[Beav]

When shopping for AKs what rifles should one look for and which ones should be avoided? (I am talking quality wise and not intended application)

Thanks!

[CZ-100]

Here is a good resource
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/index.php

I also own a 2000 Romainan SAR-1 and Love it. Paid $275

[Destructo6]

"Hesse" is a name to be avoided, for the most part, regardless of type.

[HIPOWER]

Another positive vote for the Romanian SAR-1. I have a new 2003 rifle with the laminated stock and it is very fun and reliable to shoot. I can get nice groups of about 2 inches from the bench at 50 yards with iron sights....not too bad for a battle rifle.

Just be aware that some have canted front sights and gas blocks, so take a look before you buy.

You can find reliable 30-round mags all day long for 10 bucks.
7.62x39 ammo is crazy cheap.

Good luck.

[TearsOfRage]

Polytechs are good too. Mine has much better fit and finish than my SAR. They both work fine though.

[Hazwaste]

I've had a WASR hi-cap for nearly a year. 100% reliable; accuracy just fine, and literally a blast to shoot. And you can't beat the ammo costs.

Went shooting w/ my nephew, who was using his dad's AR-15, but he wanted to shoot my WASR the entire time. There's just something about it.

[WVleo]

Hi, "EBR".........................WVleo

[S95]

It depends how much you want to spend.
I highly recommend http://www.ak-103.com/
Like everything else, you get what you pay for.
Good luck

[Sir Galahad]

And sometimes you get MORE than what you pay for. My SAR-1 has been dead cold reliable since I got it. It never needed the sights fiddled with; it came out of the box zeroed and ready to rock. Any Soviet/Warsaw Pact military issue magazine works 100% reliably. No diddle-fuggling with followers or springs or feed lips to make them work. Get magazines out of shipping box from AIM Surplus and load them. That's it. You can also get a Mosin Nagant rifle or carbine from Big 5 for $80 and as long as you check it out, have a nice shooter that will last almost forever. You get more than what you pay for there. You can get a Finnish M39 Mosin and get one of the most accurate bolt action rifles of WW2 for less than $150. There is a world of bargains since the Soviets and Warsaw Pact threw in the towel. They're all having a yard sale and now that they're not such a threat, even their neighbors and NATO nations are willing to part with stuff they wouldn't have before.