What do you think is a better AR:
Option 1 -A $700 NIB factory Colt 6920 with ridiculous looking AWB furniture, knowing that you can replace the rail, stock and trigger with whatever you want.
-- or --
Option 2- A $1,000 -$1,400 semi-custom AR from a shop that generally makes good stuff, but uses a variety of component suppliers so you are not always sure where the receiver and barrel come from?
If you like Option 1, get a VEPR (In stock at Atlantic Firearms), and pick whichever VEPR stock set you like. The "guts" of the gun -- the receiver, barrel and trunions are all manufactured and put together on a Russian military assembly line - just like a 6920 which is made on the line next to Colt M4's. 47 U.S.C. 922(r) is going to keep scary looking mil-spec rifles from being imported. VEPR's and Saiga's get around this by swapping out furniture.
If you like Option 2, then get an Arsenal. If you want a rifle that looks like a standard AK, someone here the USA needs to put it together. Arsenal has a reputation of doing this well.
NFA Option A third option, if you want to go the NFA route, is to get a Yugo M92 pistol - also made in a cold war factory - and SBR it. Prepper Gun shop has them in stock for $619. Add in $200 for a tax stamp, and another $1-200 for furniture. You will wind up in the same price range as the above options. The M92 is a handy little gun - even in pistol configuration. The downsides are: short sight radius (if using irons), non-chrome lined barrel, and waiting for permission to build it how you want.
Rant Regarding Milled Receivers: I don't see any reason whatsoever for a milled AK receiver unless you want a Vietnam-era retro look. Milled receivers just add weight and expense. If you look at any photos of Russian soldiers in combat in Syria or Ukraine you will see a dimple above the mag well - indicating a stamped receiver:
http://news.kievukraine.info/2015/03/kyrgyz-mercenary-details-russian.html
Milled receivers are for freedom fighters/guerrillas that can't get new stuff, and the affluent casual American shooters that are never going to carry them into combat, but also have billet steel custom machined AR lowers and $2k + 1911s. Nothing wrong with it, but no need for it either.
