AK variant or Saga
- Thread starter Relic72
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RatherNotSay
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Did you refinish that? The black is way deeper than normal. Looks cleanSaigas rock.
Yes, the whole rifle.
Ranger30-06
Member
Relic72, the finish is Russian. Aka: that finish is tougher than your V20 Super Duty Jet Turbine Ford with leather seats!
I've never Durracoated a Saiga, but the finish (at least on mine) isn't exactly pretty, but its tough. Russian tough. lol
Saiga uses some sort of epoxy like finish that can be removed pretty easily be harsh solvents and chemicals. Stick to te simple stuff like hoppes, and don't bath the gun in a bucket of solvent and you should be fine. If it worries you that much there are tons of places out there that can duracoat it for you.
RatherNotSay
Member
It won't come off with
However this thing doesn't stand up to little love touches. I laid it down on a roughed up wooden table and it got all scratched up. Regardless of what arsenal states it is not a mil-spec finish.
- BreakFree CLP
- Gunslick Ultraklenz
- Gunslick Gun Flush
- Hoppes Barrel Blast (think it contains kerosine)
- Mpro-7 Gun cleaner
- Ballistal
However this thing doesn't stand up to little love touches. I laid it down on a roughed up wooden table and it got all scratched up. Regardless of what arsenal states it is not a mil-spec finish.
Double Vision
Member
Would the Saiga qualify as a good truck or trunk gun?
I'm not so crazy about the stock sight but it seems to handle nicely and shoulders naturally.
I'm not so crazy about the stock sight but it seems to handle nicely and shoulders naturally.
Ranger30-06
Member
Why not? It's a cheap AK and most if not all truck gun situations would be pretty close ranged. Just sayin...
RatherNotSay
Member
I'd throw it in a gun sock if that is the situation.
Double Vision
Member
Any idea if the Leapers UTG quick detach 978 side mount works on the Saiga for a red dot or glass scope?
It looks like it should but I got some conflicting information from a couple of sources.
It looks like it should but I got some conflicting information from a couple of sources.
RatherNotSay
Member
More than likely those "conflicting" reports were from WASR-10 or any other variant of century arms poo. It' works fine on the saiga as long as you don't over tighten. Tighten the screw hand tight or until there is a slight resistance and then close the detach lever. Some folks think it's a good idea to crank on the screw and then close the lever. Try not to get anything too big on the scope cause the rear sight will make contact. As far as red dot goes I have mine on the upper guard rail cause I don't like having to remove and add the scope mount. Plus my gun sock won't fit over it.
Depends what you want it for. For a handy GP rifle, it is, really, quite alright.
The converted gun has a better trigger; but I am not going to be shooting matches with an AK. I was not referring to the trigger specifically in my general statement; I was referring to the overall merits of the gun.
I disagree. For kicking in doors yes. Perhaps. For general shooting no. The AK layout has too short a length of pull, is not condusive to a muzzle high ready for snap shooting for one starters. Some weight at the front is fine; it makes for a steady muzzle.
I have never found the need to engage, disengage, re-engage the safety on a rifle where breaking my grip was a factor, even kicking in doors. Otherwise; safety on, safety off. Etc.
Again I would disagree on your pronouncment of better balance and gunhandling when it comes to general shooting.
There seems to be a sort of mania about pistol grips that I do not quite understand. Let me qualify that by pointing out that I have used them, professionally, and so it is not out of unfamiliarity or lacking knowledge of the platform species.
The 10-rounders are about optimum IMO. They do not interfere with any over the barricade style shooting, and the "flattest" prone shooting. They are less likely to hangup on anything else too.
Ah, well this does not concern me at all. I have had and have some very nice looking guns but none of my "business" guns are influenced by that factor. They are no show - all go.
JHenry
Member
saiga seems to be your best option, although it will be next to impossible to put an underfolder on it, if you wanna go that route.
Theres many decent AKs that you can simply buy and not save yourself a good bit of time and energy from the saiga conversion, espically if your dumping off an AR for the money
Theres many decent AKs that you can simply buy and not save yourself a good bit of time and energy from the saiga conversion, espically if your dumping off an AR for the money
RatherNotSay
Member
Or even better than an under folder is the new left folding stocks that arsenal is coming out with. I saw one today at a gun show and it was pretty cool. No go on side mount though. I've been wanting to put the left folding ace stock on but not sure it's practical.
Darth AkSarBen
Member
I went with Saiga because it was the "true" Russian rifle. I bought 2, one in .223/5.56 and the other in .308 Win/ 7.62. Converted them both and sold them to get into 6.8 SPCII rifles in AR platform. I still wish I had kept the .308 as it was a unique and solid shooter, as well as both reliable and accurate. Sold it for just over $800 locally after it was all dressed out.
5 shot group at an old Pizza hut box at 100 yards using Remington 150 gr CoreLok soft point bullets. I was just curious to see how the new "on sale" ammo was I got from a local Dunhams Sports store did.
The .223/5.56 model that I had also dressed out and shot before selling it....
And, what the .308 version looked like....
I have always toyed with the idea of getting another .308 version, converting from the sporterized version back to the AK style w/pistol grip and getting ahold of a custom gunsmith and having it re-barreled for something like .243 Winchester. You see, the bolt face would hold all of the .308 variants, .243, .270, .260 and I have put .260 Remington shells in my magaizne for the .308 Winchester and fit perfectly. Once the barrel was in place and the gas port size properly, it would shoot any one of those calibers without a hiccup.
5 shot group at an old Pizza hut box at 100 yards using Remington 150 gr CoreLok soft point bullets. I was just curious to see how the new "on sale" ammo was I got from a local Dunhams Sports store did.
The .223/5.56 model that I had also dressed out and shot before selling it....
And, what the .308 version looked like....
I have always toyed with the idea of getting another .308 version, converting from the sporterized version back to the AK style w/pistol grip and getting ahold of a custom gunsmith and having it re-barreled for something like .243 Winchester. You see, the bolt face would hold all of the .308 variants, .243, .270, .260 and I have put .260 Remington shells in my magaizne for the .308 Winchester and fit perfectly. Once the barrel was in place and the gas port size properly, it would shoot any one of those calibers without a hiccup.
Here is the Russian Izmash website for some interesting info and reference:
http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/saiga.shtml
http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/saiga.shtml
Ranger30-06
Member
AethelstanAegen
Member
I have 2 AK type rifles, an Interarms built Polish WZ.88 (Tantal) in 5.45x39 and a TGI built FEG AMD 65 in 7.62x39. Both guns were made 922r compliant by the companies with minimal replacements keeping most of the gun with matching numbers. The finish on the AMD is similar to that on the Saigas and seems to hold up well against the weather but does not take any bumps well and scratches fairly easily. While not a typical "evil black rifle" finish, I much prefer the pakerized finish which holds up well in both weather and tough use. The Tantal was purchased from Atlantic firearms and Sam1911 is right suggest them...they have great customer service and fast shipping. The AMD was purchased from Centerfire Systems which had the lowest price and also quick shipping. The AMD 65 was about $400 (which is not all that much more than a Saiga) and the Tantal around $600. Ammo for both is quite cheap (the 5.45 surplus is awesomely cheap) and so I've been very happy with both purchases.
As to whether you should buy a Saiga or "AK style" rifle...that's completely up to you and what you want to do with the rifle. I was looking for fairly compact, tough, utilitarian rifles that wouldn't break the bank to shoot and bring my typically C&R collection a bit into the modern era. These rifles fill that roll perfectly. Some people don't like the wire stocks but I personally like them alot (I have no trouble with establishing consistant sight picture...just adopt a lower cheek weld) and they're not at all flimsy...the Tantal can easily have a full stock swapped in if so desired.
Long story short, if you're looking to get into AK type rifles fairly cheaply without sacrificing quality, I'd recommend either rifle dependent on which caliber you'd prefer. As others have said, you can convert a Saiga yourself or buy and Arsenal but in my case I think with parts and time costs I suspect it would have cost me more to do the conversion myself and certainly to buy an Arsenal.
As to whether you should buy a Saiga or "AK style" rifle...that's completely up to you and what you want to do with the rifle. I was looking for fairly compact, tough, utilitarian rifles that wouldn't break the bank to shoot and bring my typically C&R collection a bit into the modern era. These rifles fill that roll perfectly. Some people don't like the wire stocks but I personally like them alot (I have no trouble with establishing consistant sight picture...just adopt a lower cheek weld) and they're not at all flimsy...the Tantal can easily have a full stock swapped in if so desired.
Long story short, if you're looking to get into AK type rifles fairly cheaply without sacrificing quality, I'd recommend either rifle dependent on which caliber you'd prefer. As others have said, you can convert a Saiga yourself or buy and Arsenal but in my case I think with parts and time costs I suspect it would have cost me more to do the conversion myself and certainly to buy an Arsenal.
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