Does My Logic Make Sense for Wanting a .223 Saiga AK?

[D-Man]

I've been going back and forth between an AK and an AR and haven't been able to make up my mind.......and thought maybe a converted Saiga in .223 would be the best for me. Here's my thought process on this:

1) The AK style is considered simpler to maintain.
2) If using steel or laquer cased ammo, an AK would handle it better
3) In the future, it may be easer to obtain .223 ammo than 7.62 x 39

Do you think those are all rationale reasons for going this route?

If I do decide this is the way, I most likely would try to get a custom Tromix rifle, so the cost is not going to be a factor.

 

[johndoe1027]

sounds logical to me but I'm new to this (rifles).

 

[rbernie]

That's the rationale that I used to justify a Saiga in 223. Of course, I already had an AR-15 or two laying about, so it wasn't an 'either/or' kind of decision.

In addition to ammo commonality and availability, durability and ease of use should also be considered. I find the AR platform to be far easier to use (better ergonomics, better sights, better optics mounting options) and I suspect (but cannot prove) that the AK platform is more durable.

So get both - the AR for most use and the Saiga as the 'break glass in case of emergency' backup.

 

[aka108]

If I had used logic in buying guns I'd probably only own 1 instead of 100 or so. It is sort of disease that has no cure.

 

[BADUNAME13]

Works for me.
As long as you buy one in 7.62x39 also (To be able to use this ammo too.)
Any you will be able to shoot both for the price of an AR!

 

[1911JMB]

NEVER buy a gun because you predict ammo will be readily available unless its a .22lr.

 

[Shane333]

Saiga .223 owner here.

Love my Saiga .223. Converted it to pistol grip. Not quite as ergonomic as an AR, but works for me just fine. Your first two questions are a slam dunk with the Saiga .223. The third isn't an absolute, but .223 does have a high chance of being available well into the future.

Oh, and don't let anyone tell you that the Saiga .223 can't compare to an AR in accuracy. They may not be equals, but the Saiga isn't far behind your average AR.

Goodness, my neighbors and I took a bunch of boys in the neighborhood to teach them how to properly handle and shoot the AR and the AK (each boy had an adult supervisor next to him at all times when handling a firearm). When everyone had a turn to get familiar with the two rifles, we had a little competition to see who could get the highest score with the two rifles at about 50 yards. The Saiga .223 got the highest score overall from both the boys and the men.

Now, I'm not saying that the Saiga .223 is superior in accuracy over the AR. I'm just saying that the Saiga .223 is no slouch when it comes to ranges out to a couple hundred yards. I haven't tested it beyond 200 yards, yet.

 

[D-Man]

^Shane333 - thanks for the response, as it also included one of my questions about the Saiga .223 regarding to accuracy. Figure if the Saiga can straddle the middle ground between the AK and the AR I would be happy.

rbernie - the AR does have better stock sights than the AK would have, though if I go the Saiga route I was looking at the conversions by Tromix that had the H&K G3 sights added. This should help matters greatly, but the AR still wins out in this area because of the ease of adding optics (if wanted).

 

[Deer Hunter]

I absolutely love my Saiga in .223. Right now, it's laying in pieces, awaiting the parts needed to turn it into a pistol grip standard-capacity rifle.

 

[kcmarine]

Does anyone need a reason to buy anything?

 

[Shane333]

D-Man,

Regarding accuracy, the most limiting factor for accuracy with the Saiga .223 is the iron sights. They are terrific for fast target acquisition at 200 yards or less. You would need a red dot to get any faster target acquisition. They are not, however, really designed for precision marksmanship. The sight radius is relatively short and the sights are somewhat crude.

So in many ways the rifle is more accurate than it's iron sights, if you get my meaning. On the other hand, optics setups for the AK are relatively inexpensive and with even the most minimal magnification you could really take advantage of the accuracy potentional of the Saiga .223.

In summary, the stock irons are great for offhand shooting out to about 200 yards with fast target acquisition. The irons are not designed for precision bench shooting, really. However, with even basic optics this rifle can really shine in the accuracy dept.

Yes, the Saiga .223 accuracy is much better than your average AK and is only a half step behind an AR.

Edited to add: The AK design, including the Saiga, has one of the easiest optic-mounting design of any battle/assault rifle. You just slide the optic on and push the lever/clamp down. You can mount your optic in a matter of a few seconds and remove it just as quickly. Add to that the fact that AK optics are much less expensive than most AR optics, and are built "AK tough", and it's hard to beat the AK in the optics department.

 

[LeonCarr]

Have a Saiga .223, bone stock, and prefer the feel of it to any pistol gripped rifle. It just feels nice .

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Frog48]

Does anybody make hi-cap mags for Saiga .223's?

 

[rbernie]

Surefire makes some that work with the stock Saiga magazine setup, and you can modify the Saiga to take others. 922(r) rules may or may not apply.

 

[Shane333]

Grant48,

For the Saiga to take normal (high) cap mags you have to make sure it has the proper US parts count for 922a purposes. Unless I'm mistaken.

Some use Galil magazines. I use converted AK74 mags. About $6/mag plus a $5 .223 follower from Robinson Armament = $11 mags that hold 31 rounds each.

 

[MMcCall]

Does anyone need a reason to buy anything?

Not at all, but it helps those of us with limited means to prioritize

 

[mr.trooper]

Sounds like good reasoning.

Arsenal mags will work in a converted Saiga, and are actualy prety affordable.

 

[roscoe]

That wass the thinking I had before I bought my .223 Saiga. I love the thing, and it is very accurate. But yeah, watch for the 922 thing, and go to the saiga-12.com forums to read all about them.

 

[rangerruck]

hey man, i've got three, and the little 410 is weighing heavy on my mind. So what ever lets you sleep at night...

 

[rangerruck]

the easiest mags to convert are the weiger E. german mags with the big rib down the back, and the littl u shaped gap on the front latch. A little dremeling the the top and bottom of the back latch area, a small steel screw down in that gap, with a little loctite, and waa laa!!! all done. yes you need to get some american parts in there, to be all legal , though. Saiga 12 forum will tell you all about it.

 

[jrfoxx]

Sounds like very good logic to me, but all I ever needed personally logic-wise for getting a gun was "'cause I want it"

 

[FMJMIKE]

Saiga accuracy.....The Rifle.......Siaga .223/5.56

Target 100 yards.... First two shots low and left.....adjusted scope then....

Saiga mags.....Galil Orlite 35 round mags.....just need the right bullet guide...

I have three Saigas.........LOVE THEM SAIGAS!!!