OldCarJunkie has a beautiful Russkie 1952 SKS for sale, if nobody snatched it up yet.
The vz2008 looks very appealing to me, I have been doing some research and can't locate any magazines that I would be able to acquire being a md resident. May have to settle for an sks.
...so you are turning your pistol into a rifle?
Range report on the CMMG MK47 Mutant.
Fired about 150 rounds on Friday at 50 yards from a variety of magazines, from new MagPul AK plastic mags to surplus AK metal ones.
First, the MagPul flip-up backup iron sights were nearly on from the get-go: shot about six inches low and a couple inches left right out of the box. A few shots and it was centered at 50 yards.
Accuracy was pretty good with my old eyes and "irons" (plastics?) at that distance. I put most variations down to my shivering and shooter technique. I was happy with the way it shot from the bench: all rounds stayed near the middle of the Shoot-n-See target, grouping nicely. Sorry for the lack of pics - phone was in the warm(er) truck.
Reliability is still a question mark: I didn't have many problems with the MagPul plastic mag (one FTF), which I'd put down to infant mortality/break-in, I had a few more malfunctions (all FTF) with the surplus AK metal mags, including one mag that caused an FTF every time after the first shot was fired.
This needs more research. Once everything is cleaned and re-lubed, I'll shoot again for reliability using a number of mags.
Overall, other than the open issue above, I like the rifle. I've read of people pooh-poohing it on line because it's not an AK and it's not an AR. it's expensive for sure. There's no bolt-hold-open feature and the AR-style charging handle is the only means to cycle the action after a reload. I don't mind the simplicity, however.
Even with whatever bargain-basement 7.62X39 rounds I had laying around, the rifle ran pretty cleanly for a direct-impingement gas gun and the bolt carrier wasn't in bad shape at all following this relatively limited session.
What most of those people (from out of state) don't get is that it is a Maryland over-the-counter AR-pattern rifle chambered in a caliber with readily-available cheap ammo with a full-length keymod handguard and that takes standard AR fire control parts on the lower. It's pretty light and I could see myself shooting coyotes or hogs with it and generally just having fun.
Is it the be-all and end-all? Of course not, especially until I sort out the FTFs, but it's a very likeable rifle. If you want to thumb your nose at Maryland's stupidity when it comes to firearms laws, perhaps you'd like to go and get one over the counter in a cash-and-carry deal.
More to follow after reliability testing.
Irons
Palmetto State Armory is going to be making the KS-47 which accepts AK mags in an AR15. I had built a 7.62x39 AR and the main issue I had was finding reliable magazines so this should solve that.
https://www.full30.com/video/518ceffeeb6f2d1ae2f1a22188b66041
Old thread but just Snagged a Mini-30 thanks to a gentlemen on here. Always liked the look of these guns, was looking for a Mini-14 but figured what the hey Im very vested in 7.62x39 so why not.
May have to put a Woodstock on it.
How do they run with steel cased ammo?
The Ruger manual says you shouldn't run steel cased ammo in a Mini-30. I found WPA would not feed smoothly. Every round required a "forward assist" on the bolt handle to chamber. It was just a nudge but kinda defeats the purpose of a semi-auto. Runs PPU like a champ though.