TexasCHLforum.com

Stamped or milled?
Doesn't really matter. Some folks will get into how a milled AK should be theoretically more accurate, but in reality the consensus is that there is no appreciable difference; both are reliable/durable (it was originally intended to be a stamped gun). Milled AKs tend to be heavier though.

What manufacture?
I would first determine a price point. If money is no object then get a custom job from Rifle Dynamics or Krebs. Below that, most agree that Arsenal rifles (Bulgarian imports) are the best; usually $1000-1400 depending on the model.

In terms of quality I would put a VEPR up against anything, but they are imported in "hunting rifle" config (10 rnd proprietary mags, traditional/thumb hole stock) and require some work to get into standard AK config and comply with 922r. Saigas are also very good riflea, but they come in as hunting rifles too. Both of these are Russian made and therefore have been banned for import by Obama, so expect supplies to dwindle and prices to jump. I wouldn't buy an AK at panic prices when there are plenty of good ones around at more normal prices.

Century Arms has been making the C39, an all US-made milled AK, and it is getting good reviews.

For a first AK I would look at a WASR 10/63 or an N-PAP (from Zastava in Serbia, aka "Yugoslavian"). Earlier WASRs got a bad rep from Century doing really sloppy conversions on them, but the latest 10/63s are said to be fine (i've never actually shot one). The N-PAP is a Serbian made gun and very good quality, but lacks a chrome lined barrel (it is CHF though, and high quality). The finish on them isn't quite as pretty as something like a VEPR, but the build quality of Zastava rifles is high, they are solid.

One consideration between these two is how much customizing you want to do to it. The N-PAP is not quite a standard AK, so it does not take standard AK furniture. Luckily there are adapters available for stocks, and the aftermarket is catching up with Yugo-specific items as they become more popular. The WASR has a chrome lined bore and takes standard AK furniture. Both rifles should be $600 or less and make a great first AK.

Also consider if you might want to use an optic. Some AKs have side rail for mounting optics, some don't. If it doesn't have a side rail you are basically looking at replacing the dust cover with one that has a picatinny rail or replacing the upper handgaurd with one that has a rail. There are a few companies out there making AR-style rails now. Personally, I like the side rail since the optic can be mounted further rear so the gun doesn't get too nose heavy, all while not replacing factory parts with aftermarket. 7.62x39 isn't much of a long range cartridge and AKs aren't precision bolt guns, so red dots and low magnifcation scopes (1-4x, 1-6x, etc) seem to be the most popular.

Check mrgunsandgear on youtube, he does a lot of AK reviews and overall makes good videos.

Some good places to get AKs are Atlantic Firearms, J&G, AIM Surplus, and Centerfire Systems.