Hello all, Could anyone tell me if the Norinco AK's chambered in 223 are of decent quality. I am also interested in high cap mags for this 223 AK.  Are they available?

The polytechs are the ones that absolutely need their own mags.   The bulgy waffles can be easily modified for use w/ the norincos, but they are just as expensive, if not more, as the norinco mags right now, which are generally found for around $30 +-$5 for 30 rounders.   However, that may change shortly (IIRC, the bulgy 5.56 mags used to be like $12-$13/ea, but then it was found that they weren't even manufactured at all until after 94, and no possibility of being preban, so importation and sales stopped).   The weiger mags will NOT work - they are too wide.   I'd guess the bakelite 5.45 mags with the 5.56 followers (as supplied w/ the vepr conversions) would work, but I haven't tried.

I have an 84s, and I like it.   IMHO, the chinese guns have a nicer fit and finish compared to, say, the romanian guns.   You should be able to pick up a post-89 gun for around $400, replace the appropriate number of parts with US ones, and in a few days, make it just as "evil" as an 84s.

Rocko

I got my post-ban for $350.00 last year and you can get 14 round mags pretty easily.  30 round mags can be picked up on the Equipment exchange from time to time.  I got some a couple of weeks ago.

I've got a Norinco pre-ban .223 that I bought used in '89. It seems decent to me; I've never had a problem or malfunction with it.

The Norinco 84S is beautiful in fit and finish that my gunsmith recommended it for my Krink build....