Hey guys. I'm not new to gunboards or old guns. I'm usually over in the K98 mauser or Lee Enfield forum. But I know next to nothing about AKs and was wondering why there are so few Soviet/Russian AKs here in the states?
The VRA (Voluntary Restraint Agreement) regarding import of Russian firearms and parts and munitions was signed in 1996. It restricts parts kits as well as certain weapons by exclusion. Only named firearms, parts or munitions are importable.IIRC
the ban was in 89, and signed by Bush I,
affected Valmet, Galil, HK some chinese stuff and many others,
then the clinton business killed off importation of some of the rest (like the 1911;s etc)
The VPER rifle is an AK rifle made in the Ukraine.
Their quality is fine. As a rifle they're reliable and function well. The finish is something I don't now nor ever had considered. If it doesn't directly effect function it's not something I worry about. The occasional canted sights are typically fixable with a simple sight in. And they aren't the only ones. I have a Arsenal SBR thats so canted it may as well be upside down. And this is on a $1300 rifle. The mag well problem is made here and has nothing to do with Romanian quality. This is the importer's refusal to pay a few bucks more and have it properly doneThe Romanian COMMERCIAL SALES RIFLES AS IMPORTED INTO THE USA are well known for not having great quality.
I didn't compare the WASR to the various American made AK rifles, a comparison to USA build rifles was not the subject of the original post.