Models CYMA 0.40 and up are actually very nice budget rifles, as they are actually VFC clones. It is the lower (i.e. <0.35) that one would want to avoid.

LCT, E&L, VFC or Real Sword.

A bunch of us on the team run LCT's and we LOVE them!

+1 to lct! I have an ak104 its fucking awesome

I've an LCT and I'm not disappointed at all.

One of my best purchase for quality/price (Thanks Latvian :D)

+1 to LCT. Their VAL replica is the tits :)

Except stripping it, that's a clusterfuck and a half.

I recently purchased an E&L Ak 104 cm b. and I love it. It's a bit on the heavy side. It's construction is solid and works well out of the box. I upgraded mine with a large bore barrel and polar star engine, ect... but as an AEG it works great. Just one small issue I had was finding the right type of 7.4 lipo to go with it because of the small size of the compartment under the dust cover. Out of the box mine clocked in at a consistent 385, + or - 3 fps with .2 bbs. It's a modern variant of the AK so some purists don't like em much but I love the idea of having a modern version with an adjustable M4 style stock. My advice is go with something that suits your play style and tastes but always research brands and models to make sure there are no known major issues with the line.

DBoys - $$ - decent externals with full steel models, decent stock internals (some QC issues)
CYMA - $$ - decent externals with steel models but not as nice as DBoys, more use of pot metal parts, decent stock internals (some QC issues)
JG - $$ - ok externals, decent stock internals (some QC issues)
Echo1 - $$$ - just reworked CYMAs and JGs usually, better internal QC, but not worth the price difference if you know your way around a gearbox
Cybergun - $$ - rebranded JG and CYMA AEGs
APS - $$ - Cheap quality externals, bad quality internals and QC (STAY AWAY!!!)
LCT - $$$$ - Amazing externals, decent internals, worth the money for realism
E&L - $$$$ - AMAZING EXTERNALS!!!, decent internals, the most realistic you can get to Soviet style AKs in airsoft short of gutting a deactivated AK and shoehorning a gearbox into it (don't do that though cause I saw a guy try it on Red Alliance and it didn't really work, also might be illegal)
VFC - $$$$ - Amazing externals, decent internals and more realistic design than early LCTs
Real Sword - $$$$ - Amazing externals, decent internals and the most realistic Chicom style AKs in airsoft hands down

What about G&G? Their new AK's are steel body and solid as hell.

Ah, good point. Only draw back with some of the new G&Gs are their overgrown handguards where the battery is stored. Looks like their AKs are deformed and with them being just as pricey as LCT and E&L, I don't see the point of going with them. Then again, I'm a bit of a purist at heart

Definitely get a Real Sword. An airsoft gun made from a real one feels a lot better. I would recommend their type 56-2 as their most solid one. Type 56-1 stock has a bit of play.

First of all, I am assuming you are looking for solid externals only, and will re-do the internals no matter what. Therefore, for higher end, I would suggest looking at E&L, G&P(?), VFC. For cheaper (But still incredibly solid) I would recommend CYMA. The CYMA I have is solid as a rock and almost every part (opposed to what the others are saying) IS in fact, steel.

Here a comparison with picture between E&L and LCT:
http://www.team-black-sheep.com/whic...the-lct-or-el/

(But in the article they stated that E&L are cheaper that LCT, this is not my experience both are similar price from what I have seen. )

+1 Real Sword. Have one and love it.

I am looking for something that is solid externally and ok stock (Will be upgraded right away anyway internally). Going to be trying out an E&L to see how it feels and will go from there.
Thanks everyone!

In that case your best options are Real Sword, LCT, E&L, new G&G and VFC. You can go with G&P, but they use the older TM style construction and it's not as robust as the more realistic designs with the brands I mentioned.

The new CYMAs are nice too since they stepped their game up, but the finish isn't as nice as on the more expensive brands.