[igor]

http://personal.inet.fi/yritys/asenurkka/pistoolit/saiga762.jpg

These would be available for 390 euros (just about the same in $) which is a bargain here. It's a 7,62x39 Saiga variant of the AK-103.

For a now extinct Finnish Sako 92 I'd have to plunk down four times as much. Besides, I've heard that these have hard-chromed barrels.

Experiences, comments, please?

[JShirley]

That is so beautiful. You're deliberately torturing us, aren't you?

:)

[igor]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... :p it's just that my only experience with AK variants was my army year lugging around a Valmet-made Finnish model 62. That sure worked for me, milled receiver and all. But you can't get those anymore, not NIB and not at any reasonable price. Besides they have a blatant flaw in not having a chrome-lined barrel. The only flaw in my mind, though - I'd take a Petra or Sako 76 or 92 any time :(

I recently examined a used Norinco and wasn't tempted to buy. This deal I'll probably see next week. Pros? Cons?

But speaking of beautiful, here's a link to a pic of their bargain Saiga-12 with a special 485 mm barrel. :D :cool: http://personal.inet.fi/yritys/asenurkka/pistoolit/saiga12.jpg

[12 Volt Man]

That is a good looking ak-103! There is a place here in the states making nearly the same thing by converting the Russian Saiga Hunting model back to an AK........very nice product, but not nearly $390.00 (euros/dollars)

Get it!!!

[igor]

I failed to mention specifically that these are and remain semi-auto. Would that make a difference?

[Rebeldon]

No, it does not make a difference. Semi-auto is the type of action we would expect for that price. Full-auto AK would cost nearly $10,000!

[Dave Markowitz]

I have a Saiga sporter that was converted into a similar configuration. I's say if you have the money, go for it! The fit and finish on mine are very nice, and there is very little recoil or muzzle flip with the muzzle brake.

[itgoesboom]

If i could get that quality of an AK here in the states for $390, i would get two.

I.G.B.

[gun-fucious]

Valery Shilin has some Saiga data here:
http://club.guns.ru/

[Kahr carrier]

Torture we cant even buy those type of rifles in the PRK.:cuss: :banghead:

[Salpalinja]

Igor: How many are there left?? Or is that the only one. If there are more I am interested too.

[igor]

Just mailed them on other business and asked about them, I'll go see next week - "Ei ne varmaan viikossa hyllystä lopu", so seems OK :p

Ed. to add - thanks, gunfucious, for the link. It'll provide material for a while...

[Destructo6]

I'd be all over that like a cheap suit. Do it.

[Salpalinja]

So how do these models differ from bulgarian models (factory 10). If I remember correctly the bulgarian had milled receiver?? Any other difference? The price of the bulgarian was 580$ with 5 mags, bayonet and sling. And it was in .223

[igor]

... and it's solid. Clean trigger, crude muzzle brake, not bad fit and finish. Now thru the usual hoops for the licence and it's mine.

The magazines were an interesting story - they came from the east with a limiter inside to "shorten" them to 10 shots. Obviously the limiters are no longer. No gunsmithing needed... :cool:

Another shop had a configuration with real 10-shot mags - they require the work on both the mag and the mag release. Not cost effective after this.

I also checked out the Saiga 12 they had. The barrel is a custom length between the long standard and the K-model short. They said they didn't want the K's because of the folding stock, harder to sell here because that makes an extra hoop to jump thru for licence. That was a nice shotgun... but it'll be another time.

[Onslaught]

What are the converted Saiga's called? My buddy has an AK that looks EXACTLY like the first pic (minus the brake) and he payed MUCHO bucks for it. He keeps calling it an SR9 or something like that, but I want to find out exactly who made it, simply because it's driving me nuts not to know.

He's under the impression that it was completely manufactured in the U.S.....

[igor]

These are not "converted" if I've understood the term right. It's a configuration ordered direct from the Izhmash factory; the importer calls it the "Saiga 7,62x39 semi-auto rifle (a civilian version of the AK-103)". The magazines are proprietary, the Chinese or AK-47's won't fit without gunsmithing.

The rifle only comes with one mag and additional ones are available for around 15€ each. And now I also found an optics importer who has Kobra EKP-1S-03 sights for 185€. Anyone in the know, do these prices sound reasonable?

[Makc]

Igor:

The price for the mags is not bad at all! The Chinese version (that CAN be easily converted) is usually $10 - but an original for even $15 is worth the money!!! I would get it!!!

Price on the cobra sight is a little high - it is $150 here for NIB - 2nd generation, improved version - 1st generation you can get for about $120

...And speaking of beautiful, you had a picture of Saiga-12C, not a bad looking gun at all... BUT check this out!!!

http://www.saiga-12.com/images/Small/Saiga_12K_small.jpg

More pics here (http://www.saiga-12.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=9&)

[GW45]

I want one - I only have one 7.62x39 - and I'm sure it's lonely....:D

Have to go look for one of those - for companion sake.....

[igor]

Max, that's a serious rifle you have there...

You may have noticed that this was a while ago, and not much has happened in between :scrutiny: . The shop that had these sold the batch double quick and I'm still waiting for my licence for the transaction... it seems the chief of police is on sick leave or something and his work piles up :banghead: .

I found another shop that still has some but they're out of 30-rd magazines so they ship their rifles with 5-rd mags :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: ... all of this seems to have been too good to be true anyway. Another shop say they expect to get some real AK-103 mags for around 30€ some time soon, so I missed the boat with the cheap ones earlier totally.

Ok, tomorrow I'll go see what they have and arrange for one to be delivered thru mail when I get my licence. I also got an offer for the newest version of Kobra (EKP-1S-03M) for 195€ and that might be next on the list.

Anyone with experience about the EKP-1S-03 vs. EKP-1S-03M? The difference in price is just 10€ here...

BTW, the exact denomination for this rifle version was Saiga M3-EXP-01.

[Makc]

Igor: Sorry buddy - now that I have looked up the part number EKP-1S-03 is the 1st generation, EKP-1S-03M is 1st generation - improved - the only difference between them is that the improved version has a guard rail raised around the buttons so you would not hurt them if you put your rifle on the side...

EKP-1S-03

http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/media/kobra002.jpg

EKP-1S-03M

http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/media/x03M_02.JPG

The price for the 1st generation should be $120


But you really should get a 2nd generation - you can see how different thay are - the BIGGEEST thing that you cannot see on the picture is that it has slightly raised optics so the adjastment wheel in the back is not in the way... (it is in the way on the first generation, covering about 1/8 of the view when you aim...) It is not that bigger deal, but why spend money on the "old" staff when you can buy new and improved for almost the same price!?!?! (I would agree though - I like the looks of the 1st gereration a bit better....)

I would not pay 195 EURO ($160) for the 1st generation... but it's just me...

This is the picture of the latest model (with plastic hood) - EKP-8-02M

http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/image1/ekp-8MX01.JPG

I have purchased my second generation here, for $155 (shipped) http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/ - these guys are great - they actually shipped my sight within 12 hours from the time of the order!!! Send them an email - they'll set ya up!!!


:p

[Steve Smith]

You should not get the 1st gen for another reason. It will turn on and off during recoil because of a poor design. Not fun.

Ask me how I know.

[Makc]

Steve Smith:

Hmm... To tell you the truth - mine does not do that - I have probably fired about a 1000 rounds with it on my Saiga 7.62X39 and 100 slugs out of Saiga-12...

But, somewhere on another forum I have heard about a similar problem that you are having - I was as simple as a battery not making a proper connection...

I'm sure you can take it apart and fix easily - it is Russian - you should be able to fix it using power tools and a hammer... (like everything else made in Russia – I’m speaking from experience too – I’m Russian myself – ha-ha-ha!!! ;) )

[igor]

Max, Steve, thanks a lot for the new info - I'll take a new look at this. There's a local business in my town that imports direct from the east, I think I'll take this to them and see what they could do for me.

This is what keeps me coming back to THR :D .

[Steve Smith]

I spoke to "Tantal" about it and he basically said I was screwed because the old design flexes too much.

[Makc]

Steve: Here is what I'll do - I will take mine apart and look for potential week spots…

I worked in the company for the past 5 years designing, manufacturing, populating, and fixing printed circuit boards.

If, after I look at it, I’m confident enough I can fix yours – you can send it to me and I will try fixing it for you… How about that?

[Steve Smith]

I don't see how I could possibly turn that down. Right now mine is completely worthless. PM me when you're ready to receive mine.