Are the Valmet M78 worth the money?
- Thread starter jeepcjaholic
- Start date
- Location
- East of Home, West of the Rest
Again, the US prices are as high down south as they are here, and they have all the AKs they could want in the free states.
The "NR Tax" theory on pricing here in Canada doesn't pan out with these guns. Even in the US they are considered to by higher quality, refined AKs. Cadillacs. So refined in fact, that pretty much any other AK part isn't transferable into the Valmet platform.
The price is high because they are out of production, better built guns.
jeepcjaholic
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver Island B.C.
Wow, think you never read what this was about. Hmmm. I have a mint milled M78 in 308. This is my second one. With me so far? What I was talking about is a M76 freakin' clone build I have been collecting parts for. Is it worth the money to build one? Not buy a M78.
Mumbles Marble Mouth
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland
Maybe worth it to some people. Not worth it to me.
Keep in mind everyone is talking about the .308 version.
Gun-broker records indicate the lowest sale of a 7.62x39 version was shy of $3800 USD. (and it had problems)
Look what this one went for... in 2007.... Still big big bucks... http://www.gunauction.com/buy/8088564
I have seen one bid up to $6900 USD, with all the bells and whistles.
So .308 can be had reasonably, but 7.62x39... forget it. Those are hens teeth, and expect to pay hens teeth prices.
Even in the USA.
Gun-broker records indicate the lowest sale of a 7.62x39 version was shy of $3800 USD. (and it had problems)
Look what this one went for... in 2007.... Still big big bucks... http://www.gunauction.com/buy/8088564
I have seen one bid up to $6900 USD, with all the bells and whistles.
So .308 can be had reasonably, but 7.62x39... forget it. Those are hens teeth, and expect to pay hens teeth prices.
Even in the USA.
- Location
- East of Home, West of the Rest
I did. The thread asked if m78 are worth the money.
Then your first post went into modified m78.
Two different things. I've said the m78 can be had for n affordable price, and noted a modified m71 clone being worth the $5000 asking price for the work involved.
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If you already have the front hand guards with retainers, pistol grip, front gas block and sight, you are well on your way. If you don't have them already all you need is a trigger group, top cover, flash suppressor, mag catch housing, and a 2x6 to beaver a stock out of. Maybe a op spring guide. I can't remember.
There are short cuts you can take. You could use a Galil top cover because they are very similar. Any old AK trigger group will work so you don't need to spend hard on a authentic Valmet group. Aftermarket AR15 flash hiders are available that look a lot like Valmet ones and could be touched up in a lathe to look even better. Of course your Hunter mag catch will work, just not as long as a M76 one. If you build this clone I will give you a break on my EE parts that you might want and might be able to find you what I don't have.
There are short cuts you can take. You could use a Galil top cover because they are very similar. Any old AK trigger group will work so you don't need to spend hard on a authentic Valmet group. Aftermarket AR15 flash hiders are available that look a lot like Valmet ones and could be touched up in a lathe to look even better. Of course your Hunter mag catch will work, just not as long as a M76 one. If you build this clone I will give you a break on my EE parts that you might want and might be able to find you what I don't have.
jeepcjaholic
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver Island B.C.
Now this sounds great! I did find a M76 wood stock for the milled receiver but it was like $800! My brother is a master fabricator welder and will build the cruch style butt stock for me so that's a option. Okay, maybe this will go back on the table. Thank you
jeepcjaholic
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver Island B.C.
Ya, I guess my title is very miss leading now the I looked at it! Was ment to ask if the M76 build would be worth it. Me bad!
Not worth the money. For what the Valmet is, I will happily pay much less for a better designed VZ58 or CZ858 that scratches my red rifle itch for a gun that takes banana mags and I can barbie up.
However if I was a millionaire, im sure i would own at least two of them.
However if I was a millionaire, im sure i would own at least two of them.
It's a real version of a prohibited firearm that you can own, if you want an M76/AK/Galil/R4 it's the only game in town, on top of that, it's a good gun on it's own merits. I know where there's an unfired 762x39 M78 - maybe one day the guy will sell it to me, but right now, it's not for sale - at any price (I've tried). So I guess it's all individual.
jeepcjaholic
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver Island B.C.
Seems to me a lot of people are willfully ignoring some aspects of the discussion (and likely never held/shot one either). In all likely-hood if Canada had no restrictions on ownership, the Valmet would still be an expensive gun due to quality of build and rarity. It's a 308 AK, with milled receiver, clean, high quality workmanship after all. However, since the market has pretty severe limitations on all non-restricted black rifles, that forces the prices up. Add to that the fact that it is the only gun similar in appearance to the AK allowed on the market and it drives the price further up. Some people keep raising the elusive "$5000" valmet as an example of crazy prices... which I've never seen for a stock gun and doubt they sell for. Sure, maybe a one-off project gun with a ton of work into it might be listed at those prices, but not a stock gun. More like $2800-$4000 depending on the exact gun.
So, if you want a gun similar to an AK with quality as high, or higher than most currenly produced guns on the market, but more reliable, you would buy a valmet. If you want a cheap knock-about gun that'll probably run ok but never extremely well, buy something else.
So, if you want a gun similar to an AK with quality as high, or higher than most currenly produced guns on the market, but more reliable, you would buy a valmet. If you want a cheap knock-about gun that'll probably run ok but never extremely well, buy something else.
jeepcjaholic
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver Island B.C.
The $5000 price tag is real world pricing for a build. $2500-3000 for a hunter then parts. The cheapest wood butt stock I found was $400 for a stamped receiver M71. The most costly was $800 for a M76 milled receiver. Bits pieces, it all adds up quick. There is no issues with the going rate on M78's. I sold a stamped that was well used and drilled and tapped for $2500 cause that is all it was worth, but I also paid $4000 for a mint mint mint M78 milled with some extras cause that is what it is worth to me as the buyer. And yes, these are very nice built rifles and should not be compared to the cz 858's which are nice but day and night when it comes to finishing. So you know I do have three 858's.
A milled .308 M78 is worth more than any XCR-M Or SG-542, and at least as much as a Modern Hunter. For what you get in comparison, $5000 for a minty M78 with some nice extras is not out to lunch. A well used one with a mag or two for $3500 is a great value. Quality of most military style semis will not compare to the Valmets. I have had plenty and know them well. Expensive yes, but you will be hard pressed to find better in the same category. The M76 clones I made with all genuine Valmet parts each cost well over 5k to build, not including my time to build and source the parts. They are not worth it only if you don't want one badly enough or you don't have the money.
