As someone who has handled and fired a few AKs, and owned a few (and by NO means an authority of the various manufactures or designs), I'll toss out a few possibly helpful points:
AKM verses milled: Milled are often more accurate, but also heavier and cost a lot more. Milled may be harder to get a wider variety of furniture for, in some cases. That said, I'd LOVE to have a milled one to add to my collection one day.
AKM receiver thickness: Most AKMs are going to be 1mm thick stamped metal receivers. All the ones I've owned were 1mm thinkness, and they have been fine. VEPR's use a 1.6mm receiver from the RPD design. This MAY make for a more accurate rifle, but DOES make for a heavier and possibly sturdier rifle. Adding aftermarket stocks to 1.6mm recievers may require you to dremel down the thickness, adding problems to some projects. If one is interested in BUILDING an AK on a 1.6mm receiver, Global Trades has a receiver that can be purchased. I've considered doing this.
Stocks: A wood stock AK is great for a comfortable shooter. I have to get another one. Underfolding stocks are GREAT at making the rifle more compact, but they will eventually start to "wobble" a bit and be looser. This isn't a big deal since you can just shoulder it in a tensioned mode. I have a underfolder Vector. Underfolders aren't near as comfortable to shoot for some persons, but I don't have a problem with it. I have no experieces with the "Triangle" folders or "Wire" folders and I have some interest in them. I think the wire folder may be uncomfortable, or have cheek weld issues, but I have no idea on that.
Optics mounting capabilites: AKs are a bit trickier than an AK to add good optic mounts to. If you have an AK that has a receiver mounted side rail, you are set. That is, by far, an excellent and sturdy mounting system. In addition, the side rail allows for optics removal and reattachment without losing zero. SARs, WASRs, Saigas, and (I think) VEPRS have side rail mounts already installed. However, they can be added to any AK. Some folding stocks don't play nice with them however.
Dust cover mounts. Handy. And NOT for any real percision aiming. I have one on my Vector underfolder. Don't expect to retain zero for any real period of time, and definately not after cleaning the rifle. Still, it is handy to use if all you are doing is adding something like a cheap red dot for GENERAL aiming at close quarters. So far, I used the cover mount on my Vector because it is my CQB rifle. If I HAVE to aim at distance, I have the ability to use my iron sights.
Gas Tube mounts. I have no experience with them, but hear VERY good things. I'll be switching my Vector's dust cover mount to this eventually.
Iron Sights: If you want to stay with iron sights, it may be worth it to switch your sights for Mojo peep sights. You'll increase your accuracy considerably with these. The standard leaf sights on AKs attribute a great deal to the supposed inaccuracy of AKs.
High-end cost verses Low-end cost:
This is really a judgement call that you'll have to make alone. You can get a perfectly functioning and cheaper Century WASR and be happy with it. Or you can purchase a rather expensive Arsenal Bulgarian, or VEPR. Those will be nice too, but will not be any more functional than a cheaper one. You can go middle of the road and be completely happy as well. Vector Arms is a perfect example of a middle of the road rifle in terms of cost-- except the milled receiver one.
While I didn't want to advocate any particular rifle, I will say this. If you are looking for a more accurate AK, you'd do well to look at the Saigas. These come in a "sporter" configuration but can be converted to the AKM look and to use standard magazines. If you go this route and want the AKM pattern look, you will need to convert the rifle or have it converted. The rifle itself will not cost all that much, but the cost seems to be rising as more are learning about this rifle. To have an AKM pattern Saiga, the cost varies with your skill and ability to do the work yourself verses paying someone to do it. While the initial purchase is not that high, you can EASILY end up having a LOT of money tied up in a Saiga Conversion. My Saiga 308 has over a grand in it--- but I'd do it again and again.
Another thing to consider is caliber. You can get AKs in a variety of calibers from .223 to 8mm Mauser. Saiga even offers them in shotgun gauges.
This list is far from inclusive, but I'll do my best:
223: Saiga, Century, Arsenal, Vepr, Whatever that thing Interordinance is selling.
5.45x39: Many manufactures. I don't follow this caliber but I can say that Saiga doesn't have this caliber available. I know that Century does have one.
7.62x39: The original AK caliber. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting someone making this caliber of AK.
12 gauge, 20 gauge, 410 gauge (yes, I know its not really a gauge): Saiga is the only one doing this.
308: Saiga has a 308, and I have that one. Very accurate-- I'm doing 1moa. VEPR has one. So does Rapidfire. Interordinance has one based on the SVD. I don't have any experience with VEPR, Interordanace or Rapidfire's, but I hear great things from the Vepr one.
Side Note: I won't get into the SVD pattern or "clone" rifles other than tipping my hat. I'll let others make that list. However, there are a few makers of AK-ish SVD clones that use 7.62x54R, 308, or 8mm.
8mm: I think this is an SVD pattern one, but I haven't looked at it too close. Rapidfire makes it, and it is very expensive.
I may add more to this later, but I am hitting a wall at the moment. I hope this helps someone.
All the best~
John
