It’s hard to believe how the price of AKs has skyrocketed in the last few years. So glad I bought mine back when they were still considered the affordable option to the AR. That being said, thanks for the video. Very entertaining.👍🏻
Yep, if I was a collector, this would be on this list. Since I’m not, I’m perfectly happy with my ZPAP M90. Does everything I need it to do and it’s a pleasure to shoot.
amen a 5.56 ar at that price will do it better, but i love aks just cant justify $2500 5.56 ak when a $1700 ar will be just as legendary. Now i would pay $2000 for 7.62 rifles their sam 7k and sam 7sf are awesome, so i can only imagen how smooth this rifle is. If i was collecting this would be a must buy.
Got number 150 of 300 of this one. also have the other SAMS in the series and they are great rifles. expensive but worth it to me, appreciate the review.
Honestly the Zastava M90 is extremely overlooked, 18” barrel and adjustable gas block make it run suppressed really well in my experience with a OSS an wolverine and holds zero with its side rail. Not to mention I got 2 of them for less than the cost of the SAM from Buds website. When I bought my first original 5.56 AK in 2015 it was a Arsenal SAM off gunbroker for less than 950 and had no side rail but very fine fit and finish (and my friends hazed me like no other for spending almost 1k on a AK back then, how the times have changed!) . When and if I decided to get another 5.56 AK, it’ll certainly be another (2)M90’s for less than (1) Arsenal SAM at 2500.00. Fit and finish is on par with Arsenal IMO. Always look forward to these videos.
I have the M90NP and the M85NP, both with the factory AR mag adapter and they are phenomenal as far as AK accuracy goes. They both hover about 1.75 moa. But yes the Zastava guns in 5.56 in any mag configuration are extremely hard to beat at price, quality, and accuracy.
Sure is. Not sure why people don't' look into them. They are another fun derivative of the AK series too, brings something unique to the hobby with something that is actually a real AK variant and not a sporter.
Interesting rifle if you just wanted something different than an AR. Personally, I like my AK’s in 7.62x39 just for ammo diversity. I have a Arsenal 107fr that Rifle Dynamics worked over and love it. I actually set it up very similar to his “ultimate AK for SHTF”. There is just something cool about that old school mechanical feeling of the bolt cycling on an AK.
I love the Rifle Dynamics AKs. The only downside is ammo is a pain to find now because of the import bans. Maybe someday the domestic market can catch up but right now they’re too busy churning out the calibers they are without room for producing one more domestically
$2500? ..... yeah, no. Lol... great video though 👌 if there's ever a day where I regret not spending that much on an AK platform, I'll just come watch this video to fill the void ❤️
Preach. It's made of stamped steel for crying out loud. They're pricing these things like they were handmade by Mikhail himself with metal from the Monomakh's Cap. Nyet, comrade.
I have a rare Norinco 5.56 that’s amazingly accurate. Waaaaaay more so than my 7.62 variation. Mine is way more accurate that the Arsenal in the video, but thanks for the video. Still it is a very nice gun
I love the looks and that awesome top rail, but the fact that I've seen $300 Bear Creek uppers worse groups be better than the best groups out of this AK really stings and kinda kills my likability of the rifle regardless of reliability and toughness.
I would not likely ever pay this much for an AK. I love them but let's keep it real. Right now I'll buy no rifle that expensive. I may love it or if there might be some collector value , but just way to much. All due respect to you my friend. A great video and presentation. God bless all here
Nice review! A year later this particular model is still available from KVar, and the price has dropped down to $2349.00. I wouldn't mind getting #300.
This is not a comparison for all AKs versus all ARs. This is a sample size of 1 unit of one possible 5.56 AK. The Galil ace is much better and cheaper than this one too, ironically
I chose skeletonized everything, F-1 firearms UDR-15 assembly, faxon lightgunner bcg, skeletonized furniture from guntec, barris scopw that reaches out to 600 yards with the bottom of the reticule. Drop in trigger from my local sportsman's, and I used tactical toolkit's advice on the masterarmorer kit from avid... it's fine. not sure what I'd do to make it better. 6.5 lbs., shoots like a haptic controller, and I was able to mitigate completely skeletonized with: A. a superlative gas block. and B. the VG6 epsilon muzzle break. First gun build, I loved every minute of it. Since I bought my first gun back in 2020, I have scoped my Remington .308, broke in both glocks, 1911, and both AR pistols (that I bought on accident) Spent two years convincing my gun hating wife to allow me to own guns, bought my safes six months prior as I was deciding. 1911 10mm TRP Operator, for bear country, I replaced my glock 19 for a 48, a bond gun, it's a slim 19 that holds 15 rounds because of S15 mags. I am from camp Bernie Sanders, and have left the gun community because you are toxic, and don't want just any gun owner around, so the fact that I spent a grand including scope means very little to you people. I can build an AR-10 that will most likely clock at 7.5 lbs with an 18" barrel, shoot just as good as my 5.56. Gun community don't care, because you believe in Second Amendment Rights, and I believe in good sense gun laws like fucking background checks. Train, carry, and be responsible. I know you're talking AK's, because of that I cannot properly call myself a gunsmith. I assemble firearms, AR-15 being one of the easiest you can assemble. In no way am I comparing myself to AK builders. not for years. You don't know a damn thing about Progressive politics. No one is trying to take your damn guns. We need good sense gun laws, or we're just going to keep seeing guns in the hands of people that don't respect them, or should even be in possession of them in the first place. You are a vet, not the same as civilian and what we should be expected to know about honor and duty. I learned my values from WWII vets, but I am the very few that could hang with grandpa. Recognize.
They’re actually not stronger. Milling is the older way of doing things - milled steel cracks instead of bending. Stamping is the more modern way. Yes you have rivets, but a quality rivet job on a stamped receiver is just fine. Having said that, Arsenals are still cool.
Honestly not too bad on price considering all their other rifles start at $2k. The extra 400 for the gamble of the value appreciating isn’t as much as I expected from Arsenal. Love MGNG so I watch to support, but every time I see Arsenal now, I gag. Hopefully they get their prices in check soon.
Faxon Firearms ARAK upper has been on my wish list for three years now just can never seem to find it. It’s basically an AK upper that shoots 5.56 that snaps right onto your AR-15 lower
MrGunsngear, you need to change out those Fime Triggers. They’re not fitted and the hammers are too hard. Very bad on bolts could be contributing to damaging the receivers. Especially in the Beryls. Get a Bulgarian surplus trigger
All those 5.56 Ak guys have been smiling and laughing the last few months. All the shit they got for their reasoning for going with a 556. They were treated worse than a redheaded step child but we all knew this is where things were headed. I love all AKs but watching the purists from back in the day changing their tune now is fantastic. I hope someday we will go back to 1080rds for $90, but it was always a good idea to have AKs in different calibers... including 556.
I just stocked up on ammo instead… unless I plan on a true training course every year I probably have a lifetime supply of x39. Yes I’d like to shoot it more but I can ration it, and shoot my other rifles more.
As a gun snob I would say Galil or Valmet M76 is the best AK. From a practical point of view the Zastava M85 is good enough. Still a good review so thank you
Sure would like to see some more in depth analysis of the wear. I just got one of these and I'm seeing abnormal peening through 270 rounds. Have you modified the gas piston?
I love AK's even though to me they're only for plinking because they will never out perform an AR15 for self defense or on the battle field... That said they're so much fun to shoot and nobody can take away from their boring reliability and extreme durability. I'm not a collector of AK's so I don't care where they're made I just care that they run but I come from a family of collectors so if you already have 1 of an entire series of guns minus 1 you'll pay just about whatever the cost is for that 1 you're missing. This is still a lot of money for this gun but again I get it if you got to have it you got to have it and I'm sure they're going to have no problem moving them. Great video as always keepem coming brother!!!
@@ShizawnSanders I like to buy the lacquer and sealed ammo. I have wolf milspec 60gr which is no longer imported. I'm going to get golden tiger 59gr. Very similar performance to the 7n6 and non-corrosive.
Have one I spent a ton of money on, then wheelbarrowed another ton of cash into having it customized by Rifle Dynamics. It doesn't suck, but it doesn't send chills down my spine. Wanna buy it?
Mike dropping low key disses on the poors. Yes they do consider it a lot of money though it may not be for you for most people money is a factor of course you probably got the rifle for free or heavily discounted for your advertisement. All things considered imo Zastava M70 is king right now. I got a PSA ak103 $4,000 with a cold Hammer forged chrome-lined FN barrel. It rocks. Me personally if I was going to spend that much on a rifle I would drop a little more and just get an FN SCAR 17. Anything in 5.56 I'm going for an AR all day.
Chamber it in 5.45, make the rail and top cover one part, put a reliable adjustable gas block on it, and send it to this non-descript eastern European country I'm in and Ill take it!
Any chance you could steer me toward a trusted source for restoring one of these to original configuration? I picked up one that's in really nice shape, but modified by a Nimrod, at an estate auction
Was probably cheaper to them to reuse the standard receiver template which included the side rail, rather than go out of their way to produce a receiver without one to save maybe an ounce or two.
It will be a cold day in hell that I ever purchase another Arsenal 5.56 ak. The rifle was a jam factory no matter what mags I used ( $40.00 each back then ) and their customer service was atrocious.
I like the Polish Beryl, imho it should be one of the top contenders for 5.56 AK's. The only thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't seem to accept anything other than Beryl mags. Mrgunsngear have you done a 5.56 AK comparison video for 2022? I enjoy your videos thank you!
