New Saiga AK47

[loose noose]

I've got an opportunity to buy a brand new Saiga AK47. I've done a search but couldn't find anything here on THR. This is made in Russia. The shop is asking $750.00 out the door with an extra 30 round magazine. I thought Obama had outlawed the Russian AK's. Any comments? Good bad or indifferent?

 

[TreeDoc]

Might be a pre ban. It is my understanding that Russian AKs were ban from import and thus the Saiga sport version was born. A true Russian made AK 47 from the Siaga plant for $750 is a good buy.

 

[M1key]

Does the receiver say "Izhmash" or "Kalashnikov USA"?

Price is probably retail, but if it's Russian built, Saiga marked, and new it's a good one.



M

 

[AK103K]

There are actually a couple of Kalashnikov USA's, and both are associated with the Saiga's.

I have one of the early Saigas converted by Marc Krebs (pre Krebs Custom) for the first, and now defunct Kalashnikov USA, out of Port St. Lucie FL.

If its one of their guns, its marked "Kalashnikov-USA Pt St Lucie FL" on the starboard side of the receiver, just below the ejection port.

These were early, and actually the first Saiga conversions done, back around the turn of the century.

The company sucked to deal with, and was at best shady (I dont believe Krebs had any association, other than building the guns for them), but the guns are, or were for the time, top notch (mine has been anyway). I had a second on order when they just up and disappeared.

$700 or so was what I paid then for my AK103K, which I still have and shoot pretty regularly. It was of the "ban" era, and has 14" barrel with a permanently attached brake.

Looks like this.....



My buddy got one from Krebs Custom a few years back, and his has a flash suppressor, which actually is the better choice. I keep threatening to send mine to him, and see if he would put one on mine. I believe he paid about $500 more for his gun, than I paid for mine.

$750 for one today, seems like a deal, if it was properly done.

 

[loose noose]

The one he has (now mine) has "Saiga Made in Russia by IZHMASH". Incidentally he thru in an additional magazine and three boxes of 7.62X39 Russian ammo. Couldn't pass it up. below are a couple of photos of the carbine. The nomenclature said it is a hunting carbine, and the stock said it was made in the USA.

 

[AK103K]

Looks like one of the imports that was partially restored. Looks like they did a decent job. Does it have the feed ramp installed and take standard AK mags?

Mine has the "Saiga 7.62" and "Made in Russia by IZHMASH" on the port side as well. The date (99) is just in front of the serial number.

 

[jeeptim]

NO HARD PARTS AVAILABLE.
I have two s aigas firing pin springs broke on both none to be had a308split the gas piston on the 308 went south a few years back found one but was tocheating can find tons of cheap quality add ons but bolts and the like are all gone. Love the saigas but had to go to the hardware store found some like springs that work for 50 to 100 rounds then slam fires kinda like a dirty sks

 

[mshootnit]

If you need parts for a saiga just grab an ak replacement. Should be plenty of AK parts around.

Try KVAR

 

[d2wing]

I have a Saiga. It is far better than any AK or SKS I ever had. I did have to add a feed ramp to use AK mags.

 

[loose noose]

I got home from the range a couple of hours ago. I fired all 60 rounds, without a problem, it does have a feed ramp. I noticed it took a few rounds to get used to the trigger, it's very light, I haven't checked it yet on my scale, but I'd estimate it's under 3#s. The accuracy isn't too awful bad for a 16" barrel. (I only shot out to 50 yards) The safety on it is really stiff when taking the safety off, I'm going to have to work on that. Other than that it is a fun gun to shoot, and I'm quite sure I'm going to enjoy this little carbine.

I didn't see where the year of manufacturer was near the serial number, I'll have to check that out once I take it out of the vault again.

The two magazines I had, the one with the rifle, and the aftermarket one both functioned perfectly, however one I could only get 29 rounds into but the after market one took 30, I'll probably never load the magazines up to 30 anyway. I know the M-16 we had in Nam we were only supposed to put 19 in them. The after market said it was for all AK47's. I haven't tried the all metal but do have a source to get some from a friend who is really into the AK47.

 

[chris in va]

Oh boy.

All they did was take a stock Saiga and 'unconvert' it like I did. Probably $150 in parts. I sold mine for $550 a couple years ago.

 

[yugorpk]

Wholesale on those things before "conversion" was about $150 ( bought a lot at $129) . Put $50 worth of conversion parts into it to make it look like an AK and a few hours labor and you'd have maybe $250 into it. Blow it out the door at $500 to the dealer who sells it for $750. Everybody is happy. Too bad they stopped importing them.

 

[loose noose]

Hmm, I guess I got the short end of the stick in this deal then. Well it isn't the first time I've been taken for a ride, reckon it won't be the last.

Note, the serial # is 134XXXXX, no date as far as I can see. Anyway it is my first AK47, I've been into AR-15s for quite a few years and have built quite a few of those, I do like the low cost of the ammo, and it is a lot of fun to shoot as I've already mentioned. Don't believe I'll have any problem repairing it if need be, as I already repaired a number of those as well as the SKS's.

 

[WhoMe?]

Hmm, I guess I got the short end of the stick in this deal then

Actually, I think you did just fine. That seems to be the market for Russian Izhmash converted rifles right now. Most entry level AKs seem to be demanding prices not too far from what you paid for a quality Russian one. Markets change...

 

[mshootnit]

No not the short end of the stick. Thats a good rifle after all. 600 before conversion 750 after, not entirely out of line. It will be worth at least twice that much in the future.

 

[AK103K]

If it shoots and functions reliably, and youre happy with it, thats all that counts.

I spent more on my one US built gun, that was pretty and nothing but trouble, than I did my WASR and SAR combined. Still have the WASR and SAR.

That date on mine, was just in front of the serial number. Ive seen a couple of others that were later, but none of the recent guns. Maybe they stopped doing it.