I gave just under $600 out the door ($530 + $26 CA DROS+8% tax of $42) just before the ban from a local gunshop so that's not too bad. Yes there are other cheaper AKs that work just as well, but there is value in the fact a Saiga is a REAL Kalashnikov made by Izhmash on the current AK100 series platform. Saigas also tend to be twice as accurate as other AKs out there. I have gotten 2 to 3 MOA from every Saiga I have had.
My current one gives me 3 MOA with a red dot, just leaning against a tree. Don't get hung up on "Restoring it" A factory configuration using modified Tapco FCG from