Unsure which AK-47 model to buy? The basics of AK-47s, their pros and cons compared to the AR-15 and our top foreign and US made AK models for all budgets are covered.
Are you looking for an AK-type weapon but are confused by the different variants?
Don’t worry…we were too.
First, we will discuss our favorite AKs in different price ranges and countries of origin.
You can then learn about AK basics to see if this platform is for you. We will also cover some of the most common questions such as stamped vs. milled receivers.
How we chose the best AK-47s
We love AKs just as much as ARs. This is a meta-analysis that includes our favorite AK pattern guns, which we have tested and reviewed over the years.
Our criteria are as follows:
- Most guns have been used for more than 1000 rounds.
- After 200 rounds, there are no malfunctions
- USPSA Targets at 100 Yards are Battle-Accurate
- Price-based fit/finish is acceptable
Best AK-47s
1. Zastava ZPAP M70
Zastava is a company that has a history of manufacturing AKs for the former Yugoslavia and current day Serbia.
In 2019, they decided to eliminate the import middleman by opening a US manufacturing plant in Des Plaines (Illinois).
These guns are absolute tanks. They feature a 1.5mm trunnionreceiver, which provides extra strength.
The barrel and receiver are still manufactured in Serbia. The US imports the guns, and the remaining parts are added in order to comply with 922r.
You end up with a reasonably priced AK, which is still primarily an import gun. The fit and finish of the gun is impressive for the price, and it’s robust.
The accuracy of our older M70 is about 3-4 MOA even after a thousand rounds.
Standard AKM parts will not fit these guns because they are “Yugo-pattern” guns. There are still many aftermarket parts available for Yugo AKs.
2. Arsenal SAM Series
The majority of “standard” AKs are made from stamped steel. There’s also a large group of people who prefer to have the receivers milled from a solid piece of metal.
You will be interested in the Arsenal SAM Series.
Arsenal of Bulgaria, one of the most renowned AK manufacturers on the planet, offers the SAM Series as their best-of-the-best.
The SAM series features a milled-and-forged receiver as well as a forged bolt, trunnion and chrome-lined barrels.
Some versions also have a very handy left-mounted lever for the fire and safety. Here’s my shooting and manipulation.
The reliability has been excellent with a mixture of mostly steel-cased and some nice Yugo 67 sprinkled throughout. We’ve tried every AK magazine we have.
These are among the best production AKs available today.
All of this comes at a price, which can range from $1800 to 2000,, depending on the trim.
The SAM7SF is our favorite, but any of the models are great.
3. Palmetto State Armory PSAK-47 GF3
The PSAK47 was made in the USA.
PSA is known as a reliable AR-15 manufacturer that offers affordable prices. The company keeps costs down by producing everything in-house, from raw materials to finished firearms.
When they saw that foreign-built kits were disappearing, they applied the same principle to their AKs.
They used cast parts at first and experienced some major problems, but now all their rifles are forged for strength and durability.
The GF3 line offers the most value for those looking to purchase an AK without spending a fortune.
The PSAK-47 rifles start at around $599 with their blemished GF3 models.
It took me a while to get the accuracy right, as my mounting was a bit wobbly during my first testing. It took me a while to get it to shoot at 4 MOA.
The M4 is not the best, but it meets military expectations.
Upgraded Magpul furniture is available, as well as the Zhukov side-folding stock.
4. WASR-10
Century imports the famous/infamous WASR-10, which is made in Romania by Cugir. The AK-47 has been the most widely available foreign AK-47 for a long time.
The cheapest import, it has a bad reputation of not having the highest quality control.
This is true for my personal WASRs.
The magazine well in mine rattles.
As part of the import compliance, most WASRs are only able to accept magazines with a single stack. Century mills the magazine wells to accept standard magazines, but it’s not always pretty.
My front sight is canted hilariously when I zeroed. The same went for my second WASR.
How does it work?
Short answer… with confidence.
Even with steel-cased ammunition, my personal WASRs had no malfunctions. The first one has 5000 rounds left and the second one is only at 1000.
It may be picky about magazines, depending on the quality of the magazine.
I buried my in the ground to test it.
The receiver is still dusty, and I have to clean it every day.
They said that the Battlefield Vegas was super reliable and that they had yet to fire a WASR gun.
Also, AK Operators Union test out a bunch AKs. His current WASR is still running strong with more than 10K rounds.
The WASR is a reliable import AK, despite some external QC problems and a less than stellar fit and finish.
They used to be dirt cheap but they now cost more than $1000.
5. Palmetto State Armory AK-103
PSA is on our list once again, but this time it’s for its AK103 platform.
The AK-103 is a modernized version of the AK-100, with features more common to the AK-74M.
The base model features a 4150 nitrided barrel, AK-74-style gas block with 90-degrees, an AK-74-style front-sight and the iconic AK-74-style muzzle brake.
Why is there so much buzz about a muzzle break? It helps reduce some of the 7.62x39mm recurrence.
The AK-103 has a lot of nice features and is affordable. It comes with a fixed or folding stock. There is also a premium version that comes with FN’s cold hammer forged barrel lined in chrome.
If you exclude one magazine that was constantly giving us problems, the reliability of our unit is 100%.
This is a great middle-ground option if you’re looking to upgrade a bit beyond the PSAK GF3 base model, but don’t want to spend the money on something like a KR103.
6. KUSA KR-103
You may be looking for a Russian AK that is as close to the real thing as you can find without having to pay outrageous prices.
Enter Kalashnikov USA and the KR 103.
KUSA, an American AK manufacturer is in possession of the secret sauce – the technical Data Packages for AKM produced by Russia’s Kalashnikov concern.
KUSA produces high-quality AKM-pattern rifles in the US, using all-forged trunnions, carriers and barrels with chrome-lining.
The accuracy of our model was 3-5 MOA. It ran reliably on steel-cased ammunition.
The KR-103 rifle is made to exact Russian specifications. Most base-model rifles are priced at just a little bit more than $1000.
As of Q2 2024 it is very difficult to locate KUSA products in stock.
7. IWI Galil ACE Gen 2
Some of you will be following me.
The Galil ACE gen 2 isn’t technically a “real Galil or a AK ,”…, but it looks pretty similar.
The Galil ACE offers the same functionality as the original Galil ARM, but on a lighter platform. It also has a lower receiver made of polymer.
Galil is a based weapon that uses the same dust cover, long-stroke piston and rock-n-lock magazine as the AK-47/Valmet.
The ACE is a milled rifle that comes in 7.62x39mm. IWI offers the gun in a variety of calibers.
The Galil ACE Gen 2 has a great look and feels and performs well at the range.
It comes with a standard folding buffer tube, which can be used to fit any AR-15 stock.
All of these guns are heavy-duty, milled and forged.
The accuracy of these weapons is usually better than the standard AKM. The Galil ACE is considered by many to be the ultimate refinement for the AK platform.
The unit we tested was no different…
How to choose an AK
AK-47 Introduction
Mikhail Kalashnikov designed the AK-47, which stands for “Avtomat Kalashnikova 1949”. It was the primary assault rifle in Eastern Bloc countries throughout the Cold War.
The is the most common variant, but we tend to think of it when we hear the term “AK-47”.
There are a lot AKs… in a report from 2004, it was estimated that out of 500,000,000 firearms worldwide, 100 million belonged to Kalashnikov’s family.
The AK was designed by Kalashnikov to be easy to manufacture, maintain and operate.
The kids can easily use it.
Compared with the AR-15 the AK-47 has a much simpler training process.
Its reputation for reliability is also a plus.
This is due to the AK’s simplicity and its use of smaller tolerances.
The simplicity comes from a long stroke piston design which uses the gas in the round to move the piston and bolt carrier.
Everything is large and powerful, so it’s less likely that small parts will break. The chamber must have very tight tolerances in order to maintain the proper headspace. However, many parts, such as the trigger mechanism and bolt carrier, do not. Look at all the space!
Environmental debris can be a big problem before a product stops working.
The next step is to choose the ammunition. The AK’s cartridge is 7.62x39mm which has a bigger bullet diameter (.30 caliber), compared to AR-15’s cartridge of 5.56x45mm (.22 caliber).
Browse our selection of the best AR-15 ammo.
Lastly…although it does not have the same upgrade capabilities as an AR-15 there are still a number of things you can do in order to customize an AK.
Do AKs stink?
Arguments that are often used against the AK include its inferior ergonomics compared with more modern rifles such as the AR-15. Other arguments include increased recoil and poor accuracy.
There is truth in ergonomics. Certain things are more difficult to manipulate, like the safety or magazine release.
The charging handle on the AR is located to the right, so most people are able to use their dominant hand in order to rack the AR.
The round’s larger size does increase recoil but not to the point that it is unacceptable or makes the gun hard to use.
Lastly, people will say that the AK is inaccurate. This may be true when compared to AR, but it is due more to the accuracy of AR than to the inaccuracy inherent to the AK.
AKs are usually suitable for “minute-of-man” shooting at 300 yards, because of their looser tolerances.
Some AKs can shoot 2-3 inch groups from 100 yards with a good trigger, good ammo (not surplus), and a good gunner.
Stamped Receiver vs. Stamped Receiver
As soon as you begin to explore the world of AKs, you will encounter these terms.
This article explains the creation of the main receiver, which is a metal piece that contains everything.
Original AK-47s had to be milled. The receiver shell is made from a solid steel piece.
These are the easiest to distinguish because they’re heavier and do not have rivets.
The AKM simplified this process by using a stamped receiver. These receivers are made from a piece of steel between 1mm and 1.5mm thick that has been bent into shape.
The other parts are added using rivets (see the bumps).
Stamped guns save weight and are easier to manufacture (1-2 pounds).
What’s best?
There is no right answer.
Battlefield Vegas which rents out TONS guns did a question and answer session where it was stated that stamped receivers begin to fail after 100K rounds while milled ones have not yet failed.
Remember that 100,000 rounds is a ridiculous amount of ammunition. You’re unlikely to even reach 1/10th. Milled is more durable but only if you are renting guns.
Stamped guns are usually lighter and cheaper, so the choice is personal.
Country of Origin
The US imported AKs from the former Eastern Bloc in the form build kits for a long period of time. The last two presidents have made it so that one of the main sources, Russia has dried.
Russian weapons will come from factories like Molot, with their VEPRs and Izhmash, with Saigas. They are worth much more if you can find them.
Do not Buy List
Century Arms C39V2
This rifle was once one of the most highly recommended AKs made in America. However, it now has significant design flaws that place it firmly at the bottom of the “don’t purchase” list.
If you’re looking for the full version, this Military Arms Channel was created in collaboration with Rob Ski of Ak Operators Union Local 47-74.
After about 3,000 rounds the rifle is likely to become unsafe. It happened to both C39V2s at around the same number of rounds. This is largely due to the fact that cast trunnions were used instead of forged trunnions.
You should check your C39V2 rifle (or ask a gunsmith to do so) closely to determine if it shares the same flaw.
Pioneer Arms AKs
Although the idea of an AK that costs less than $600 may be appealing, it usually comes with some cautions.
This warning also applies to Pioneer Arms AKs.
They were made using cast trunnions until recently. Although they are supposed to be forging trunnions, the jury is still out and expectations are low.
Do not be misled by the location of manufacture. Although these “Radom AKs” are technically manufactured in Radom, Poland they have no connection to the highly regarded FB Radom factory.
It is best to avoid such guns for safety reasons.
Final Thoughts
We are at the end…and we hope you have a better understanding of AKs, and which one is best for you.
What have we missed? Comment below to let us know! Already have an AK-47? To fully upgrade your gun, check out our Best AK-47 upgrades. Check out our article about the 7 best AK Pistols.
The latest updates
May 1, 2020 Updated how we tested and added more experiences and media to each item.
