Saiga SHTF Rifle.. 5.56x45, 7.62x39?

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If you are converting a Saiga for a "survival" situation I suggest you stay away from collapsible stocks and anything made by Tapco except their trigger group. If you want a folding stock go with either an underfolder or an Ace. Nothing else even comes close. Let the mall ninjas have all the plastic junk from Crapco and the like. Wood furniture is the best by far if you don't want a folder.

FWIW: My go-to rifle is a converted 16" Saiga .308 with Ace folder. It'll put the hurt on anything up to, and including, large diesel engines. :cool:
 
Mr.510 said:
If you are converting a Saiga for a "survival" situation I suggest you stay away from collapsible stocks and anything made by Tapco except their trigger group. If you want a folding stock go with either an underfolder or an Ace. Nothing else even comes close. Let the mall ninjas have all the plastic junk from Crapco and the like. Wood furniture is the best by far if you don't want a folder.

FWIW: My go-to rifle is a converted 16" Saiga .308 with Ace folder. It'll put the hurt on anything up to, and including, large diesel engines. :cool:
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Why not tapco? I just found out about this brand a couple weeks ago and it looks good.

what's a good underfolder brand then for the Saiga?
Ak 47 butt stocks don't work for Saigas right??
 
I suggest you stay away from collapsible stocks and anything made by Tapco except their trigger group. If you want a folding stock go with either an underfolder or an Ace. Nothing else even comes close.
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Romanian, East german or Polish sidefolders work better than underfolders in my opinion. These sidefolders are uber strong, they have a cam that takes up any wear so they lock tight and are completely interchangable with a fixed stock (just two screws).

sar1folded.jpg

Romanian sidefolder on my SAR1
 
Why not tapco? I just found out about this brand a couple weeks ago and it looks good.
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TAPCO is OK, but not top drawer as far as quality. Their pistol grips and fixed stocks are probably fine durability wise. Their G2 trigger kits are certainly popular and seem to work fine. The folding stocks are all plastic and may not hold up to severe use.

what's a good underfolder brand then for the Saiga?
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You can't just attach an underfolder to a receiver that had a fixed stock. You need to replace the rear trunnion (riveted in) and cut new holes in the sides of the receiver for the hinges.

Ak 47 butt stocks don't work for Saigas right??
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An AK47, AKM or AK74 fixed stock will work. A Romanian sidefolder will fit. The Saiga receiver is a regular AKM.

The sidefolders for AK74s and AK-100 series won't for the same reasons that underfolders won't.
 
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I can't see getting one in either 5.45 or 5.56. For the price of the gun plus the conversion you are almost at the price of an AR kit gun. Then if you don't like AK sights, I know I don't, you're looking to flop at least 150 down on an optic setup or 110 for the tech sights. A 7.62x39 here in the east will nearly all game you will come in contact with and has much better barrier penetration than an AR. For me I would get a 7.62 buy the high cap magazines made for the saiga and not convert, yes this IS legal. Three or four mags would be plenty, and I personally like the feel of the sporter grip, it's easier to put down pressure on the rifle to control muzzle rise.
 
I have to disagree with not recommending the Tapco T-6 collapsible stock. One of the things I didn't like about my traditional M-16 rifle was the fixed stock. Temperature ranges changed a lot during the day when I had to use that rifle in real life. Depending if I was just wearing a shirt, flack jacket, coat, etc... it was sometimes difficult to get the right feel and control. With the tapco t-6, I can adjust it wear I want with the push of a button. Whether I'm wearing a t-shirt or a full winter coat. Granted, it's Poly and maybe not the best in the world. But I'll never go back to a fixed stock. Doesn't matter if it's wooden or plastic. And I'll never use a side folding stock. I've never liked them at all. I put a tapco T-6 on my Saiga and couldn't be happier. I'm already looking into what other rifles they make stocks for.

And as far as the price of having a 5.56 saiga and doing the conversion being the same price as an AR kit gun..... Well, that's simply not an accurate statement. Can it be? Sure. I could also spend $500 more on any gun. But this isn't like being PREGNANT where "You ARE, or You're NOT". There's a lot of middle ground here. Call it converting, call it modifying, call it whatever you want. My who "Conversion" cost a total of $60. And I have no desire to spend hundreds more on it. And as far as the sights go, that is strictly personal. Because I hate the sights on an AR-15 also; so I'd spend money to put in something different there too. You need to compare apples with apples. The saiga in 5.56/.223 is a fantastic rifle. You aren't going to get any better bang for the buck. And YOU get to choose what you want to change on it; if anything. And it can be as cheap as $10. So saying a conversion will cost the same as an AR kit is simply misleading. It doesn't have to cost anything near that. Now; if you want your saiga to be some sort of sport or competition rifle, then you can definitely spend a lot of money on it. My saiga is for 3 purposes and only 3. 1) Plinking/fun; 2) Shooting varmints; and 3) Shooting people if needed to. And the saiga will do all of those things perfectly. And mine does it chambered in 5.56.
 
I have to agree with christcorp about the Tapco T6 stock.
I bought one for my old SLR-95 and loved it.

@ DMK
I hadn't actually considered that sort of side folder.
Looks good.. any idea where I could buy one?
 
I have been debating on a Saiga in .223. I have seen an adapter that allows you to run AR magazines in it. Anyone know if you still have to install the bullet guide when using the adapter and AR mags? I am thinking a converted Saiga that can run on my stash of Pmags and .223 would be awesome. Heck, I could sell my AR and buy and convert two if them.
 
If you buy the AR magazine adapter from Renegade; then you don't need a bullet guide. Not sure about MSA. But from all the research I've done on renegade and MSA's AR magazine adapter; definitely go with Renegade's. His require very little adapting to the saiga. The MSA seems to require a lot more "Machining". After researching all of Renegade's instructions and explanations, any required changing to get his adapter to work properly would take about 15-30 minutes and a dremmel. Go to the saiga sight or google "renegade saiga ar magazine adapter".
 
Another consideration is weight. Loaded 7.62x39mm mags weigh roughly two pounds each loaded; three loaded spare mags together weigh roughly as much as the whole dang rifle. On the upside, the mags are practically indestructible, and the mag bodies and feed lips should last for generations.

If I were going to get a second AK, I would probably look into 5.56x45 or 5.45x39, myself. I really like my 7.62x39mm (and shoot USPSA with it), but it gets heavy if you are carrying more than a couple of magazines.
 
I have a WASR-3 in 5.56 and even with the awful front sight I can get it out to 250m.
That said I would opt for the 7.62 just for the better bullet.
 
Just to stir the pot...

This is my Saiga. I have a 4x POSP scope that it occasionally sees.
P7190057.jpg
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Hell-oh! Who's magwell is that on your rifle? What did it set you back? How smooth was the install and how well do you like it's functionality?
 
Looks to be a magnolia state armory adapter. As I recall, you need to do some minor fitting to get it installed.
 
I've a lot of AK variations and only the 5.56x45 have issues -- its always the mags. There is no standardization on the .223 mags like for the 7.62x39 and 5.45x39.

When you convert a Saiga in .223 all can be made to work if you start with good mags and fit them right but don't bet on multiple gun interchange, but the Galil mags or K-Var circle-10 mags aren't cheap. The AR mag conversion is expensive and a lot more work, but would be the way to go if you want a lot of mags.

If you don't mind corrosive ammo, get a 5.45, swap out enough parts for 922 compliance and stock up on $12-15 AK-74 mags and surplus ammo -- $150/1000 is rally hard to beat and its very good shooting ammo -- really makes water filled 2-liter bottles jump!

But overall, I prefer the AK in 7.62x39.

--wally.
 
My Saiga, as it looks in that picture, cost me right at $450. ;) I sold all my Galil mags for around $100 bucks and now I pick up AR mags for 10 dollars a piece.

In my opinion, the adapter pays for itself.
 
Need Saiga 308 trigger removal info!

First and foremost I need info on trigger disassembly directions for a Saiga 308 VER 21. Have the thing 1/2 apart and can't find thorough disassembly instructions.

I am replacing the trigger on my Saiga 308 with a Tapco G single hook and don't think it needs modifications (please tell me if it does).

Hoping you guys might help if you see this. Thanks!
 
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