What to look for when buying a used AK?

[afteractionreport]

Someone is selling me a used AK the century VSKA. When doing the physical inspection what are things to look for?

And hes selling it for $500. Is that a good deal?

(Ps: I know the vska is the budget model)

Pss: how budget?

[fnlrun]

Tell the seller you want to shoot it first. If all goes well your 99.999% fine

[Ora Serrata]

[PoorRichRichard]

Ask him if you guys can figure out a place where you can go shoot it. If you can bang away 100 rounds with minimal/no problems, you should be good to go.

[Jarhead]

Buy it, it’s an AK they all go bang

[Maulerrr]

(Ps: I know the vska is the budget model)

Pss: how budget?

All of the rifles manufactured by Century are poor examples of AKMs. The Vska is just the highest quality of their poor products. But if you want just an occasional shooter that maybe you'll put a couple hundred rounds through each year, then you'll be fine. If you want a rifle that'll outlive you, or a rifle to start training and taking classes with, this isn't it. But for $500, it's a fair introductory rifle for the AKM platform. The main problem you'll encounter, if any, is losing headspace a few thousand rounds in. But again, for the casual every once in a while shooter, the Vska will be okay

PS - maybe find out if this is one of the early models. Those were the ones racking up bad reviews. I hear the newer production ones have since improved

[Oldmandan]

The VSKA has had significant issues. You need to check headspace if you’re gonna buy a used one. Which is prob why you’re finding it so cheap... It’s a known thing among the AK community... AK guys won’t touch them with a 10 ft pole

Check out the VSKA torture tests on youtube

[Jarhead]

http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/mil-spec-torture-test-centurys-us-made-aks-the-ras47-c39v2/

[Jarhead]

https://www.tacretailer.com/guns/range-report-century-arms-vska

https://coffeeordie.com/century-arms-vska-ak-review/

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/century-arms-ras47-rifle-has-arrived-meet-all-american-ak-47-126241

[afteractionreport]

With go gauges? Or should I take it to a gunsmith?

[afteractionreport]

All of the rifles manufactured by Century are poor examples of AKMs. The Vska is just the highest quality of their poor products. But if you want just an occasional shooter that maybe you'll put a couple hundred rounds through each year, then you'll be fine. If you want a rifle that'll outlive you, or a rifle to start training and taking classes with, this isn't it. But for $500, it's a fair introductory rifle for the AKM platform. The main problem you'll encounter, if any, is losing headspace a few thousand rounds in. But again, for the casual every once in a while shooter, the Vska will be okay

PS - maybe find out if this is one of the early models. Those were the ones racking up bad reviews. I hear the newer production ones have since improved

Can headspace be remedied or would ir be too expensive?

[The War Wagon]

What to look for when buying a used AK?

Rust, and the use of corrosive ammo / pitted bbl. PASS on the latter; examine the former CLOSELY...

[Oldmandan]

Can headspace be remedied or would ir be too expensive?

[hermosabeach]

Lots of videos on you tube

Load dummy rounds

Do they feed from both sides of the magazine

Rivets - are they installed correctly? Gaps or crushed receiver


Lots of basic inspections videos. Grab a pen and paper or email to yourself of what you want to inspect.

[Bastard]

you're overthinking this - it is an AK & in today's market $500 is a steal I don't care what it is... sure it is on "low end" of things but this is one of those can't loose sorts of deals as no matter what there is someone out there in our marketplace that will gladly give you at least $600 for it