Do you enjoy/keep Saiga rifle in original config.?

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Ignition Override

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Just bought my first AK derivatives: the .223 and 7.62x39, luckily with solid discounts on both while "nib".

As both of my SKS remain as such, these Russians are plenty of fun in their basic configurations, very light recoil, and the triggers are pretty decent. Hopefully the trigger 'transfer bars' etc will be durable along with other changes made when Izhmash designed these commercial products. It's nice to have the right mix of basic, very reliable carbines for retirement in '17. Extra gadgets have no appeal-unless the vision suddenly were to degrade.
 
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I had a real AK and then we got the safe act. Before the law took hold I sold my "real" AK and acquired an Saiga. It works for me and allows me to be under the radar. It handles ok with no real issues.
 
the original configuration of the saiga has a vertical grip, AK trigger pack, and separate stock. what you see sold as the saiga with its dumb hunting rifle style stock is merely a workaround for importation, youre supposed to convert them and lets face it, you'll have access to a much larger aftermarket and better trigger group once you do
 
I converted my Saiga (legally!) about 3-4 years ago. One of the more fun projects. Wait....all my gun projects are fun. I say shoot it first, make sure your front sight isn't canted (most are - the certification paper is a sad joke). It surprises me you like the nasty trigger, but they do clean up nicely. Still along with my AR's I don't mind testing 30+ rapid shots at 50 yards to keep them all in a dinner plate size target.

AK14.jpg
 
I would have preferred to keep my Saiga in sporter form if it wasn't for the horrid trigger mechanism. It is in the same vein as a Mini or Su-16. Pistol grips really don't interest me to be honest.
 
I much prefer the sporter stock. It allows me to change positions quicker and easier especially on a deer stand. Also it is handier for carrying in the port arms position. You do not have to reposition your hand to be in a firing position.
Guys that use real firearms would know this.
 
I got mine with the intent to mod it but decided I prefer it the way it is. I have the other versions so didn't "need" one in the military config. I was able to work the trigger up to get it much better and am happy with it now.

Personal preference in the end (and work on the trigger).
 
Pretty sure I didn't convert mine for deer hunting. Yep, I checked. No deer killed.

Guys that use real firearms would know this.
Click to expand...

I think the guy who designed the AK is dead, but we could still maybe ring him up and leave him a message to tell him his unpopular firearm isn't a "real" firearm.
 
d2wing said:
I much prefer the sporter stock. It allows me to change positions quicker and easier especially on a deer stand. Also it is handier for carrying in the port arms position. You do not have to reposition your hand to be in a firing position.
Guys that use real firearms would know this.
Click to expand...
What pray tell is a "fake" firearm?

Last I checked, the Kalashnikov isn't an air soft.
 
I wanted to keep my 5.45 saiga orriginal, but I did want to use the ak74 muzzle brake, and be able to use surplus mags legally.
After Sandy hook, when it looked like there might be bans, I converted it so it might be grandfathered in.

The original trigger was fine on mine.
 
Its human nature:
You unconvert your Kalash
You lift your Chevy.
You certainly lift your 4 door jeep
 
Yes. I like the Saiga just fine the way it is. It has a better LOP for me than an SKS plus a detachable magazine the SKS doesn't and I don't need a bayonet capable rifle anyway.
Frankly I have no reason to 'restore' a Saiga when the basic WASR checks all the 'AK boxes at a lower cost.
 
Mine is still.......

...........in it's sporter form. I like it the way it is. Mine has the factory wood stock, which has more curve to the grip. More comfortable than the synthetic. I really don't find any problems with the trigger. Works just as well as my buddy's AK.
 
The triggers on both of these 'nib' Saigas, in my (frankly) amateur opinion, are better than my M-1 Garand, both Yugo 59 SKS, the (former) Yugo Mauser, and the classic all-original Colt AR-15 owned by a friend.

Unless some ISIS cells decide to emerge into the open and circulate in west TN, the 10-rd. mags will work fine zapping small chunks of "insurgent" concrete blocks etc.
Without any real skills with tools (almost never touched a power tool), I'm not About to learn them by experimenting on any gun which functions perfectly.
 
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Anybody else have the Saiga 308 ver.21? I kept it 'stock' as there was no need to do otherwise. everything where it should be, crisp trigger, thumbhole wood stock and the right mount give it what another shooter called "lots of curb appeal". Shoots pretty well even w Barnaul steel case, but does mangle ejected cases badly (looks like a three-toothed beaver got to 'em).

Freakin great rifle, just wish it were lighter.
 
If you just modified the feed ramp - you have the "under-the-radar" looks with the ability to use regular ak mags, especially the one in 7.62x39
 
Yes I like the Saiga in its stock configuration. It is small, light and easy to carry around. More like a Mini-14 than a full size M-16A1 with the pistol grip and big magazine. It also fits into a skinny profile rifle bag compared to the big AK-47 profile.
 
.375 said:
If you just modified the feed ramp - you have the "under-the-radar" looks with the ability to use regular ak mags, especially the one in 7.62x39
Click to expand...
I've often considered this. Dinzag makes an improved stock configured trigger, which would count for two compliance parts. And P-Mag has an American made magazine, which is three more. Someone else makes stocks now that a lot of states are legislated against "evil" looking rifles. These would all be nice those of us who like a sporter styled rifle but who occasionally like to fire off a standard thirty round mag.

What I wonder is, would I still be able to use my ten rounders after filing down my mag catch?
 
My only concern is that these fairly new plastic factory Izhmash mags could become slightly bent/worn on the wrong corner(s), allowing problems locking in or feeding (?).
Somebody on another website cautioned about this possibility. He didn't verify that he had seen it.

Some people have added AR mag adapters to the .223 Saiga, but would you trust any gun smith to add such an adapter unless he had already installed several of these plastic components to the mag well, with perfect results?:(::confused:

OilyPablo: that is Some rifle!
Maybe I've not been around enough really good triggers to notice the difference. Mostly just smooth SKS, but with very long pulls, the '55 M-1 (Service Grade), Yugo Mauser, a friend's old '90s Colt AR .
These two Saigas are pretty smooth, short and fairly light/crisp compared to those rifles.
 
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I have a Arsenal SA M7S so I don't need another AK. I do own two Saigas, one in 7.62x39 and the other in 223. The 7.62 sports a Kobra red dot sight and the 223 carries a Lyman Alaskan scope that I purchased at a yard sale for 5 bucks a few years ago. The Saigas are stock as they came out of the box and will stay that way. They are both wolves in sheeps clothing.
 
I bought mine a while back. No intentions to convert it to "AK pattern" (NOT sporter). Soooo.... that lasted a year. Went ahead and converted it, learning lots about it and making it "mine" along the way.

IMG_20140817_184643_193_zpsb35db487.jpg
 
I like my Saigas original AK configuration. :D Not neutered "sporting" configuration. :cuss:

IMG_20160227_122959465.jpg
Saiga 5.56x45 with Aimpoint Red Dot on RS Regulate QD mount and Bulgarian Circle 10 magazine
 
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