Ok so I found this whilst browsing reddit this morning and thought I would share here because there is some good info and there seems to be more and more AK love going on around here.
Shoutout to the OP /u/GrittyHandjob
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At the request/interest of a couple of posters looking for a guide sticky, as well as with the assistance of /u/LynchMob_Lerry, here's a brief breakdown of options that are currently available, and why you might consider one over the other. I'm not the end-all expert, so feel free to let me know if we're wrong on something, and you're welcome to add to this with more info on builders, the used market, etc. And as with anything on the internet, you're welcome to ignore as much or as little as you like, but I believe we have a bias-free, brief factual breakdown of what is out there. All prices and options come from what I was able to find on all the major online retailers.
So, let's jump in.
The rifles;
I.O. < $600
Century WASR-10 $625
Zastava NPAP $630
Century RAS47 $630
DDI stamped $750
Century C39V2 $750
Cugir RH10 $800 (Magpul Zhukov)
Kit guns (Atlantic, James River, Petronov, High Standard, etc.) ~$800-$900
DDI milled $939
Arsenal SLR107 $1000
Arsenal SLR104 $1000-$1100
Definitive Arms DAKM-4150 $1100-$1200
Arsenal SAM7R $1300
Arsenal SAM7SF $1400
Kreb's AK-103KS $1700
Rifle Dynamics $1800-$2200
What should I get for $600?
For $600, look for the WASR. It features a chrome-lined, cold-hammer forged barrel, and is made in a factory that has been making military AKs for decades. They have been proven rifles in both military and civilian form, and Rob Ski from the AKOU has given it high praises. The WASR will accept standard AKM furniture. Another option for a budget rifle is the Zastava N-PAP. It is made in current day Serbia and is another proven budget rifle. While not as loved as the WASR series, they are nonetheless a good rifle. The major downside of the Yugo rifles are they do not feature a chrome-lined barrel, and only accept Yugo-specific furniture. While it does limit your options, the Yugo aftermarket is an ever-growing market. Like the WASR, the Yugos are made in a military factory with decades of history. Both rifles are susceptible to coming with canted sights or other small assembly errors, which is why the overwhelming suggestion is to get a QC-inspected rifle before buying. The RAS47 and I.O. branded rifles are generally frowned on for using substandard building techniques or improper heat treating. If you get one of these rifles, it is at your own risk.
$800-$850?
Well, your world opens to the DDI stamped rifles, Cugir RH10, Century C39V2, and the parts guns from other larger builders (Atlantic, Petronov, High Standard, etc). The thing to consider at this price point is barrel quality. You do get generally better fit/finished rifles, but you also get US-made, predominantly 4140 barrels, where the N-PAP and WASR both offer cold-hammer forged military barrels. You can decide for yourself what barrel is best for you, but if you decide you want to spend ~$800 on an AK, most will suggest going with DDI. It's a Hungarian parts kit rifle, and it come with a nitrided 4140 barrel, but the overall build quality is typically excellent. The Century C39V2 honestly should be expected to suffer from similar bolt issues as the RAS47, and it's also just not on the same fit/finish level as the DDI. I have not seen much of a track record from the other builders out there, so you're flying solo there. The Cugir RH10 is essentially a dressed up WASR, and being so close to the next price bracket, it's going to have to be a personal choice as to whether you can justify that.
How about $900-$1100?
There are real decisions to make here. You get Arsenal SLR's around $1000, DDI's milled rifles for just a little bit less, and the Definitive Arms DAKM-4150 is there (even if unobtanium). So what does a person get for their extra cash? Well, in the case of the Arsenal SLR's, you are getting a Bulgarian-built stamped rifle made in the Arsenal of Bulgaria factory. They come with new Bulgarian cold-hammer forged chrome-lined barrels, 4.5mm side folders, and a more expensive muzzle device. They also have an enamel-over-park finish. If one considers those features of value to them, the SLR's make sense, given the cost to add the same features to any of the lower-priced rifles. Like the WASR and N-PAP, Arsenals are well-proven rifles, but they're also production line rifles, and Arsenal sticks to their guns about canted parts being in-spec if a rifle zeroes and functions. If the prospect of canted parts bothers you, check out the rifle before buying, or perhaps look elsewhere. The other two options opened up to you are the DDI milled guns, and the Definitive Arms DAKM. The DDI utilizes the same barrel as their stamped rifle, though it has an in-house milled receiver. The Definitive Arms is a polish parts gun that comes with a US-made nitrided 4150 barrel, but it's a largely custom-shop rifle. The fit and finish should be solid, and the barrel quality is a big plus (see Rob @ AKOU's accuracy test of the rifle). That said, they're hard to get, being a smaller shop. Either one should be a quality shooter, the decision essentially revolves around quality domestic parts builds vs. factory-built rifle.
So what about those above $1100?
Above the $1100 range, you're getting into somewhat niche stuff. Arsenal SAM's are Bulgarian milled rifles around $1300-$1500, and you also start creeping up into pseudo-custom territory with Kreb's and Rifle Dynamics approaching and exceeding $1700. The SAM's are some of the nicest milled receiver rifles around, and if you want some of the pros of the SLR's, but with a milled receiver, there you are. Some love milled guns, some have no interest, it's up to you. The Kreb's rifles that are built off of RAS47's aren't generally something I would recommend, but the ones built off of the Arsenal SLR or Russian Saiga series are excellent rifles. Krebs does some gunsmith work to the base rifle, and you can be sure you're getting a high quality rifle with stellar fit and finish. Rifle Dynamics, as well, costs what they do because of the gunsmith time. If you're not the DIY type, this is where Kreb's and Rifle Dynamics make a lot of sense... they do the work so you don't have to. If you're considering either one, you likely already know what you want. But if you've wondered why an AK costs $1800-$2200? Time and parts.
Bottom line?
Bottom line, buy what you like. There's a reason why so many posts end up with "just buy a WASR". They're proven, no-frill rifles at an agreeable price point. Spending more is going to be a personal decision. Hope all of that helps someone make that decision, and as I said, please do feel free to correct or add to this.
Shoutout to the OP /u/GrittyHandjob
_____________________________
At the request/interest of a couple of posters looking for a guide sticky, as well as with the assistance of /u/LynchMob_Lerry, here's a brief breakdown of options that are currently available, and why you might consider one over the other. I'm not the end-all expert, so feel free to let me know if we're wrong on something, and you're welcome to add to this with more info on builders, the used market, etc. And as with anything on the internet, you're welcome to ignore as much or as little as you like, but I believe we have a bias-free, brief factual breakdown of what is out there. All prices and options come from what I was able to find on all the major online retailers.
So, let's jump in.
The rifles;
I.O. < $600
Century WASR-10 $625
Zastava NPAP $630
Century RAS47 $630
DDI stamped $750
Century C39V2 $750
Cugir RH10 $800 (Magpul Zhukov)
Kit guns (Atlantic, James River, Petronov, High Standard, etc.) ~$800-$900
DDI milled $939
Arsenal SLR107 $1000
Arsenal SLR104 $1000-$1100
Definitive Arms DAKM-4150 $1100-$1200
Arsenal SAM7R $1300
Arsenal SAM7SF $1400
Kreb's AK-103KS $1700
Rifle Dynamics $1800-$2200
What should I get for $600?
For $600, look for the WASR. It features a chrome-lined, cold-hammer forged barrel, and is made in a factory that has been making military AKs for decades. They have been proven rifles in both military and civilian form, and Rob Ski from the AKOU has given it high praises. The WASR will accept standard AKM furniture. Another option for a budget rifle is the Zastava N-PAP. It is made in current day Serbia and is another proven budget rifle. While not as loved as the WASR series, they are nonetheless a good rifle. The major downside of the Yugo rifles are they do not feature a chrome-lined barrel, and only accept Yugo-specific furniture. While it does limit your options, the Yugo aftermarket is an ever-growing market. Like the WASR, the Yugos are made in a military factory with decades of history. Both rifles are susceptible to coming with canted sights or other small assembly errors, which is why the overwhelming suggestion is to get a QC-inspected rifle before buying. The RAS47 and I.O. branded rifles are generally frowned on for using substandard building techniques or improper heat treating. If you get one of these rifles, it is at your own risk.
$800-$850?
Well, your world opens to the DDI stamped rifles, Cugir RH10, Century C39V2, and the parts guns from other larger builders (Atlantic, Petronov, High Standard, etc). The thing to consider at this price point is barrel quality. You do get generally better fit/finished rifles, but you also get US-made, predominantly 4140 barrels, where the N-PAP and WASR both offer cold-hammer forged military barrels. You can decide for yourself what barrel is best for you, but if you decide you want to spend ~$800 on an AK, most will suggest going with DDI. It's a Hungarian parts kit rifle, and it come with a nitrided 4140 barrel, but the overall build quality is typically excellent. The Century C39V2 honestly should be expected to suffer from similar bolt issues as the RAS47, and it's also just not on the same fit/finish level as the DDI. I have not seen much of a track record from the other builders out there, so you're flying solo there. The Cugir RH10 is essentially a dressed up WASR, and being so close to the next price bracket, it's going to have to be a personal choice as to whether you can justify that.
How about $900-$1100?
There are real decisions to make here. You get Arsenal SLR's around $1000, DDI's milled rifles for just a little bit less, and the Definitive Arms DAKM-4150 is there (even if unobtanium). So what does a person get for their extra cash? Well, in the case of the Arsenal SLR's, you are getting a Bulgarian-built stamped rifle made in the Arsenal of Bulgaria factory. They come with new Bulgarian cold-hammer forged chrome-lined barrels, 4.5mm side folders, and a more expensive muzzle device. They also have an enamel-over-park finish. If one considers those features of value to them, the SLR's make sense, given the cost to add the same features to any of the lower-priced rifles. Like the WASR and N-PAP, Arsenals are well-proven rifles, but they're also production line rifles, and Arsenal sticks to their guns about canted parts being in-spec if a rifle zeroes and functions. If the prospect of canted parts bothers you, check out the rifle before buying, or perhaps look elsewhere. The other two options opened up to you are the DDI milled guns, and the Definitive Arms DAKM. The DDI utilizes the same barrel as their stamped rifle, though it has an in-house milled receiver. The Definitive Arms is a polish parts gun that comes with a US-made nitrided 4150 barrel, but it's a largely custom-shop rifle. The fit and finish should be solid, and the barrel quality is a big plus (see Rob @ AKOU's accuracy test of the rifle). That said, they're hard to get, being a smaller shop. Either one should be a quality shooter, the decision essentially revolves around quality domestic parts builds vs. factory-built rifle.
So what about those above $1100?
Above the $1100 range, you're getting into somewhat niche stuff. Arsenal SAM's are Bulgarian milled rifles around $1300-$1500, and you also start creeping up into pseudo-custom territory with Kreb's and Rifle Dynamics approaching and exceeding $1700. The SAM's are some of the nicest milled receiver rifles around, and if you want some of the pros of the SLR's, but with a milled receiver, there you are. Some love milled guns, some have no interest, it's up to you. The Kreb's rifles that are built off of RAS47's aren't generally something I would recommend, but the ones built off of the Arsenal SLR or Russian Saiga series are excellent rifles. Krebs does some gunsmith work to the base rifle, and you can be sure you're getting a high quality rifle with stellar fit and finish. Rifle Dynamics, as well, costs what they do because of the gunsmith time. If you're not the DIY type, this is where Kreb's and Rifle Dynamics make a lot of sense... they do the work so you don't have to. If you're considering either one, you likely already know what you want. But if you've wondered why an AK costs $1800-$2200? Time and parts.
Bottom line?
Bottom line, buy what you like. There's a reason why so many posts end up with "just buy a WASR". They're proven, no-frill rifles at an agreeable price point. Spending more is going to be a personal decision. Hope all of that helps someone make that decision, and as I said, please do feel free to correct or add to this.
