Saiga .223 AK (An Alternate To The AR)

[rugerman07]

I recently bought a new Saiga .223 AK with a 20 inch barrel. I took it to the range yesterday and fired 65 rounds through it using 3 different brands of ammo, PMC 55 grain fmj, Silver Bear 62 grain jhp and American Eagle 55 grain jhp. The rifle performed perfectly, no jams, no misfires, no FTF, and is very accurate. I think the Saiga .223 is a great alternative to the AR, not better but just as good for about half the price. I paid $445.00 OTD for my new Saiga .223.

 

[HoosierQ]

In stock configuration, I would see it more an alternative for the Mini-14 frankly...which is of course the best $400 rifle, $700 can buy

 

[bri]

Restore that Saiga to the way Kalashnikov designed it and you'll be liking it even more...

 

[LKB3rd]

People have the idea stuck in their head that AK's aren't accurate, and maybe that's because of the typical milsurp 7.62x39 available. Put some decent/good .308 or .223 through a Saiga, and they are accurate... NOT "for an AK" but as a general statement.

If you like it as is, great, but converted they are even better, I agree with the above comment.

 

[rugerman07]

If you like it as is, great, but converted they are even better.

I will get around to converting it in time, right now I'm just enjoying it as is. The first thing I will do is add a scope.

 

[LAK]

One dissent; keep it as it is. Perhaps best is to shoot one converted in a variety of shooting drills, including some long range stuff - and then decide.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

The ultimate alternative to the AR 15 is a AK 74.

I played around with the idea of getting a .223 AK of some sort but decided on the 5.45 because of the cheaper ammo and magazines are easier to get.

People have the idea stuck in their head that AK's aren't accurate, and maybe that's because of the typical milsurp 7.62x39 available. Put some decent/good .308 or .223 through a Saiga, and they are accurate... NOT "for an AK" but as a general statement.

It's mostly ignorance. The Discovery Channel did a show on the AK 47 vs the M16 and they claimed that it couldn't reliably hit a target at 200 yards and people then started repeating that. Just watching the video, you can see the men shooting them don't have the fundamentals down for good marksmanship. Even with my dad's CAI WASR 10, I'm still able to reliably hit a steel gong at 200 yards and can reach out and touch the 300 yard gong as well. Granted some have been made wrong that have the inaccuracy that you hear some times but a properly made AK will do the job.

 

[arizona98tj]

Accurate is a relative term, in my opinion. If those gongs at 200 and 300 yards are 4" and 6" respectively, then you indeed have a 2 MOA AK, maybe better. My AR-15 shoots 1.5 MOA with steel cased Hornady training ammo. And dont' get me wrong, I have a .223 Saiga so I'm not an AK hater.

Are you shooting a 2 MOA or better AK?

 

[M1key]

Rugerman, no big deal but I think your picture is one of the new 5.45 models.

Here is a picture of my PG converted 223. It is a good shooter..


M

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Accurate is a relative term, in my opinion. If those gongs at 200 and 300 yards are 4" and 6" respectively, then you indeed have a 2 MOA AK, maybe better. My AR-15 shoots 1.5 MOA with steel cased Hornady training ammo. And dont' get me wrong, I have a .223 Saiga so I'm not an AK hater.

Are you shooting a 2 MOA or better AK?

They are like 26" steel gongs but I shoot them standing up. To me the purpose of such a rifle is hitting targets like that, not creating dime sized groups at 100 yards. My father or me never benched the rifle but I have a Waffen Werks AK 74 on order that when I get it, I will probably bench it at 100 yards. I hear that WW AK74s will get 2 inch 100 yard groups.

Here is a picture of my PG converted 223:

Handsome rifle you got there.

 

[Girodin]

I paid $445.00 OTD for my new Saiga .223.

Ouch unconverted S223s sell for roughly $300 online. Even with shipping and transfer it should come out a fair amount under $445. That is more the price for a converted one. Add $150 to the price to do a very basic conversion and you are real close to the price of a decent AR like a PSA.

One dissent; keep it as it is. Perhaps best is to shoot one converted in a variety of shooting drills, including some long range stuff - and then decide.

I've shot a number of saigas converted and not. I can't think of one task I would prefer a non converted gun for.

I like my S223 but I prefer my AR.

 

[amd6547]

I own a Kalashnikov in standard form. I also own a Saiga 5.45 and have no plans to alter it. It shoots great as is, and the sporting stock is fast handling, and points well.

 

[HoosierQ]

Sights Maybe?

I suspect a lot of accuracy comments regarding the AK platform is sights-related. I hate those sights. Short radius, very shallow notch. I suspect the platform would be "more accurate" if it had better sights.

The Finns use a version of the AK-47 that they've developed that has a proper apeture "GI" sight at the back of the receiver. They must have overcome the loss of zero issue with the cover or just deal with it. That set up looks very good but they do not export a sporter version. It's a Valmet I believe.

 

[JustinJ]

I suspect a lot of accuracy comments regarding the AK platform is sights-related. I hate those sights. Short radius, very shallow notch. I suspect the platform would be "more accurate" if it had better sights.

The AK sight radius is just about the same as that of the M4. I like the notch sights and find them a little quicker on targer but there are aftermarket peep sights available as well. Another option is the TWS rail with peep sight which gives one a much longer sight radius.

With milsurp 7N6 ammo my Russian Arsenal 74 holds 2" groups all day. Guess what my Colt does with M855? The same. The Colt shoots much smaller groups with match ammo but no such ammo exists in 5.45.

 

[haldir]

How accurate is it? 2inch groups at 100 yards or what? Thanks.

 

[The Sarge]

I won't get into the convert or not, 922r discussion. Leave that up to the owner of the gun.
But will make you aware that it is simple and quick to modify the Saiga 5.56mm
to accept AR-15 magazines. I use USGI AR mags in all my Saiga 5.56mm rifles.