Find myself wanting an AK. Know nothing about them....

[GeneticallySwiss]

I have owned a number of them over the years, and have but one now.  It is an Arsenal SLR 104UR SBR in the (in my opinion) very superior 5.45x39mm caliber.  The renowned “poison bullet”.     I recommend Arsenal as a brand, they are Bulgarian, and top shelf kit.  You would probably be best served sticking with the common and combat proven 7.62x39mm caliber for ease of access to factory ammunition.  Best of luck.


GS

[Laufer]

OP: good luck with today's AKM prices.

On a sidenote -- are you a little familiar with what looks similar, but is a very Different type of 7.62x39 gun - the Czech VZ-58?

I only mentioned this for the many people who are totally unfamiliar, or haven't read about the engineering quality of Czech rifles, or assume that they are a derivative of AKMs (not at all).
Mine is a Czechpoint, which provides a technical contrast to my imported AKMs.

[floridaman]

Don't have much to offer on experience, but I've heard that milled AKs are better than stamped ones.

[RoscoeD]

I bought a Century Arms WASR-10 (Romanian import) a few years ago <$700.  Now the same gun lists for $1100.  All that said, it has never failed to go bang.  I added optics to it (I know...heresy...but I have bad eyes) and it's one of my favorite plinkers in my collection.

[MeatAxe]

I bought a Century Arms WASR-10 (Romanian import) a few years ago <$700.  Now the same gun lists for $1100.  All that said, it has never failed to go bang.  I added optics to it (I know...heresy...but I have bad eyes) and it's one of my favorite plinkers in my collection.

As long as Century didn’t molest it, your WASR is probably good to go, though Romanian AKs are on the low end of QC in the AK world (canted sights, rough cosmetics, etc.).

I’m not one of those “nyet, rifle is good” “AK purists.” Improvements to sights (optics) and furniture make these into much more accurate and better handling guns - IMO much superior to an AR as a shtf / survival weapon, especially in 7.62x39.

[Winston_Smith]

Not sure where the OP is on his quest for an AK.  While a derivative variant, I highly recommend the Galil Ace Gen II in 7.62x39.  An incredibly solid and fun gun to shoot.

[357MAGNOLE]

Not sure where the OP is on his quest for an AK.  While a derivative variant, I highly recommend the Galil Ace Gen II in 7.62x39.  An incredibly solid and fun gun to shoot.

I ended up with a VZ58. Happily might I add.

[MeatAxe]

Not sure where the OP is on his quest for an AK.  While a derivative variant, I highly recommend the Galil Ace Gen II in 7.62x39.  An incredibly solid and fun gun to shoot.

I ended up with a VZ58. Happily might I add.

Though Vz58s are good, depending on who put it together, everybody needs at least one (quality) AK. They’re the most ubiquitous small arm in the world.