Ok, on my ongoing quest to obtain firearms, I have my eyes set on one of these as my next rifle...

The Vepr AK 47 MD2.
http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct980.aspx

It takes standard AK 30 round mags and looks real nice. ($999+shipping&transfer)

Or

The Arsenal SA-M7.
http://www.arsenalinc.com/usa/product.php?productid=21&cat=23&page=2
This is Arsenals flagship AK. ($1299+shipping&transfer)

Does anyone have any first hand knowledge with either or both of these firearms?

Anyone know of any pros or cons to either?

I don't know a thing about AK's, but those look very nice!

Shootz! that's a hard one... Things to consider=     Price
                                                                                      Accuracy
                                                                                      Reliability
                                                                                      Resale Value
                                                                                      Authenticity
                                                                                      Cool Factor
                                                                                      Ergonomics
                                                                                      Availability

Cool factor usually does it for me....there both cool... Probably have an easier time reselling the Arsenal... Availability= The VEPR is Russian so there's a good chance that will get taken away or banned first... I would go with the VEPR, than change the stock to split grip-n-stock config...VEPR=Russian=Authentic... That's just me though...

 I don't buy firearms for survival or emergency situtations so I don't care too much about Accuracy, Ergonomics or Reliability... I try not to confuse need with want....if I puschase a firearm that I need, I get bored of it.......

ps: centerfiresystems.com might be cheaper for VEPR

The model I want is a MD2.
Centerfire systems only has the regular one.
The MD2 takes all AK mags. The regular one doesn't.

Aaaaah, I just bought the Arsenal  SA M7S.

I guess the fact that its out production is a plus to me as it adds to its collectability.

It also has an ultimak rail already installed which is a definite plus to me.

I still want the Vepr MD2 though and I strongly think that it will be my next purchase.

Thanks guys for the non advice and non help.  Hahahaha, just kidding.   

 

Good choice. I was going to say if it was me, I'd get the Arsenal. Reason being Arsenal quality and the milled receiver.

Just curious, where is a good source to find these? I don't search religiously, but the classifieds where I browse, I see some priced really high like $1,800 and the ones priced around $900 go really fast. There doesn't seem to be a lot of them around either. What's the deal with these? I'm far from an AK expert. Just curious.

I constantly patrol gun broker.

I have seen the cheaper (800-1000 dollar) ones and some of them look real rough.

I have been looking for a while and this is the least expensive "like new" SA-M7 that I've found.

Waaaiit a minute, did I say VEPR? I meant SA-M7...yeah yeah SA-M7

Waaaiit a minute, did I say VEPR? I meant SA-M7...yeah yeah SA-M7

I sensed that you meant the SA-M7 so I went ahead and bought it.

Thank you Obi Wan.

I am partial to the Arsenal products. I have one in 545x39, it is a keeper.

I bought the Arsenal SA-M7 and absolutely love it.

I did, however, just make an offer on a VEPR, yesterday.

I got issues...

I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy a VEPR MD2 very soon.

I got $1000 burning a hole in my pocket.

I offered $1000 on another AK but the owner didn't want to sell it for $1000.

It may be best for me since I'd really like a VEPR.

I'll post pics when I get it. 

Those VEPRS are nice! Where you picking it up from Atlantic or Centerfire?

Atlantic has nice guns...........if they are in stock......Ive emailed them to check stock on multiple items, and 99% of what I'm checking on that is still on their website won't be in stock for months.
Kinda irritating that they don't update the site.

Atlantic has nice guns...........if they are in stock......Ive emailed them to check stock on multiple items, and 99% of what I'm checking on that is still on their website won't be in stock for months.
Kinda irritating that they don't update the site.

Yup...I absolutely hate that when you keep checking for stuff and it's always "NOT IN STOCK"....

Seeing those words just makes you want it more......

Those VEPRS are nice! Where you picking it up from Atlantic or Centerfire?

I emailed Atlantic.
If they have it in stock, it's mine.

Ok, so I bought both.

Love em both and will post comparison pics soon. 

Ok, so I bought both.

Love em both and will post comparison pics soon. 

Sup keoni,
Hope da scope stay working good wit da AK.  Now you got me looking in an AK for the next purchase.  Shoots

So now that I've acquired both the Arsenal SA-M7 and the VEPR MD2, and had them in my possession for some time now...

I have the ability to do a side by side shooting comparison.

The SA-M7 milled Arsenal is downright beautiful in a 900 horsepower supercharged Mustang kind of way.

The VEPR is beautiful in a Rolls Royce kind of way.

Having said that, I've changed the SA-M7 stock to a collapsible stock with a
VLTOR RE47 tube and
Magpul ACS stock,
Hogue rubber grip,
Ultimak Rail,
XS big dot sights,
Aimpoint T1, and a
PWS FSC47 muzzle brake.

Then I took it out to shoot it.
Good Golly, this baby rocks. Extremely accurate out to 225 yards, fast target acquisition and not 1 single malfunction of any kind, despite the wide array of ultra cheap ammo I fed her.
Without a doubt this is my bug out rifle.

Oh wait, I still have the VEPR...

So I took the VEPR out and looked at her beautiful lines. Her sultry wood. Her flawless finish. She's the first super model AK I've ever had the pleasure of laying my hands on.

I packed her up and took her out to the range, along with some other guns.

I got to the bench, opened the case, looked at her and a funny thing happened...

I couldn't do it.

I felt like I didnt want to ruin her flawless beauty, I couldn't bring myself to flip the safety. I couldn't rack the bolt.

She's too awesome to deflower yet.

 

Let me own her for a while before I consider blowing hot lead through her.

 

If you can't do it, bring the vepr to the range and I'll do it for you