While many of the duds from earlier days are still floating around local gun stores and shows, there are many better options off the shelf now than there were a decade ago. This inconsistency led to market uncertainty, with end-users struggling to make sense of sources for authentic, reliable AK47s. That same rifle may have come into the US as a box of parts in the 1990s or early 2000s, then assembled by someone who has never built an AK. A particular rifle may have, as the manufacturer listed on the receiver, a company that has been making quality AKs for decades. These were either “sporter” versions of the AK (with different magazine wells, stocks, etc.) or came in as parts kits (that would then be assembled by the importer or by someone else entirely). Instead, due to a section of federal firearms law known as 922(r), most of the rifles came into the country piecemeal.

This reputation was due, in large part, to the fact that most AK47s did not come into the US whole. In the United States, the AK received a relatively poor reputation for quality, particularly in the later years and aftermath of the Cold War. On the other hand, a poorly built AK is unreliable and a danger to its user.

A well-done AK is a reliable gun that will perform well above most people’s expectations and will likely last a lifetime, assuming some essential maintenance. With any firearm, the overall quality of the build can make or break your shooting experience.

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