Ok found a source of an unmodified saiga 12 with 22 inch barrel. Besides getting the barrel cut later I am planning on putting on a pistol grip and stock doing the conversion myself. Due to being deployed abroad and seeing the wrong end of too many I really dont like AKs that much. I am looking to stray from the look as much as possible. To do this I intend to among other things changing the finish. I am looking to do some sort of 2 tone on the reciever but guess I will have to mess with photoshop on the color. I am also trying to decide what optics to put on it. Was thinking maybe a holosite from bushnel.

Any known sources of mags and how hard is it to find smiths that thread the barrel and such.

Well I might have to go with 5 rounders to start. Not a problem for me since my benelli only holds 7 and the reload with the 5 is still faster.