[natedog]

Who makes a good higher end AK (+$500)? I've heard Robinson Arms before, but I understand they make theirs on the PRK milled reciever that's +2 pounds heavier than stamped.

[telewinz]

Valmet IF you can locate one $900+

[762x51]

Anything from AK-USA for stamped or Arsenal, Inc. for milled. You'd be hard pressed to find a better AK in their price range.

http://www.ak-103.com
http://www.arsenalinc.com

[jaysouth]

Arsenal SA M-7

Milled receiver, great appearance, decent sights, great trigger and a highly functional muzzle brake. +/- $700. Worth every cent.

I was tickled to sell my two SAR-1s to raise the money for this one.

[Correia]

The Vepr is heavy, but it is a great gun. I love mine.

[goon]

The VEPR is built on a stamped RPK reciever. They are heavy but well made. The real weight and balance problem on the VEPR is in the forearm. You could use the damn thing to pound nails.
The guns are good and reliable but poorly balanced IMO.
I like my milled SA-M7. It is a good compromise between weight, quality, and accuracy.
And it handles like an AK should.

[ShaiVong]

What does the SAM 7 take for mags?

[jaysouth]

The SA M-7 is manufactured in the U.S. with all U.S. made components so they can use ANY doublestack mags for the AK-47 series.

I cannot tell you for sure what I am using, but they are 30 rounders under $10.00 at gunshows. The chinese drum and 40 rounders seem to work O.K. also.

Sorry to say that the rifle is shipped with ONLY one FIVE rounder. Oh Well, it is a quality made SPORTING firearm.

[Murphster]

I agree that the VEPR is quite (and possibly too) heavy. I've had three. There was a plus side (for me) for having the mentioned large forearm. Maybe it's just me, but on my standard AK's I always tried to burn the fizz out of my left hand each time I took one out. Seems like I'd remember, but I try for consistency in all things so several times each trip to the range, my left hand would slide over/up/down onto a mighty hot chunk of AK metal.
Didn't happen with the VEPR.

I was very impressed with my AK from Arsenal USA -
www.Globaltrades.com

Never had one but have heard good things about Krebs - www.krebscustom.com

[Gary G23]

Arsenal Inc SA M-7

[Jack19]

I'll fourth or fifth the recommendation for the SA M7. I had one for awhile and the quality was the best I've ever seen on an AK.

[George Hill]

Are you kidding me?

Krebs, baby... Krebs.

[rock jock]

I have owned two high-end AK's - a VEPR II (sold) and now an AK-103 from AK-USA. The former felt heavy and ungainly. The latter is wonderful.

[another48hrs]

My vote goes to anything Arsenal. They have the best fit and finish out of all the AK's I've checked out, that's why I got one (This is compared to SARs, Norincos, Hesse, Saiga and Veprs I've seen.)

[AK103K]

What George said. :)

[RepublicanMan]

If any of you are interested, there's an Arsenal for sale at Tanners in SE PA for $469 with 3 30rnd mags and a 10rnd mag. Not sure of the model but it's all black synthetic furniture.
215-343-3103

[natedog]

Anyone shoot an AK in 3-gun?

[Spieler]

If we're talking pre-bans here I would say Valmets, Hungarians and Yugos. Of course, they will set you back at least twice as much as one of the good post-bans mentioned above...but if one has the means they are worth looking into.

[igor]

Sako, Valmet, Vepr, SAR.

Military reserve sports organization 3-gun is 90% Sako M92S, Saiga M3 EXP-01 (original Russian versions, that is) and Norinco 56S here. Obviously :p .

Valmet stuff. (http://valmet-weapons.com)