Gun Show Impulse

[Detachment Charlie]

My first mistake was going to the cash machine before heading off to the Palmetto, FL gun show this morning. I was thinking of maybe a SMLE .303, for the best reason...I want one. The show was small, not many deals, fewer good deals. The two SMLEs I saw were the wire-wrapped grenade launcher variety and didn't move me.
But, I was oddly attracted to a Saiga 7.62X39. Always wanted an EBR, but the cost of most AR types has kept them out of reach as a "cool toy." The price on Saiga wasn't fantastic, but very reasonable with 100 rnds of 123 gr. hollow points. For an AK-style piece, the fit and finish impressed me. Chrome-lined barrel. Only 10-rnd. mags, oh well. Out came the wallet. CA-CHING.
Stopped at the range on the way home. A quick strip (then the R.O. told me I needed pants on the range), a couple of patches down the bore, loasded a mag and let `er rip.
Fun! Worked well. Put all 100 rnds down range with no problems. Although I was just testing for function, the acuracy seemed OK. But, I think a red dot is the next purchase -- cheaper than Lasik laser surgery for these old eyes.
Fun gun, pretty good firepower, and it's black.
So far , so good...and really cheap to shoot.

 

[BryanP]

Tch tch. That's why I never carry much cash in to a gunshow unless I'm going in there looking for something specific. Of course, most of those people take checks ... *sigh* I made it out of the last one with just a book. I was standing there debating the merits of an SKS vs. a Mosin Nagant M44 when my cell phone rang and my wife wanted to know what I was up to. "Nothing honey. Just looking at toys. Not buying anything though."

 

[Hkmp5sd]

I tried the method of not taking money, checkbook, ATM card and credit cards to gun shows. Got tired of having to drive home to get my ATM card and driving back to the gunshow for something I just couldn't live without. In a patriotic gesture, I went back to carrying money just so I could lower our dependence on foreign oil by saving gasoline.

 

[Futo Inu]

Pants required on the range eh? Man, they're strict in those parts... Congrats! Hard to go wrong with an AK.

 

[bubbygator]

I was at that same show. Went looking for "something" - maybe a S&W 649 or a 396, or perhaps a cheap 1911, a SA MilSpec or something.

Third table I stopped at there was a private sale Series 80 SS Commander - reminded me of my Electroless Nickel Commander now long gone. Very pretty, very clean, wonderful trigger. What? a National Match barrel, an aluminum beavertail, & what looks like a solid guide-rod?? This must be somebody's pride & joy that circumstances forced them to sell.

Gotta ask - how much? $450 no tax/no fees.

Say hello to your new owner !!

Dropped it off at my local gunsmith for a safety & "what is this?" checkup. Looking forward to becoming acquainted with my new friend.

I love gunshows !

 

[Detachment Charlie]

Bubbygator:
Sorry I missed that deal...nice catch.
Who are you using for a local gunsmith down here?

 

[falconer]

Gunshows are bad news for my bank account. I got to the point where I would go with a friend and have them carry my cash/credit cards. They were only to let me spend money on things I went there to get or REALLY REALLY good deals.

This didn't work well for several reasons. 1) Some of my friends are what you call enablers. 2) The friends that weren't enablers I would end up threatening with bodily harm unless they'd hand over the cash for the shiney new object I was drooling over.

 

[zahc]

Why pants?

I never wear pants.

I always take money, lots. I rarely overspend. I like having (modest) buying power, and trust myself to make good descisions. With money, I can always walk away, without money, good stuff can get away while I run for money (has happened).

 

[makarov]

Does your SAIGA have the 16 or 22 inch barrel? I have been eyeing these on the CDNN flyer for a while. Price is sure good. Plus I already have the sidemount for a scope and a magazine for one. Now all I need is the gun!

 

[bubbygator]

Detachment Charlie: I use J&M on Whitfield Rd. (in the phone book)... but like most excellent craftsman, he's overloaded - so please use him gently. He's completed for me:
* HiPower MagSafety removal & trigger job
* Glock 3.5# connector & trigger slickup
* S&W trigger job & repair Nickelplate damage

& I know he does all types of long gun and stock work too.

Shoot safely.

 

[1776er]

Are you the guy I saw at Knights trail running around butt nekked being chased by the RO's?

 

[shooter]

markarov
go with the saiga.i have 3 of them .223 16 in, 7.62x39 20in and
7.62 (308) 20in. the trigger takes a little getting used to but good
shooters all &all

 

[Kaylee]

so... other than the odd stock set, magazines/feedramps, and longer trigger/trigger guard -- mechanically how do those things differ from standard semi-auto AKs?

Do the "saiga conversions" that swap trigger groups, furniture, and rework the mag area leave you with essentially a "real" semi AK? Or are there other proprietary parts as well, that just aren't funtionally worth replacing?

-K

 

[Detachment Charlie]

Bubbygator, many thanks for the smith...hope he can slick-up a 1911 trigger for me.
1776er, yup, that was me. NEKKID, but well armed. My girlfriend likes me that way, especially covered in FP-10. (Hey, what a gal!)
Guys, this Saiga is a blast, clothed or nekkid. Great, cheap toy that's fairly accurate (it's no 300 yd. varmit gun - but it's a great 100 yd. stress reliever) and the ammo is next to free (face it, who reloads 7.62x39?).
About the pistol grip conversions... First, if I wanted one, I'd buy one that was built that way. From what I've read about the table top conversions, they are easy, but, JB-Weld on a firearm???
Nope, I'll keep it stock, simple, and cheap...and ocassionally nekkid.

 

[shooter]

what DC says fun to shoot.ammo is cheep 1in 9 chrome bbl
what more do you need.

 

[Kharn]

Kaylee:
The Saiga uses a non-standard method of holding the handguard in place, so you'd have to use a hydraulic press to remove the part of the gas tube attached to the barrel and the front sight, add the retainer and press the two back on (or you could be really careful and dremel the retainer, stick it on, and then weld it back together). Or you could stick with the supplied handguard (U-shaped plastic, with the piston tube exposed at the top) and use polymer furniture to match.

The bolt also has three lugs rather than the normal two. I've never seen the bolt outside of the rifle, so I cant comment on how its different than a "real" AK.

Reworking the magazine well on the Saiga consists of a few minutes with a file removing a hair of material from the magazine catch, the hole in the reciever is already the correct size for normal AK mags but the catch has a little extra material so normal mags wont lock in right out of the box. Attaching a feed ramp is child's play with a glob of JBweld or drilling, taping and counter sinking a hole from the new feed ramp into the reciever for a screw to hold it in place.

Kharn

 

[armabill]

I never shoot naked, I always wear pants.

 

[RustyHammer]