Who makes the best 5.45 AK right now?

Prefer russian plastic or laminated wood...

Thanks

SGL 31 probably best still being produced. If money is no object wait until a SLR105 pops up.

+1

I love my SGL's, but my SLR105s are smooth as butter.

Dupe ~ SORRY

If you want the best 74 -

Arsenal SGL -31

Made in Russia at the Izhevsk Arsenal
The same plant that has produced weapons for Russia/Soviets since the 1800's...

I recently picked up a SGL-31/94 about a month ago...LOTS of fun to shoot !!
Atlantic Firearms

The ONLY issue I have seen so far is the cost of the mags....

+2

I have had them both for years now and while I love my SGL31's I don't feel they are quite as well fitted as my SLR105 which has been butter out of the box. It's hard to go wrong with either but I give the edge the SLR



Z

105's, 31's or i guess if you dont mind parts kit builds then a build by a reputable company. I find my Waffen Werks Bulgy 74 to be built just as good as the 31's ive handled.

IMHO ... the Arsenal SGL -31 is hands down the best.

31 if you are looking for an out of the box rifle. if you are willing to make more of commitment in terms of time and research then the Vepr

I think the best 74 you can get right now would be one of the late 80's izzy kits from rguns on a quality reciever with a bulgy barrel. Built by someone like mario at poh firearms would be just a sick sick rifle. Tantal has the correct rails and you could even source a folder and have a rifle that is much more unique and sooo much cooler than the arsenal. Also building a 105 clone out of a arsenal 31-94 would be about the best you can get aswell. Just my opinion if you got about 2 grand to get the toys everybody would be jeleous over. A 105, 31, or even a m&m m10 would work just as well though and be about the top of the heap. It all depends what your looking for because they all work about the same, just lots of different versions of the same thing out there.

I google for SLR105 and found this ad : NIB Arsenal Inc. SLR-105 AK-74 for $395.00 is it a good price?, should I buy it?




Can someone lend me a time machine

Honestly, unless your willing to stack it deep- I wouldn't venture into the 5.45 market right now. On a plus side, I'm sitting on a goldmine of mags, factory rifles, and accessories.


7n6

+1 on Arsenal. Solid build. Legion seems a good option, but I have not handled one.

I don't understand this sentiment.

Other than ammo 5.45 stuff is getting expensive right now.

The appeal of the AK74 lately was cheap ammo and mags. Prices are going up.. mags are in short supply and quite pricey. Ammo is creeping up... so if you are getting into that game, buy a pallet of 5.45 while its still cheap.

I always find that this is a foolish statement. Sure mags are costing a few bucks more right now, but you really dont need dozens of mags like people act like you do. Just grab a few mags until they get cheaper. AK 74 rifles are getting more expensive only because every AK rifle regardless of caliber has gotten more expensive. When you look at it over time ammo is the most expensive part of shooting, and i cant think of any surplus rifle ammo cheaper than 5.45. Ammo wont ever get cheaper and the savings of getting 5.45 ammo will far out way the cost of magazines so right now is a perfect time to get into 5.45. I didnt get into the 5.45 caliber until recently and i already have 2 Ak 74's piles of mags and thousands of rounds and have spent far less than when i was shooting 7.62 rifles. Just because the 5.45 market isnt stupid cheap like it was 5 years ago doesnt mean it still isnt cheaper most of the other calibers. Out of my group of shooting buddies im the only one who shoots anything 5.45 and now all of my friends with AR's and 7.62 AK's are looking for 5.45 rifles because they see how much money i have saved.

SGL31

I like my built 1983 matching numbers Izhmash AK74. I'm building another one and an AKS-74 as well b/c I like it so much. Builds are really expensive though now if you do it right with a 74U LLC receiver etc.

I did just buy a Bulgarian SLR-105 for my dad though, and for an AK74 out of the box, that thing is NICE! Very smooth, very nice, and very accurate. Got it for $850 shipped too, so I'm happy, and so is my dad.

Bingo.

When the consumable part of the equation (ammo) is cheap, buy in. Once bought, guns and mags will last a lifetime.

"Honestly, unless your willing to stack it deep- I wouldn't venture into the 5.45 market right now."

Lol this

I have 2 5.45 AK's, 3k rounds of ammo and a whole whopping TWO magazines and i have alot of fun lol

Well, I am U.S. military retired but would not hesitate to go with this rifle for SHTF with good quality ammo to use in it. I am old school miitary and don't really care for all the high-tech laser sights and optics bullshit that is now available. In a SHTF scenario how long do you think all that high-tech bullshit will hold up until you are back on your original sights, anyway? Yes, I know all about the marine headshots in Iraq they have made and that's great. But they are able to maintain all of their optics at the end of the day. In a SHTF scenario, would you be? Hence, give me an SLR-105 and good ammo, food, water and a hiding place.

Lol this post is funny. Every optic i have seen on every one of mine and every other Marines rifle is beat to shit, cracked, smashed and straight up looks broken....but guess what? They work perfectly fine. Our PVS14 night vision...same thing and works perfectly fine. Everything from Acogs, to flashlights, to PEQ15's and 16's to PVS14's and all that shit have been through tons and tons of abuse and not once have i heard anyone having to maintain them to work properly.

Having operated CONUS and OCONUS Riverine/Amphibious environments. The ACOG, AN/PEQ-15, and AN/PVS-14 are not water proof and I have sent many pieces of equipment back to higher Echelon for replacement. The rubber seal for the windage and elevation dials on the ACOG's didn't work and we had a few get water inside, same for the NVD's and PEQ-15's.

I do agree with ZEROTHOMAS on the amount of abuse the equipment can take. Results vary from user and environment, sailor can be pretty clumsy at times. I'm not a SHTF/Prepper weirdo. Without a properly supply chain, a basic K.I.S.S. rifle will be better suited for a post apocalyptic "Book of Eli" scenario. Just my 2 pesos....

And this was my central thesis although I obviously didn't make it very well. Oh, and I am too old now to be a prepper and I don't see a zombie apocalypse happening. My definition of SHTF would be more toward limited (hopefully) rioting or a Katrina scenario. These ARE a definite possibility.

My SGL 31 is the most accurate AK pattern rifle I own.

That said, the Tantal (yes, I know––-not a true AK74...) is a great rifle too at half the price.

Oh lord, half of Arfcom will be along shortly to tell you have psychological problems for choosing an AK.

LOL


7n6

The whole argument over this is both amusing and pointless. Kinda like a Ford/Chevy debate. For a small scale SHTF where I can go home in relative comfort nightly, I'd choose the AR. For a "take 1 rifle, a few mags, some ammo and never come back again", I'd take the AK. Its all about personal preference. Personally, why train on two different platforms?

Any hoo, back to the OP's question. You asked what was best but what is your price point and what do you want to do with it? As mentioned earlier, a Tantal will work fine as would an M&M 5.45. The Tantal will be cheaper but lacks a side rail for optics and swapping out the top handguard is limited. On the other hand, the M&M already has quad rails and will accept standard AK furniture.

Going from there, a WW would be nice and a SGL-31 nicer but now you're getting near the $1k mark. Do you want a reliable beater that looks good but doesn't make you cry when scratched or do you want a range queen? I'd love to have a SGL-31 but I also know that I shoot corrosive ammo and it may be a day or two before I can clean it so rust on it would suck. The potential for rust marks on a Tantal, SAR-2 or even a M&M would merely be "stories".

+1

A few years ago I bought a TGI truck gun from a friend with 10 mags and 2K of non corrosive ammo for a total of $550.00. Still have the same rifle and same 10 mags. I had bought a lot of Wolf and surplus ammo for it and "stacked it deep". No worries here. If I had to get another AK74, I'd get another used TGI or go new and get the Arsenal.

Until 5.45 becomes more main stream, I'd buy a ton of it before committing to a rifle.

I disagree.

My SGL-31 has been great so far, as was my SLR-105A1R. Not a fan of the new Arsenal 2-stage triggers but that's an easy fix if it bothers you.



It makes the wife happy too...

Another vote for the SLR-105 here

I was under the impression that SLR 105's were discontinued and the OP is wondering what is the best 5.45 currently made. Ill give a vote for SGL 31, definitely my favorite rifle by far.

If you want to get technical, the OP asked "who" makes the best 5.45. Which we both agree is Arsenal. Can't go wrong with a 31.

If someone said "i'll buy you any legal ak" (non sbr) that is available to buy right this moment... Id go krebs any day. the look alot like arsenal, but youll feel the difference. Also some arsenals have mess ups, youll never get an off gun from marc krebs

or even better get a custom one from him... but arsenals are nice and all that

So true...

How about Aimpoints?

Most ARs people put together have backup sights or in the case of the AK, they retain irons anyway. The massive difference a red dot or other optic makes to some shooters shouldn't be discounted that easily IMO.

Sgl31 owner here. It is... Excellent.

yet another vote for the SLR105A1...

SGL-31/94 FTW!!!!

Not be a jerk...but where you into shooting during the AWB? I bought my first gun (an AR) in 2002. It was only a few years, but I know what having to deal with over-priced and hard to find mags is like. You don't NEED more than 1 mag if its just a range gun, but even then, things break eventually. The ammo is still the best deal around, but the lack of new mags coming into the country is kinda discomforting.

Surplus is cyclic...mags were $32/dozen a few years ago. It's just a matter of seeing when more come in...or paying a bit more. Mags are for the most part now consumable items for us as civilians. Taken care of they will last a long time...so even if you have to pay twice what an AR mag goes for right now, they are still out there.

Love my SLR 105 !!!!!!

AKS-74N Project

I fully converted a Saiga in 5.45 for under $600. That does not include my time, just the gun and conversion parts. I really enjoy converting and think it's an excellent way to learn the system if you're not familiar. Just another option. Good luck on your hunt and post pics when you find one!

BTW I really like the 31-94 also, but think the SLR's a tad better too

Agree. I remember, during the Blow Job Bill Clinton assault weapons ban, a guy wanting to sell me what is now considered a standard Glock 17 mag for $175.00. Pretty shocking but it happened. I just said "no thanks" and moved on. AND it was not that many years back that there were lots of East German ak-74 mags floating around. I know that some hoarders bought as many as 300-500 at a time back then. Where all of those are now, I can only guess.

I’m also looking into a 5.45x39 rifle. More than probably a SGL-31. But I’m really put off by the lack of magazines. AK47 mags are about $10-$13 a piece. But most AK74 mags I’m finding are $25 plus which kind of beat the cheap ammo part.

Ammo is consumable....that's the part you want to be cheap because you only get to use it once. Mags...well you buy them once and have them forever. They will get cheaper...but if you have to have them right now and end up paying more the savings of 1K of ammo over 5.56 will still cover the cost of the mags.

CMS

I've read that they are in the same class as the ACOG.

There is none tougher than Aimpoints and ACOGs.

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