Arsenal SA M-7S question

[rubicon923]

Originally Posted by rusich

ummmm. OK. 3 times? how did you come up with that one? just kinda went...1.nah, 2x? nah, 3 sounds more convincing.

Talk to any guys who served with "crummy Russian stamped" AKs and tell them that your milled receiver [which will NOT dissipate heat as well as stamped, believe me....try doing mag dumps in your "milled" and see how fast you will reach for a pair of gloves) and weighs considerably more] will outlast theirs stamped by 3 times.

this is nothing but a internet commando myth, probably started by a fella that knows nothing about the AK platform.

styx, the seller probably doenst know which model it is. always aks for pix and make sure you can return the rifle for a full refund if not as advertized. good luck

For those that interested in an opinion from someone who owns more than one example of both, here is my opinion.

The main advantage of a stamped AK receiver over a milled AK receiver is cost and quicker production times.

The milled AKs have a solid quality feel that few stamped AKs have. However, the 1.5mm thick stamped receivers come close. Both of my milled AKs are Arsenals. I also have two stamped Arsenals (SGLs). The SGLS are excellent shooters and IMO a current best buy for a quality stamped receiver AK. However, the fit and finish of the SGLs does not compare to that of the milled Arsenals. The milled Arsenals were built in the glory days of Arsenals with a higher level of workmanship. I guess my point here is that even if the milled receiver has no real advantage over the stamped receiver, the milled AK may be preferable to the stamped AK simply because of the quality of the parts and the higher level of workmanship.

Arsenal is currently selling milled AKs for around $1550 (so $1600 if you consider shipping and FFL transfer). However, you can buy excellent condition used Arsenal milled AKs for around $900. At that price milled AKs are just a little more than a stamped Arsenal SGL. Of course, the milled AK for $900 is not a new rifle. But, many of the used milled AKs are in excellent condition and some of them are NIB.

I don't think the difference in weight is that significant, perhaps 1-1.5 pounds heavier for the milled AK. Personally, I like heavier rifles.

From a purely functional point of view, there may not be a significant difference between a milled AK and a quality stamped AK. Whether the quality feel of the milled AK is worth the extra money (and work in finding one) is subjective. For me it is. For you it may not be. Rusich offers up his Vepr RPKs as examples of stamped receiver AKs. These rifles are among the highest quality stamped receiver AKs ever built and IMO are not representative of currently available new stamped AKs.