The VZ2008 is hands down a better rifle than equivalently priced AKs.
Even if you need a $50 tab, you're still in much cheaper than what you are with the hosts of problems you get with $500 AKs (usually another $300+ of fitting/reliability upgrades in my experience). And you get a rifle that for many intents was decades ahead of its time and for which most of the AKs ergonomic dings by the AR crowd are not applicable. Instead of spending that $ to get your weapon running, you can spend it on customizations -- muzzle brakes, railed handguards/top covers, optics, etc.
But the VZ2008 from Palmetto is at most a $325 rifle. It simply can't be beat. Parts kits are at least $275 these days...
My long term goal is to own 5 or 6 of the VZ2008s b/c I find them such an extreme value and such an aberration insofar as it's one build that Century for the most part hasn't screwed up -- their Centurion AKs will milled receivers, etc, seem to have really informed them on how to build milled receiver-ed weapons well (i.e., subcontract them out to competent firms rather than have untrained, poorly trained workers do that in house...). And b/c they are such a value, I'm considering buying them much earlier than I intended.
The closest price competitor with similar features is the Sig 556R at $1k-$1500 depending, and it's a long-stroke rather than short stroke piston design. For function roles, the 300 BLK ARs and/or AKs peform very similar roles. The 300 BLK ARs are roughly the same function and ergo equivalents however. And even if reloading, 300 BLK ammo costs 50% than bulk milspec steel Russian 7.62x39... (300 BLK also has a bunch of subsonic loadings, but that's an entirely separate discussion.)
And I don't know if you follow Arsenal AKs much, but they did a big promo around their Arsenal SAM7 SF-84 AK Rifle. Basically, they foreshadowed w/ advertising that they were doing this groundbreaking innovation on the AK platform that woudl forever revolutionize AKs and allow the platform to achieve it's full potential. What was the revolution? A milled reciever. How much do they cost. $1400+. How much do they weigh empty? Over than a 1.5 lbs more than the VZ58/2008. (Add nearly another lb for the AK steel versus the VZ58's nearly as strong as steel aluminum mags.)
Bottom line, if you can scrape together $400, buy a PSA VZ2008. If you can't, use a credit card. With near 100% certainty, I think you'll be able to sell the rifle for more than $325 you have in it at nearly any point if selling the mags separately for the going rate of $75 per 4 with pouch (sell the 5th mag with the rifle).
And if you like a tubed folding stock on the Arsenal, Stormwerkz adapters and Ace folding stocks can be added to a VZ2008 for $120.
Basically, for $750 (upgrading/modernizing everything), you'll have a rifle that will outperform $1500 ARs with a round far superior to the 223 w/in 300m, and a round that's 25% cheaper than equivalent Russian steel bulk .223. Even 5.45x39 these days costs the same as 7.62x39. It's cheap, reliable, and capable. What's not to love?
