The cheapest I have found them was when they were on sale, in a pack from Legion USA - but they were still nowhere near "cheap".
CSSPECS does make US metal body magazines for the VEPR 12 in 8 & 10 round, and I while I have none myself, people seem to have good things to say.
I also read someone reporting that certain Saiga magazines may work - was it the 030 variant magazines? (not certain if the LRBHO engages)
I completely agree!
From what I have read (nothing official) - the specimens have changed somewhat over the waves of importation as the importer has worked with Molot to decrease the cost.[/quote
The most recent price drop was due to a change in importers. FIME Group (K-VAR) now has the exclusive import agreement on these, and has established a very reasonable price point for the fixed stock gun. They will be bringing forth a factory folder as well, but it will be priced much higher as it will already be 922(r) compliant. They are also importing a version with a wood thumbhole stock (a la the Vepr rifles) but the original polymer handguard, which I totally don't get. They have also opened the importation floodgates on factory mags, which are now priced reasonably enough that one doesn't have to settle for lesser quality domestically produced mags (unless you need the 922r parts).
So IMHO, unless you want the VEPR side folder stock, or an AR tubular style stock, the current price really is a steal. I think at $1,000 the VEPR 12 was a good deal compared to converting a Saiga 12 - but at $699, it really isn't very far from what basic AK's are currently going for.
Yep!