Arsenal SAM5 vs FB Beryl M1: Which Is The Better 5.56/223 AK Rifle?

[@AKking530]

I wish they’d do another batch of slr-106fr’s

[@angelgutter8249]

I picked up the one I stumbled on in stock first, a sam5. I did not pull the trigger on it on the first batch and I’ve regretted it ever sense. I do have a mini beryl and can say that is is a very impressive pistol. Great info Misha

[@akforge]

Great comparison of two unique 5.56 Kalashnikovs! 👍🏻

[@evilss69]

Misha, your wingman let you roll with the mag mix-up! 👏

[@cajuncatfish5417]

I’ve been waiting for this!!!

[@misha5670]

That was why i bumped it up in the publishing order.

[@cajuncatfish5417]

How oh so very kind of you! For real, great comparison. Think I’m gonna go for the Beryl but I’ve always had a thing for milled receivers and Arsenals. I also highly doubt the SAM5 is coming back.

[@Executioner_of_Time]

I've had 4 Arsenals over the years, 2 Russians back when they were available and 2 Bulgarians. The Bulgarians had canted front sights and I was not impressed. My Beryl in 7.62 is hands down the nicest AK style rifle I've ever had.

[@getmeoutofsanfrancisco9917]

I hear of so many Arsenals with mega canted sights and yet the majority of WASR's (Post '15) I have seen have more-or-less very well aligned sights. It's just odd seeing that one would imagine the more expensive and sought after AK's wouldn't skip on that fairly basic aspect of QC.

[@_whyte.woods_1256]

I don't buy it. I have a 104 and a 106. Absolutely zero problems. And unlike 98%+ of firearm owners, I have pit over 15k through them.

[@Executioner_of_Time]

@_whyte.woods_1256 Cool. Congratulations. I don't really care if you buy it or not. Between 2006-2010 there were tons of people that had the same issues I had with Arsenals. They may have been great before or after that but it left a bad impression and I'll never own another one. Maybe try doing some research on the issue, I'm not just making stuff up for no reason.

[@ChiefQ83]

Arsenal ARE Bulgarian

[@Executioner_of_Time]

@ChiefQ83 Yo Chief. Arsenal SGL 21 were converted Russian Saigas that were imported and sold by Arsenal. Look it up. They are coveted by many people. They are Arsenal rifles though. I wish that mine were worth keeping.

[@TheTyrial86]

I have the archer model with a genuine paratrooper folding stock and I have to say. I would take the Beryl everytime over the Arsenal. The build qualities on these is impressive.

[@brittainwoolley6848]

In a recent email from Zastava I was told "at the moment, the M90 rifles are looking like they will be a summer release." Just a heads up because I too remembered they said "before summer" back during Gun Fest.

[@jtrinidad9625]

I really hope Atlantic and AOA starts offering the beryl collapsible stock or the side folder for the Beryl. I don’t like the stock it comes with. Just doesn’t look right. I also hope to see them offer the Beryl hand guards with rails.

[@chunkyhenry0451]

Word from AoA is those parts are coming early summer. Not sure about side folders, don't think FB still makes those.

[@shaneryke5889]

Atlantic and AoA are getting another shipment of parts by summer. That said FB does not make the side folder stock anymore, only the collapsible.

[@MrWarwick15]

Nice! Thanks Misha. Rich.

[@TheDiameter]

These are cool, I’ll be interested to see how the new Zastava M90 stacks up!

[@misha5670]

Me and you both

[@Jose-xm3tq]

if its anything like the ones Century brought in.... they'll be dam good, maybe even better!!!!

[@kylerjakob5567]

pro tip : you can watch series on kaldrostream. I've been using them for watching a lot of movies these days.

[@imranholden1305]

@Kyler Jakob Yup, have been watching on KaldroStream for months myself :D

[@AKS-74U]

The M90 is nowhere near as good as either of these. I appreciate the Zastava, but it just isn't anything special and AKOU has already had issues with his.

[@ethan5.56]

One of these days I’ll stray away from all these ARs and get me an AK haha. Excellent video as always

[@Wolfwolveswolf]

Here's the actual mathematical equation- AK > AR = AK (how to stir the pot)

[@ethan5.56]

@@Wolfwolveswolf hahaha stir it

[@Mjdeben]

Not sure what your ammo situation is but I'd recommend going with 7.62x39 over 5.56 or 5.45. Even at the worst of times you can usually find it at less prohibitive costs. YMMV.

[@ethan5.56]

@@Mjdeben pretty much what I'm doing now. I've got rifles chambered for both but have a surplus of 7.62x39 atm

[@MellowFellowOfYellow]

@@Mjdeben x39 is better for now but best to have a 5.56 too. If ammo imports get restricted the prices are gonna go up up up

[@rdadams5161]

I like both of these guns! How could you pick a favorite? lol Thanks for the great vids!!!

[@petesheppard1709]

Color me interested, especially the Polish--I like the Poles!! Sorry to see the Arsenal 20-rd mags don't work in the Polish rifle. I like the compactness of 20-rd mags.

[@uncleTedK]

Do you know why they quit putting the accessory lug on the gas block on the Beryl?

[@mattmorrison9379]

I would go with the polish rifle personally. I have read a few, quite a few complaints about the newer Sam 5 imports. No first hand experience with either but that being said i would have no problem buying both of them lol.

[@misha5670]

I'm curious, what kind of complaints? Just cosmetics or anything mechanical/functional? Only put a few hundred rounds through mine so far, but no issues or failures at all.

[@mattmorrison9379]

Just the normal slight peening of the carrier tail, over gased, paint, blah blah blah, you know the usual suspects lol. I would still buy one.

[@misha5670]

@@mattmorrison9379 Oh yeah, a bit over gassed but as long as it doesn't self-destruct, its all good. Maybe a stronger spring is called for?

[@mattmorrison9379]

@@misha5670 agreed.

[@jbnnm657]

I put a kns piston in mine and some T3 wood and man I dont even feel any recoil. Zero recoil at all. The kns is a game changer for alot of rifles. But the T3 wood just takes away from that felt recoil.

[@jbnnm657]

I have a sam5 newer import and I've had an older one I almost sold to Misha couple years back. We had talked on the phone about like trading an rpk or something and cash. Ill say the newer one with a kns piston and t3 wood had zero recoil. Nice efficient way of taming gas is the kns piston, seriously feel nothing when shooting.

[@xboxoperator]

Hopefully 2021 will be good for the ak!

[@echodelta2172]

*OOF*

[@88kar88]

didnt age well... :(

[@ProgramistaNaBudowie]

6:00 So every aftermarket and every lower akm hand guard that fit e.g. WBP Jack will also fit the beryl but e.g. wooden upper would need some kind of adapter to fit in?

[@crillznhchkoodsta4337]

Best channel

[@misha5670]

Thank you

[@MegaZeeds]

I'd be in for the archer at $1,500 if it came with the stock and the rail. once tricked out that thing looks cool, but it's almost 2K...

[@letsgetit90]

@kilgor5793- true,I Paid 1800ish for the fees/taxes and everything. Spent another 150 dollars on the mount. The finish of the gun is not what a 1500 is supposed to be but I brought it because it is a battle weapon.

[@letsgetit90]

I binge-watch your videos until AF has the FB and WBP in stock again. If they Don't have any of them in the next week or so, I’ll buy the m90 and call it a day. Sick and tired, already form constantly checking my phone. for it.

[@risenfromyoutubesashesagai6302]

In stock at AF right now. Which did you get?

[@letsgetit90]

@@risenfromyoutubesashesagai6302 - I ended on getting the Serbian Red m90 and the 5.56 Beryl. But, looking back I think I would want the one with the all black magpul stock.

[@abledemo1]

Have to agree with you on the current production sam5 being over gassed. Even comparing to the SLR106 it’s a noticeably harsher recoil. Going to try a ALG spring

[@misha5670]

Please let me know if that changes anything for you

[@abledemo1]

@@misha5670 so just installed and put a mag through. Definitely a positive difference in felt recoil. The brass is now only flying about 15 feet and with less velocity than before. To about 330/4 o’clock. Not a big fan of the added weight in racking the bolt but it’s do-able

[@JeremyWashington1489]

I put a KNS piston in mine to help shooting suppressed and it’s like a miracle. Helps with both suppressed and unsupressed. It’s becoming my new favorite AK

[@abledemo1]

@@JeremyWashington1489 hey man, I have one being shipped to me currently. Can I ask which model you ended up using? My dimensions didn’t really fall into any one model perfectly. Went with the one my gun smith recommended

[@JeremyWashington1489]

@@abledemo1 I believe it’s the Arsenal small bore one, but I don’t have it in front of me right now

[@pourindiesel]

Misha it appears that the Beryl uses spring roll pins to secure the fsb and gas block versus the standard solid pins. 👍

[@ozzyosbourne826]

A

[@romeosgenericchannel3971]

I have one of the older circle ten clear mags as well as a few of the early polish clear 556 mags that has cracks all in them , they all still run just fine tho! Haha , Much love.and respect Misha you da man!

[@jamiedees8223]

Is that rust on your gas block and barrel on the Arsenal??

[@TheSkinnyMechanic]

Hope the beryl stays 1499 whenever we get more, the Arsenal has cleared 2k in most areas

[@letsgetit90]

They better stay there! Nah, hope they lower the price lol 😆 I want one so badly!!!

[@PlayerSalt]

at 17:40 ish i think he switched the mags , i could be wrong but the second one he put in was the black one and the first one he put in i think was the translucent almost blue looking one , not a big deal but just in case there was any confusion

[@Mavd-mk9iq]

the polish is the top tier Ak!

[@DelGTAGrndrs]

Misha, Do you believe in the hype behind the 1200$ Mosins by 2026?

[@misha5670]

Anything's possible...when i got into this thing, Mosins were $50 each.

[@olmangarcia943]

The Beryl...a boatload of 50 grain TSX and 193 would be all u need

[@hydrakson]

You ever gonna do a video on the 13” ace rnl?

[@GammaZeta]

Is there any difference in performance between the 18" and 16" bbl, and will these take steel case ammo? FWIW I do not run steel case through my ARs had too many bad experience with stuck cases.

[@letsgetit90]

Aks loves steel! So you should be fine with shooting steel with the Aks. Some say that the extra 2 inches makes a lot of difference with the accuracy 😊😂 and power. I feel that it doesn’t affect things too much.

[@TheSkinnyMechanic]

18” vs 16” 🤔 well my m90 which also has an 18” barrel put holes thru a level 3 plate at 25 yards. While the sam5 16” barrel left lil dents

[@A8vscRrabbit]

I recently purchased the wbp 556 ak from atlantic. I need to call them, it is way over gassed and the bcg is slammin against the rear trunion

[@JonDoe-ef4tz]

That your first ak? Because all aks are over gassed as hell.

[@A8vscRrabbit]

@@JonDoe-ef4tz not my first ak by a long shot. More like my 7th

[@misha5670]

@@A8vscRrabbit What ammo are you using in it that seems over gassed?

[@A8vscRrabbit]

@@misha5670 my reloads. 25.2-25.5gr cfe 223 powder. 55gr bulk fmj. A bit softer than standard 223 loads. To add, that it is violent compared to my slr106f

[@Bubnazty]

Does the 5.56 Beryl come with the stock reinforcing bracket like the 7.62 Beryl did? Amazing we have so many 5.56 AK options now! I have zero interest in the Zastava M90 though. I really wish Zastava would bring in a semi auto version of the M21 instead.

[@misha5670]

Yes, it comes with the bracket.

[@Bubnazty]

@@misha5670 Thanks for clarifying!!!

[@misha5670]

@@Bubnazty Talked with them today, hopefully accessories & parts coming in in 1-2 months, fingers crossed.

[@Bubnazty]

@@misha5670 Nice! I still need a stock bracket and quad rail forend for my Mini Beryl SBR project. Hopefully those are in the shipment.

[@joshjacobs2234]

My Berly mag is chipped where the mag comes close to the extractor. Anyone else having this happen?

[@FreelanceMohel]

I’m curious, do you have the Beryl rifle or pistol? I have the mini beryl and haven’t had that happen

[@joshjacobs2234]

@@FreelanceMohel Rifle not mini

[@shaneryke5889]

@Frank Deckard ya they are scraping my mags terribly, it was my post on AK files. That said, everything else is excellent. I have to hold the mag release all the way forward with one hand while taking the mag out the whole way to avoid losing pieces of the mag.

[@FreelanceMohel]

My guess is that it’s the mag well conversion they have to do since they come in as single stack sporters. I think so anyway, could be wrong

[@misha5670]

@Frank Deckard Man, poly mags are made oversized, so when new it happens. Parts will wear in together and it will stop. This is the case with a lot of AK parts and accessories too, including some of the internal bits. These guns are tools, not Italian sports cars hehe

[@mikelewis8120]

Wouldn't the arsenal slr 106 be a closer comparison?

[@misha5670]

Both of these came out recently, and frankly people just asked so figured I'd give my $0.02.

[@richardcontinijr9661]

I've owned 3 different arsenal ak's. None of them had even a semi durable finish and all of them had canted sights. They honestly were overpriced for the quality. I've only handled Polish built ak's. The finish was nice and even. The sights were straight and overall it appeared to be a well built rifle. I didn't ask what it cost but if the price was similar to the arsenal I'd say it's worth the price. My ak days are behind me, I just love the AR-15 more. But I do miss my 7.62 NATO Russia ak.

[@misha5670]

Between the 2 in this video? The price is literally identical.

[@tomelroy]

The question is 2012 Gen 2 or 3 Archer or New Beryl in 5.56?

[@misha5670]

The original sporter rifle should be of equal quality, however the work done here in the US is of higher quality with the Beryl M1.

[@ElevatedSkins]

Would be interesting to see lines of 102 types

[@Twistingmp4]

Check out the zastava zpap m85. Krinkov style 556 ak

[@sicsempertyrannis4613]

2020 was a lost year. boy aint that the truth... I would take a beryl... I have always wanted one...

[@GammaZeta]

Me too. They always sell out in 10 minutes.

[@col.cottonhill6655]

Polish and bulgy mags Both look so awesome. And neither will run in my chinese.

[@wunderfuls]

What’s the best way to get any arsenal 5.45 rifles any recommend websites? Thanks Mish!

[@misha5670]

Not many 5.45x39 Arsenals ever made. You had the SLR105 back 2004-2005, then a short run of the SA RPK3 back around 2010-2011, and the last ones were the SLR104FR and SLR104UR from 2013 through a year or two back. That's it though. Only milled ones were those RPK3s, and those were made in tiny numbers.

[@Mr.9x19mm]

Unfortunately the only way to find them now is to look on the second hand market.

[@wunderfuls]

@@misha5670 any other worth while 5.45 rifles you would recommend that are available?

[@misha5670]

@@wunderfuls On the new market? no, not really.

[@rundownpig]

Do you still have the Valmet Hunter in .308?

[@misha5670]

Sorry,. I've never owned a Valmet Hunter

[@rundownpig]

@@misha5670 I'm sorry, I thought I had sold you one years ago at the Louisville gun show. I must have been thinking about someone else lol

[@misha5670]

@@rundownpig Since I've never been to that show? Yep, must be

[@bratbrata4974]

FB is an abbreviation for "Weapons Factory".

[@jeffreybond9309]

Awesome that the cat likes to participate in the video. 😂

[@RedPillVegan]

Misha I know you and Jay read these sometimes: Can a milled *single stack* arsenal SLR-101-SB1 be opened up to accept standard magazines? Would any changes be needed to the carrier or anything else internal, or just a widened magwell? My research seems to indicate arsenal widened up the SLR-101-S imports themselves when they were imported as if all were brought in as single stacks but that may not be the case

[@timothycain4512]

Yes a good gunsmith that works on aks with the right magwell jig can open it up to accept normal highcap ak mags they all come in in single stack configuration because of our import laws but pistols on the other hand have different laws they come with the magwell already opened up so if i was u just find a local gunsmith that works on aks often probly shouldnt cost nomore than 100 to 200 buks at very most

[@jaroslawwalczak2855]

Mate, you just started Bulgarian - Polish War.

[@misha5670]

Great, the Roses vs the Sausages

[@jaroslawwalczak2855]

@@misha5670 Sausage and "kiełbasa" are a diferent thing. What about roses?

[@misha5670]

@@jaroslawwalczak2855 In Bulgaria during the summer, they have something called the Rose Festival

[@jaroslawwalczak2855]

@@misha5670 Well. Wy have not kiełbasa festival. We had tomato soup event. But I don't know if it is still case.

[@johnescobar8624]

hahahaha

[@brittainwoolley6848]

What do you think of the recoil difference between any .223/5.56 AK and the 74? Noticable? Negligible? Tired of what is probably another person asking this question?

[@blue_ridge_shooting762]

Having a 106fr and a OG barreled Bulgarian AKS-74, I can tell you that they both have pretty much no recoil at all. The 106fr with steel cased 5.56 literally does not move though. I'd say the difference is completely negligible.

[@misha5670]

@@blue_ridge_shooting762 Pretty much this....I would say 5.56 w/ say Lake City has slightly more felt recoil but....5.45x39 heats up slightly quicker. Very minor differences only.

[@spd579]

The SAM-5, I'm leaning to because of Arsenal track record and can use both co. mags. PS; thumbs up on Kitty!

[@ethanfast6329]

@@boffa-deez you're joking right? Milled arsenal rifles have been the arguably best imports we've been getting for decades..

[@kelly8431]

Always gonna have the Arsenal bashers

[@lukelacross190]

Misha can you do a video on how to install the receiver reinforcement that comes with the Beryl? New to aks and it would be helpful. There's no info out there about it

[@misha5670]

Unfortunately, youtube's policies really don't allow for gunsmithing type videos now.

[@KingOfCornchips]

You slide it into a groove in the stock. You take out the pistol grip nut. You slide the stock with the plate attached into the back of the receiver and then put the nut back in and tighten the grip. Then you tighten the stock screws on the rear trunnion.

[@lukelacross190]

@@KingOfCornchips you're the man. Thank you sir

[@therideneverends1697]

You know the mag compatibility thing has never really bothered me generally, if i am buying a 1500 gun, 250 bucks for some mags wont sink me. Unless its one of those chinese or valmet 5.56 guns, Somewhat related but i like the look of the first gen tantal mags

[@misha5670]

I tend to agree. I especially thought it was silly when people would pay hundreds to have their Arsenal .223 (or similar) converted to use AR15 mags. For the price of the work, they could have just bought 10-12 spare mags...that's enough. I like AKs to take AK mags.

[@echodelta2172]

feel the same way about NATO AUG owners...it's a $2k gun and you can't drop a couple hundo for the better variant and some mags?

[@col.cottonhill6655]

@@misha5670 it should be a crime those mag conversions

[@godwinjoy9730]

Does the Sam-5 take normal 23mm 5.56 Bulgarian barrels or is it proprietary to the Sam-5?

[@misha5670]

*shrug* should be 'normal' since the AR-M1 in 5.56 is a military select fire option.

[@thomkatt]

Hey Misha, This “new” release of the SAM7R-61 on Kvar for 1800 big ones is another surprise. I have been wanting a milled “AK47” for awhile, but that price is kinda hard to swallow. In your personal opinion, is it worth buying one of these new releases of SAM7R-61’s, or waiting for a used rifle to maybe appear. Times of course are uncertain, what would you do if you did not have a proper foreign made milled AK in 7.62x39?

[@misha5670]

There's a good chance that a used one willl be $2k by this coming summer.

[@thomkatt]

@@misha5670 :(

[@misha5670]

Problem is, what would someone be asking for a used one now? I bet you anything it would be close to $1.8k anyway.

[@88kar88]

will zenitco fit the beryl?

[@Ac22768]

Taco Bell fits.

[@roachdoggjr9801]

But can the polish ak take a dong?

[@ericvantassell6809]

Awesome cat bomb!

[@wewon5325]

I love ak-47 you bare not ban import crazy Joe

[@patstrzeszewski3240]

There should be a 5.45 beryl

[@ajuc005]

5.45 beryl is called tantal ;)

[@wewon5325]

Only thing that piss me off is that dumb beryl barrel that has 1/9 twist rate, that's a turn off in America you need 1/8 or 1/7 for heavy rounds. I pick the arsenal ak-47 sam5 all day

[@misha5670]

I like the 1/9 twist rate.

[@shaneryke5889]

Considering the Polish army wants 1/9 the Beryl is getting a 1/9. If you shoot 55gr ammunition it performs quite well

[@misha5670]

@@shaneryke5889 Yep, it does well with 55g and still good with 62g. The acceptable range is about 49g up to 69g.

[@olmangarcia943]

With 50/55grain TSX/ GMX and 62 grain TSX and JSP I think 98% of what u need a 556 AK to do can be handled

[@jameshartman814]

Man that cat has a long tail!

[@misha5670]

He's half squirrel.

[@Rayzr96]

When are you gonna do a RUSSIAN SAIGA 223/556 video??????!!!!!

[@misha5670]

Sorry don't own one and really there's not a lot of history or unique specs to dig into. Its a Saiga made in the Western/NATO chambering for the commercial/export market. Much depends on who converted one and the quality of the parts they opted to use.

[@burbsl1672]

Arsenal overpriced No thanks

[@redfirekla]

Milled is always better

[@misha5670]

Commenter right after you rather disagrees lol. I don't think milled or stamped in and of themselves makes or breaks an AK. There are great milled guns but also ones like the C39v2. Likewise, some bad stamped ones out there like say those early B-West receiver guns, but then again plenty MAK90s, WASRs, and AKM builds have more than gone the distance.

[@redfirekla]

@@misha5670 The high rate of fire gun rental places like Battle Las Vegas stated all the stamped receivers including Saigas cracked after 100K rounds. The milled ones survived including the C-39 however they did not test the best Stamped receiver from the Veprs. www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/06/03/how-many-rounds-can-an-ak-fire-before-it-breaks-down/

[@MellowFellowOfYellow]

@@redfirekla 99.9999% of people are never going to put that much ammo down range. If you can afford 100,000 rounds you can afford to get another AK

[@rapture333]

Less flex means better accuracy, a milled receiver will be a bit more accurate than stamped

[@robertpaulson3935]

@@rapture333 Name super accurate milled, my sam7 accuracy sucks lol

[@juzniewiem]

Rahdome

[@ActionJackson1993]

The SAR 3 is the best 556 ak

[@misha5670]

Why is that?

[@ActionJackson1993]

@@misha5670 just a personal opinion, its mil spec Romanian, it handles better than most other aks ive found, and has a stamped receiver i enjoy more than a milled gun

[@Fedsmoker-reborn]

Does anyone know if magpul Pmag AK74 fits in a beryl ? Obviously would have to change to 556 follower but does anyone know ?

[@nmr6316]

Saiga .223 is the best!

[@misha5670]

Why?

[@nmr6316]

@@misha5670 well, it's been a pet project of mine this past year. I got what I wanted at the same price as the Arsenal or FB Radon. Not because of where it came from but, because I was able to make it into a great project gun. Granted, mags need to be fitted but, it seems that the Bulgarian circle 10 5.56 is the best. It is weird that the 5.45 mags fit unfitted but the 5.56 mags need to be fitted.

[@localunion874]

Vepr easily

[@misha5670]

No VEPR in this video....which one of us is blind again? ;p haha

[@localunion874]

Haha I was just wanting to pull some strings lol.Thanks for the videos.

[@misha5670]

@@localunion874 I do still have that SA RPK5...that's pretty close to a VEPR.223 right?

[@localunion874]

@@misha5670 I'd say so but anything other than Kalashnikov or molot is pretty much a tryhard clone but that's just one mans opinion and I'm certainly don't claim to be any form of an expert lol. I do know rpk .223 nato veprs especially long barrels are unicorns

[@thefuhrer5873]

W H E R E I S 5 4 5 ?

[@jeremyz6911]

Meme cartridge in 2021

[@thefuhrer5873]

@@jeremyz6911 ironically, 7N6 is the only ammo i'm finding in that caliber

[@jaquamy5931]

But I don’t like 5.56 bring back 5.45

[@misha5670]

5.45x39 is the Disco of the AK world.

[@redbeezy5773]

Is this man blinded