Category: AK47

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AK47 Arsenal milled receiver SAM7UF underfolder

I’d Been Searching Locally For AKMs and Found an Arsenal SAM7-UF!

I sold a wheel/tire combo that belonged to my previous vehicle so I had some money to blow.

I was eyeing a PSA AK47 GB3 MOEkov in FDE but kept wondering about what issues it would have when I took ownership, so I was hesitant.

I know the mantra.  “Get a WASR”.  Nope.  That wasn’t going to happen either, as WASRs have some of the same issues that purists bitch about when talking about PSA AKs (only WASR folk let WASR issues pass and whine about other makes/models with similar issues).

I thought of getting a Century Arms imported underfolder (AK63DS)…they’re difficult to find.

I actually visited several different local gun stores to see what they had in stock. 

Cabelas had none, not even used.

Another small store had the ones that should not be bought (C39v2 and RAS47).  They also had an Arsenal but it was $1300.  I passed.

I went to another small store and they had an old, used WASR…it looked like someone drug it behind their car for several thousand miles.  They had a RAS47 pistol.  That thing looked NICE!  I was able to handle it.  It’s the first time I got a close look at one and it had heft and the workmanship was very nice, but it was a RAS…they can explode on you.  The store also had an Arsenal underfolder, the SAM7UF.  I took a long look at it and asked to handle it.  It had little wear and was pretty much immaculate (similar to the RAS).  It had a milled receiver.  It had good alignment and the tang on the bolt carrier was not touched (it appeared the rifle wasn’t fired by the previous owner).  That was this past Friday.  Today (Monday), I went back and asked to take another look at it.  The price was $1000.  I ended up buying it.  Me.  An Arsenal.

Why did I buy this when I was looking at lower priced variants?  Because the price was $200 less than what it is new, for one.  Secondly, the thing had not been used…it was extremely clean.  It was local and I wouldn’t have to pay FFL fees and shipping and all that other mess.  I could have it same day.  If I end up not liking it, I can recoup what I spent on it, since it’s an Arsenal.  Underfolders are also badass and combined with Arsenal, I’ve a very nice new firearm!  It’s probably one of the most valuable in my collection thus far (I’ve spent a tad more on a handgun but that handgun will not resell at the same price I bought it…the Arsenal will).

So, I’ve another range visit and review in my future!

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AK Master Mount AK47 Midwest Industries rail Railed Scope Mount RS Regulate

RS Regulate and AK Master Mount Rail are Inbound to Me!

So I received and installed the bunch of AK47 goodies mentioned when I last posted.

Several things worth mentioning:

1.  The AK Master Mount fit perfectly onto the AMD-63 but one of the screw heads is too big, so I can’t tighten it down flush.  It will require either some grinding on the trigger guard guide or the screw head to lessen the diameter of the head.  This is not a problem with the product but with my firearm (that trigger guard may be non-standard AK equipment…not sure yet).

2.  The railed scope mount is difficult to adjust.  It took me 20 minutes just to ensure I wasn’t breaking the throw lever (never mind that there were several threats within the included documentation that if you broke it while adjusting it, you wouldn’t be eligible for a refund…that’s not confidence-inspiring to read nor does it inspire confidence in the product).

3.  The railed scope mount is probably not the proper product for use with a RDS.  I mounted my two RDS’s and they were not able to cowitness because the scopes were mounted too high.  The rail is too high-profile.  I need something lower profile so that I can cowitness properly.  As it is now, the dots are as low as they can be adjusted and they’re still too high over the front sight post.

I thought about returning the railed scope mount but I may be able to use it with other scopes that don’t require co-witness (ie, high power magnification scopes), so I’m going to keep it.  As well, the adjustments I made to the mount and the mounting process has shaved some metal from the lever catch…I can see Midwest, with all that threatening in the documentation, making a fuss over that, never mind the instructions not being for the proper product.

I’ve ordered a better mount for my needs, from RS Regulate:

Lower rail mount

Upper rail mount

Joined products:

They should ship tomorrow (Monday).  Hopefully, I’ll have them by the end of the week.

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AK47 gas tube cover handguard mag loader Magpul rail sight adjustment tool

AMD 63 Mods On the Way!

My FFL hasn’t even received my AMD 63 yet and I’m already ordering mods for the rifle.

I usually frown upon that because I always want to know how a gun shoots before modifying it.  In this case, I want to swap out the handguard with Magpul bits.  The stock handguard is all-metal and are unshielded.  From my understanding, the handguard get hot.  The Magpul is shielded and appears very rugged.  Installing this also means that I’ll lose the foregrip, but I’m OK with that, as I’ve no experience with it.

The Magpul handguard comes with a gas tube cover, which is great because the gas tube is exposed on this rifle.

I had to order the AKM variant.  This will require some minor fitting but I’m OK with such things and there are YouTube videos on how to fit it to the AMD variants.

I may also order a rail that will attach to the gas tube (which will replace the Magpul gas tube cover), but that will come later.

I think I also need a magazine loader, so I ordered the Butler Creek ASAP Universal Magazine Loader for the AK47.

I also need a sight alignment tool, so I ordered the Magna-Matic Defense Front Sight Adjustment Tool.

I will also need to get some ammo but I’ll worry about that a bit later, as I’m not far from a few gun stores (and Cabelas, if I’m not seeing anything I like at the small gun stores).

The rifle arrives some time tomorrow, but I’ve work.  They’ll have to call me around 10 AM at the latest if they expect me to pick it up tomorrow, otherwise it will be picked up the next morning (they open at 10 AM).

Either way, I’ll be posting pics here between tomorrow and the next day.

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AK47 AKM AMD-63 CII Clearview Investors Hungaria Tapco

Ordered My First AK47!

Last night, while at work, I ordered my first AK47.

I ordered a Hungarian AMD 63 rifle that was built from original surplus parts sets.  This particular firearm is based on the Hungarian AKM.  The Hungarian AMD 63 replaced their AMD 65 (their 65s were more expensive to build and had reliability issues with the foregrip).

Note:  This rifle is mislabeled by importers.  It is actually an AKM 63.  The folding stock version is still called the AMD 65, though.

It will come with a composite stock, 5 30-round Tapco mags, a 4-cell mag pouch, and a AMD leather sling.

I ordered through Clearview Investors.

I was on the fence between an AMD 65 or an AMD 63. AMD 65s appeared to be much more difficult to find and also don’t have all that many mod options. The difference between the two is that the AMD 65 has a foldable stock (a metal piece that can be crooked). So, I opted for the AMD 63 instead.

This is the item I ordered.

The below is what is listed in the description at the above link.  I’ll list it here in case it changes in the future.

AK 47 Variant 7.62×39 Rifle
Original Hungarian FEG “Heavy Wall” Stamped Receiver
New U.S. 16.5” Barrel, 4140 chrome moly
Barrel threaded 14mm-1, standard AK threading
Muzzle Brake threaded on
Tapco G2 Trigger Group
Accepts hi-capacity magazines and drums
U.S. made Butt Stock
Plastic Pistol Grips (stained black)
922r compliant

7.15 lbs.
37.5” Overall length
7.62×39 Caliber

Built to our specs. from original AMD 65 parts,  from double stack rifles. This means that the bolt, bolt carrier, etc.. were made to handle double stack mags. The heavy wall receiver is an FEG with a double stack mag well.The rifles are built by Clearview Investments. They are well built using a new U.S. made barrel, with the gas port, front and rear sight blocks aligned carefully, assembled and then the entire assembly is parkerized. Each rifle is tested with a variety of mags prior to shipping.

Note : These rifles are built from original surplus part sets. Metal components have been professionally parkerized to a like new finish however grips and forearms are original and may show some rub or finish wear. Trust me though, overall these are nice. 

I’m definitely excited about this firearm, because I’ve been looking for AK variants for awhile.  I specifically wanted something that wasn’t going to beat itself up as I shot it, and it had to be not-too-expensive while also chambered in 7.62×39.

I initially started looking at Century Arms’ C39v2 because I liked the idea of an AK that was made in the U.S, but when I saw MAC’s and AKOU’s reviews of the rifle, I backed off.

I then researched PSA’s PSAK47, which is actually not a bad option.  I’d have probably had one by now if they’d been better stocked.  They were always out of stock.

I then researched the WASR 10s and N-PAPs.  In fact, I was researching those guns last night and was on the ak47 Reddit subpage when I saw an archived post of someone mentioning Clearview Investors as a good source for a rifle they mentioned, the AMD 63.  When I saw that the firearm was Hungarian-sourced and was on sale for $529 (regular price was $621), I began to feverishly research.  The only issue this rifle will have is carrier tail mushrooming.  Here’s an example, with pics.  From my understanding, the Tapco trigger is the cause of that (the metal of that trigger is harder than the metal of the carrier tail).  That can easily be fixed by installing a different trigger group (to a trigger group that is known not to mushroom the carrier group).  So, I’m trying to find out if anyone has had any luck with other-than-Tapco triggers.

I’ll also be needing to get some 7.62×39 (in bulk, which will be cheaper than buying range ammo).

I’ll review the rifle when I receive it (should receive it sometime this coming week but I work swing shift so it may be difficult to get until my next weekend.  We’ll see.