Budget AK Showdown: WASR vs I.O.

Published on February 16, 2018
Duration: 18:05

This video provides a detailed comparison between the WASR-10 and the I.O. AKM, two budget-friendly AK-pattern rifles. The presenter, from 4MR Ranch, assesses their price points, manufacturing origins (Romania vs. USA), trigger performance, fit and finish, action smoothness, and reliability with various steel-cased ammunition types. The WASR-10 is noted for its smoother action and chrome-lined piston, while the I.O. AKM offers a lighter trigger and a more aesthetically pleasing wood finish, though it exhibits some fitment issues and a less refined bolt carrier group.

Quick Summary

The WASR-10, imported from Romania, features a smoother action and a chrome-lined piston, aiding in cleaning. The US-made I.O. AKM offers a lighter, single-stage trigger (around 3.5 lbs) and more aesthetically pleasing wood furniture, but can suffer from fitment issues like a loose stock and rattling dust cover.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Budget AK Showdown
  2. 00:11Rifle Identification: WASR-10 vs I.O. AKM
  3. 00:33Price Comparison
  4. 01:12Manufacturing Origin: USA vs. Romania
  5. 01:26Testing Plan: Ammo and Functionality
  6. 02:12Trigger Feel and Weight Measurement
  7. 04:18Fit and Finish: Wood and Receiver
  8. 06:27Action Smoothness Comparison
  9. 07:23Recoil Buffer Feature
  10. 07:49Bolt and Piston Comparison
  11. 09:43Reliability Test: WASR-10 with Monarch Ammo
  12. 10:16Reliability Test: I.O. AKM with Monarch Ammo
  13. 10:34Reliability Test: WASR-10 with Tula Ammo
  14. 10:55Reliability Test: I.O. AKM with Tula Ammo
  15. 11:19Reliability Test: WASR-10 with Wolf Ammo
  16. 11:47Reliability Test: I.O. AKM with Wolf Ammo (Malfunction)
  17. 13:35Tiebreaker Test: Wolf Ammo with Polymer Mag
  18. 14:11Polymer Mag Test: WASR-10 vs I.O. AKM
  19. 15:08Reliability Recap and Break-in Discussion
  20. 15:30I.O. AKM Stock Splitting Issue
  21. 15:58Conclusion and Recommendation
  22. 17:46Outro

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences between the WASR-10 and the I.O. AKM budget AK-47s?

The WASR-10 is Romanian-made with a smoother action and chrome-lined piston, while the I.O. AKM is US-made with a lighter trigger and better wood finish, though it has some fitment issues and a less refined bolt carrier.

How do the triggers compare on the WASR-10 and I.O. AKM?

The I.O. AKM has a lighter, single-stage trigger averaging around 3.5 pounds. The WASR-10 has a two-stage trigger averaging about 5.2 pounds, with a crisp break after a noticeable wall.

Which budget AK is more reliable with steel-cased ammunition?

Both rifles performed reliably with Tula and Monarch steel-cased ammo. The I.O. AKM had one malfunction with Wolf ammo, while the WASR-10 ran without issues through all tested ammunition types.

What are the common fit and finish issues found on the I.O. AKM compared to the WASR-10?

The I.O. AKM exhibited a loose stock, a gap between the handguard and receiver, and a rattling dust cover with a mismatched finish. The WASR-10 had better fitment and finish on these components.

Related News

All News →

More Reviews Videos You Might Like

More from 4MR Ranch

View all →