Shot the new rifles today

dr_cmg · December 28th, 2006, 06:33 PM

I got the chance to go to the police range today and fire both of my new toys - Saiga .308 and Norinco SKS. Photos and other info at Guess What I Got For Christmas.

The Sheriff's department was qualifying at the range so I had only limited time to shoot. The range is too short to do zeroing, so I was shooting with iron sights with factory settings. Combine that with the fact that except for shooting an M16 about a month ago and a mini-14 about 3 months ago I have not fired a rifle since 1974. Today I really wanted to get the feel of these two and to make sure that they would actually fire.

I put one 30 round mag through the SKS and 20 rounds through the Saiga .308. I learned several things. If you are not used to firing a rifle 50 rounds of 7.62 in either 39mm or 51mm will make your shoulder sore. The .308 (7.62X51mm NATO) round is definitely more powerful than the 7.62X39mm round. There is a difference in the noise, but there is an even more evident difference in recoil.

Both rifles performed up to expectations. Neither rifle had any failure. No FTF nor FTE. Both need zeroing, but if the need came up you could hit a human sized target in COM from a reasonable distance with the iron sights just like they are. Since the Police range is only 35 yards long (If you are behind the last row of concrete.) most shots were from there and most hit in the upper chest area of the silhouette target I was using. I will be going to a gun show on 1/6/07 and hope to pick up scopes for both while there. Then I will zero and try some for shooting. I'll report on those events later.

Team American · December 29th, 2006, 02:34 AM

Thanks for the write-up George...

I was wondering how much recoil the .308 Saiga would have...

dr_cmg · December 29th, 2006, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team American

Thanks for the write-up George...

I was wondering how much recoil the .308 Saiga would have...

It is really not bad, Rick. The recoil is more than the 7.62X39, but to tell the truth I preferred shooting the Saiga to the SKS. Part of that has to do with the stock design I'm sure. The Saiga has a semi-pistol and a bit longer stock. This places my hand farther away from my face. It seemed to me that I was hitting myself in the face with my fingers when firing the SKS. The Saiga seemed more comfortable to me. I have to work on shooting the rifle because I've not ever been a real rifle shooter. The firm pressure against the shoulder is not something I do naturally, so I have to think about proper technique each shot. I'm sure some of the shoulder soreness is the result of not having good technique. I'll have to keep practicing until the muscle memory takes over.

Another difference between the Saiga and the SKS that might have contributed to the perceived recoil is barrel length. The Saiga has a 16.3" barrel and the SKS has a 20.5" barrel. I suspect there would be less perceived difference if I had bought the Saiga with the 21.8" barrel.

Team American · December 29th, 2006, 02:55 AM

How would you compare the sights between the two rifles? I have an SKS, but haven't shot the Saigas...was one easier to get a sight picture over the other?

dr_cmg · December 29th, 2006, 07:04 PM

Rick, the iron sights are funtionally identical. The SKS has a complete ring arount the post on the front sight while the Saiga has about 3/5 of a circle. The center post is identical. The elevation on the rear sight is out to 1000m on the SKS and only 300m on the Saiga.

You can see the rear sight on the Saiga in the slide show on this page. http://www.raacfirearms.com/Saiga_308.htm

rfurtkamp · December 29th, 2006, 11:07 PM

Quote:

The Saiga has a 16.3" barrel and the SKS has a 20.5" barrel. I suspect there would be less perceived difference if I had bought the Saiga with the 21.8" barrel.

I've shot both - the recoil is about the same, but the 16" is a bit louder. Ironically, the 16" was more accurate.

dr_cmg · December 29th, 2006, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfurtkamp

I've shot both - the recoil is about the same, but the 16" is a bit louder. Ironically, the 16" was more accurate.

Thanks for the info. Since I had not shot the 20" version I was wondering if there was a difference. The 16" .308 is loud for sure. I should have scopes for each in the next couple of weeks and will be able to get a better grasp on the accuracy.

srfl · December 31st, 2006, 06:31 PM

Cool....thanks for posting the range report, sir!

Bud White · December 31st, 2006, 07:05 PM

good writed up george glad they shot well for ya

P95Carry · December 31st, 2006, 07:12 PM

Good to see you enjoying the long guns George - sounds like you have two very handy tools there!

December 28th, 2006, 06:33 PM	#1
dr_cmg Lead Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,897	Shot the new rifles today I got the chance to go to the police range today and fire both of my new toys - Saiga .308 and Norinco SKS. Photos and other info at Guess What I Got For Christmas. The Sheriff's department was qualifying at the range so I had only limited time to shoot. The range is too short to do zeroing, so I was shooting with iron sights with factory settings. Combine that with the fact that except for shooting an M16 about a month ago and a mini-14 about 3 months ago I have not fired a rifle since 1974. Today I really wanted to get the feel of these two and to make sure that they would actually fire. I put one 30 round mag through the SKS and 20 rounds through the Saiga .308. I learned several things. If you are not used to firing a rifle 50 rounds of 7.62 in either 39mm or 51mm will make your shoulder sore. The .308 (7.62X51mm NATO) round is definitely more powerful than the 7.62X39mm round. There is a difference in the noise, but there is an even more evident difference in recoil. Both rifles performed up to expectations. Neither rifle had any failure. No FTF nor FTE. Both need zeroing, but if the need came up you could hit a human sized target in COM from a reasonable distance with the iron sights just like they are. Since the Police range is only 35 yards long (If you are behind the last row of concrete.) most shots were from there and most hit in the upper chest area of the silhouette target I was using. I will be going to a gun show on 1/6/07 and hope to pick up scopes for both while there. Then I will zero and try some for shooting. I'll report on those events later. __________________ George Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. Albert Einstein

December 29th, 2006, 02:34 AM	#2
Team American VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 3,797	Thanks for the write-up George... I was wondering how much recoil the .308 Saiga would have... __________________ "I surrounded 'em"- Alvin York "They're ain't many troubles that a man can't fix with seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six"- Jeff Cooper

December 29th, 2006, 02:55 AM	#4
Team American VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 3,797	How would you compare the sights between the two rifles? I have an SKS, but haven't shot the Saigas...was one easier to get a sight picture over the other? __________________ "I surrounded 'em"- Alvin York "They're ain't many troubles that a man can't fix with seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six"- Jeff Cooper

December 29th, 2006, 07:04 PM	#5
dr_cmg Lead Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,897	Rick, the iron sights are funtionally identical. The SKS has a complete ring arount the post on the front sight while the Saiga has about 3/5 of a circle. The center post is identical. The elevation on the rear sight is out to 1000m on the SKS and only 300m on the Saiga. You can see the rear sight on the Saiga in the slide show on this page. http://www.raacfirearms.com/Saiga_308.htm __________________ George Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. Albert Einstein

December 31st, 2006, 06:31 PM	#8
srfl Senior Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: FL Posts: 6,662	Cool....thanks for posting the range report, sir! __________________ USAF: Loving Our Obscene Amenities Since 1947

December 31st, 2006, 07:05 PM	#9
Bud White VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 17,476	good writed up george glad they shot well for ya

December 31st, 2006, 07:12 PM	#10
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,407	Good to see you enjoying the long guns George - sounds like you have two very handy tools there! __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode