***This is the updated version of this review.  The original review was titled “Ten things I love about the Century Arms C39 v2 AK47 – but one I don’t.” The one thing I didn’t like was the lack of a side rail mount but now they include a side mount rail.  (They are also offering a cool feature related to this but it hasn’t been released yet so I sholdn’t say what it is, but it’s perfect for this gun.) So I officially have zero things I don’t like about the C39 v2!***

I read a lot of gun reviews and I don’t like most of them. They all sound the same. So I’m going to write one the way I want them to be – in the Glen Tate conversational writing style. Here goes.

Bottom line: Get a Century Arms C39 v2 AK-47.  This is especially true if this is your first AK. I’ll explain that more below.

Where I’m coming from: I’m a practical guy with limited money to spend on guns; you’re probably in the same boat. I don’t spend time on internet gun forums arguing over whether a Timney or Geisselle trigger is better, or about some new gadget (that won’t be the latest and greatest in six months). None of that will matter when SHTF.

I believe in getting good, solid guns in the hands of as many people as possible so they can defend themselves and others in the coming Collapse. I demand quality and reliability, but don’t give a crap about doodads and fads.

Another thing: I don’t raise my nose at certain gun brands.  (Well, except Hi-Points, but that goes without saying.) Let’s be honest, several years ago Century put out a couple batches of lower quality AKs. Most were solid, but some weren’t. That was years ago and they have stepped up their quality-control game by leaps and bounds.  They make seriously great guns now.  So don’t be the raised-nose snob guy who’s living in the past and out of touch with the current reality. But, hey, crap-talk Century all you want. That just means there are more Century guns out there for me to buy.

A quick note to avoid confusion: There are two versions of the C39, the version one (“v1”) and version two (“v2”). Get the v2. The v1 had a goofy rear sight and non-adjustable front sight, and furniture that wasn’t compatible with other AKs.  Century listened to feedback from all of us and fixed these things on the v2. So be sure and get a v2.

So here are the eleven things I love about the C39 v2:

1.Reliable This is the most important thing. Preppers like us are going to use these guns in all conditions and, when SHTF, we can’t ship them off to the factory to be rebuilt. I had zero malfunctions or any problems of any kind with my C39 v2 and I’ve been shooting it for over a year. By the way, the C39 v2 worked flawlessly with every kind of AK magazine I have, including Romanian 75-round drum mags.  No failures to feed or extract, no rattles, nothing coming loose, nothing breaking, no nothin’.

2. Price  These are going for about $750 now, which is a steal.  The C39 v2 compares favorably with an Arsenal AK, which is about $1,200. There’s no AK in the $750 ball park, especially any that are good. There are some cheap – and potentially low-quality AKs – for about $600. Why not spend a little more and get a good one? I note that C39 v2s were about $600 a year ago, but, because they kick so much ass, the market has spoken and now prices are higher. Get one now, before they crack the $1,000 threshold.

3. Accurate OK, I’ll be honest: I’m not a bench-rest shooter who measures groups down to the thousandth of an inch. I find that obsessing about tiny differences in accuracy hinders a shooter when it comes to how we will actually use our AKs: shooting bad guys, usually at 25 to 50 yards and probably in urban or suburban settings. Wasting precious hundreds of a second doing the mental calculations on the effect of that 3 mph cross wind when a gang of thugs is breaking down your door is stupid. Here’s what matters to me: I got one-inch groups at 25 yards with iron sights and rang an 8-inch steel gong at 100 yards all day long. ‘Nuff said about accuracy.

4. Oversized Magazine Release Sounds like a small thing, but it isn’t. Check out the C39 v2’s huge mag release paddle:

Compared to a standard AK mag release:

That extra big C39 v2 mag release paddle is a big deal when you’re doing fast mag changes. And, given that a prepper will probably be using an AK for self-defense against lots of bad guys at once, quick mag changes could save your life. I haven’t seen jumbo mag releases come standard on other AKs.

5. Safety Lever with Bolt Hold-Open Notch  Another nice feature that comes standard is a notched safety level that allows for bolt hold-open. (Why all AKs don’t come with this, I’ll never know.) Well done, Century.

6. Made in the USA!  Whoa. I never thought I’d be able to say that about an AK. C39 v2s are entirely made in America. Every single piece. I think Century is brilliant to do this. At some point there will be an importation ban on AKs and foreign AK parts. Century will be smiling and selling the only AKs on the market.

7. Milled Receiver  Most AKs, even some high-end Arsenals, have stamped receivers. This means that a piece of metal is basically bent into a rectangular shape. This works fine, but having a receiver milled out of a block of metal is better. There is no milled AK that remotely touches the $750 price point.

8. Solid Trunnions The rivets that hold key components of an AK together are called “trunnions.” A cheap AK has sloppily inserted trunnions, often with a tiny space between the receiver and the trunnion. Not the C39 v2. The only other trunnions I’ve seen as solid as this are in my Rifle Dynamics AK – but it costs $2,500.

9. Coating  The C39 v2 has a black nitride finish that seems thicker and more robust than on most other AKs. By a lot. It’s really noticeable and adds to the overall feel of quality and solidness. I think maybe the coating can repel bullets.  Well, maybe not. But kinda.

10. Trigger  Century uses its own trigger system, the RAK-1, and puts it in the C39 v2. I’m not a trigger snob, but I know what works well, and this trigger does. Like everything else with the C39 v2, the trigger feels solid. It broke at about 5 pounds and has a nice reset.

11. Side Rail for Optics  In a summer 2016 upgrade, Century Arms is adding a side rail mount for optics.  This is a huge plus. (I haven’t personally tested this mount but everything I’ve seen about the C39 v2 is solid, so I can easily presume these mounts are, too.) This is another example of Century actually listening to people using their AKs, much like they listened when people said the rear sights on the C39 v1 needed to be changed. It’s not common for a gun manufacturer to keep perfecting a product. Thank you, Century, for listening.

 

Final Thoughts: I said above that the C39 v2 would be a great “first” AK. By that, I meant if you only get one AK, it should be a C39 v2. I didn’t mean a C39 v2 is a “starter AK” that you’ll need to add accessories to and then eventually “move up” to a “real” AK. Not at all. If you have one AK, it should be reliable and have all the features you need, and none of the doodads you don’t – and it should be affordable. The C39 v2 is that gun.

Here are some other reviews of the C39 v2 for your reading and viewing pleasure.

• American Shooting Journal
• AK Operators Union
• Nutnfancy
• James Yeager

Take care and let me know your experiences with a C39 v2. Email me at glentate123 AT gmail.com.

Do you have a moral obligation to help everyone during the Collapse, including people like this:

________

_________

Is it your duty to help someone who is so stupid and brainwashed that they think a BB gun for $39.44 a is a “sniper rifle”?

I’ve changed my mind on this question.  And I’m curious what your thinking is on this.

I used to think that I had an obligation to help just about everyone when the Collapse hits.  I thought that God had given me some skills and put me in the path of people like the Team and that we should take what God gave us and save anyone who needed help.  Anyone.  Maybe you did too or still do.

I still firmly believe that God has put me in a position to help people when the Collapse hits.  I also believe that we have a duty to help the innocent – you know, people who for the past several decades haven’t mocked us and supported a system of taxation that steals about half of what we own.

But that second part, the thing about helping anyone?  Nah.  Not anymore.

It’s simple.  Why would I risk my life, my family’s lives, or my Team’s lives to help someone like that $39.44 “sniper rifle” idiot?  Why would I give precious supplies like food or water or medicine to that idiot?  That would be immoral because it wouldn’t be fair to me, my family, or my Team to put them at risk just so I can feel good about myself helping someone who would round me up and throw me in jail if they could.

Let that sink in.  Tens of millions of your fellow Americans want to throw you in jail or worse.  The $34.99 “sniper rifle” person obviously believes in gun control.  They obviously think horrible people – like you and me – can just put a “sniper rifle” in their Walmart cart and then go shoot people.  (Maybe while munching on some Oreos they also got at Walmart.)  Idiots like this would love to use government force to take our guns (which means risking the lives of police officers, not themselves of course).  This person is obviously not only stupid but also evil – they want to use force against you when you haven’t done anything wrong.

And you’re supposed to help these people?  Not at all.

Don’t feel bad during the Collapse when they beg for food or water and you walk right past them without saying a word.  Slowly shake your head and keep moving.  And keep an eye out for an ambush by them and their peace-loving Leftist friends who would steal your stuff if they could.  (They’ve already stolen about half of what you earn, so what’s a few cans of beans and a bottle of water?)

Is walking past these haters immoral?  Nope.  How can you justify to yourself, family, and friends squandering precious supplies so some dumb asses who would slit your throat in ten seconds can live another day?  Why – so the dumb asses can have more time to figure out how to hurt you and your loved ones?  How is that moral?

It’s not.  We all know about self-defense when it comes to using violence to defend yourself or loved ones.  Well, the same is true about self-defense when it comes to not giving away your supplies to the detriment of yourself or loved ones.  Don’t be “nice” by helping the liberal dumb asses who demand your stuff.

This is different than actively harming them.  I will not just shoot people because they’re liberal idiots.  That would be immoral.  More importantly, I believe that when I die I must account to God for the decisions I made in my life.  “I put a couple rounds in his face because he had a Bernie Sanders bumper sticker” is not a good answer.

But here’s the cool thing: You don’t have to harm dumb asses when the Collapse hits.  They will already be in a world of hurt because they’re unprepared and dependent.  By simply walking past them, you will be giving them the justice they deserve because they done’t deserve your help.  But they don’t deserve to be shot just because you felt like it.  That’s the moral line, in my opinion: You don’t have to help these people, but you can’t harm them for no reason.  Just let them enjoy the socialist paradise they wanted: scarcity, hunger, government control, gangs, etc.  Hey, that’s what they wanted.  These are the people who actually thought Venezuela was a good idea; let them enjoy Venezuela-like living conditions.

If you’re bothered by the thought of not helping liberal idiots then think of it this way: Those people made hundreds or maybe thousands of choices over their lifetimes to be the intolerant, dependent, hate-filled shit bags they are.  They decided early on that getting people to give them things was easier than working.  They decided over and over again to not check into the facts – such as simply looking at the box with the BB gun in it to see that it was, indeed, a BB gun.  They cast their lot with the easy life of taking, whining, and guilting people into giving them things – and then hating the people who work hard and love freedom.  Like you.

There will be plenty of innocent and decent people to help during the Collapse.  Do so.  Prep hard now so you can help as many good people as possible here very shortly.  Focus on people who deserve help – and that’s not everyone.  Get used to making hard decisions like this now.  It’s better to work these moral issues out in your head now than when you’re stressed, tired, and hungry.  Get mentally tough now.

Oh, and if you feel like you really need to help a liberal dumb ass, give them one of those $34.99 “sniper rifles” you got at Walmart.

 

 

Here is a really thoughtful piece by John Schindler, an ex-intel guy, over at the XX Committee.

It describes why the American Collapse will look a whole lot like the Yugoslavian collapse and civil war.

I think he’s right.  As you read his article, you’ll see why.

 

I have a friend who left his wife for a waitress.  I realized that what happened to him is the perfect illustration of why Donald Trump is winning now, why he will disappoint people, how things will ultimately get fixed – and why all of this is so understandable.  Let me explain.

My friend married a great woman (not the one pictured).  He was a very good man.  He showered her with love.  He made a good living and provided everything she wanted.  She was very grateful.  At first.

Then she realized he was a bit of a sap.  He was a push over.  He would unconditionally love her and put up with some bad behavior.  It wasn’t anything too bad at first, but soon she realized he wouldn’t hold her accountable.  Plus, he had no where to go.  She was losing respect for him.

She started to take advantage of him.  It was a slow process, but after a while she was open about it.  He wouldn’t do anything about it.  Each time he let her get away with something, she respected him less and took even more advantage of him.

He finally did something about it.  Well, not really, but kinda.

He went to a bar.  When he walked in, a beautiful waitress smiled – a warm, true, magnetic smile – and asked, “What can I do for you?”  A naughty thought crossed his mind, but instead he said, “A beer would be great.”  She smiled that warm smile again and said, “You got it.”  She seemed genuinely happy to serve him.  She was, but it was also her job.

He could not get that smile out of his mind.  He started going to that bar.  A lot.  He got to know the waitress.  She was smart, caring, and funny.  (Oh, and hot.  Really hot.)

He found out the waitress was divorced with two kids and having a tough time making ends meet.  She liked him.  A man like him would be perfect.  She wasn’t a horrible person, but she was going to use any advantage that came her way.  And he had just come her way.

The solution was pretty obvious to my friend.  His wife was ignoring him at this point and the waitress was everything he wanted.  And the waitress needed him – not the other way around.

He started to think about leaving his wife for the waitress.  He knew in his head that it wouldn’t last with the waitress (and his friends, like me, agreed.)  But his heart was doing all the thinking.  He really, really needed to be appreciated and treated well.  He deserved it.  He was being taken advantage of and, quite simply, he didn’t have to put up with it.  He was right about that.  His friends (again, including me) had to admit that things couldn’t get much worse with his wife so he might as well roll the dice.  “But don’t expect permanent bliss,” I told him.  His smile at the thought of being with the waitress changed to a slow nod.  “I know, I know,” he said.  “But,” he stared off into the distance, “You don’t get it, man.  Things are so cold at home.  I need some warmth.  Even if it’s a bad idea.”  I nodded.  I couldn’t argue with that.

When he told his wife it was over, she was shocked.  Not that she felt rejected – she had no respect for him – but she was stunned that the chump finally figured it out and was doing something about.  Then she started thinking about all that she’d lose when he left.  Her life on the gravy train was ending.  That’s what made her mad.

She focused her anger on the waitress, the “tramp” as she called her.  Why would he leave a nice wife for a tramp?

You’ve probably figured out by now that the husband is the average Republican, the wife is the Republican Party establishment, and the waitress is Donald Trump.

I think Donald Trump will be a huge let down to Republicans if he wins the Presidency.  But – I have to admit – I can’t blame Republicans for looking to him.  They’ve been treated like crap and taken advantage of for years by the Republican Party.  Even though they know in their heads that Trump will end up disappointing them, their hearts are doing the thinking.  And I can’t argue with that.

Here’s another reason why the story of my friend so perfectly illustrates the Donald Trump situation.  In the story of my friend, there is one good person, one bad person, and one opportunist.

My friend is like many Republicans who, on average, are decent people.  They want things to work out.  They are reluctant to hold people accountable because they’re too busy to manage the relationship and, more importantly, they expect the other party to operate in good faith.  That’s how they are, so they expect others to be that way.

The wife, obviously, is bad.  She loves the gravy train, like the Republican establishment.  Enough said about that.

The waitress is more complicated.  She’s not an evil gold digger, but she sees an opportunity.  She has lots of life experience and thinks – correctly – that my friend should go into a relationship with her with his eyes open.  He shouldn’t expect permanent bliss.  She’ll bat her eyes at him, but he’s a big boy who is making a conscious decision and knows that he must live with the consequences.  She is surprised my friend never asked her the obvious question of why her first marriage broke up.  He didn’t ask, of course, because he didn’t want to know the answer.

How did things turn out?

My friend found out that, indeed, the waitress was not perfect.  She assumed he knew what the deal was and acted accordingly.  He was stunned – and devastated.  Again?  This had happened twice?  He assumed his life was over.

Nope.  He quit looking for happiness from humans and reaffirmed his faith in God.  He found a woman in the same boat.  She was also a person of faith.  They went into a relationship with their eyes wide open, and based their ultimate happiness on something higher than human beings, who will always disappoint you.  And they kept each other accountable.  They worked hard at the relationship instead of assuming everything would work out because the other person was decent.

And they’re truly happy.

This is what America needs to do.  After the tramp disappoints you, get back to your faith and work hard on a new relationship.  Don’t expect bliss.  Work to make a relationship – based on something higher – work.  And it will.