from a good friend who became ill and just never got to use it. I paid 200 bucks. Have over 500 rounds through it. Not a single issue. I clean and maintain it. Added a comp and a butt stock pad. No complaints. Is it something I’d take to combat given the choice with others? Of course not.
Same, I bought mine when they first came out and they were everywhere. I had buyers remorse because of all the hate they got. I ended up keeping it, changed out the stock to a magpul one and just continued to shoot it at the range. Never had an issue with it. I just keep it as a little plinker.
@@jonmcclane7433 yup its great gun to say you have a basic ak and range toy. I recently purchased a Galil ace gen 2 to ensure I do have my combat rifle to grab in a SHTF scenario though. Galil is the best of the AK platform in my opinion. But the RAS is a nice back up
@@Thefirerises90 very cool, I’d love to have one. I kinda did the same and bought another one. I always wanted an Underfolder so I got a Hungarian AK63DS. If you get bored I have a video of it on my channel. I don’t have a huge Arsenal, but 2 Ak’s, 2 AR15’s, 2 Shotguns, and probably around 15 pistols. Guns are fun! 🤩
If you're really wanting to get into AKs please just get a WASR-10 or a ZPAP M70. You will be much better served by either of these 2 rifles than any of the rifles on this list. The WASR can be had occasionally under $700 and by today's standards is a decent deal. PSA is almost there, but the others here have a pretty bad reputation. Do your own research!
I sleep with my Vepr
WBP Jack deserves to be on this list, similar specs to the M70 *(Such as the CHF CL Barrel)* but is lighter and not Yugo-spec.
@@MANTIKORE_ Agreed. That’s next on my list.
I totally agree - Wasr, Zastava, and the WBP jacks are very solid for their price. Kalashnikov USA would be my pick for a domestic made budget AK - even though they are a little pricier than the other USA manufacturer that we shall not name here... Hell, I will name them - PSA! They proudly make the worst AKs in the world right now, except for maybe home builds...
@@TheGunsNBladestrolling
10 years ago I got a Hungarian Underfolder with blonde furniture. I got it for around $500. The market at the time was flooded with AK options. Now all these years later you certainly have to look longer and harder to find what you want. That same Hungarian AK might be double what I bought it for now in 2024. Either way I’m holding onto it.
Well you forgot a bunch of budget AKs..Palmetto State Armory,Riley Defence and Radoms and the DPMS Anvil...I've owned all of the for mentioned and the new DPMS Anvil AK is one of my new favorites,it's a Bulgarian Side Folder clone shoots like butter
The dpms anvil is a PSA rifle.
@@dav762s yep
Is this like a parody video or something? RAS47 😂
Hand grenade
My tRASh-47 blew up at 2/300 rounds. They denied warranty. Terrible rifle made by a terrible company.
I normally research everything I buy. I just happened to have a stack of cash in my pocket at the gun store and wanted an AK. Worst idea ever.
I want an AK. But I have yet to see any good options for $1,000. So I’ll stick to my SOPMOD Block II build.
I got a VSKA that came from the factory with a cracked trunnion, thankfully I never shot it, surprisingly I was able to send it back and get a full refund on the rifle
@@krispewkrem3 same happened with mine couple months ago
This guy knows nothing about Ak and you can tell as soon as he list the first gun
As someone who knows nothing, how do you know he knows nothing?
Hate to break it to the PSA haters but my type 56 spiker clone is built much better than my m70 and my Wasr10 combined! This is a solid rifle people no kidding the quality on mine is fanomunal to say the least, really impressed with my purchase... Oh and if you get a 🍋 or notice something isn't right? PSA stands behind their guns and will get you together ASAP. Love what this company is doing
*Phenomenal*
It took me a few minutes to figure out what the heck you were attempting to say
Just wish they would properly dimple and rivet their AKs. FWIW I love what PSA has been able to do for the 2A community.
Phenomenal
Dude I just got a PSA G5 with the plum gloss wood and it’s absolutely insane!!! I’m so happy with it
Yes
If you buy a Pioneer make sure it's the forge series
I like forge also but today's casting is high quality that was a problem many years ago pioneer cast now is not a problem. They are military grade and used today in the military. This is not intended as an argument just passing on current information thanks.
Makes a best budget AK list, and fills it with medicore AK's. Lol. I'm in the market for an AK and they only one on this list I would maybe consider would be the PSA. They've improved from what I've heard, but I'm going to stick to my iwn research on this ine and go and get either a WBP or WASR 10. At least he didn't include a Riley Defense.
Great video, how do you feel about Riley defense’s quality with AK’s?
They are shit, as equally terrible as the ones made in the US by Century, avoid them like the plague. It's better to spend your money on a 300 BLK AR with a 16 inches barrel than to get an AK made by either Century or Riley Defense.
They are awful.
@@Stuntman396absolutely not better than PSA...I worked there for awhile...they aren't as bad as they treated but not as good as a PSA
@@Stuntman3961000 rounds? Lol come back when you have at least 5k through it.
@@Stuntman396 Lol
I will be here for the comments
The only good thing Century ever did was import the WASR, and they couldn’t get that right for a little while there.
PSAK GF3. Arguably nicer than my Polish import aside from the lackluster furniture (which can just be swapped). Only 600 bucks.
Pioneer Arms is hot garbage so that figures
yup. i got a GF3 blem and threw East German Furniture on mine. tons of fun to shoot got a ton of rds thru it
@@ProbInsane I was talking about the WBP Jack not some shitty Pioneer
Dude, the safety being loose? Bend It! If it's too tight, bend it the other way. It's stamped steel on an AK. Old "Kyle K" made them to be simple.
Jim Kramer of Aks
I like my Ak12
If you know nothing about AK’s, this list is terrible. Pass on everything but the WASR. If you want a good AK under a grand just go WASR and forget about everything else, all standard AKM furniture and parts will fit on the WASR and they are extremely solid and reliable.
Wbp jack is 1k
@@TheREALLibertyOrDeath That’s a good option also.
WASR and Jack are solid for around 1000. Zastava slightly more expensive. Imports first (they may not always be available).
Meh bought the cgr for 599 already lol
The WBP guns are 🔥
Zastava M70
Kalashnikov KR-103
US PALM STAINLESS STEEL LATCH CAGE MAGAZINES.
USA made AK's might be good but have no soul. It's like buying a com block AR.
Riley defense?
Bad.
@@Stuntman396Riley is solid and customer service is phenomenal, I bought a yugo kit milled 308 and it’s Friggin sweet
@@MANTIKORE_ elaborate
Where can i get the railed dust cover thats on the CGR?
Seriously? Just get a WASR and upgrade the furniture- the RAS has cast bolt and front trunion and is generally regarded as garbage due to head space problems developing after use.
Palmetto state gen 3 and higher has been developing a good reputation
The CGR seems like a no-brainer in my opinion. With an optics mount, and a hinged dust cover, and no jams. The gun seems like an overall great gun. Plus, I haven’t seen any other AK47 have a built-in optic mount. I would say it’s even better than the ever beloved WASR
Please don’t ever give advice again. CGR is a commercial company using inferior equipment and you’re saying they are better than a military factory?? are you serious??? God I hate poors
CGR sucks and uses cast parts that will blow up on you if you shoot more than a couple thousand rounds out of it. Even PSA is better than that.
Some people can’t stop themselves from telling people that a certain AK will “blow up in their face.” Yet there aren’t a plethora of lawsuits about that of saying an unsafe product is out there. I don’t think these people even own air soft AKs let alone real ones. It’s like this constant regurgitation of falsehoods? WBP makes cast trunnions for their military contracts. They are military grade cast trunnions. The first WBP Fox rifles have cast trunnions that Robski gave 2 thumbs up. Now American consumers won’t buy them so they make hammer forged trunnions for the US market. The WASR 10 is a no brainer and has proven itself to be the “tank” of stamped AKs. Battlefield Vegas (mic drop). It comes down to QC people. Most people don’t need a “military grade” AK to enjoy shooting. I love AKs so I get the imports first and they are investments. And with the price of ammunition 99% of shooters aren’t going to shoot enough to break them. BUT. Buy a WASR 10 and some new laminate furniture and never worry🤷♂️ Or a WBP if you have a couple hundred more? But buy what you like. Then go have fun trying to break it if you can! None are going to blow up in your face. Could break over time? But you get what you pay for?
🙌💪🤙🇺🇸
We already have a "I'm only here for the comments" comment with only 442 views as of the posting of this comment. AK enthusiasts are BAR NONE the most annoying group of enthusiasts who have ever been enthused. You won't find a single one without a self-awarded advanced degree in metallurgy, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing. If only they could pool their cognitive horsepower we would probably all be enjoying time travel by now. Despite their intellectual achievements, you'll find the vast majority of this demographic live in storage container shaped homes on wheels and are under the constant stress of identifying tornadic activity in their area. There's only one group who's more likely to share their unsolicited opinion: Vegans. One thing I know for sure - the first response to this comment will be to connect my bitterness to my ownership of one these rifles. I own a K-103 and the important thing about that is nothing. Who cares. Buy whatever rifle fits you, you can afford, and brings you enough joy so that you practice with it regularly.
You’re just bitter cause you own one of these. There, done, lol.
K-103 is a terrible rifle manufactured by KUSA which is guess what? A terrible manufacturer. Telling people to not buy a garbage cast trunnion rifle that'll blow up in your hands like a hand grenade isn't being "annoying" that's looking out for others.
@@MANTIKORE_ What a relief it is to hear from you, and KUSA's trunnions aren't cast. That being said, there's probably no point arguing with experts.
cast = bad
forged = good
You don't need a degree to tell someone that. Only an idiot would think otherwise.
The experts being the people that run a Gun Shop who want to sell guns to you? I mean if that's what you consider "experts" sure.@@TheSublime78
You completely lost all credibility when you said the RAS-47 was above the VSKA.
ZPAP M70 anything else keep drinking the koolaid
Wbp don’t get a budget ak
🍿 waiting for AK snobs in the BUDGET video comments ...
No such thing as a quality budget AK. There are two kinds of AK’s and that is shitty AK’s that are cheap and good AK’s you’ll have to pay more for. Or if you want something reliable get a Galil Ace. It’s everything an AK should be😂
WBP JACK > ZASTAVA M70
Why? Zastava M70 ZPAP is a beast and very good quality
@@MD--sy4ml M70 is a good rifle but it doesn't take the more readily available AKM pattern furniture, it's more heavier, and the finish is prone to rusting.
@@adrn-re4ll it is heavier because of the 1.5mm receiver and bulged trunnion, it’s built like an RPK. It’s overbuilt cause Yugoslavia wanted to be able to launch grenades with it. It’s a beast. I haven’t seen any rust issues. I had rust issues with my issued M-16 back in the days.
Cheers!
@adrn-re4ll rust issues? You sure about that? Never seen even a speck of rust on my M70 and it's built very well. Zastava makes great products. But as far as furniture, it is limited
Save yourself a big disappointment and if you want an AK, buy one from "Zastava" Serbia or "Arsenal" Bulgaria! They are both same quality, but "Arsenal" is offering more upgradable AK!