Russian Saiga Rifle

[farronwolf]

Anyone know anything about the Saiga Rifles.

Here is a link with some pictures of them.
http://www.savvysurvivor.com/saiga_rifles.htm

I have been looking at these rifles for a little while but have yet to find anyone that has shot them. I understand that they are made in an old AK factory and are similar to an AK if my information is correct.

For around 250 bucks it seems like a heck of a deal for something to plink with.

As far as I can find they come in a 7.62x39, .308, or .223 caliber. I already have one 7.62x39, so I would lean more toward that caliber.

Have any of you all shot them, seen them or handled them to give me any opinions on the weapon.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[jercamp45]

and it worked real nice.
Have a Bulgie now.....
I am sure the 'sporterized' versions work ok and maybe cheaper and may look little more politically correct for the sheeple.
I looked briefly at the .308 verson...that was awhile back and it was that price.......doubt if it is still as cheap.

[farronwolf]

I looked at some of the Saiga's today, and was unimpressed by them. The concept of the rifle is a good thing but the price that was being asked and the fit, finish and hollow synthetic stock made it feel like something I did not want in my gun safe. I was surprised at how much heavier the .308 was than the other versions, but that was the only thing mildly surprising of them.

A few guns down from the 4 or 5 saiga's was a norico ak 47 that looked like a much better put together weapon with a wood stock (i prefer wood to synthetic) that was only 50 bucks more.

Anyone got a norico (spelling) 7.62x39? Or have any comments on them.

They had a 5.45x39, but that one is definately out of the question.

[P95Carry]

Thread drift - my only Norinco is my SKS (AK is an SAR1 Romanian) - but it is of my three SKS's the one I favor and shoot most. If I could find and afford a Norinco AK I'd go for it.

[Illuminaughty]

I plan on getting a siaga 12 instead of a pump shotgun for CQC home defense.

[srfl]

I have a Saiga 12 shotgun from their first importation run which when EAA imported the guns. They are reliable guns as are most AK's. Nearly everyone I know that owns a Saiga whether a shotgun or rifle, loves the way they shoot, their reliability, and cheap cost. I think the Russians put them together pretty well.

[CombatEffective]

One of my shooting buddies ( a member here) has one of the Saiga rifles. It's a little rifle.

[Woody]

I have a Saiga .223. It's a Russian import made in by the same company that makes the original AK (Izhmash), built on an AK reciever. Most people convert them, which takes only a few parts and some tooling. I just stuck a russian military POSP scope and a bipod on it. It's fun to plink around with.

http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/weapon.shtml

http://www.cross-conn.com/Saiga_Conversion/

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=4&f=80&t=53631

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=4&f=80&t=66392

[Lawrence Keeney]

If they ever get the 20 round mags worked out, it seems to me that the 308 Saiga would be a heck of an idea for a battle rifle for someone who cannot afford an M1-A.

Certainly a longer range rifle that a 7.62x39 version...

[craze]

I have a saiga 7.62x39. I bought it 3 or 4 years ago before the AWB expired. I paid $199 for it. At that time AKs were not as plentifull and it seemed like a great little gun for the price. Like most ak varients its totaly reliable. It's a little more accurate than my yugoslavian AK but less accurate than my yugo sks. These days it seems like they're commanding more money making the AKs more attractive.

[ANALYST]

I shot about 200 rounds of South African 147 grain ball ammo thru my brother's Saiga .308 last weekend. He has a bushnell 3x9 scope in the detachable mount on it. At 100 yards the groups were well under 2" when I did my part even with high winds. It shot about 8 inches lower than the cross hairs at that range, I assume because the mount is so high...