Hmm, I've been considering another .223 semi-auto, ever since the wife took a liking to my M4 carbine. Perhaps something like a converted Saiga would fill the bill. It's been a while since I did the parts-count compliance thing - time for a WECSOG refresher course!
I’m also looking at getting some 20 or 30 round magazines for it. The magazines have the bullet guide built onto them on the front lip of the magazine, this is done to make the rifle a little different so that a regular AKM magazine can’t be used without modification, helps to get them imported as a “sporting arm”...
IIRC, there have been attempts to adapt Mini-14 and Galil mags to work in the Saiga. Or maybe it was the Galil M-16 mag adapter that was fitted to the Saiga, can't recall at the moment. Have you explored any of those options?
I’ve been in contact with these guys: http://www.redstick-firearms.com/
They can install a Galil M-16 magazine adaptor, they work well with the Saiga, then you can pick up a pile of M-16 magazines.
Galil polymer will work with minimal work, Bulgarians pretty much pop right in, but you do need to add a bullet guide, which is pretty simple too... simple gun, simple gunsmithing.
I converted mine with a cordless drill and a few files... easy stuff.
For now, I’m hanging onto the 10 rounders, I contatcted the BATFE firearms branch and they said if I imported just the Saiga magazine bodies for .223 that you get with a Saiga-M rifle, then as long as they are used for my own purpose, i.e NO RESALE, then I can import and use them in my 922r compliant Saiga.
I’d rather spend $14 on a .223 promag and give it a quick JB weld-up and that though...