AK Saiga w/ single stack 10 rounders.

[russlate]

Last I saw, they were going for under $200. To me, they look like the "next SKS", but when checking AK47net, all they talked about was legal conversions to take the double stack mags.

Right now, it looks like just about right for a truck/car/office/home gun. Same as the SKS was when they were selling for around $100 a few years back.

I have no objections to hi-cap legal conversions, just they seem expensive to me at this point. If ten rounds won't do, you have a second mag. I'm not saying I won't pick up the aftermarket parts to do the legal double stack conversion, but was wondering if any of you follow my reasonong and see them as an effective defense gun and bargain even with ony ten rounds per magazine?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Sure it's an effective social rifle with only 10 rounds. That's the same as an SKS and 2 more than an Garand holds.

I have never read a bad word about the Saiga Sporters. I have one that Hesse converted to AK-103 configuration, and Izhmash's workmanship is very good. Surprizingly, so was Hesse's (I guess I got their one good one).

 

[Forseti]

Note that the saiga mags are not "regular" AK mags...the mag catch is slightly thicker, and the Saigas lack a feed ramp on the weapon...instead, there is a raised lip on the Saiga magazine to act as a feed ramp.

So, if you modify the Saiga to take hi cap mags, you are also changing it to use the "universal" mags for 7.62 AK-47's. Universal parts is an advantage.

A US parts kit can be had for $40. The rifles sell for $159 at cdnninvestments.com. Add in a little shipping and an FFL transfer, and you have a darn nice rifle.

No real comparison to an SKS in terms of fit and finish. In fact, it is a really amazing fit and finish on the Saiga's compared to the Romaninan SAR-1's.

 

[Tropical Z]

Saigas are head and shoulders above SAR's in fit and finish.I wont convert mine any time soon as i plan on waiting until something a lot nicer than a SAR comes along at a decent price.Saiga 10 rounders are unbeatable as far as im concerned.

 

[russlate]

Thanks for the info so far. Anyone else have something to say on then?

( PS: I believe it was Jeff Cooper that said you are supposed to take out the bad guys with thetop of the magazine. )

 

[Kharn]

Saigas have double stack magazines, its the Romanian WASR-10s that come into the country with single stack mags (and then Century mills them out to double stack and adds US parts, or sells them as single stacks).

The big advantage with doing the magazine conversion is the price (and the fact that you end up with a Russian made AK). AK mags cost less than $10 for a 30 rounder online, and around $10-12 for a 10 rounder, while Siaga mags cost $20 each.

Another cool thing about them: CDNN is selling the 20ga and .410 shotgun Saigas for $160 (12ga is more like $300). As soon as I get out of MD, I'm buying a 7.62x39 Saiga and a 20ga Saiga. I'll probably convert the 7.62 right away, and by the time I get out of the state, the AW sunset will be only 3 months away so I'll have a spare US parts set sitting in my gun cabinet for the 20ga.

Kharn

 

[blue86buick]

the AW sunset will be only 3 months away so I'll have a spare US parts set sitting in my gun cabinet for the 20ga.

could you explain what you mean by that? I'm confused.

 

[Kharn]

blue86buick:
Maryland makes it a pain in the butt to purchase Saigas (they're considered AKs from what I have heard, and thus must be registered, waiting period, one gun a month, etc), so I'm holding off buying the pair until I graduate from college and leave this state in June of '04. At that time, the AW ban sunset will be 3 months in the future.
When the ban sunsets, I could add the US parts to the 20ga, including a pistol grip and conventional buttstock (which is currently illegal under the assault weapon ban, as the Saigas have detachable magazines, but will be legal once the ban sunsets on 9/14/04).

Kharn