My Saiga Tacktical Ak-47...pics.

[RemingtonFreak870]

I got this here Saiga Ak-47 variant for $175 off a friend, it had only had 20 rounds through it before I bought it, so it was essentially new. Anyhow, I was at the gun store today and they have these 7.62x39's for $320...wow! I remember the same store was selling them for $250 not long ago, and $200 before that. I got to thinking how I could afford to buy some things for it since I got it on the cheap. Well, last year when I bought it, I couldn't get a full 30 round mag. Well this year a company started making them for the Saigas, I bought one, and a scope mount, to which I mounted a Leupold 4x. I want to get a strap for it since it is so heavy, but what should I get for the second weaver mount on my gun. A flashlight or what?


Here's what I have spent:

Initial cost of gun-$175
Cost of 30 round mag.-$38
Cost of Scope mount-$39
100 rounds of ammo-$25

Total~$300.00 Since I already had the scope. Add $100 for a scope.

I figure thats pretty good value for what I got considering the Ak variants are over $400 with tax and whatnot. I wish I had a nice romainian one with all the trimmings, but this definately works for me.

 

[klover]

Very nice, I'll need to get one sometime this year. Great deal for you!

 

[Simonovfan]

I'm curoious; Where did you get the mags at and what brand? My local shop where I got mine from, only has Galil mags (Orlite) and they're $50.00 a piece. The factory , mags are $50.00 also, so, I might as well buy factory without the necessary modding. Also, good price, I would've paid $100.00 more for my Saiga, but I'm not arguing with anybody ($250.00).

 

[RemingtonFreak870]

I got the mag. at my local gun store, I heard somewhere they were new for '07. I don't know who makes them, although I know they are in the U.S.. I thought $38 was a little high since regular ones are $25, but since it is new and seemingly a good price I am very happy. Out of 120 rounds so far not one problem with the mag.

 

[Simonovfan]

Really, the regular ones are standard AK mags. The Saiga's won't use regular mags unless i'm wrong about the 7.62 variety. I know for a fact that the .223 Saiga's have different mags. I was just in my local dealer's shop and he had some Orlites that have a cutout at the front, whereas the Saiga had a little ramp in the front, for what I can only guess is a case ramp of sorts. Alot of Saiga owners either mod the front of the magazine or add a bullet guide to the trunion of the Saiga's breech area to get it to use a standard mag.

If you look at the breech area of your rifle, does it have a piece of metal fixed with a countersunk screw?

 

[Kymasabe]

There was a guy at my local gun show last month who had modified AK mags to fit in Saiga's, a little cutting, a little welding, and got them to sit higher in the receiver and essentially work like the stock Saiga mags. Was selling them for $45 each. Too much for me, I prefer adding a bullet guide.
The point is...someone out there is rewelding standard AK mags to make them work. This may be the case here.

 

[RemingtonFreak870]

there is a new company that makes the one I have new, I think. At least very very clean if modded. In 2007 there are supposed to be a lot of cool things coming out for the Saigas. This is definitely not a re-welded mag, the top is 100% new. It is a higher quality than standard Ak mags. The guy at the sore said they just came out.

Edit: No guys, no bullet guide, no modded mag. Just a company making 30 round mags for Saiga rifles. Believe it. I have been dealing with trying to mod a standard mag to fit and my original 10 rounder, I swear they are making these for the Saigas now.

 

[Dave R]

What to do with your other scope mount?

I think AK's and red dots were made for each other. Fast sight picture at moderate range. That's the AKs strength.

 

[RemingtonFreak870]

I am going to go with red dot in place of the scope when $$$ permits, but I dont think I will install both at once. I think a red dot and a light would be cool. I wonder what the scope will be like on this gun. I never even though about it until I came on here.

 

[Simonovfan]

I am all about some new companies coming out with Saiga specific products; it's about freaking time. There's a gun show next Friday and I've got $250.00 in Saiga money just waiting. I hope some of the dealers are selling Saiga specific stuff. I think the Saiga is going to get more popular as time goes on. Some may scoff, but $250.00 for a real Russian AK is the steal of the century, even if it's sporterized.

Plus, some of the add-ons that don't require gunsmithing make it look like a one-off to me. I don't want another WASR or SAR look-alike anyhow.

 

[RemingtonFreak870]

I saw a Saiga specific pistol grip with folding stock today also, if I had $150 extra I might have gotten it...although I am sure I can find it at a gun show for cheaper. 2007 will be the year of the Saiga, the prices will rise on the guns and the aftermarket will heat up. I bet anything, I am finally getting excited about the gun for the first time since I got it.

 

[jagdpanzer347]

Simonovfan, are you looking for modified-for SAIGA Galil Orlites or stock Orlites to use with a bullet guide? I just got some brand new Orlites from CDNN for ten bucks each. Hope this helps. I haven't shot my new .223 yet, but am definately looking forward to it.

-jagd

 

[rbernie]

there is a new company that makes the one I have new, I think.

The Saiga-specific mags are made by Surefire. I understand that Surefire takes standard Weigers, strips the finish, welds on a new nose-with-bullet-guide, and refinishes them with a epoxy-feelin' finish. They cost $45-$55 for the 223 and $35-$40 for the 7.62x39 version (as compared to $25 for ComBlock 223 mags and $15 for 7.62x39 ComBlock mags). In essence, the Surefire mags are twice as expensive as their 'unmodified' cousins. Their build quality is top notch. Cheapest price that I've found for them is from Andean.

As far as I know, the only difference between Saiga mags and any other AKM-47 magazine (other than manufacturing dimensional tolerances) is the nose/bullet guide.

Older (round trunnion) 7.62x39 Saigas are easily converted to use regular AKM-47 mags by either using a Bulgarian bullet guide (bought from K-Var) or buying an inexpensive kit ($25) from the lads on the Saiga forum. The newer flat-trunnion version 7.62x39 kits are still being worked out, and the 223 kits are also still in beta.

I bought a handful of the Surefire mags for my 223 Saiga under the premise that I'd rather have a hi-cap now (knowing that it cost twice as much as a Bulgy, but which I have in my hand now) than buy a finalized bullet guide kit in mid-2007 and finding out that the cheaper East German/Bulgarian 223 AK mags had meanwhile become just as expensive as the Surefire in the face of a potential AWBII. I also understand, but cannot verify, that the modified Saiga specific Surefire mags will work in a modified Saiga or standard AK. If that's true (and it may not be), then you coiuld potentially buy the Surefire mags now, modify the Saiga later, and still be able to use the Surefire mags. Worst case scenario, I convert my 223 Saiga when conversion kits become available later in 2007 and sell my Surefire mags for 80% of their value to someone who doesn't want to mess with converting their rifle.

I'll gladly eat that 20% loss in value if it means ensuring that my Saiga has 30rd magazines available for it no matter what happens in the marketplace or with our Gubb'ment.

 

[30-40Krag dude]

922r ??

 

[Manedwolf]

I saw a Saiga specific pistol grip with folding stock today also, if I had $150 extra I might have gotten it...although I am sure I can find it at a gun show for cheaper.

Careful, there. If it's the Russian-made one and you put it on the gun, you've just broken federal law, and BATFE could put you in federal prison. Changing any parts on these without being 100% sure of the law is playing with fire.

The safest way to do a conversion is to make sure you're using the minimum number of American-made conversion parts...or let a smith handle it if you're not sure.

Lots of people convert them to true pistol-grip AKs by moving the trigger group and all forward and modifying to accept standard AK mags, but you HAVE to use the right number of compliance parts, or you're automatically a felon.

 

[RemingtonFreak870]

I know, I was letting the smith take care of that. I would have to get a new trigger group also, which adds 4 american parts I heard. Wouldn't that balance the pistol grip? What if the grip/stock were made in the USA? Why aren't they being made in the USA?

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

You stole that gun!! Very good price.

Those Saigas are a great deal in the first place, very well made rifles.

 

[Kymasabe]

I still think, that for the owners of multiple AK's and a Saiga or two, the best bet is to install a bullet guide in the Saiga. That way, you can still use the stock Saiga mags AND standard AK mags. If you're heading to the range, just grab your bag of AK mags knowing that they'll work in all your 7.62x39 AK's and Saiga.

 

[ramis]

RemingtonFreak870 posted,

I know, I was letting the smith take care of that. I would have to get a new trigger group also, which adds 4 american parts I heard. Wouldn't that balance the pistol grip? What if the grip/stock were made in the USA? Why aren't they being made in the USA?

They are. Look here.

http://www.tapco.com/

 

[Simonovfan]

jagd that is an awesome price for Orlites. The shops around here think they're made of platinum or something ($50.00), same as factory mags. I am heading in the bullet guide direction and would like to grab some of these. I like the Galils, because they have that smooth/flat sided modern look. Different than all of the other AK/AR mags out there that have grooves all over them.

rbernie, thanks for the info on mags. I held the Galil (Orlite) up side by side with the factory mag and they have the exact same front and rear lockup lugs positions and the feed lips are almost identical. The only difference, as you pointed out, was that the front (nose) was cut out on the Galil and the Saiga had a little ramp built in the plastic to guide the rounds out. Oh yeah and someone on Saiga-12 pointed out that they had to sand down the little plastic honeycomb ridges on the side near the top (cosmetic) because of the tight magwell opening on the Saiga. I looked at where that is on the mags and it's minor. 5 careful seconds with my Dremel. I'll post a pic of that screenshot when I find it again.

update: here it is:

 

[jagdpanzer347]

Simonovfan, glad to help a fellow High Roader out. You might consider picking up a steel twelve rounder or two up as well. Should be good for shooting off of the bench. With all of the Galil kits hitting the market, the Orlites will probably disappear soon. Need to order a few more myself.

-jagd