Let me preface this by saying I am 70 years old, and not a Mall Ninja, Keyboard Komando, or Wannabe operator. While I have 20+ years as an LEO, 7 years military, and even a couple as a domestic Security Contractor on a Homeland Security gig, I am NOT expecting to have to fight a war, and don't expect TEOTWAWKI or WTSHTF before I die.
I got my first AK in about 1984 or 85, a Poly Tec "spiker", and since then have had at least a dozen and a half AKs of different flavors (Yugo, WASR, Hungarian, Saiga, East German, and Riley Defense) in the last 40 years. I think the AK is a fabulous piece of engineering, and a great piece of combat kit.
The problem is, I'd rather shoot my Mini-14 and Mini-30 (MUCH more accurate than any AK I have had, my AR15, or even my USGI WW2 M1 Carbine! I keep trying to feel the love for the AK, but never can quite "love" the AK!
With that said, Atlantic Firearms had Pioneer Arms Polish AKs for $629, so I pulled the pin and got one, mostly "just because" an AK in the safe is a good thing! I still have all my pre-ban and freedom week mags, a bunch of spare parts including a bolt assembly, and several thousand rounds of ammo, so I am set.
I know they have some cast parts, but if I shoot 1,000 rounds in the next 5 years, that would be a lot. Ruger Mini 14s and 30s are cast receivers and bolts, as do most 1911s on the market, as well as Auto Ordnance long guns., but they keep running!
Anyway, forged is better, but for me, the cast will be good enough. At less than $700 delivered, it will be nice to have as a back up (I shoot my Mini-30 ALL the time). Being as I work at a gun shop, I'll work off the dealer transfer fee and DROS in half a day.
Picked it up and installed a Commiefornia legal Phoenix Arms palm swell grip on it. Much easier to use than a fin grip. Sort of a Commie Mini-30! Shown with Type 81 4 cell chest rigs, and Chinese "flat back" mags from the RAW Poly Tech Type 56 Spiker RAW I had.
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I have been reloading the 7.62x39 round for years. Shoot my reloads in the AKs I have had and my Mini-30. Out of the Mini-30 my 125 grain .308" OTM load gets 2550 fps from a radar chrony. The Mini gives 1.5 MOA with that load with iron sights. From the Riley Defense AK I had a year ago, it was still under 2 MOA. I usually try to have at least 500-600 rounds of my brass cased reloads, another 400-500 rounds copper washed Chinese steel core, and another 1,500 of assorted Russian steel case.
