solid AK platforms?
 

Looking at potentially dipping my feet into the AK realm and was curious about brands to look at. I love the look of the VFC AK-74m.

AK experts?

If you get a Real Sword, you'll never look back.

Real Sword is good but has limited lineup. I think they make only 2 variants. Both with Chinese receivers. VFC is pretty good manufacturer with large lineup. I own a VFC for many years. Solid, problem free AEG. RS does have a feeling of a real rifle. I guess because of the way they treat metal and wood at the factory but it was never my thing. I guess I like Russian AK's more.

GHK MASTERRACE!!!!!

Check out my review of the GHK AKM here;

http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=129360

Cool vid;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1LABtLeAYw

B2 Airsoft is your retailer of choice for GHK here in Canada.

http://www.b2airsoft.com/product-category/guns/

I can't believe no one mentioned LCT and E&L yet...

Oh, and if you want GBBR, there's also the WE AK PMC or AKS74UN if you want full travel bolt, or GHK, which is also a great choice for other reasons.

Looking for AEG. E&L was recommended to me. Does anyone have any information on them?

Solid, apparently made on a factory that produces real AK's (EMEI), internals by Land Arms. In some countries (Some Western European and many Eastern European) comes in a bag filled with oil, similarly to a real firearm.

From others, heard that while they are still not as good as Real Sword, they are quite a piece of hardware, mainly competing with LCT for the market of AK's. Keep in mind though, that Real Sword does not have the amount of models E&L carries: almost any AK your heart can desire is carried by E&L.

Just my 5 cents.

I've owned many Ak's including a real sword and a E&L. The E&L is a great gun for the money. Externally it's the same or better then a real sword. Internally they are pretty solid too. I buy guns based on external quality internals are easily beefed up. I highly recommend any of the E&L Ak's. Having owned both I'd go e&l. Like I said same or better externally and a lot cheaper.

VFC or E&L. Ive had tons of VFC guns, while I have heard great things about E&L. Don't forget to mention CYMA. I know they are a lower tier weapon but, are pretty good, considering the price.

Yeah if you are going to go AEG then E&L is a great choice. I've owned a AKS74U briefly, and it was amazing in the quality and accuracy dept.

Friends don't let friends by CYMA.

Pics of E&L

http://airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=168968

If anyone wants to go budget route than go with Dboys, at least it's a clone of VFC, has realistic take-down and offers deluxe edition with all steel parts unlike Cyma, which is mix of steel, pot metal, aluminum and is a clone of Tokyo Marui.

i have been working on a echo1 red star and so far im impressed, steel parts and at a good price. just needs some internal work.

depends on the model you get, some cyma's are vfc clones

LCT or Real Sword

Models CYMA 0.40 and up are actually very nice budget rifles, as they are actually VFC clones. It is the lower (i.e. <0.35) that one would want to avoid.

LCT, E&L, VFC or Real Sword.

A bunch of us on the team run LCT's and we LOVE them!

+1 to lct! I have an ak104 its fucking awesome

I've an LCT and I'm not disappointed at all.

One of my best purchase for quality/price (Thanks Latvian :D)

+1 to LCT. Their VAL replica is the tits :)

Except stripping it, that's a clusterfuck and a half.

I recently purchased an E&L Ak 104 cm b. and I love it. It's a bit on the heavy side. It's construction is solid and works well out of the box. I upgraded mine with a large bore barrel and polar star engine, ect... but as an AEG it works great. Just one small issue I had was finding the right type of 7.4 lipo to go with it because of the small size of the compartment under the dust cover. Out of the box mine clocked in at a consistent 385, + or - 3 fps with .2 bbs. It's a modern variant of the AK so some purists don't like em much but I love the idea of having a modern version with an adjustable M4 style stock. My advice is go with something that suits your play style and tastes but always research brands and models to make sure there are no known major issues with the line.

DBoys - $$ - decent externals with full steel models, decent stock internals (some QC issues)
CYMA - $$ - decent externals with steel models but not as nice as DBoys, more use of pot metal parts, decent stock internals (some QC issues)
JG - $$ - ok externals, decent stock internals (some QC issues)
Echo1 - $$$ - just reworked CYMAs and JGs usually, better internal QC, but not worth the price difference if you know your way around a gearbox
Cybergun - $$ - rebranded JG and CYMA AEGs
APS - $$ - Cheap quality externals, bad quality internals and QC (STAY AWAY!!!)
LCT - $$$$ - Amazing externals, decent internals, worth the money for realism
E&L - $$$$ - AMAZING EXTERNALS!!!, decent internals, the most realistic you can get to Soviet style AKs in airsoft short of gutting a deactivated AK and shoehorning a gearbox into it (don't do that though cause I saw a guy try it on Red Alliance and it didn't really work, also might be illegal)
VFC - $$$$ - Amazing externals, decent internals and more realistic design than early LCTs
Real Sword - $$$$ - Amazing externals, decent internals and the most realistic Chicom style AKs in airsoft hands down

What about G&G? Their new AK's are steel body and solid as hell.

Ah, good point. Only draw back with some of the new G&Gs are their overgrown handguards where the battery is stored. Looks like their AKs are deformed and with them being just as pricey as LCT and E&L, I don't see the point of going with them. Then again, I'm a bit of a purist at heart

Definitely get a Real Sword. An airsoft gun made from a real one feels a lot better. I would recommend their type 56-2 as their most solid one. Type 56-1 stock has a bit of play.

First of all, I am assuming you are looking for solid externals only, and will re-do the internals no matter what. Therefore, for higher end, I would suggest looking at E&L, G&P(?), VFC. For cheaper (But still incredibly solid) I would recommend CYMA. The CYMA I have is solid as a rock and almost every part (opposed to what the others are saying) IS in fact, steel.

Here a comparison with picture between E&L and LCT:
http://www.team-black-sheep.com/whic...the-lct-or-el/

(But in the article they stated that E&L are cheaper that LCT, this is not my experience both are similar price from what I have seen. )

+1 Real Sword. Have one and love it.

I am looking for something that is solid externally and ok stock (Will be upgraded right away anyway internally). Going to be trying out an E&L to see how it feels and will go from there.
Thanks everyone!

In that case your best options are Real Sword, LCT, E&L, new G&G and VFC. You can go with G&P, but they use the older TM style construction and it's not as robust as the more realistic designs with the brands I mentioned.

The new CYMAs are nice too since they stepped their game up, but the finish isn't as nice as on the more expensive brands.

I would stay away from the g&g Ak's the metal bodies are prone to breaking where the stock mounts.

Don't worry Brent, I am :)

Saw a 56 here..

Listed @ 450 and local. Might be up your alley.

http://airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=171583

Hit that shit up, that is a sweet deal for a RS. Even though I have two Aks already I still miss my Real Sword for its build quality alone!