When did AK's get more expensive than damn AR's?

[Balog]

This is getting ridiculous. The crap tastic CAI imports are barely less than a brand new low end AR, and decent examples are as much as mid-range AR's. What happened to my cheap Commie gun? 

[AZRedhawk44]

This is getting ridiculous. The crap tastic CAI imports are barely less than a brand new low end AR, and decent examples are as much as mid-range AR's. What happened to my cheap Commie gun? 

TIKIWIKI.

Gabe Suarez.

Teh Revolooshun.

[Scout26]

They were cheap because they were "Surplus"  not that the surplus has run out, not as many are getting made/imported as before.

Also the AR now seems to rifle of choice for all the various flavors of tactical type sport shooting.   And even farking Mossberg is coming out with one.

Supply & Demand, where the lines cross = price. 

[AJ Dual]

Is this store pricing?

There's still lots of AK options out there for under $500. Just go somewhere like Atlantic Firearms and check them out. Not as many as there used to be, but there's still several options.

There are indeed many more AK's above $500, but that's due to the requirements of new barrels, parts-kits drying up, and the weak dollar. Also, some of the four-figure ones are from choice Bulgarian or Yugoslavian builders that have very good fit/finish. Or are actual Arsenal USA built which are actually built here in Nevada. And Atlantic and others also carry AK's re-worked or built up by other premium builders/AK-smiths, Like Red Jacket Firearms. (From the somewhat herp-derp "Sons of Guns" show on cable TV)

And K-Var/Arsenal USA has never been shy about their pricing.

[Balog]

I was talking about the local used market akshully. Between shipping, ffl transfer fees, and the asinine WA state sales tax on guns bought out of state even the just under $400 Saigas are well over $500 by the time I can get them.

[PTK]

Yeesh! I grabbed a 5.45 Saiga for a friend. Total, after shipping and FFL fee, was still only ~$350. I'm sorry to hear that AKs are so expensive for you, they're a real joy.

[Balog]

Yeesh! I grabbed a 5.45 Saiga for a friend. Total, after shipping and FFL fee, was still only ~$350. I'm sorry to hear that AKs are so expensive for you, they're a real joy.

Yeah, it's odd. I did see a minty Arsenal with a bunch of mags and a couple cases of ammo for like $800 locally, but I didn't see it soon enough. :( Still kicking myself for missing it.

[Balog]

What are the laws regarding buying a rifle in person, in a state that I am not a resident of? If I was on a roadtrip in Idaho or Montana or something and went to a gun show, would I legally be able to buy a rifle?

[41magsnub]

From the ATF FAQ Page:

Q: From whom may an unlicensed person acquire a firearm under the GCA?

    A person may only acquire a firearm within the person’s own State, except that he or she may purchase or otherwise acquire a rifle or shotgun, in person, at a licensee’s premises in any State, provided the sale complies with State laws applicable in the State of sale and the State where the purchaser resides. A person may borrow or rent a firearm in any State for temporary use for lawful sporting purposes.

    [18 U.S.C. 922(a)(3) and (5), 922(b)(3), 27 CFR 478.29 and 478.30]
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unlicensed-persons.html#out-of-state-firearm

[CNYCacher]

What are the laws regarding buying a rifle in person, in a state that I am not a resident of? If I was on a roadtrip in Idaho or Montana or something and went to a gun show, would I legally be able to buy a rifle?

In short, you can do it from a dealer but not an individual.

[HankB]

Paid any attention to the price of SKS's recently? These are still surplus, but seem to be going for $300 - $400. 

[Balog]

Thanks for the referrences guys. Might have to start planning a vacation to some place with better gun prices... 

Out of curiousity, would a private sale done through a dealer as a consignment be legal? I realize it'd increase the price by %x for the dealer's commission, bt still might be worth it.

[henschman]

Yes, it would be legal to buy a gun in a neighboring state if the transfer goes through an FFL holder. 

[230RN]

"licensee’s premises"

"In short, you can do it from a dealer but not an individual."

Is a gun show table his "premises?"

Are there any "pulled out of their hat" rules or definitions on that? 

[Balog]

I wonder if a gunsmith who does conversion work would order one at their (presumably) discounted price, do the conversion for me, then sell it to me for cost+shipping+conversion fee? Is that a standard practice, or at least something I might talk a friendly smith into doing?

[AZRedhawk44]

There's AK's, then there's AK's.  Romanian, Yugo, Russian, Saiga, CAI-rebuilds...

Same thing for AR's.

Good AK's go for about the same price point as new bottom-bucket AR's.  Dealer-special lowers (plum crazy, cavalry arms, inexpensive aluminum offerings) and a lowest-tier parts kit, coupled with an inexpensive upper will get you out to the range for $600 + cost of mags.  Or you can let Century rebuild a 1:12 twist Colt/FN upper onto a new bottom-end lower for $630 @ J&G.

But AK's can still be found for less than that bucket-o-parts lowest common denominator AR.

J&G is still selling Romanian WASR's for $400 to $450 depending on quality, or SKS's for as low as $270.

You ought to head down here, Balog.  Come with a couple grand, head to J&G, pick up a new AK or 3, and a few cases of ammo.  Get yourself on that nice, shiny ATF "watch list" they're mocking up for the 4 border States.

[Balog]

When I got back from Iraq I was still legally an AZ resident. Made a road trip to JG with some of that deployment money. Good times. :)

[AZRedhawk44]

When I got back from Iraq I was still legally an AZ resident. Made a road trip to JG with some of that deployment money. Good times. :)

Come on down.

I need a Smith model 64 surplus to go with my 65, and I can play at my Ed McGivern with a pair of K-frames.   We'll make a road trip up there, then find a nice sandy hole to act as a backstop for some shooting.

[Balog]

Come on down.

I need a Smith model 64 surplus to go with my 65, and I can play at my Ed McGivern with a pair of K-frames.   We'll make a road trip up there, then find a nice sandy hole to act as a backstop for some shooting.

I've been avoiding AZ like the plague because, frankly, I don't want to see my biological family and they all live there. Still, you make a convincing argument...

[CNYCacher]

"licensee’s premises"

"In short, you can do it from a dealer but not an individual."

Is a gun show table his "premises?"

Are there any "pulled out of their hat" rules or definitions on that? 

Yikes!  Glad I never went to an out-of-state gun show.  Although i would hope the dealer would know. . .

[Balog]

I wonder if a gunsmith who does conversion work would order one at their (presumably) discounted price, do the conversion for me, then sell it to me for cost+shipping+conversion fee? Is that a standard practice, or at least something I might talk a friendly smith into doing?

Emailed a local smith about this, haven't heard back. :/

[tokugawa]

You are in WA, IIRC. Why not join the Washington Arms Collectors?  A good show every month in Puyallup and one in Monroe also. Lots of guns, some junk, some really nice- like a .275 H+H double rifle.....finding an AK would be no problem, even if you don't find the right one it is a lot of fun looking!

[Balog]

I probably should. My last few gun show experiences have been heavy on the junk and dealers selling for more than their brick and mortar location, and light on anything decent. Might be worth a try though.

[AJ Dual]

I'm not clear on the thread above, what kind of "conversion" are you looking to have done?

Do you mean a Saiga?

If you're looking at a Saiga as a low cost path to a quality AK, and don't care about the gas block, FSB, and fore end matching a proper military AK, and just want a pistol grip and AK magazines, a conversion is dirt easy, and can be done competently with just a hand drill, a dremel, or a file and hacksaw.

My S-12 conversion was literally a 3-4 hour project. Not counting time to go back and do paint touch-up, and throw some red Loctite on the various screws and bolts once I was satisfied with it's function.

I spent more time wrestling with the fire control parts than I did with the cutting and drilling. And had I gone on YouTube and figured out the tricks to getting the Saiga bolt-hold-open retainer spring in, it would have been more like a two hour project. 

[Balog]

Yep, Saiga that is 922r compliant, pistol gripped, and accepts normal AK mags. I was hoping the lower ffl price and lack of transfer fees would off set the conversion fee. P'raps not though...