All About The Romanian Cugir WASR-10 Family (My Original Guide to Cugir AK Imports)

From some years back, this was my first attempt at a big, comprehensive video on the Romanian Cugir WASR series of AK type firearms.
At the time, the WASR was the Kalashnikov to get for anyone just getting started and wanting to break into this community. It was a great learning platform at a very economical price...again at the time.
This video is produced and published to KZbin for historical and educational purposes and to document and make record of the content herein publicly available for said purposes. The Mishaco channel is run by experienced and trained industry professionals and all activity portrayed and content herein is presented with all considerations to safety and in accordance with local, state, and the Federal law of the United States.

[@LuckyLarry33]

For us younger folks, we didn't know about Norincos or Maadis. The WASR was most of our first experiences with the AK. Nice to hear the history of US Romanian imports.

[@bradborgelt60]

The MAK 90 was a absolute steal I got mine in 93 for 220 dollars........ I still have not finished shooting the corrosive steel core I purchased for 80 bucks for 1100 rounds...... Missouri dept of natural resources blames this rifle for snapping turtle holocaust of the 90s.

[@cmdrcriton]

Some of us never heard of romanian aks but knew about the norinco mak 90.....guess it's where you live ! Lol

[@Gmny1MOA]

My wasr was like 950 before tax...made in 22 sold in 24...first shots the trigger pin fell out and i opened it up and sheppards hook was just laying in reciever upside down lol...i had to bend it to get it to fit in the feild...i worked on my brand new gun for like 30 mins before i got it to work...since then all my aks have got their own retainer plate

[@Dfire79]

Good video but seems like a update is in need, maybe discuss the current situation with century and cugir. A discussion on the quality from past to 2024. I’m a big fan of Romanian Wasr.

[@Still_awake19]

I’ve got a zpap m92 but wanted another import before a potential import ban post election. I looked at WBP which were pricier, as well as 5.56 rifles. In the end I Ordered a WASR10 from Atlantic for $849, more than I wanted but less than many other places. The magwell is fine, works with the palm mag it comes with as well as magpul mags and I ordered some nice surplus Romanian magazines which fit perfect. Was going for the MD63/90 look so I ordered a dong and took off the cheap wood stock it came with and installed a wire folding stock. One of my new favorites.

[@chrischiampo7647]

I Have a 2001 SAR-1 It’s One of My Favorite Shooters Also Misha 😊😀 Mine Is Unthreaded Barrel 😊 Trapdoor Butt Stock

[@bradborgelt60]

I love the Romi Wasr 10s rifles because they always remind me of the various Ugandan SOC SMG guards in Iraq armed with them. I think those rifle made it back and were offering on the market.

[@gleamtarrest6310]

Thnx Guy! Been looking at Wasr, but not sure bout some of the newer ones! I see a few older ones on Gun Broker that look like they have some of the badge writing/information that looks like it is engraved with an engraving tool....is that a thing?

[@mrweeby1961]

Between all the different mfg. of rifles and magazines, even magazines of the same brand, it can be pot luck finding correct fitment. The PSA AK came with an earlier (Gen1 or 2?) Mag Pul poly mag. The new Mag Pul with the steel inserts won't fit the mag well so even in Mag Pul the magazines aren't the same size. Sure miss the days of Norinco, Polytech and Maadi guns. That Wire side folder looks like an E. German stock.

[@TheLikkinBranchRanch]

I still have an add from the shotgun News when Norincos were $197. I miss my Norinco underfolder.....

[@luked2767]

People that are into AKs have allways known the WASR is a solid AK, just undo whatever century did and put on some milsurp furniture. The park on the steel makes it easy to paint if you want to. Alot of machine gun rental places in Las Vegas buy these and when the headspace goes they put in a bolt that fits, sometimes the reciver can start to fail but its after about 100k + and they just replace it. Same with the front trunion, so it will never fail on you. The AK is now becoming a speciality import snd the ammo is now very expensive, Companys like rifle dynamics just use romanian or WBP parts kits and a cheap US barrel and gasblock with some paint... I would choose a WASR over a rifle dynamics AK (assuming i could not sell it) Insane how these are now nearly 1k and you can buy an AR for ubder 400 dollars. Im sure eventually most nations that export AKs will move to more modern rifles, you should never take imported guns or ammo granted, just like the Chinese AKs back before my time but i was old enough to remeber how cheap siaga and vepr rifles where same with surplus 7N6, 54r and any cheap russian steelcase ammo. If you dont own a standard AKM import made in a millitary contract factory the WASR is your only option. No idea why they dont dimple the reciver. The new WASR .223 does not have a chrome lined barrel, i think century must have told them to make them as fast as possible or they got the barrels somewhere else or just not set up for it, i know for most people it wont matter but i allways feel like a chrome lined bore adds to reliability when it comes to feeding and ejection, especially with steel case ammo, its also why you can find SKS and AKs beat up that look reaky bad fron the outside but the action and bore is like new. The romanian and romy G kit builds i have with origionak barrel, they seem like they have never been shot. I think the WASR 10 and full sized dracos are allways a solid choice, its made by the romanian state arms factory that have been making them for over 50 years, they are the last importers of standard AKMs that have large orders from millitary and police around the world. I would allways recomend the draco but for the money but would pay extra for a ZPAP or WBP chrome lined. I have quite a few romanian kit builds as my uncle got those kits for 60 bucks back in the day. The only issuie with a WASR is the fact that sometimes century will replace the piston with a US one then weld it, you can get kits of romanian pistons, grips ,T nuts and a semi FCG. So I have helped quite s few people remove the weld and rivit in a piston as its supposed to have some wiggle. The romanian semi auto trigger after a trigger job, it will be as good as any trigger you can buy and you wont have any peening on the bolt carrier. Sometimes century does not instal the shepardsbcrook properly but i orefer them over a plate but C clips work better if you cant get one. I did buy a draco before the wood changed (one of my fist "postols") but 7.62x39 out of a 12.5" barrel, you dont loose much veloctiy, drill and rivet a side rail and a folding brace, it makes for the perfect truck gun. Not so long ago you could buy new virgin often ubmarked 63 and 90 kits with a virgin barrel. You can still get them but not the barrels. Good kits but they do need more fitment and you have to lap the bolt a little. The only milsurp kits avalable online are romanian and polish milled. Furniture is expensive. It would be cool if cugir did what zastava did as in import them themselves and make the QC better. I managed to buy my zastava usa M70 as a barreled action as in it had no furniture, so no US parts, got some nice milsurp furniture.

[@cmdrcriton]

Zastava m70 is close to military surplus rifle as you can get unless like me you bought an early yugo m70b1 import. Alot of polish import rifles are great too.

[@cmdrcriton]

Love my romanian 10/63's . Had a few wasr 10s that I've sold. Finally got an almost new sar 1 last year , such a beautiful rifle. Still looking for an early 10/63 uf !

[@adidas-kalashnikov1756]

Wow, FIRST! ❤🇫🇮

[@AC-kz9is]

What happened lately with this company that they can't seem to cut their mag wells correctly? My Zastava Mags can't fit in the mag well.

[@cmdrcriton]

In my experience the Zastava magazines especially the surplus ones can be a little jinky in other ak types.

[@C0ochieMeat]

Second! (First loser 😢)

[@officedullard8722]

I can't stand the 'dong' hand-guard. I see the practicality but it rubs me the wrong way. cool guns, real neat, no mag-well dimple drives me nuts though

[@cmdrcriton]

The steel plates welded in the mag well is actually better than the dimples!

[@M81_WOODLAND]

32:02 Surplus Romanian wood is cheap? 😂 Not anymore. I realize you must have made this vid some years ago probably before the Chyna bat soup flu.