Ok, here are my thoughts on the Saiga's, I've had two of them, and another that was a .410 shotgun...they're imports, and NO ONE imports parts for them, they're cheap though, so if something breaks, just buy a new one. They're pretty tough, but they've got a lot of moving parts-but any competent AK-47 smith should be able to work with one if you've got a non-break glich...You've GOT to keep them clean, they're based on the AK, but they aren't it exactly, the finish isn't one that I'd call my favorite, treat it like VC did the AK's in Nam and your production rifle will be finished.

They're fun rifles, but there are better choices, I won't say don't buy one, I knew everything I mentioned above before I bought my second and third Saigas, they aren't terribly accurate, not a varminter if that's what you're looking for, maybe a little better on average than your typical non-russian, non-chinese SKS.

If you're looking for a varminter on a budget, buy a H&R handi rifle, order one with a heavy bbl and call it good, if you want to hunt bigger stuff later, send in your receiver and have a bigger cartridge bbl fitted for $100 or so.