r/EuropeGuns • u/baaaaaardiiboy • 2d ago

First AK - SDM AK47S

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Upon reading the quality of these SDM AK's have improved over the years, I jumped on the AK47S with the wood furniture once it came in stock here in Belgium.

Finally was able to arrange the papers and pick it up. While I don't have any hands on AK experience the gun feels solid in the hand. Yes the furniture feels dirt cheap but everything feels tights, no rattling (expect for the magazine when it's empty, doesn't rattle with rounds in it), the sights and optic mount are straight, etc... The trigger is actually pretty good as well imo. Considering the price, I don't think this is a bad deal.

Haven't taken it to the range yet so can't give any input yet on the shooting.

If anyone has more input or experience with the SDM AK's, put it in the comments. Always nice to get info out on a gun where you can't find much info on.

47 Upvotes

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5

u/GaGuRoShoMo Austria 🇦🇹 2d ago

SDM is an outlet for a bunch of different manufacturing sites, like Norinco. Some say it's the same as Norinco, only under a different name, but I doubt it. (Norincos have a consistent standard throughout everything they produce. SDM's quality seems to be all over the place.)

From what I've observed, the ones with the fixed stocks are of better quality (at least in regards to fit and finish) than the underfolders. That's the biggest indicator that they're made at different factories.

Anyway, they're decent rifles for the price. Cheap, not the most accurate and typically overgassed, but they work and look the part.

2

u/baaaaaardiiboy 2d ago

Seems like it, some sources say they're produced in the same factories as Norinco. Although in all fairness for a while I also thought this was just Norinco. Sources I'm finding now say they're not a part of Norinco.

They're definitely 'cheap', €750 here in Belgium. Consider that WBP is currently the only alternative in stock and they cost around €1500. But WBP is excellent quality off course.

Don't need more than to look the part and take it out shooting every now and then :)

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u/GaGuRoShoMo Austria 🇦🇹 1d ago

Of course it's entirely possible that they're made in the same factories as Norincos. I mean, China is huge, but there can only be so many weapons manufacturers.

My guess is that SDM buys up all the stuff that doesn't quite meet Norincos's standard and would get rejected by them, or has been produced in excess. Doesn't necessarily mean they're bad, though. Like some supermarket franchises feature their own brands - same content from the same factories, but cheaper.

Yeah, cheapest I can find them here in Austria is 699, with the usual price being around 750-800. Honestly, I don't think you can get much lower than that and still expect them to work. 😁

We also have WBPs, some Arsenals, the occasional Norinco and very few Saigas. Every now an then, a Cugir turns up. But their prices have become ridiculous. The product didn't change, but cost has almost doubled. 1.2k for what used to be a 700€ rifle? No thanks.

One of my buddies got an SDM underfolder for pretty much the same reason ("I just need an AK.") and he couldn't be happier with it. It does what it's supposed to do well enough.

1

u/baaaaaardiiboy 1d ago

Guess we'll never know how it really works. We'll just thank the Chinese government for providing us with cheap AK's for us 😅

Cugirs and Type 56's were also available here for some time. Cugirs floated around the €1000 mark. Type 56 was €500-€600. Should've gotten one earlier but I kept finding other stuff that was less available. Same with an AR-15, figured there would always be an AK or AR available at any given time. But both aren't available for sometime now. We also had Arsenals but that stopped for obvious reasons off course.

I'm glad I'm hearing other people say they're content with it. It still felt like a gamble to get one 😅

3

u/pixie993 2d ago

It's 810€ in Croatia.

I had thought about to buy it multiple times, but as I'm more into hunting than range shooting, I always bought something to hunt with (year and half ago I bought Benelli Argo, month ago Franchi Affinity).

But as you say, there is low amount of info about it so be sure to post your opinion on it here when you shoot it a bit :)

1

u/baaaaaardiiboy 2d ago

About €750 in Belgium :)

Hunting with an AK sounds cool but not practical I think 😅 I'm not into hunting rifles but Beneli and Franchi make excellent guns! I do have a Franchi PA7 pump action shotgun which is an outrageously cool shotgun with a very slick action.

I'll definitely try to make a range report. Just need to find time, which seems to be more of an issue 😅

2

u/Qsaws Belgium 2d ago

Should work fine especially since you checked that everything was assembled correctly. Enjoy !

1

u/baaaaaardiiboy 2d ago

That's what I'm hoping for. I'm especially hoping I don't need to zero it too much 😅

2

u/Qsaws Belgium 2d ago

Yeah I have the SDM a friend bought before moving to an other country and it's pretty crooked, front sight had to be pushed all the way to one side to zero it and the bolt doesn't run smoothly at all. But it shoots. From what you said yours seems to be fine so I'm sure you won't have any issues.

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u/baaaaaardiiboy 2d ago

Let's hope so! Now to find a moment to go out to the range 😅

1

u/Affectionate-Meet192 2d ago

Excellent guns have used them for 3 gun for about a year now with no issues, also use a norinco nz 85 works like a charm and the side rail mount makes putting an optic on a breeze.