Saiga rifles no longer imported??!!

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possenti

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You've probably heard that Remington bought EAA, and will be carrying some of their guns under the "Spartan" name...

The rumor on another forum is that Remington is dropping the Saiga rifle line, and will no longer import them. There's hope that someone else will import them from Izhmash, but there's no definite news on that anywhere.

I searched for more info here and didn't find much. Anyone have any more details?

I have a .308 Saiga. I've been planning on buying the 7.62 and 12ga. in the future, so this isn't good news for us Kalashnikov fans... :(
 
You've probably heard that Remington bought EAA, and will be carrying some of their guns under the "Spartan" name...
Click to expand...

As far as I know Remington is just purchasing rebranded Bakail shotguns. This is a far cry from actually buying EAA. This is the first I have heard about that.

Here is a news release from EAA concerning this Spartan deal:

On November 6, 2004 we let the cat out of the bag, so to speak. All of the guns we had been importing from Baikal of Russia (IZH models), will now be sold under the Spartan by Remington†name brand. We will continue to perform warranty work on the Baikal line. Spartan by Remington guns will be at a slightly higher price than similar EAA models, so buying an EAA model is a good investment since the price will only increase. If you are a dealer, stock up on all the EAA Baikal guns you can find and enjoy the profit. The change to Spartan by Remington was a positive change for the Baikal line and fully supported by EAA Corp. The Baikal plant in Russia will now be working with one of the oldest and largest names in the USA firearms business and we are proud to have had a part in this historic event.

We will keep all our IZH / Baikal models on the website for the time being while inventories are being sold off.
Click to expand...

Notice that last line where they mention IZH as being "on the website for the time being while inventories are being sold off". That sure looks like they arent going to be importing the IZH Saigas anymore. This suspicion is compounded by new release that follows.

Due to a business decision on EAA's part, we will no longer carry parts and accessories for Izhmash "Saiga". Please call 321-639-4842 for existing inventory.
Click to expand...

Things arent looking good for Saigas from EAA. It doesnt seem to have anything to do with Remington but, none the less i may just have to scrape up the pennies to get me a Saiga while I still can. These things sell like hotcakes so I really can't imagine why they are stopping them. It may have something to do with the relatively weak American dollor eating into profits or maybe the Ruskies are upping the price. Who knows.
 
I decided to play safer than sorry and ordered a saiga 12 from cdnn and a saiga 7.62x39 from gunbroker. Ive been wanting both of those for a while and upped them on my buy list to ensure I can get them. I hope another imported picks up the saiga line as Id love to get a saiga 20 and a saiga .308 as they are awesome guns.
 
Remington/Spartan didn't drop the rights to the Saiga line.
They never intended to buy them in the first place.
EAA wishes to concentrate and expand on the Italian and German made handguns.
The Saiga line is lucrative but dealing with Russian trade authorities is a P.I.T.A. and if EAA doesn't choose to continue relations with Izhmash then another Importer will.
On the bright side, with capital freed up, EAA could bring the Italian Bernadelli and German Erma lines into the USA.
 
I have a Saiga and I thought EAAs service was less than stellar. They now say it's because of the Russians, so now with the Russians out of the picture we'll find out.

jrobb
 
Being one of the very few AK based rifles that are importable from Russia I suspect that Izhmash wont have a hard time finding a new importer. I am worried about the price though.
 
Century or Tennessee Guns will probably pick them right up.

I hope who ever gets the Saigas will have the good sense to import hi-cap mags for them, including the 8 and 10 round shotgun mags, as they're legal now. EAA seemed to believe they couldn't import them.
 
Possenti, if you live in Northern KY I know a place that has Saigas. Ky Imports in Louisville has just about every model/configuration for now. There price is 199.99. Just bought one Saturday. Love it!
 
Remington bought EAA's Form6, which had both the Baikals and the Saigas, so EAA no longer has a Form6 to import the Saigas. Give'em some time, another importer is sure to come along.

I wouldnt mind have a 7.62x39 Saiga though...

Kharn
 
I hope who ever gets the Saigas will have the good sense to import hi-cap mags for them, including the 8 and 10 round shotgun mags, as they're legal now. EAA seemed to believe they couldn't import them.
Click to expand...

Whoa there, swingset. EAA is actually semi-right in this manner. Thanks to the GCA of '68 all IMORTED firearms must meet whatever the executive branch determines to be a "sporting" firearm. They've decided that shotguns with more than 5 rounds capacity aren't sporting. A US made rifle can hold more than 5 rounds, but not an import. US Code section 922(r) or something like that is where this is all defined.

That's why EAA refused to import them.

Could you use 8-10 round shotgun mags in them legally? Yes! But, only after you swapped out enough parts to make it a US (domestic) firearm. EAA didn't want anybody w/out a 922(r) compliant firearm buying up the 8-10 round mags and making themselves into a felon.

Messy, eh?
 
I don't understand a couple of things. If EAA refused to import the hi cap mags, why did they keep telling people who inquired that they were on the way? Also, if imported sporting rifles are limited to 5 rounds, why did I get 8 rounders with mine?

jrobb
 
A US made rifle can hold more than 5 rounds, but not an import. US Code section 922(r) or something like that is where this is all defined.​

If a russian rifle can't hold more than 5, the Saiga rifles were already illegal. They came stock with an 8 round magazine (.308) or 10 round magazine. I don't know anything about the shotgun rules, but it seems like the rifles, at least a sporter like the saiga, could have more than 5. I don't know if they were allowed to have the 30 rounders, but I had thought that eaa imported some 30 rounders for the 7.62x39.

patent
 
I've been wanting an AK clone for awhile, and have been waiting to find a good deal on a SAR-1.

These Saiga rifles are supposed to be best quality. I don't like the synthetic stocks, and really don't like the normal rifle stock. Also, being limited to ten rounds is a buzz kill for me. I want an AK as a tough reliable plinking rifle.

That said, I like the price of these rifles, and they are an AK action that shoots cheap ammo,which is why I want one. I am going to hit my local gunstore on my days off this week, I am hoping they have one in stock so I can see one first hand.

Let me verify a couple things first:

I can't do anything about the ugly furniture, right? I would violate the US Made parts thing, correct? Are there foreign made furniture kits I can get for it? Or is that still Bad?

Magazines: Can I get more? If I am limited to 5, 8, or 10 rounds, I will want more mags. Are they available, and under...say 20 bucks?

First hand exp w/these? Any reason I shouldn't get one? I take it they are supposed to be 'better' than the romanian SARs, better finish, assembly, reliablity, etc.

Should I just keep looking for a SAR, or pick one of these up before they do indeed dry up?
 
Gigabuist,
922(r) states that a semi-auto foreign rifle that holds more than 10 rounds is no longer a sporting firearm so you must play the parts-swapping game to get down to 10 or less imported parts. Then the gun is considered domestic and legal to use mags over 10 rounds in capacity. I'm not sure about what it has to say about semi-auto shotguns though. I think you're right about the shotgun capacity. Over 5 rounds is hi-cap.

Kamicosmos. If you want to use foreign AK wood furniture, then you'll have to move the trigger and replace enough parts to meet the 10 or less requirement. On a Saiga, 4 foreign parts of the list below must be replaced by U.S. parts to get down to 10 foreign parts.

This list was taken from Saiga-12.com:
AK/Saiga list of foreign parts:

(1) Frames, receivers, receiver castings, forgings or
stampings
(2) Barrels
(3) Mounting blocks (trunions)
Not on Saiga (4) Muzzle attachments
(5) Bolts
(6) Bolt carriers
(7) Gas pistons
(8) Triggers
(9) Hammers
(10) Disconnectors
(11) Buttstocks
Not on Saiga (12) Pistol grips
(13) Forearm handguards
(14) Magazine body
(15) Followers
(16) Floorplates

Also to use AK forends on a Saiga the front sight base and gas block have to be pressed off, or you can cut an AK handguard retainer in half and find a way to put it back together once on the barrel.

If you move the trigger forward using a U.S. made FCG, that's 3 U.S. parts (hammer, trigger, disconnector). If you choose to use foreign AK stock and forend, then you'll have to replace another part (maybe two, if the pistol grip you use is foreign) on the list to be legal to use hi-caps.

Don't expect Saiga hi-caps to be available anytime soon. You can use AK mags in a 7.62x39 Saiga if you modify the rifle to accept them (file mag catch a little and install feed ramp) or if you mod the mags.
 
Sorry for the confusion -- I was off in shotgun land with my post! Nothing I said had anything to do with rifles at all, just following up on another post in the thread.

Wouldn't want to see anybody ordering an 8 round mag from the UK and shoving it in their imported (shotgun) firearm is all.
 
Don't expect Saiga hi-caps to be available anytime soon. You can use AK mags in a 7.62x39 Saiga if you modify the rifle to accept them
Click to expand...

A local shop recently received several 30-rd Saiga factory mags for the 7.62 rifle. Price was $32. Not a rumor; I bought one.

I have read on the Saiga forum of gunbroker listing some 30-rd Saiga mags, though I see none listed today. There is also mention on the forum of other merchants carrying them. There appears to be a high demand with lots of back order complaints.

Ramsey Sports had some for $28. But they now say :"Posted 12/6/04:Now out of stock: SAIGA 7.62x39 30 round magazines."

http://store.ramseysports.us/saac.html

http://store.ramseysports.us/eaaizsa7x39r.html
 
A deal on US made .308 hicaps is in the works:​

Awesome, thanks for posting that!

patent
 
When 7.62 mags are that much money, you might as well buy an AK.

I wouldn't mind a Saiga .308 if they ever get their act together on the 20 rounders.
 
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