I bought a Vepr-K in 5.45x39 several years ago. It’s a little heavy but rock solid and handles very nice for me. I think I paid $425 new in the box. The ammo is still cheap too. About $150/1000 rounds for Russian surplus and about $220/1000 rounds for Wolf.
Got 2000 rds of loose surplus at a local ammo “dispensery” for $165 out the door. Granted, a lot of the ammo either stovepiped or hang-fired, but it was cheap and went bang in both AKs and my SKSes. I buy Wolf for the bug-out bag mags.
I had an SAR2 a while back (5.45x39) Lots of fun to shoot. Really loud though!! Sorry I sold it now. Still have quite a bit of ammo.