Which Saiga?

[cluttonfred]

I'll keep this short and sweet...

I am thinking of getting a Saiga as a fun plinker, truck gun and SHTF weapon. I don't need or want any of the mods to turn in back into an AK-47, 5- or 10-round mags are fine with me. So the options are:

1) .223 cal or 7.62x39?
2) 16" or 20" barrel?

Please vote in the poll and give your comments.

BTW, I assume, given it's ancestry, that the Saiga should be safe and reasonably reliable with just about any milsurp ammo, including the fairly hot 5.56mm stuff?

Thanks and regards,

Matthew

 

[LawBot5000]

Saiga 12, the only real saiga.

All my AKs are in 7.62x39 so I would vote for that caliber. But if you own a lot of AR-15s already, you might as well get the Ak in 5.56 so you don't have to buy an extra caliber.

 

[railroader]

I voted 223 16" because that's what I have. The rifle works with any ammo and shoots good. If you are into reloading it throws brass really far, dings up the brass. I'm going to use wolf mainly in mine. Mark

 

[aka108]

7.62 since it was the orig for the AK type. 223 is a toss up with the 7.62 for fun and if you reload the bullets are less expensive. I have one of each with 16" bbl and enjoy both the same.

 

[Monkeybear]

I picked .223 with a 16" barrel. I find that the longer barrels are too front heavy for my taste. I picked .223 because its got a soft kick and that makes for quicker follow up shots.

 

[SSN Vet]

commie calibers for commie guns....

I found the 16" sporter to be front heavy....don't even want to know what the 20" feels like....

I don't need or want any of the mods to turn in back into an AK-47

you will! that's exactly what I said.....

the rifle cries out....set me free to be what I was meant to be! and the conversion is a lot of fun.

moving the trigger group forward and adding the PG does a lot for the ballance.

light and uber accurate....that's what AR's are for....let your Russian rifle be just that!

and by the way....the biggest accuracy issue with any AK is the sights....and they are the same for all the Saiga rifle callibers.

 

[rangerruck]

223 in 16, very handy, very light, and very reliable. if you wanna walk around abit with your rig, and say you are carry a molle or chest rig with about 5 mags, the 223 is def lighter.oh yeah, and more accurate.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Couldn't say without knowing what you're planning on shooting with the gun.

 

[Firepower!]

Both calibers are good in 16".

However, I voted assuming these are select fire, if not, then you are wasting money.

 

[Monkeybear]

Firepower- There are no select fire Saigas for civillian purchase in the states.

 

[Jguy101]

Firepower, you do realize that it's been illegal to produce a select-fire weapon for civilian sale since 1986, right?

 

[Cannonball888]

Saiga 12, the only real saiga.

+1

 

[SaMx]

railroader, that's a really nice looking rifle. Did you paint the stock? I haven't seen any in that color.

 

[railroader]

SaMx, The stock on my saiga is painted with krylon flat camo that is for plastic. I then sprayed a clear satin over it. I like it and I can wipe dirty finger prints off. Mark

 

[Deer Hunter]

You say you wont want it converted NOW....




Love my 16" .223.