looking for a .223 semiauto: Saiga??

[LKB3rd]

Generally the common aftermarket mags are not cheap. Around $40 for the surefire or FBMG mags. I have heard of people modifying the magazines and/or the Saiga to use more common milsurp type mags, for a lot cheaper. This also unfortunately brings 922r into play, and you'd have to change out some Russian parts for US made aftermarket parts to bring it into compliance.
For a Saiga .223, I think you can get Galil magazines to work modifying the magazines only.

 

[Girodin]

Why not get him a Mini-14 Ranch Rifle?

He wants to keep it under $450 that excludes the mini. Even if he was willing to spend more there is no reason to. The Saiga is hundreds of dollars less even after converison and customization.

The Saiga is more accurate than the Mini.

One can get parts and easily repair a Saiga (if it were ever needed). One must send the mini to ruger for even minor fixes. The need to have the ruger fixed is also much more probable than the need to repair a Saiga.

Mags for a converted saiga are much cheaper and are more readily available than those for the mini. I recently saw galil mags that will work with a bullet guide and some filing for $12 a piece.

All of the above is still true even with the new and "improved" minis. The only difference is that the price difference is even greater.

Niether the manufactures nor the importers of the Saiga have tried to sell out your gun rights for their own greedy purposes.

Siaga>Mini 14 it is really as simple as that. So really the question is why pay hundreds more for a mini? I have never seen a real compelling answer to the question of "why a mini?"

I may be mistaken but even the use of surefire or other such mag will run you afoul of 922 if the capacity is greater than 10 rounds. The higher capacity removes it from its sporting rifle category and thus the 922 rules come into play. Some one correct me if I am wrong (I may be) but that is my understanding. Thus there is no real difference between surefire et al. mags vs surplus mags save what it takes to get them to work and the cost.

 

[kBob]

My understanding is that using 'Merican made magazines counts as three parts: magazine body, base and follower.

But I would think you would still have a total of too many ferrin' parts on a Siaga and it is the number of 'ferrin parts that makes the difference, so yes, do not stick any high cap magazine in a siaga would be my bet. Not owning one it is not an issue for me.

-Bob Hollingsworth

 

[LKB3rd]

My understanding is that using 'Merican made magazines counts as three parts: magazine body, base and follower.

But I would think you would still have a total of too many ferrin' parts on a Siaga and it is the number of 'ferrin parts that makes the difference, so yes, do not stick any high cap magazine in a siaga would be my bet. Not owning one it is not an issue for me.

-Bob Hollingsworth

*Double check this, it is from memory
I think you need to swap out 4 of the qualifying Russian parts for domestic aftermarket parts on a Saiga to bring it into compliance, which will allow you to add EBR(evil black rifle) features to it. Normal/High cap mags and a pistol grip are the most common.
Fire control group= 3 foreign parts, magazine=3 parts, the butt stock, hmm. The front grips count as one part, etc. There are more but that is what I can think of off the top of my head. You can google up lists.

 

[MD_Willington]

Yep I have 10 of those $12 Galil magazines too.

Expensive, only if you buy the newer Surefire magazines.


Yep the Saiga rifles have 14 countable parts... ditch 4 or more and your in the happy dance zone...