Buying an AK-47 soon, need suggestions

[Armchair Bronco]

I've decided to sell my CMP M1 Garand from 1954 and use the money I raise to buy an AK-47. The cost of surplus .30-06 ammo is just too high, so I rarely shoot the M1 out at my local gun range any more. Corrosive commie 7.26x39 ammo is still cheap and plentiful, so we're going to switch things up.

My youngest son and I were thinking about a Polish Underfolder initially but now we're leaning towards a more conventional AK-47 with wood furniture. The feedback we're getting is that a $900 Arsenal build will not shoot any better than a $600 IO build...and the IO Sporter Classic comes with a lifetime warranty.

Here's what we're looking at:
http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct1057.aspx

Any shooters out there with opinions?

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/data/default/images/catalog/large/IOSPORTERCLASSIC.jpg

[Boomhauer]

It is what it is, despite who/what country builds it or what specific model it is. I'm a bolt action guy, but if an AK is what you're into, go cheapest in good condition. You won't be losing anything (accuracy or reliability) compared to expensive and new.
If you're looking semi-auto for home defense, without the training needed for handguns, a submachine might be a better choice.

[Tombstone RJ]

Dude, if you pay more than $350 you've been bent over. I bought an SKS (precurser to the AK47) with a folding synthetic stock for $225. Go down to the local gun shop that has a decent selection and I bet the got an AK or a variant sitting there for way less than $500. Of course, I live in Wyoming so maybe we just cling to our guns and bibles a little more up here...

[orinjkrush]

best weapon ever. throw it in the mud and it will keep working. think about drum magazine, bipod and recoil buffer.

[Bob]

The Siaga is pretty darn fun -- same AK 47 design, but uses 12 gage shells -- so ammo is pretty cheap...and the gun itself is not expensive -- $600 or so. I'm sure you were looking another direction however.

[Armchair Bronco]

I'm just looking for something to shoot at the range with my boys now and then and something that has some history behind it. I already have a 20 gauge pump w/ a short barrel for home defense, a 12 gauge Winchester 101 over/under for trap, and a CZ-452 for plinking and target practice.

The AK is just a big, semi-automatic gun that goes bang for less money than my M1 Garand.

I don't want to go totally low end on this gun. The online prices for guns with the features I want is in the $499 to $599 range. This might be lower at gun shows. Where I live (near Seattle) shop prices are not at all competitive. Online shops are always cheaper, even with the FFL & shipping costs added in. Washington also has a 9.1% sales tax that I avoid with online purchases.

[Boomhauer]

AC Bronco - "I'm just looking for something to shoot at the range with my boys now and then and something that has some history behind it..."

Re; Winchester lever-action. If you want an AK, then that's what you want and should get it. But an old lever-action has got a historic, fun, coolness going the boys might like and they're usually pretty inexpensive. Will draw fond, nostalgic smiles from others at the range too, unlike an assault rifle.
It's fast enough -much quicker than a pump shotgun- to almost be semi-auto. Ammo is cheap and easy on the kids shoulder or shooting from the hip 'cowboy style'. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, is the chance to teach the kids how to site and shoot targets. You can do that with an AK, but a real rifle gives the 300yrd accuracy to make them better shooters.

[Tombstone RJ]

I'm just looking for something to shoot at the range with my boys now and then and something that has some history behind it. I already have a 20 gauge pump w/ a short barrel for home defense, a 12 gauge Winchester 101 over/under for trap, and a CZ-452 for plinking and target practice.

The AK is just a big, semi-automatic gun that goes bang for less money than my M1 Garand.

I don't want to go totally low end on this gun. The online prices for guns with the features I want is in the $499 to $599 range. This might be lower at gun shows. Where I live (near Seattle) shop prices are not at all competitive. Online shops are always cheaper, even with the FFL & shipping costs added in. Washington also has a 9.1% sales tax that I avoid with online purchases.

Dude, just by an SKS. They are better rifles, more accurate than the AK47. You feed them with a stripper clip from the top down just like an M1 yet ammo is dirt, dirt, dirt cheap. They are not assault rifles because they don't have a high capacity magazine, they are just semi-auto rifles and you can hunt with them if you are really desperate.

You can attach an nice bayonet to them too. Really, it's fun stuff and cheap. You can probably pick a good one up for $250.

They are still the rifle the Chinese army wears during parades and what not, it's a good accurate cheap rifle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SKS

[bronclvr]

My Father-In-Law has an amazing Gun collection (over 150)-he has been collecting Military Rifles lately, and I was there for a visit at Thanksgiving admiring his collection (he has a Vault in his House that is something to see)-anyway, he has a bunch of SKS, Swedish, Polish and other Military Rifles, and his new thing is to collect Military stuff-

I am a traditionalist, so I have an assortment of rare Smoke Poles (black powder), ShotGuns, Rifles, but I am by far a big Collector of Smith, Colt and Ruger (just got a Model 28 Smith from him at Thanksgiving to go with my Model 27 & 29)-

Anyway, I am with Tombstone on this-the SKS are relatively cheap (he is also buying and selling them in the $250 range) and use relatively cheap ammo-

[Garcia Bronco]

I was in this decision a few weks ago and went with the ar-15. The TCO on ammo is what made the decision for me.

[Rohirrim]

My next buy is going to be a Marlin 336C, 30/30 Win. A friend has one and it's just a great rifle. I've wanted a lever action since I was a kid. ;D

[Bronx33]

The Polish Under folder is very uncomfortable i have a Egyptian Maadi AK very light all i have to say is just stay away from wasrs and you will be fine and get your ammo from cheaper than dirt.