there is a pot load of info out there, I have read a fair amount. But what does this crowd say?

Which AK-47 to just go out and buy? I do not need a special gold plated, milled rather than stamped, super special rig. Just a rig I can go buy 1 or 100 right of the shelf.

An 8 out of 10 on the production value scale should do nicely.

500 bucks get me in the neighborhood for what I'm looking for?

i would try to find one with a chrome lined bore and chamber

Get something better that looks a lot like an AK the Czech VZ 2008