Hey LOOK! I found 2 pennies right here in my opinion purse! lol.
Search for and find any of the SAR Romanian series.
SAR-1= 7.62x39
SAR-2= 5.45x39
SAR-3= 5.56x45
There are wholly built in Romania and while they aren't the best looking, some of them are not bad either, really depends on the stocks. Most are just plain, ugly wood with no grain. Every once in a while, you find one with some grain to it. Check out this SAR-1. Not a bad price.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=160149143
I have an SAR-2 and it has never given me a day of trouble. I hear that is not the case with the WASR10. I guess the "rebuild" process to a new receiver, just wasn't done with quality or proper jigs and fixtures.
The Romanian SARs are very serviceable guns. I suspect at least the Romanians had some Russian advisers at some point helping them get their manufacturing set up, or at least they had competent people who stole the design and knew a little something about making guns.
This series does not come with any muzzle device, but you can retro fit with a new sight block and have a threaded end which will then take a flash suppressor or a muzzle break.
OR, if you can fin one of the Maadi imports at the intermediate stage. They have thumb-hole stocks and tack welded muzzle thread covers, but most have threaded barrels. These might also be had for about 600, maybe less. These are the 7.62x39 models. I do not believe Maadi ever made 5.45x39 models.
If you had the opportunity to shot one of 5.45x39 models, you would fall in love with it. No recoil at all. Easy, fast follow up shots. Small women have no problem shooting the rifle. The 7.62x39 is certainly not bad recoil, but compared to the 5.45, it is certainly more noticeable.
I think with the "home grown", you do have trouble finding a decent build until you get into the over 800 category. The come block countries have lower wages, so they can build them and sell them for American dollars at a lower price.
One other sage bit of advice. It is not a HUGE deal, but if you think you don't want to deal with corrosive ammo, buy an SAR-3 in .223. Read a little about cleaning up after corrosive ammo. Some people don't care for the extra work. At least with the .223, you can buy American ammo and not have to worry. DO NOT TRUST any Comm Block country ammo in any Soviet calibers. I trusted a box of 5.45x39 that claimed to be "non-corrosive" and it rusted the s*** out of a barrel. I treat ALL comm block calibers as though it was corrosive.
Say, I think that was a three pennies version of my advice! Hope it helps. Have fun and happy hunting!
