Russian Saiga 308-1

[rizbunk77]

I was looking at a Russian Saiga rifle online similar to this:

Izhmash SAIGA-308-1 Semi-Auto Rifle - 308 Win/7.62 X 51MM - SN: H09724093

W/Pistol Grip & Nylon Sling - Mfg Russia, Imported By RWC Group LLC/Tullytown, PA

www.marshallbid.com

I was wondering what your opinions were of these rifles, and if they will ever be imported again.

 

[DesertFox]

Have one in 5.45x39. Ergos are pretty bad but function is great. No on future imports. Yes, probably would be fun to mess with. Not going to be a tack driver.

 

[d2wing]

I had one in 7.62x39. By far the most accurate AK out of any I have shot.
Probably not as accurate as an AR type but if the price is right I would buy one

 

[12Bravo20]

Trying to find one at a decent price will be hard to do since they were banned from import. And it is even harder to find an original unmolested Saiga since a lot were converted into true AK's by moving the trigger forward into the correct position for a pistol grip.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I have one in 223 and really like it. Originally purchased it to convert but I left it and find it to be a handy little rifle.

308 has a lot more recoil, and I would probably get a 7.62x39 instead.

 

[brunowbe]

If you like AKs and .308s, then you will like the Saiga. Probably the only better AKish option would be a Galil Ace in .308.

 

[LiveLife]

I was looking at a Russian Saiga rifle online similar to this:

I was wondering what your opinions were of these rifles

I had Saigas in .223 and .308. .308 had 16" "heavy" profile barrel. With side scope mount, 100 yard groups were around 2.5" with various factory and match ammunition and cold barrel. Group size grew as barrel warmed up.

 

[berettaprofessor]

I had a 7.62X39 Saiga. Nice, but I sold it because I was getting rid of my other 7.62X39's and I thought, if I ever wanted the caliber, I'd buy an AR in the caliber and it'd be more accurate. And the Saiga required special magazines (I think they can be modified to accept AK mags, but it takes some work and skill). I regret selling it a little now and then, when I now know they can't be imported and the price tripled on them, but then I remember why I dumped the inaccurate little bugger and am happy I went with the AR platform.

 

[Ignition Override]

A buddy has an Unconverted .308 Saiga. It is all-original.

It is softer, and Slower “felt recoil” than even my M1A Standard and FALs (21” barrels), which are mild. And my shoulders are skinny! There is. no butt ‘pad’ on the rifle—nothing of the sort.

And that .308 Saiga feels like it will shoot until “the end of time” with zero issue.
It’s not that easy to describe but it is very high quality.

 

[drobs]

A friend of mine had the long barrel 308 Saiga. I preferred that short 16 inch barrel 308 but never got one.
Instead I bought a 16 inch barrel Ohio Rapid Fire STG58 / FAL. Accuracy on the FAL was awful and I swapped that for a Springfield M1A that shoots way tighter groups that the FAL.

I'm pretty sure that Saiga 308's shoot tighter groups that FALs do / did.

 

[Navy87Guy]

I love my Saigas. I have a 7.62x39 and 12 Gauge, both of which I converted to true AK style. My only regret is that I didn’t buy the .308 when they were cheap and plentiful 15 years ago!

 

[trackskippy]

The Saigas imported here in that time period were in a "Sporter" configuration to get around one of the bans. The one in the OP's link looks like someone did some of the grip conversion, but didnt want to get into changing out the handguard and left it alone.

They are basically Russian AK's converted there for import here, and then people here, converted them back, at varying levels. Some got them pretty close to what they were, some did it piecemeal.

This was my Mark Krebs "restored" Saiga AK103K in 7.62x39. It was one of his early conversions done for the defunct Kalashnikov USA out of Fla. back in the early 2000's and before he was putting his name on them. I actually had a second gun on order after getting the first, but the company went tits up before I got it.

The Russians make good guns. They may not have the fit and finish Amercians seem to expect, but they are well made, functional, and accurate.

They dont have a target type iron sight set up like the AR's, but an AR and AK fitted with a red dot, and shot a little more realistically, will shoot very much the same.

Even with the original factory type irons, they will shoot well if you can.

 

[Navy87Guy]

I put the riser on mine with a red dot. Plenty accurate for me!

 

[Gordon]

The Saigas imported here in that time period were in a "Sporter" configuration to get around one of the bans. The one in the OP's link looks like someone did some of the grip conversion, but didnt want to get into changing out the handguard and left it alone.

They are basically Russian AK's converted there for import here, and then people here, converted them back, at varying levels. Some got them pretty close to what they were, some did it piecemeal.

This was my Mark Krebs "restored" Saiga AK103K in 7.62x39. It was one of his early conversions done for the defunct Kalashnikov USA out of Fla. back in the early 2000's and before he was putting his name on them. I actually had a second gun on order after getting the first, but the company went tits up before I got it.

The Russians make good guns. They may not have the fit and finish Amercians seem to expect, but they are well made, functional, and accurate.

They dont have a target type iron sight set up like the AR's, but an AR and AK fitted with a red dot, and shot a little more realistically, will shoot very much the same.

Even with the original factory type irons, they will shoot well if you can.

Notice the Mount and Aimpoint M2 which is only prper way to get a lower third co witness on an AK. That is a deadly package !

 

[trackskippy]

The Ultimak and Aimpoint on a low ring works very well with the AK's.

 

[brunowbe]

Notice the Mount and Aimpoint M2 which is only prper way to get a lower third co witness on an AK. That is a deadly package !

RS Regulate side mounts get you a lower 1/3 co witness as well. I know, I have both.

 

[Deus Machina]

Hard to find a better AK.
I'm a fan of the traditional round, but if you like .308 and don't mind a rough time finding more magazines, nab it if you like the price.

If you want the AK profile at the front, you'll either need some real work done to get the front retainer on or do some searching to find a two-piece. When I had a Saiga, I was definitely younger, possible dumber, and had a mill. I milled some vent slots in the front. Worked out, looked alright. I actually kind of like the long furniture.

 

[Lefty38-55]

Well, I had a wood stocked ‘Sporter’ Saiga 308, but sold it, was only a 2 MOA rifle no matter what I tried. Now my sporter Saiga 20” barrel in -39mm is pretty accurate w/ Barnual ammo. Would love to sell it, but present laws ‘here’ only allow person-to-person personal transfers.

Saiga shown over sporterized Norinco SKS, which is more accurate, it now wears a MagWedge (?) scope mount that holds zero great, as my crappy weather deer rifle.

 

[Navy87Guy]

Here’s my Saiga 7.62x39 evolution - from Sporter to AK with folding stock.

 

[rbernie]

I struggled to get better than 3MOA from mine. I expected (or at least hoped for) better.

 

[Bcwitt]

Not likely to see them ever again. A MUCH nicer 308 AK can be had in the form of a Zastava M77.

 

[JB111]

Not likely to see them ever again. A MUCH nicer 308 AK can be had in the form of a Zastava M77.

Not to mention that magazines for the M77 are made in America and are readily available.

 

[Gordon]

RS Regulate side mounts get you a lower 1/3 co witness as well. I know, I have both.

You are correct, I meant front mounted optics
.

 

[desidog]

This is an old picture, but fun. This is the OEM magazine, but CSpecs makes a good steel 20 rounder.

 

[HPJeep]

Get it. You'll live it. Bought my 308 16 inch for around $260 and converted it. Been reliable and durable. They'll never be imported from Russia again so prices will only go up.