Now that I've finally recovered from the Obama "recovery", I've started buying guns again.

I'm looking at buying my first Kalashnikov type rifle, hopefully in the basic AK103 configuration.

I'm looking for the following features:

7.62x39mm
standard rifle length barrel
AK74 type muzzle device
synthetic side fold butt and forearm
side rail
90deg gas block

I'm looking to spend in the $1,000-$1,200 range.

My first thought was Arsenal, but they don't appear to make this configuration anymore.

Palmetto Arsenal is an alternative, but I don't know much about them.

I have my doubts about Century, although I'm not sure they make that gun anyway.

Any other manufacturer is a big question mark.

I'm not in a big rush, since this is going to be a Christmas present to myself.

Any help would be appreciated.

wait for the PSA AK103 to drop here soon.

What he said.

KUSA will bring out a 103 copy here soon but it has a fixed stock. Side folder to follow.

That could be built for about $800 using qualty parts, but only if you were doing the building and the tooling has already paid for itself. Start factoring in build costs or sidefolder conversion costs and I'm not sure you'd be within your budget. Probably best to wait until PSA or KUSA offer what you want in a single package.

That looked like a good deal.  I have no experience with PSA, only actual Chinese Type 58s and Romanian AKMs, which I used to teach OPFOR classes in Korea in the '80s.

PSA seems to get good reviews, but I have no experience with them.

That seemed like a good option after Arsenal.  Any estimated time?

Unfortunately, I have neither the tools nor the skills for that.  I was at the ragged edge of my abilities building an extreme macro photography rig last year.  Since this is likely the only Kalashnikov I'll be getting for the foreseeable future, the overhead cost to build would be unjustifiable, especially given that I live in a two bedroom apartment already crowded with photography equipment and computers.  Otherwise it might well be a great idea.

Thanks anyway.

Next 60 days for the fixed stock, unknown for the folder. Hopefully this year.

Thanks.  I'm looking at the Christmas time frame, so there's plenty of time.