Cheap Semis - Saiga 5.56/7.62, SKS, etc?

[bigdogpete]

I think you have some ideas that are not based in reality.

Defense against wild hogs? 7.62x39 not ideal for hogs? - I'm not trying to be a jerk, but I think you have unrealistic ideas of what wild hogs are like as well as the kind of damage an intermediate cartridge will do.

"I don't reload". - Again, with how cheap reloading setups have become, why the heck not? Lee classic loaders are $25 per caliber (they make them for 223 and your 270), or $30 for a general purpose hand press that uses any standard dies. With Lee loaders, you can load just a few rounds at a time, so you only need 5 minutes (no exaggeration) to load up a couple of rounds - and the design itself keeps you from mixing up most components. It is laughably cheap, stupid simple, and takes very little time.

I would also like to know where you are finding Saigas for "Cheap"? They are $700 - $800 everywhere I see.

Here is a .223 cal.

http://www.thegunsource.com/item/82...Remington_20_4_Inch_Barrel_Black_Stock_1.aspx

I bought a 7.62 here about a year ago from this place a little cheaper. Saiga had an increase shortly after I got might for $275 with shipping and FFL fee.

bigdog

 

[alex4922]

JT wrote: align it up PERFECTLY! it took over 30 minutes of trying... I was thinking which gunsmith to take it to and it finally went it... I just got over 500 rounds of brown bear .308 delivered today by UPS... I'm sure going thru all that ammo will loosen things up a bit... but I treated all the guts with Froglube and don't plan on taking the bolt or carrier out for a long time.

JT, You may want to play with that bolt carrier some. I converted a .308 too and it seems that I had to pull the trigger as I pushed the carrier down which made it easier to insert. Its been a couple of years so maybe I'm not remembering right. Anyway give it a try.

As to choice of rifles, if you really want some trigger time you could consider the Saiga in 5.45. It can be more accurate than the 7.62 and it is cheap. For coyote the cheap ball will do a number and may penetrate well on all but big hogs.

 

[Sky]

For a non optic firearm the SKS is hard to beat with accuracy for your stated distances....or the ones I have are...I kill pigs with mine...Ammo is becoming more and more available at different places not just "on line". 10 round mag is plenty for everything but zombie hog attack. I use the AK for pig popping and it works just fine however, the SKS would be the first choice and the AK a close runner up. I do like the round for anything within 125 yards.

The 223 will take a deer with no problem and the ammo choices are really hard to beat......

If you get to hold, shoulder, sight any of your mentioned preferred weapons pick the one that feels best for you and go for it. Good luck

 

[breeze010]

I think you have some ideas that are not based in reality.

Defense against wild hogs? 7.62x39 not ideal for hogs? - I'm not trying to be a jerk, but I think you have unrealistic ideas of what wild hogs are like as well as the kind of damage an intermediate cartridge will do.

"I don't reload". - Again, with how cheap reloading setups have become, why the heck not? Lee classic loaders are $25 per caliber (they make them for 223 and your 270), or $30 for a general purpose hand press that uses any standard dies. With Lee loaders, you can load just a few rounds at a time, so you only need 5 minutes (no exaggeration) to load up a couple of rounds - and the design itself keeps you from mixing up most components. It is laughably cheap, stupid simple, and takes very little time.

I would also like to know where you are finding Saigas for "Cheap"? They are $700 - $800 everywhere I see.

While I have never been attacked by a boar I would imagine it's not a pleasant experience. "Not ideal" was referring to defense against black bears, not hogs. Still, if I stumbled across a several hundred pound angry boar I would want the most stopping power given the choice. As always it's a trade-off between recoil, packability, stopping power, etc.

You have a point with reloading but I was simply giving information on my current situation so others could offer the best advice possible. It very well may be something I get into later but right now it isn't a priority. The $20-25/100rds I'm seeing for 7.62x39 isn't unreasonable and something I can afford to shoot.

Are you talking about a converted Saiga for $7-800? They are in the $300-350 range everywhere online and about the same here locally. There's a local gun show coming up in about 2 weeks and I'm hoping to find one under $300, $300 with extras or lightly used.

Thanks to everyone for the advice. It seems like the Saiga is going to be very hard to beat for the price but I'll keep my eyes open for any used rifles locally. The 7.62x39 seems to be more useful for what I want and that gives me a reason to build an AR in the future

 

[The Sarge]

Siaga's are $299 at classicarms.com. Saiga 12 gauge is $499 by the way.The conversion kit can be had for around $100
If you want more bells and whistles for your conversion of course the price goes up a little.
Bottom line is you can have a killer AK for under $500, brand new, from Russia....use the extra $200 bucks for ammo, optics whatever

 

[Crex39]

I bought a Saiga sporter in 5.45 x 39, installed a bullet guide to accept AK-74 mags. I can get 5.45 for $135 a 1280 count tin of corrosive, or the n.c. Silver Bear for $7 box of 30. Dirt cheap and damn near the 5.56 in my book.