I was originally thinking about getting an ak and buying the Guarder ak74 foregrip, pistol grip, and stock parts. Then I saw Jeff with the ICS AK74m. Jeff if your reading this could you comment on the performance of the AK74??? Is it worth getting, or shoud I wait for the G&G, or Ca versions???
It's the Classic Army SLK-104. I was patiently waiting for the ICS for months when this guy came out and I jumped on it. Just managed to get it a few days before the big game, too. AFAIK, the ICS version isn't out yet.
Anyway, I didn't get much trigger time on it at all on Sunday. Ask me again in a week or three how it performs and I'll know a lot more about it. And forgive my slips of 74 vs 102/3/4/5 and whatnot. I'm going to lump all 5.56 AK variants as 74.
The body is beautiful, matte black, resembles (or is) powder coated. It has Arsenal AK-105 trademarks, done under license I believe. So if you're lusting after that Russian MVD look, you'll be getting a Korean replica of a Las Vegas, NV's replica of a Russian AK-74. Still, the trademark is tiny, crisp, and easily ignored.
Cosmetic complaints: Everything on the gun is metal or a very nice, heavy plastic. Unfortunately, the small block that the rear sight attaches to is a cheap shiny plastic, and otherwise mars the metal body. It becomes pretty obvious that one particular area doesn't fit in. Also, the buttplate screws into the stock and does not slide and clip. I know Cy's a bit disappointed with this design, but I don't mind. It's one less thing to worry about falling off while running, only takes a minute with a screwdriver to open, and I've never needed to replace a 2000mAh large battery during a day, ever. Finally, the flashhider, while metal, is done in a glossy finish and sticks out a bit compared to the rest of the gun.
I'm probably going to pick up an aftermarket flashhider, just because I'm anal about orange (and it just looks odd being shiny), but the rest isn't too bad, really. The sight block will most likely have aftermarket parts shortly available for it. Otherwise it's a fantastic gun with an amazing look. It's either a TM AK and many hundreds of dollars in cosmetic kits, or this guy, and CA has done an excellent job with its looks.
Upon opening the box you get one 600 round hicap, one front sight key, and one cleaning/dejamming rod. No manual, no barrel block, no frills. Meh.
Performance wise (and here's where I'm getting into shakey ground) it's very nice. Mechbox sounds clean and crisp, just like a tuned TM version III. The gun chrono'd around (TJ, correct me if I"m wrong) 300, +- 5fps on either side, very reliably. It's got a great ROF, just like other stock guns pushed by an 8.4v. The only problem I've had with it so far is accuracy. The inner barrel was filthy (even more so than most new AEGs), so I thoroughly cleaned it. While I might still have some silicone on the hop bucking, it definitely tended to spray out at the end of its range. It should be easily corrected with a tightbore, which I put in all my long guns anyway, but still a bit on the disappointing side. I can't say if it won't suddenly correct itself when/if the bucking clears up, but it's an issue now.
Cy and I got the only two being shipped to Hot Spot, apparently the first run's yield was small and retailers only got a handful. I'd recommend emailing Claudio at HS if you're interested, they'll probably be in high demand for a while.
Anyway, meet up with me next time I'm out and you can give it a once over, see if you like it.
Actually you'll be getting a Classic Army replica of a Nevada replica of a Bavarian replica of a russian 104. A Bavarian company sells copies of the russian gun to other european countries. Unless the Bavarian and the Nevada companies are the same. I love that gun, saw it sitting up on the crew desk at the big game. If a TM AK magazine fits, there wouldn't be any problems fitting an AK Beta Spetsnaz short magazine in, would there?
*pardon the drool*
upgraded internals, silencer, scope, short mag, skeleton butt-stock.
I say old bean,, how is Hot Spot on shipping charges?
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Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you're up to.
Hot Spot is standard UPS fare, only a couple of bucks. I was initially somewhat skeptical of Claudio, but he's pulled through for me a few times (and everyone else quite a lot of times). Thumbs up in my book.
Thanks for instructing me on the AK replica-o-rama, it's worse than an Alabama hillbilly's family tree. :)
Speaking of magazines, I can't believe I forgot to mention it. One serious flaw: magainzes have issues. I picked up 4 Star lowcap magazines, they do not work in this gun, period. There's something slightly off with the CA magazines and mag well. The Star mags wobble an inch to the left and right when inserted, and do not feed, period. (Incidentally, if you want 4 Star lowcaps, PM me before I send them back. All unused). For the Big Game I picked up two G&G 600 round hicaps, which work and seem to work well. They also wobble, but it's not much at all. The CA magazine is as solid as a rock.
I have yet to test with TM AK magazines. I'll update it as I can.
(and when you place an order for your tightbore, get me one too...? I can pay!)
I have to agree with everything jeff said. Also note, though, the JUST Scope mount (built for TM AK's) will NOT work on the CA AK. It misaligns by about 5-10 degrees. Still working on that one...
Cyrus
PS - Oh yah, Jeff, i have yoru manual and catalogue... I got both of them for some reason...
The selector plate froze last weekend while playing. Nothing too big, just unable to move into semi or safe. So I tried to take the receivers apart and one screw stripped. More accurately, the little hex nut that sits in the plastic upper reciever cracked through the asstastic plastic. I had to drill the screw (and nut) out to seperate the halves, and now I'm in the market for a new upper receiver.
You kinda knew it was coming, the upper looked and felt pretty cheap. Still, I'm disappointed. There's some fatigue around the other nuts as well, I recommend being very gentle when undoing those four screws.
Anyway, the selector plate and gears were dry as a bone and binding up, and the wiring harness somehow managed to get in the way. A little white lithium love and wire rerouting and I'm back in business, but without an upper.
[quote="DkHelmet"]
Speaking of magazines, I can't believe I forgot to mention it. One serious flaw: magainzes have issues. I picked up 4 Star lowcap magazines, they do not work in this gun, period. There's something slightly off with the CA magazines and mag well. The Star mags wobble an inch to the left and right when inserted, and do not feed, period. (Incidentally, if you want 4 Star lowcaps, PM me before I send them back. All unused). For the Big Game I picked up two G&G 600 round hicaps, which work and seem to work well. They also wobble, but it's not much at all. The CA magazine is as solid as a rock.
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Sounds like the problem I have w/ my CA M15A4. The Star mags don't wobble in the mag well, but they also don't feed. The feeding problem is due to the fact that the CA hop up feeding tube is slightly shorter where the mag and hop up meet which doesn't allow the bb's to be released or feed properly.
