What a difference a year makes… Sniff.
I now have 3 SLR-106s (2 Fs and an FR) with another on the way (when the BATF sends my approval letter). They are all boringly reliable. From what I’ve seen, the only complaints about reliability of the Arsenals were about early production FRs and a couple early production CRs. 3-4 MOA is what I get from all 3 (we’ll see what the 102 clone can do when it comes, but I suspect it won’t be terribly different).
I use only Bulgarian mags.
Another option is a converted Saiga, given the ridiculous price range that 106s have reached post-election ($1000+) you might be able to do a conversion for the same price or a lot less, depending on who you have do the build. I’ve not read about any issues with the conversions. I have no idea about accuracy.
I’ve got an old SAR 3 that I’ve had for many years. Once I found the correct mags for it, it ran like a champ. I tried to convert AK-74 mags but that didn’t work so well so now I stick with the steel ones
There is also the Galil and Golani’s. They are AK based and have excellent folding stocks. Israeli or South African Mags are available.
i have a number of AK type rifles chambered in 5.56
what they do is the energizer bunny routine–they run and run and run some more.
the galil with the TRW made barrel can hold the best groups, it functions well. the long mags are a pita for tactical drills. it is a bit on the heavy side.
my others are various russian, bulgy and romac makes–with the Russian holding the best groups of them, but not by much. all do an decent job with good ammo.
most of my mags are weigers although i have a few bulgys that i run in the bulgy made weapon. i put red-star arms FCG parts in all of them so they all have excellent trigger pull. the stock triggers on these weapons can be a bit gritty and with some slop although i have seen some good ones in the field so YMMV on that.
as far as accuracy over its 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 counterparts the 5.56 does have an edge i think but it is not a gigantic one. i would say a 5.56 firing wolf ammo would be about equal to a similar rifle firing 5.45 and tiny bit better than a 7.62 rifle firing the same kind of steel clad bullet wolf ammo. a 7.62x39 weapon can also improve its accuracy from some well made ammunition–copper bullet jacket–good and even burning powder ect–but in the 7.62x39 it is just tough to find and expensive.
a 5.56 AK firing some nice western made 5.56 match grade ammo with a fairly new barrel should make some decent groups. i don’t think a factory made AK is going to top an AR in the accuracy department but i will add that it can do pretty well in capable hands. i would certainly take one over a mini14.
this is a link where a fellow built an AKM from a $45 parts kit and tested it for accuracy. good reading if you are interested.
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=122&t=31796
i owned a norinco 84s-1 and it functioned perfectly with any ammo. the drawback was it couldnt consistantly hit a 8x11 sheet of paper at 100 yrds no matter what ammo i used.