New Saiga 7.62X39 Rifle - Questions

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Werewolf

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Yaaaayyyyy!
Just got a new Saiga in 7.62X39. What a great rifle for the money. From everything I have seen and read and can now personally observe it is an AK-47 with a standard butt stock and modified mag/feed system to make it US legal.

But I do have some questions....

1) The rifle came with just one 10 round Mag and the dealer didn't have nor does he plan to acquire Saiga Rifle mags. Where can I buy some on the internet? (I do not plan at this time to mod the rifle to accept AK mags).

2) The pitiful manual explains how to tear the thing down for cleaning - to a point. My experience with gas operated rifles is the gas system needs to be cleaned out occasionally - no instructions to do so. Where can I get comprehensive maintenance instructions that cover the gas system.

3) The rifle came with a tool that looks like/is a punch of some sort. What is that tool used for.

4) There's no windage adjustment on the rear sight? OK looks like the front sight can be adjusted for windage just by knocking it right or left on the big pin in the sight. It looks like(?) you can also adjust the front sight for elevation. True? If so how.

5) I will primarily be shooting the rifle at ranges between 50 and 100 yards. What kind of accuracy can I expect.

6) Eventually I'd like to put a red dot or similar type sight on the rifle. How is this accomplished?

7) Are their any good web sites that have information on this rifle. I can't find any (seems like a fairly new product).

8) Internet sources for ammo - the shop where I normally buy ammo I don't reload sells FMJ 124 gr Wolf for 2.10 for 20 and Berlaus(sp) 122gr HP for 1.96 for 20. Is this a good price? What brand of ammo is recommended?

:cuss: I won't be able to go shoot my new Saiga until next Monday. :cuss:

The rifle has a fairly heavy recoil spring - and I anticipate recoil will be much less than a standard bolt action firing equivalent ammo. Is this a reasonable assumption?

Lots of questions for sure - but you guys are smart and experienced - the truth is out there. :D
 
Here are the mags you seek:

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/saig7610mags.html

You can also buy Saigas from them. Last I saw, they had:

7.62x39 $159
223 $199
308 $229

I've bought a few of the 308s from them, they ship the day you order.

Forum for your rifle: http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?showforum=5
another: http://www.akfiles.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=13

Here are mounts, but they are all out of stock:

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/saiga1.html

Let me know if you find some mounts, I would like to pick a few up.

Wolf ammo is good for AK style guns, thats a good price.

There is a lever in front of your rear sight you swivel upwards and that allows your gas tube to come off. First, you need to take the bolt cover off by pushing the button in at the back of the cover and wiggling up on the cover, takes a wee bit of practice.
 
No mod because I don't have the requisite mechanical skills nor the tools to do it. I do not desire to pay a gunsmith to make the necessary mod's either (assuming I can find one to do it).

Besides when the AWB expires next September I imagine that soon thereafter high cap mags will become available for the Saiga anyway.

I'd like to be able to rip off 30 rds at a whack but I can handle just 10 for a while. Besides I understand that when the barrel of the Saiga starts heating up accuracy goes to hell pretty quick. Stopping shooting to leisurely change out a mag gives the barrel a bit of time to cool (lame excuse I know but it's the best I could do on such short notice ;) ).
 
Like mine quite well and have no desire to mod. or retro. fit either. My accuracy does not change with barrel heat..this is not your neighbor's mini-14. 2-3 inches at 100 consistently with slow diliberate controlled fire when shooting for groups from mine using a rest..4 inches on average with simple and quick on target and pull trigger from a rest or prone (though I have an individual problem with getting a consistent cheek weld in exactly the same spot). Sights are adjusted for both windage and elevation from the front sight and a simple inexpensive tool available for both AK and SKS work best for adjusting both. If yours came with a cleaning kit in a tube (some get them some don't) then one of the tools will adjust elevetation but the dedication all in one tool makes it easier. Takes all AK siderail optics mounting systems including the Kobra Red Dot if you can find one (I haven't been able to). Maintenance is simple and easy..no need in my eyes for a detailed break down. Mine likes any ammo..but does really well with Barnaul and Winchester. Only real issues I have (which are minor) is getting that consistent cheek weld (which is jsut me) and I am short and the stock is just a tad long for me (where as for many it is too short). All in all..I think it is a great rifle...as is.
 
i dont think the AWB is the reason that the saiga is shipped with the proprietory 10 rd magazine
if i recall it is something more to do with 922(r) restrictions on importing sporting arms
if the saiga could accept hi cap mags it would not be imported........reason that other AK's are imported and they can take hi cap mags is because they have enough american parts put in them....the saiga does not....so you can put a hi cap on a saiga as long as you put some american parts on it (trigger, stock, etc).......
BSR
 
4) There's no windage adjustment on the rear sight? OK looks like the front sight can be adjusted for windage just by knocking it right or left on the big pin in the sight. It looks like(?) you can also adjust the front sight for elevation. True? If so how.
Click to expand...

I think the Saiga front sight is similar to most AK front sights. It can be drifted left and right ot adjust for windage. There's a "C" shaped tool available for this. I believe Tapco carries it.

To adjust for elevation, set the reat sight at 100M, for example, then move the front sight up or down to get POI to match POA. The aformentioned "C" shaped sight tool had a part to do this. The front sight screws up and down.

6) Eventually I'd like to put a red dot or similar type sight on the rifle. How is this accomplished?
Click to expand...

The Saiga has a rail on the left side of the receiver which will accept standard Combloc mounts. The Russian made Kobra dot sight slides right onto this rail.

7) Are their any good web sites that have information on this rifle. I can't find any (seems like a fairly new product).
Click to expand...

Check out the AK-47.net forums.

8) Internet sources for ammo - the shop where I normally buy ammo I don't reload sells FMJ 124 gr Wolf for 2.10 for 20 and Berlaus(sp) 122gr HP for 1.96 for 20. Is this a good price? What brand of ammo is recommended?
Click to expand...

I've bought ammo online from Ammoman.com, Cabela's, and Natchez Shooters Supply. For cheap blasting, Wolf and Barnaul are fine. You may get better accuracy with domestic production ammo, although you will pay a lot more for it.
 
Some more answers for you.

2) Detailed instructions for cleaning the gas system:
a) Remove the gas tube (in other AKs, you flip up the lever on the gas tube)
b) Run a 20ga. nylon brush through the tube a few times.
c) Run a few 20ga patches through the brush a few times.
d) Wipe off the end of the gas piston. (Never use oil there)
e) Reassemble.

If you really want to, you can run a pipe cleaner down the gas block to clean out the gas aperture, but it doesn't really need it.

3) I believe that punch can be used to disassemble your bolt. That's the way it works on other AKs. See if it'll fit the pins in your bolt.

5) I'll bet you can get 2" groups at 100 yards with a cool barrel and decent ammo. Let us know what you get when you shoot it.
 
o mod because I don't have the requisite mechanical skills nor the tools to do it.
Click to expand...

I thought it was just a matter of philing down the mag release a little to get Hi caps to work??
 
saigas have a feed ramp in the magazine

some guys weld in a ramp to make the saiga conversion to AK mags
 
DaveR,
I can tear the rifle down all the way to the point of removing the gas tube.

That lever on the right side of the receiver by the rear sight just plain will not move. I haven't broken out the pliers yet because I don't want to break it. How much force is required? One web site I found had an AK manual and it talked about using some type of tool to aid in pushing the lever up.

Does a new one take a lot of force and it gets easier with use or is it possible something is wrong with my new rifle. I definitely can't move the lever by hand and I don't wanna force it and maybe break something.

Suggestions?
 
most AKs come with a tool kit in a metal tube

this tube has a hole cut out in it that interfaces with the gas tube lever

you clip the 3 inch "handle" on the tube lever and twist

as long as you dont use a huge breaker bar on the lever
it should withstand using pliers or a wooden dowel drift punch
 
How can you remove the gas tube without moving the lever?

Ah, well. Harry's right. The slot in your cleaning kit holder fits that lever's tab. I have heard of people bending them before...but that may be an "Internet Myth". Mine was stiff the first time, but not since.
 
My Saiga didn't come with the kit. To move the gas tube lever I just took a small piece of leather, wraped it around the tab and pushed really hard with my thumb from below. Do it a few times and it become much easier to do. You might want to try a pair of needle nose pliers also, but don't forget the small piece of leather if you don't want to scratch your gun.
 
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