Best stamped receiver one I ever owned was a Hungarian SA-85M back in the late 1990s. It was a post-ban with a thumbhole stock made of great blond wood. The fit and finish of that one beat any hot blued Norinco or Polytech I was seeing at the time.
A few days ago I bid $500 for a used SA-85M underfolder model, thinking I'd go to $800 if necessary to win the auction. Last night the bidding had already climbed to $1250.
Second best I ever owned was probably the Century Arms Yugo underfolder M70A2. Wish I still had that one too.
I did have a new stamped Norinco at one point. I don't think it was strictly legal, but I took the thumbhole stock off that one and installed a buttstock and pistol grip. I do not have any negative memories of that rifle.
Worst I owned was a Romanian in 5.45mm. Trigger slap was miserable and the trigger did not function properly if you "squeezed" it. Slowly squeezing the trigger produced either a double fire, or a shot followed by a light strike. I would have to charge the handle again for another shot. The single "hook" in the trigger just wouldn't catch the hammer fast enough if you squeezed. It wanted to be "yanked", which I just hate doing...being a match shooter.
Curiously, I've never owned a milled reciever AK even though that is the type I have always wanted.
The best current AKs being produced are undoubtedly by Arsenal Inc. Problem is, I almost never see them. I went to the Tulsa gunshow a few years ago specifically looking for an Arsenal AK. It took me 7 hours to cover that huge show, and that was with skipping tables that were obviously just Old West antique guns. Not a single Arsenal gun in the place. Hard to find.
The AKs produced by Lancaster might be pretty good. They have an extensive line.
