Arsenal, Inc?

mdauben

mdauben

Joined
Oct 24, 2005
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I was wondering if any of the gun folks on the forum are familiar with Arsenal, Inc? They are a manufacturer of US made (or at least US assembled?) AK-47 style semi-auto rifles. I am really interested in their products, but their guns are close to AR's in price ($900+ MSRP) and I have not been able to actually handle one in person. I like the fact that they are US "made", and I assume they are high quality, but are they really worth that much more than a decent import AK? :confused:
 
I have one. They are definitely better made than the Romanian and other crappy AKs that are assembled by retarded monkeys with ball peen hammers.

I would not say that they are Bushmaster quality, but they are very well-made and a worthy addition to one's arsenal. Way, way better in build quality than the run-of-the-mill AK. They also have plastic furniture, instead of the standard wood stock.

Don't recall what I paid for mine, but $900 seems pretty spendy to me. I'm thinking that paid something like $600, but that was several years ago too. You can compare prices at gunbroker.com by searching for "arsenal ak-47".

:thumbup:

march-3.jpg

AK-47 from Arsenal in Nevada, bottom. Middle AK is a Romanian WASR that I spray painted to look like the Arsenal version. Top is a standard el cheapo AK-47.
 
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I looked them at J&G. Of all the AK clones, they seem to be better quality, but unless you really want an AK, you would be better off with one of the better AR-15s. I owned a couple of AKs last year. I sold both of them and kept my AR.

I made a few bucks on the guns and ammo. :D
 
Thanks for the replies!

powernoodle said:
Don't recall what I paid for mine, but $900 seems pretty spendy to me. I'm thinking that paid something like $600, but that was several years ago too.
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Yeah, I checked with a local store who quoted me a price around $700 when they can get one. :rolleyes:

UffDa said:
I looked them at J&G. Of all the AK clones, they seem to be better quality, but unless you really want an AK, you would be better off with one of the better AR-15s. I owned a couple of AKs last year. I sold both of them and kept my AR.
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That's kind of what I am trying to decide right now, AR or AK? If the choice was between a cheap AK import and a good quality AR there would be no question. But if I can get a good quality AK it starts to look like a viable alternative. Of course ideally I would get both, but until I hit the lotto I have to chose one. :p
 
Arsenal has factories in the US and Bulgaria.
The US government requires import AK to have a certain number of US parts.
So Arsenal imports the top quality receivers and assembles them here in the US with the US parts they make and are required for legal reasons.
They're one of the best.
If you want better Krebs has that reputation but even crap AKs generally work.
900.00 in todays market is very good if a side folder and has a real AK compensator.
 
mdauben said:
Thanks for the replies!


Yeah, I checked with a local store who quoted me a price around $700 when they can get one. :rolleyes:


That's kind of what I am trying to decide right now, AR or AK? If the choice was between a cheap AK import and a good quality AR there would be no question. But if I can get a good quality AK it starts to look like a viable alternative. Of course ideally I would get both, but until I hit the lotto I have to chose one. :p
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price difference in between good quality ak and ar is around $800.00-$1,000.00. If you have limited budget be carefull, becouse ammo may be harsh on your wallet.
1000 rds 5.56 is $500.00-$700.00
1000rds 7,62x39 is $270.00-$380.00
There is no point in spending $1,500.00-$2,000.00 on good ar15( LMT,Noveske,Colt) if you gonna feed it with crapy ammo.
Arsenal is top of the line when it comes to ak47/74 's.
 
You can actually get practice ammo for a 5.56 at a similar price to 7.62x39
I just got this update today,the difference is 10.00 per 1,000.

NEW TRUCKLOAD OF WOLF JUST IN:

We have tried to price this to be the cheapest delivered price to your door. No extra shipping, tax or card fees.

These prices are to your door and are all that you pay!

223 WOLF (55 OR 62 grain) $269-1000
7.62X39 WOLF $259-1000
9MM WOLF $239-1000
45 WOLF $199-500
40 WOLF $179-500
6.5 GRENDEL 120gr. MPT $150-200 (10 boxes)
8mm MAUSER 196gr. SP $180-200 (10 boxes)
303 BRITISH 174gr. FMJ $180-200 (10 boxes)
7.62x54r 180gr. SP $180-200 (10 boxes)
7.62x54r 150gr. FMJ $180-200 (10 boxes)

http://www.AMMOMAN.com

Thanks!
 
I have several Arsenal AKs and really like them. I used to have a Romy G put together by a popular maker but it the quality was no where near my Arsenal's. If you don't have an AK, I highly recommend getting one and an Arsenal is typically the best you can get for a new production AK. My AR's have been collecting dust since I got my AK's.
 
It's still an AK, and the same things that make it so reliable i.e. loose tolerances, it's operating rod design, also make it an inaccurate rifle. Because of inconsistent barrel vibration.
You can dress up a pig, but it's still a pig.
 
InfidelShootist said:
You can actually get practice ammo for a 5.56 at a similar price to 7.62x39
I just got this update today,the difference is 10.00 per 1,000.

NEW TRUCKLOAD OF WOLF JUST IN:

We have tried to price this to be the cheapest delivered price to your door. No extra shipping, tax or card fees.

These prices are to your door and are all that you pay!

223 WOLF (55 OR 62 grain) $269-1000
7.62X39 WOLF $259-1000
9MM WOLF $239-1000
45 WOLF $199-500
40 WOLF $179-500
6.5 GRENDEL 120gr. MPT $150-200 (10 boxes)
8mm MAUSER 196gr. SP $180-200 (10 boxes)
303 BRITISH 174gr. FMJ $180-200 (10 boxes)
7.62x54r 180gr. SP $180-200 (10 boxes)
7.62x54r 150gr. FMJ $180-200 (10 boxes)

http://www.AMMOMAN.com

Thanks!
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That is great news. In general,lately has been much harder to find 223(5,56), than 7,62. Problem is that with Wolf 223 1MOA ar becomes 5MOA.
 
To add to the confusion, here's another one you might look into. The Czech SA Vz. 58. It's not a Kalashnikov and won't take the Ak magazines, but from what I have heard, it is much more accurate then the AKs. There is also the VEPR. They are hard to find and are reputed to be the best of the AK designs.

All of the above is FWIW. ;)
 
InfidelShootist said:
You can actually get practice ammo for a 5.56 at a similar price to 7.62x39
I just got this update today,the difference is 10.00 per 1,000.

NEW TRUCKLOAD OF WOLF JUST IN:
Click to expand...

Be careful with Wolf 5.56 ammunition. It may be as cheap as a Wolf 7.62x39 ammunition but, it will cause functioning problems in a lot of "utility" grade AR-15's. Cleaning will take more effort. Be sure you get a chrome line chamber in your AR-15.

If you want fun "cheap" ammunition, get an AK. They work with steel cased and lacquered ammunition.


Regarding AK's, ARSENAL makes the best widely available in the USA today IMHO. The Hungarians were really good rifles too but, finding one on the used market is pretty tough.
 
Don't know if its fact..or fiction but a guy at my range yesterday was talking about the AMMOMAN delivered pricing on Wolf .223..said only issue was to be sure to clean lacquer from chamber area with Hoppes.

I shoot a ton of 7.62X39 in my beater AK and haven't noticed a build-up problem..hey, I said it was a BEATER.
 
Those mass produced cheap AKs are known for poor quality control. One of the common complaints are crooked sights and most of us know that AKs aren't very accurate to begin with. Some people get lucky and get one that isn't too screwed up. There are AK builders who offer services to fix the issues with these cheap AKs and refinish them. But by the time you pay for all that you may as well have bought a finished AK from a reputable builder. Or you could get a Arsenal Inc AK. As mentioned before they are built on Bulgarian receivers but also offer a new line built on Russian receivers which is pretty darn cool. My SLR-107CR does not even compare to those affordable $400-$500 AKs. The fit and finish is soo much better and worth every penny. If you cant see yourself spending the money on an Arsenal or another AK from a reputable builder there is another option. Henderson Defense offers certified AKs for under $500 which means they make sure you don't get one with crooked sights and a jacked up magwell.

I suggest checking out http://www.theakforum.net/ There is a ton of information. After a few hours you could learn what to watch out for and certify your own AK or learn how to build your own AK with the tools in your garage.
 
Another alternative is the South Korean Daewoo DR200. It's a hybrid of the AK and AR, can be got for less than an Arsenal AK, and is a great gun!
 
Most of the Arsenal AKs use a milled receiver, not a stamped one, if that matters to you. It definitely makes the rifle heavier.
 
Arsenal makes a great Ak and they are worth the money. I have an older model and its a top notch ak. If your in the market for an ak and have the money to spend I would recomend Arsenal.

I would shy away from wolf ammo. I used to shoot that in my bushmaster and it was very dirty and inacurate too. Its really cheap ammo, but I don't shoot it anymore in my ar-15...but I do shoot it in my ak's.
 
I bought an Arsenal (from Bulgaria) a couple of months ago and I love it. They are expensive, pretty accurate - but heavy as hell.
I bought one in .223 rem - so ammo is easy to find and usually not too expensive.
ilten
 
AR fan said:
It's still an AK, and the same things that make it so reliable i.e. loose tolerances, it's operating rod design, also make it an inaccurate rifle. Because of inconsistent barrel vibration.
You can dress up a pig, but it's still a pig.
Click to expand...

AK's are plenty accurate enough for what its designed for. its not a target rifle, but then again it wasnt designed to be a target rifle.

i dont know if i would call one of the best assault rifles (certainly the most prolific) in the world a "pig" lol.

i know if the chips were down & i could have only one rifle choosing between my AR and my AK wouldnt be easy.

also the arsenals are pretty good AK's, but i have had pretty good luck with the cheap romanians, egyptians and bulgarians too.

my neighbor has an arsenal '74 and its a good one for sure, certainly has a better finish than the cheaper ones, i dont know if its much more accurate, maybe a little, is it 2X better as the price would suggest? i dont know, i would probably say no, unless the finish is really important to ya (its not to me).

they are certainly good rifles though.
 
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