Founded in 1998, Arsenal Inc. has a well-earned reputation for offering its customers some of the highest quality AK platforms available. This is the American division of the company, which is located in Las Vegas, Nev. Much of the work that goes into these rifles is conducted by Arsenal JSCo., the manufacturing plant in Bulgaria, which has been in operation since 1877. By dividing the labor between these two locations, the company can meet U.S. 922(r) importation regulations for AKs using factory-fresh, quality-controlled components instead of mixing and matching new and used parts from different manufacturers as some AK makers do.
The Bulgarian SAM7R series includes premier-grade rifles and pistols.
Today, the Arsenal Inc. catalog is replete with rifle and pistol variations of the semi-automatic version of the SAM7R platform, which uses a long-stroke gas piston. The rifle side of the lineup includes folding, fixed and adjustable shoulder stock configurations. This evaluation takes a closer look at the SAM7R-67T model chambered in 7.62x39 mm that features an AR-style stock assembly.
The spring loaded detent set into the front sight block allows for muzzle devices to be swapped out quickly and easily.
AK rifles are assembled around either stamped sheet steel or milled billet receivers with the milled receivers considered an upgrade. The SAM7R series uses milled receivers. However, Arsenal takes steps to ensure its receivers are even more durable than typical milled options. Each receiver blank is forged using a hot die and five-ton hammer before it is milled into shape. This process forces out internal voids and cooling deformation, resulting in stronger, finer-grain steel. In total, the forging and milling process takes 5.5 hours, which is a significant investment of time and energy from a manufacturing perspective.
The Bulgarian four-position AR-M5 stock allows for a length of pull between 12.75" to 16.50".
Another key Bulgarian component is the cold-hammer-forged 16.33" barrel. Manufactured using Steyr technology, the hard-chromed bore is cut with four-groove rifling at a 1:9.44" twist-rate. The muzzle features 14x1 mm left-hand threading with a spring-loaded detent set into the traditionally styled front sight block. This allows the muzzle to be fitted with a variety of AK-compatible muzzle devices. The SAM7R-67T model arrives with a 1.5" long two-port compensator installed at the factory of which was left in place for the shooting range evaluation.
This model’s controls are laid out and operate in traditional AK fashion.
The shielded, height-adjustable post-front-sight-block's base, along with the AKM-type 90-degree gas block's bayonet lug, are shaped to accommodate the provided military-style cleaning rod. The smooth upper handguard, textured lower handguard and checkered pistol grip are all molded from black polymer. The rear sight is of the AK tangent variety with calibration markings for up to 800 meters (875 yards). I couldn't find much information in regards to this rifle's front trunnion, but it looks to be just as solidly built as the receiver.
The milled receiver is hot-die hammer forged for improved durability.
The stamped-sheet-steel receiver cover is tightly fitted into the front trunnion to prevent it from rattling or shifting around. Removing the cover reveals a recoil spring assembly, rotating bolt, a bolt carrier with its reciprocating right-side charging handle and a long gas piston, which sticks closely to the original Kalashnikov design. The right-side, stamped-steel safety-selector lever, magazine well, magazine release lever and trigger guard will also be utterly familiar to AK rifle enthusiasts.
Disassembling the SAM7R-67T for routine cleaning follows the same series of steps as most other AK-pattern rifles.
The SAM7R-67T ships with the FIME Group's enhanced fire control group (FCG). Designed for a shorter, lighter trigger stroke, changes were also incorporated to eliminate the "trigger slap" common to some configurations. The face of the disconnector makes full contact with the hammer, its elongated tail stops against the rear trigger guard rivet and a hammer stop keeps the hammer from, well, hammering on the trigger. The result is a noticeably less fatiguing shooting experience.
This two-stage trigger's face is straight with just a bit of a curve at the end. It's listed as having a 0.35" arch of travel, and it exhibited a relatively light takeup before breaking with 4 lbs., 3 ozs. of trigger pull, according to a Wheeler digital trigger gauge. Compared to some AK triggers I've worked with over the years, the Fime FCG is definitely a desirable upgrade.
The accessories shipped with this rifle include an upgraded front sight wrench and a three-port AK-20 style muzzle brake.
The slanted cut at the rear of this rifle's receiver is capped off with a Bulgarian four-position AR-M5 stock assembly. Two of the typical six-position adjustments are sacrificed to accommodate the receiver's 1.5" tang. This allows for a length-of-pull (LOP) adjustment ranging from 12.75" to 16.50". The tubular stock support is made from what appears to be a glass-filled nylon with the sliding stock featuring an AR-15 type release lever, a grooved rubber recoil pad and a rounded top for that familiar, comfortable AR cheek weld.
An AK with an AR stock proved to be comfortable and convenient to work with in and out of a bench rest.
The SAM7R-67T arrives with a useful set of accessories, including one authentic 30-round Arsenal Bulgarian Circle 10 waffle-pattern magazine, a military-style steel-hook sling, an oil bottle and an AK-47 cleaning kit, which is compatible with the cleaning rod stored under the rifle's barrel. This particular kit also included Arsenal's aluminum T-handle front sight adjustment wrench and a 2.5" long three-port AK-20-style muzzle brake.
This version of the SAM7R features an AK optics rail riveted to the left side of the receiver. This rail was put to work supporting an American-made Arsenal Inc. SM-13 Picatinny scope mount, which is sold separately (#SM-13; $170). The mount was used to support a Bushnell AK Optics 1-4X 24 mm scope with an illuminated BDC reticle (AK91424).
Test ammunition included American-made brass case cartridges and steel-cased imports.
The 7.62x39 mm 30-round magazines used for the range evaluation included the provided Circle 10 model, three PMAG 30 magazines from Magpul Industires and two now-discontinued Tapco magazines, one of the Bakelite Orange waffle pattern Intrafuse models and the other made of smooth black polymer. The Circle 10 magazine lent to flawless operations, as did the PMAGs. There were no malfunctions of any kind when using these units. The Tapco Intrafuse was similarly reliable. However, the black Tapco magazine was a "jam-o-matic." I couldn’t get a single round of ammunition to feed reliably from this particular box. As a result, it had to be set aside in favor of the other five magazines for the course of informal and formal testing.
The best five-shot group of 2.59” was fired using the Winchester hunting load.
Some purists may balk at the sight of an AK fitted with an AR-15-type adjustable shoulder stock. But seeing as how the stock is a Bulgarian design, folks can't complain too loudly. It did prove to be a comfortable and easy to use gun and stock combination both in and out of a bench rest.
Formal, bench-rested five-shot group accuracy testing was conducted at 100 yards using a Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph to measure bullet velocities for 10-shot strings. The 7.62x39 mm test ammunition included a Winchester hunting load, Red Army Standard (Century Arms) full-metal jacket and a few boxes drawn from a dwindling supply of Russian Barnaul full-metal jacket rounds obtained before the ban. Here are the results:
The SAM7R series is a top-shelf offering from Arsenal of Bulgaria, which is regarded to be one of the premier manufacturers of AKs in the world. Buying one of the best options available is going to cost more. But what you get is an authentic battle rifle that is built to last with regular use under the toughest conditions. And if this particular configuration is not quite what you are looking for, Arsenal Inc. has plenty more to choose from.
Arsenal Inc. SAM7R-67T Rifle Specifications
Manufacturer: Arsenal Inc. (USA) and Arsenal JSCo. (Bulgaria)
Model: SAM7R-67T
Action Type: long-stroke-piston-operated, semi-automatic, centerfire rifle
Chambering: 7.62x39 mm
Barrel: 16.33" cold-hammer-forged steel, hard-chromed bore
Rifling: four-groove 1:9.44" rifling, 14x1 mm left-hand threaded muzzle
Receiver: milled, hot-die-forged aluminum billet
Magazine: Circle 10 30-round detachable box
Sights: AK adjustable post front, 800-meter adjustable tangent rear
Trigger: Fime Group FCG; two-stage; 4-lb., 3-oz. pull
Overall Length: adjustable 35.75" to 39.5"
Drop @ Comb: 1.25"
Drop @ Heel: 1.25"
Accessories: owner's manual, two muzzle devices, one magazine, cleaning rod and kit, sling, oil can, front sight wrench, lock
MSRP: $2,100
