Isn't there one AK variant where the magazine is not detachable or can't take aftermarket mags?
I've never seen a non-detachable mag AK. It would be dang near impossible to use since you cannot load an AK from the top. However there is probably a California bullet button version floating around. I wouldn't worry to much about stumbling across one.
As to the aftermarket mag issue. Saigas and real VZ's are the primary ones to worry about. Both are imported straight from factory and cannot take hi-caps when they come in. However both are often converted back to accepting normal mags once they get here. Also in the case of Saigas you can get Saiga specific hi-caps for $20-30 each from Surefire or Promag, so its not too big of a deal. Especially if you just want a plinker and only need 2-3 mags.
I have not had a VZ so I don't know much about them. However, if it costs $350 and has a AK slant break on it then it is not a real one from the CZ factory, but a kit build from century. It will then probably take AK mags but is not of the same quality.
Lo-cap WASR’s exist, again for the California market, as someone said earlier the magwell is narrower.
If you want to be sure that the AK takes standard Mags, just rock one in at the store to double check.
Or am I just confused? I would like to get one that is as close to the real deal AK-47 as I can. 7.62, not 5.45, detachable mags, etc.
A Saiga 5.45 is like a colt 6920. It was built on the same military assembly line as the rifles going to Afghanistan, however it was pulled aside and neutered for the civilian market.
You can pretty easily change a Saiga back to a semi-auto AK configuration, however in your situation this is probably not worth the effort.
If you intend to re-load your own ammo (and I don’t know why you would for an AK plinker), then I would absolutely recommend against a Siaga, they were designed to pop out the necks of cartridges so that the Russkies police could tell if casings at a crime scene came from civilian weapons.
Military surplus spam can 5.45 is a nasty nasty round. It’s like real FN 5.7 Ammo bumped up to rifle caliber. It is also the cheapest center fire cartridge available. However it is corrosive. Non-corrosive 5.45 is available, but it is not a cheap and you loose the nastiness. 7.62 is a fantastic round too, it is better at penetrating unarmored stuff like deer and boar, however it has more recoil. Mags are similarly priced, although you may have trouble finding hi-cap 5.45 Saiga mags.
WASR’s kits, Yugo Kits, Polish Kits, and Arsenal kits also come off Eastern Bloc military assembly lines. However they are reassembled here - most likely by century.
Anything I need to know about what to get or not get?
Sure. If I was purchasing a WASR, Yugo M70 or similar I would try to find one with an unused imported chrome lined barrel. This should not be too hard, and is probably the most likely variety you would encounter. Anything made prior to 2005 will have a foreign barrel. However, the barrels stopped getting imported about 5 years ago and there were some hiccups going to American made barrels as they geared up. Get a new foreign barrel and you don’t have to worry about it. If you get an American one, get a recent production, chrome lined one and you should be fine too.
I’d be leery of anything on a used gun rack. Lots of other people’s problems wind up there. If you are looking at one, see if there is any pitting, and make sure the firing pin moves smoothly in the bolt. Look down the sights and see if the front sight tower is obviously not centered – congratulations you have just checked to see if it has canted sights. If I was going WASR/Yugo I’d try and get one with a removable break, but that is personal preference more than anything.
I’d also stay away from milled receiver AK’s, they were not designed to use them and all they add is weight and expense. Milling allows the creation of more exotic parts, however an AK receiver can be made with simple stamping so there is absolutely no reason to mill one. It is like cutting firewood with a band saw so that the cuts are pretty – absolutely useless except for aesthetics.
If you order a new gun from aimsurplus.com, centerfiresystems.com, classicarms.us, atlanticfirearms.com or your favorite online retailer you should have no problems getting a great gun for $400ish. I don’t know about Dunhams but I assume they are about the same.