Saiga 7.62x39 vs. .223

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Marcus

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I`ve pretty much decided on getting a Saiga for a fun range toy and general plinker but I can`t seem to decide on caliber. My first instinct is to go 7.62x39,it`s the original caliber of the AK family,it`s super cheap and makes enough bang and recoil to be satisfying. But .223 is almost as cheap,more readily available,has just as much bang and less recoil plus it shoots flatter. Hmmm. Anyone have experience with .223 AK clones? Are they still AK reliable? Is it any more accurate than 7.62 out of an AK clone? Is there a Hi cap .223 mag swap in case I wanna go that route in the future? Once I figure this out all I have to do is decide on a 16.5" or 20.4" barrel...... ;) Marcus
 
SAR .223's are problematic because of magazine issues.Saiga .223's dont have this reputation and i am currently awaiting one in a 16".I already have two 7.62x39 Saigas and IMHO they are hands down the best AK for the money as long as you dont care about 10 rounders.Hi-cap AK mags can be easily modified to fit and function in a Saiga but the freedom haters at the BATF may make an example out of you if you do it and get caught.:cuss:
 
If you convert to hi-caps with the .223 Saiga you run into the same problem you'd have with the SAR3, that you have to buy the Weiger 30 rnd mags to be reliable. From what I've read the Bulgarian .223 mags don't feed reliably in it either.

You can do the conversion legally provided you add the 5 US parts, which most people do while converting it to standard pistol grip stock setup. Do a search for "saiga conversion" at ak-47.net's forums and you'll find a bunch of posts with info, including a couple people who converted .223s to take Weigers...
 
You can convert the Saiga to accept highcaps and use Bulgarian 5.45 mags with Robarm followers also.
 
At that point it's barely any cheaper than the Weigers, (figuring $10 mag plus $5 follower vs a $19 Weiger) with about the same availability. The 4 packs of the Weigers Interordnance sells with pouch for $59 offset the price difference plus you get the pouch....

6 to one, half dozen the other...
 
i'm glad to hear that they're good too! I'd like to get an AK this summer, and 30 round capacity isn't that important to me. However, saving money is...the local shop said saiga's in 7.62 are around the 2-250 mark, with more expensive mags, whereas SAR-1's are 3-350 with cheaper mags. I figure that unless I get 4-5-6 mags, I might as well get the saiga and save some bucks. :D
 
At that point it's barely any cheaper than the Weigers, (figuring $10 mag plus $5 follower vs a $19 Weiger) with about the same availability. The 4 packs of the Weigers Interordnance sells with pouch for $59 offset the price difference plus you get the pouch....
Click to expand...

True.....I was simply stating it as another option. This is the route I have decided to go for an upcoming project.....I don't like the look of the Weiger mags at all. Bulgie polymers are quite plentiful at the moment.
 
CDNN Investments has Saiga's in the 7.62X39 caliber with a 16" barrel for $159.00. I bought one last summer and they shipped it free to my FFL. If I remember correctly, I had the gun in hand for $178.00. It's a fun shooter, but the sights are pretty crude for someone like me, who has to wear tri-focals to see.
 
pistol grip

I was looking into these Saiga rifles. I happened to handle one about 3 weeks ago and was dissapointed with the furniture. Is it posible to add wood furniture on this particular rifle. I am also curious if a pistol grip or thumbhole stock is available.
 
The two Saigas i already own as well as the new .223 thats on its way from CDNN will be left stock.That said,you can convert them to a standard pistol grip configuration if you are capable of doing the work.Saigas are head and shoulders above SAR's in fit and finish (YES I DID OWN A SAR-2 AT ONE TIME!)and everyone i know who owns a Saiga cant speak highly enough of them.
 
The most used solution to Saiga mag problems here seems to be to convert them to use standard AK mags. Some individuals work fine with just filing some off the mag catch, some require a feed ramp to be installed or made. K-var sells a feed ramp with rivet.

Saiga mags are more expensive and less available. And it certainly makes no sense to mod AK mags to fit the Saiga...
 
Well thanks for the input guys. I just picked up a 16" 7.62x39 Saiga today. :) Marcus
 
Def-con 1 on Rt.309. Their prices can be a little high on some stuff but they`re flexible and gave me a real fair trade in. Have you been there yet? Marcus
 
No.

Is that North or South from Q-town? How much did you pay? I forget what I paid for mine, but I sold it for about $190 after the 20% consignment fee:cuss: .

I still have my SKS but I wish I never sold the Saiga. Mine came with the scope too.:fire:

How dumb I was in my youth.
 
North of Q-town just outside of Coopersburg,by the big truck place at the top of the hill. The sticker price was too high ($229???) but we dickered on my trade in and I got an okay (but not great) deal in the end. Thing is they`re the only place around that has the cool stuff and I`ve never had good luck trading stuff in at shows so... It`s kinda a bummer in the gunshow season though because they take lots of their stuff to the shows and don`t have as much at the shop. Back to the Saiga,I`ve read just about every tutorial on the web about them in the last few months so I dug right in and did a *little* deburring,polishing,lubing and adjusted the sights. The action and trigger are already much smoother (and they were pretty good for an AK before) and it`s now shooting to point of aim. :) Marcus
 
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