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Khyber Pass style side folder. You get the rigidity of the under folding stock with the benefit of the side folder.

RECIT wrote:I have done a bit of research this week and I am now interested in the CZ VZ58 if any one has any input on those. Very similar, but looks to be better value for the money...

I don't know gobs about them, but I would stick with the AKs. Better to have a rifle with circulation in the millions than one in the thousands. Spare parts, etc. I am not sure that the CZ takes standard AK mags. I have just seen them on the net, never in person. They look similar but they are not the same rifle inside or out. Fair warning

WASRs and SAR rifles are exclusive to Century Arm International or CAI for sure. Lancasters as far as I know are kit builds meaning they were once upon a time a fully auto AK and decommissioned and imported as per BATFs rules. They basically take a torch and cut the reciever into thirds because it can readily accept a full auto fire control group. Then either an entrepreneurial soul or company licensed to "manufacture" weapons bends and heat treat a ak receiver flat and rivets it all back together without the "third hole", only accepting a semi-auto FCG. Oops...got on a roll again Anyway, I have never heard any complaints about Lancaster builds, nor any of the other full blooded AKs or kit build AKs.

Bottom line is, if you do get a WASR read up on what to look for when you buy one and make sure to personally inspect what you buy. If you get a Lancaster, order it and never look back! If you get a good WASR, you won't be unhappy. Me personally, if I had to do it all over again I would have spent the few extra bucks and got a Romanian "G" build (like i have now), Bulgarian, or Yugo when you could find them. I love talkin AK

RECIT wrote:So in this case it would be a bad idea to order one off the internet. I need to handle and check it before money goes on the table. Are the lancaster stamped units any good? The milled ones are a little more than what I intended on spending but if thats what it takes to get a GOOD one I guess I will. Are the stamped ones on the Lancaster site WASR's?

I am going to take a guess and say no they are not. Lancaster usually doesn't stock them anytime I have looked. The difference between the milled and stamped is the manufacturing process. I am going on a limb here and saying that the milled will have a greater fit and finish and better tolerances, but its still an AK. Functionality is why everyone loves the AK and functionally there won't be a difference between the two. Oh and the milled will have a shiny bolt carrier and stamped a black bolt carrier

The most outwardly visible way to spot an AK built from a kit (and otherwise not a Century) is the mag well dimples. Look for the indentations on the side near where you insert the magazine. This doesn't hold true for all of Century's builds because the Yugos as well as the Tantal AK-74s have mag well dimples. But generally speaking, Century does not have these because they manufacture the rifle as a single stack rifle, cut out the mag well once it arrives in the US to accept double stack magazines, and weld small metal plates on the inside to keep the magazines in there. If the job is done bad thats where either a extremely tight magazine fit or extremely loose fit comes in.

RECIT wrote:I think I am going to keep my CX4 and like you said get an Ak. I have seen the WASR's from 299-599 depending on who is selling them. I really think I would be happy with a WASR cause its going to be a better shot than I am anyway. Everyone says it will leave me wanting a "real" Ak. Does the fit and finish leave more to be desired? Or is it the way it shoots? I know I need to just go and handle one and see what I like, but with them all looking very similar I don't want to get ripped off.

To me the fit in finish is so poor in some instances, it will affect the rifle more than you would be comfortable with. If you do decide on a WASR, I HIGHLY recommend that you personally check and handle the one you buy.

xpur3l0g1cx wrote:The Ak will eat anything you feed into it in that chambering. It is a little hard on the brass if you reload which I dont bc of the prices of 7.62x39. Even with dirt in the chamber it still has plenty enough room to feed the rounds of all variances. I noticed that handguns sell faster than rifles or shotguns of any type. If I were you Id hang onto any handguns you have bc youll sell it fast but might take a loss on it even if it is fairly new. If I were you Id suggest either a saiga or a Bulgarian. If you get a wasr just inspect everything(rough edges) (straight sights)(mag wobble)you can get a new one fairly cheap but itll leave you wanting a "real ak" clone. AIRSHOW THIS WEEKEND WHO IS GOING??? ILL BE THERE

AKs are hungry beast! They eat it all...I have yet to run into a picky ak!

Okay I know I will be the outside opinion here, but the WASR is a hit or miss. If its a hit, then its a hit.....but if its a miss, you usually miss big time. I feel like I can speak on them having been through 2 now. The first one was a nightmare. Trigger slap, canted front sight, and tight mag fit all on the same rifle. I spent $300 on the rifle, and then 150 fixing it. But I still was not happy with it. Sold it and got another WASR after I knew about the common problems. This was a great rifle and even had the G2 trigger when they weren't standard. Now that I have a Romy G custom build though, you notice the small things that add up to make it a whole new level of rifle. Price is always an issue as they keep getting more and more expensive, but I would say spend a little more on a good build from Lancaster or Saiga conversion. The only other type I have personally fired was a Bulgarian stamped receiver and I can say it is worth every penny at around $600. I think it better to get more polished AK than risk any money on a WASR because the people at Century putting those things together literally get paid 8.50 an hour. If I can find the ad again I will post