Selecting a Rifle
Go with an Arsenal SGL-21 in 7.62×39 and save yourself the drama that can come with a Century Arms, IO, or other parts kit built gun.
Why 7.62×39?
Ammunition and magazines in 7.62x39mm are more common in the USA than for 5.45×39.
Magazines
- Surplus steel magazines and Bulgarian “Circle 10″ polymer magazines are the ones I recommend as of this blog post.
- The Magpul AK mags look very promising though.
Accessorizing
Furniture
- Stock
- Polymer solid stocks are always a good choice
- I don’t really care for the wood furniture since it adds weight to the rifle
- Folding Stocks
- Avoid anything that requires you to take a dremel or hacksaw to the receiver to get it to fit.
- ACE Folding stocks are notorious for requiring the user to cut the tang of the receiver to fit the stock.
- If you are going to get a MAKO stock, then get the side folder model.
- The TAPCO Galil style folding stocks are a bit cheap in both price and durability.
- The Soviet paratrooper wire folders are not that comfortable to shoot
- Avoid anything that requires you to take a dremel or hacksaw to the receiver to get it to fit.
- Pistol Grip
- It is a matter of personal preference, but I really like the Hogue Grips
- Magpul and US Palm make good pistol grips as well
- Sling
- Keep it simple with a two point sling
- I don’t like the surplus slings with the leather buckles, the leather is often worn out or weather-beaten.
- Optics and other accessories
- The Ultimak gas tube rail mount is really the only scope mounting solution I recommend for an AK
- The Aimpoint micro is the best red dot out there in terms of being able to tolerate heat and maintain zero. Like many good optics out there, it is not cheap.
- Don’t try to turn your AK into a combination CQB and Sniper weapon. It will do neither well.
- The Haley Strategic Thorntail SBR mount works great in combination with the Ultimak mount and a Fenix TK-21 flashlight.