Best brand for AK?
 

I'm looking at picking up a full metal/real wood AK. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions about what the best company to go with is? I have a max $400-$500 budget for it.

I was thinking of going for a CYMA but I wanted to get a feel from people who have used AKs for extended periods of time.

While technically not an AK... I love my Real Sword Type 56-2.
This is the one gun in my bag I know will always work.
They make the 56 with full wood stock and handguard as well as the 56-1 which is the underfolder stock with wood handguard. My 56-2 is the post 1980 version with side folding stock and polymer grips.
I picked mine up used for the kind of money you are talking, or a bit more for brand new.

Dude take the advice spend the extra $100 and buy a new real sword type 56, I own one. Its rock solid and it shoots 400fps out of the box, that combined with .30 ammo and you have a 4 inch grouping at 150-200 feet, accept no substitute get the real sword you wont regret it.

define 'best'. Think about this for a second. The only criteria you have given is a price limit.

Do you care about:

-true to the original looks (and reciever dimensions)?
-real wood and metal?
-out of the box accuracy?
-parts availibility?
-upgradability?
-reliability?
-stock fps or ROF?

IMO, LCT are the best AKs, although they need a few upgrades internally to make them more field-usable!

LCT by far. I've owned CA, LCT, SRC, CYMA and have feilded RS...LCT wins

Things that need to be done to a AK brand before fully using it;
CA's need a new piston ASAP
SRC needs a new piston and sometime better trigger assemblies
CYMA...Everything
RS...nothing
LCT...nothing

Real Sword and LCT mate

AK
 

I have both RS and LCT and they are with out question superb! Real sword seem to be easier to find here. I have not seen much in the way of LCT available here in Canada.

I can't say which company it is since this is outside the AV only section but there is a company out in Western Canada that recently got a bunch of LCT AK's in and they're selling them for a fairly decent-ish price. I'm not sure if they've got them posted up yet in the AV Retailers section.

EDIT: PM me for info since this is outside AV only discussion. Just so we're clear here I will only respond if you have an Age Verified tag, minors don't waste my time or I will mute/block you.

Real Sword hands down.

You can't go wrong with a Real Sword.

Aside from the one post, is there anything much you need to do to Real Swords out of the box?

Other than sticking a battery inside, no.

REAL. SWORD.

I have one, best 500 bucks I've ever spent dude. This gun will probably last me until I'm at least 40 and still playing. Full steel and wood, you really can't get much better!

VFC is also good, they have more variety than Real Sword.