Here's the deal. It's cheaper, when all is said and done, to buy a completed AK that you see in the shop. Romanian or whatever. I can find that for about $500. They are usually made of used or surplus parts that are put together. A Saiga on the other hand is brand new, and made by the same manufacturer and factory that builds the "REAL" AK-47 for the military in Russia. And initially, the Saiga will be less money. $350-$400 (With FFL fee or taxes if local). The Saiga however is not in it's "Completed" AK-47 looking form. It was semi-modified with a sporter stock and such to satisfy certain "Import" laws. Remember, this is a BRAND NEW RIFLE. The other ones aren't consider brand new, because it's made from used/surplus parts, and falls under a different law. So, that is why the Saiga's look like they do. To be "SPORTER" rifles and not what some like to call military, assault, or all the other dirty words.
Now; while it is about $100-$150 cheaper to buy the Saiga, you CAN make it back to the way it was "SUPPOSE" to be. And it will only cost a couple hundred dollars to do the entire job. So, when all is said and done, the saiga will cost about $100 more than the already put together "AK" that you're use to seeing. However: There are 2 advantages to the Saiga. 1) It is a REAL TRUE AK, Brand new, and built in the same factory, on the same assembly line as the military AK-47. 2) No one says you have to spend the extra $200 to modify it all at once. You can start with the trigger assembly, OR with the stock and hand guard, OR with the magazines, etc... The only thing is that "Legally", to make this "Sporter" weapon remain "LEGAL" in the united states, you will have to use American Made parts to a certain level to satisfy certain ATF laws. Not hard at all. Matter of fact, an American made Magazine actually counts as "3 parts". Swap out the stop and forehand with USA parts, and you're good to go. It's a game, but it's not hard. Of course, being in the Soviet People's Republic of California; you are limited to 10 round magazines. So you're probably going to stick with the commercial provided magazines. They are a bit more expensive, but you can do that. Then, you just have to replace enough of the other parts. Again; not a problem. We're talking swapping parts that doesn't take a gun smith or a rocket scientist.
But when you're done, you'll have a REAL AK, brand new, made in the REAL Russian AK plant, with much better quality. And the final price will only be about $100 more than the cheaper made from leftover parts kits. Plus; if you ever leave the communist state of california, you'll be able to take that last step, and get 30 round magazines in the Saiga. Best of luck. Oh, and check our gunco.net for a lot of saiga questions.
Yes! The stock Saiga will feel like a toy because the Russian's pretty much understand most people are going to take the furniture right off and junk it for the real stuff. They really made the stock as light and cheap as possible. Although it works fine in operation, it's been the popular thing to best restore the rifle the way it's supposed to be.