saiga 223 or 762X39

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I prefer the .223 personally. (It's actually a 5.56 chamber)

.223 has a flatter trajectory, therefore it is much more accurate at longer ranges. Good .223 ammo will fragment and do a ton of damage. There are also a much greater variety of loads available for .223 than 7.62x39.

7.62x39 is better at busting through cover like cinder blocks and such. It's not much good past 300-400 yards because the bullet drops very quickly at that distance. It may be a better big game round though, although good big game loads may be hard to get and if you get them they will probably be very expensive.

Traditionally, 7.62x39 has been a little cheaper, but it is VERY hard to find right now compared to .223. It also relies on heavy importation of it's ammo, whereas the .223 is a very common round manufactured domestically.

We did a conversion of a .223 Saiga that turned out great.

http://www.minutemanreview.com/2008/08/saiga-ak-556.html
 
Traditionally, 7.62x39 has been a little cheaper, but it is VERY hard to find right now compared to .223.
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I decided to check this out and found you were mistaken. I very easily found the 7.62x39 stacked up neatly in cases next to my reloading bench, but finding the .223 required me to dig around in the old upright freezer that I use for ammo storage. ;)
 
I dont know which the gun store has I remember looking at a saiga but I didnt see if it was 223 or 762X39.
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is this the same gun shop that has the $400 Saiga 12? :neener:

It's an AK and I would get it in 7.62x39 though .223 is a very low recoiling comfortable shooting round and good for a beginner if that is what you are.
 
7.62x39 is a good solid round but I went with the 5.56 because I like sharing ammo between it and my AR15s.
 
I think he said he realized he was looking at a Saiga 223 instead of a Saiga 12 hence the $400 price tag.

Personally if your not getting a Saiga 7.62 to make a real russian ak conversion I'd go with the Saiga 223.

You can do a conversion on the Saiga 223 so it accepts AR-15 mags and that will save you a bunch of money. Also if you happen to have an AR-15 already your set magazine wise.
 
You can do a conversion on the Saiga 223 so it accepts AR-15 mags and that will save you a bunch of money. Also if you happen to have an AR-15 already your set magazine wise.
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Pics? Links? resources? this seems far fetched.
 
You just have to decide what you agre going to be using it for. For plinking, it really doesn't matter which one you get. 223 is flatter, better at longer distance, probl. more accurate. 7.62 with more bang, not good at longer distances, and you can get cheaper, but lower quality russian ammo.

If you are hunting, 223 for more of a varmint type game and 7.62 can be used for deer as long as you're not talking long distance.

I have a Saiga in 7.62, converted. I just think Saiga/AK's are made for 7.62 and wanted to stay that way, and I have AR's in 223.

I have no interest in sharing ammo between the two, but if the budget is tight and want to share ammo, that may make things a little simpler, esp. if you reload.
 
if you get the 762. get brown bear or silver bear hollow point ammo; you will be freaked out surprised how accurately a Saiga will punch with the hollow point ammo, Mine is moa out to at least 100 yds with hollow point ammo.
 
If you are hunting, 223 for more of a varmint type game and 7.62 can be used for deer as long as you're not talking long distance.
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.223 works well for deer too. Shot placement and the right load is the key.
 
I prefer the .223 personally. (It's actually a 5.56 chamber)
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Really? I've heard people going back and forth over if it's safe to fire 5.56 out of it. My rifle and magazine both say ".223 Rem." I've been looking for something definitive over whether or not it's safe to shoot 5.56 out of my Saiga.
 
Really? I've heard people going back and forth over if it's safe to fire 5.56 out of it. My rifle and magazine both say ".223 Rem." I've been looking for something definitive over whether or not it's safe to shoot 5.56 out of my Saiga.
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Yes, it is 5.56. It is marked .223 because it "looks" better for it's "sporting" use. Never had issues with 5.56 out of a .223 Saiga.
 
is it safe to fire 556 out of a 223 ak? It is proly safe to fire cannon ammo through an ak, and not worry even about bbl bulge. i would say , it is 100% for sure, safe to fire 556 ammo out of 223 Saiga.
 
I think I would go 7.62X39, because it would be used for relatively close in shots anyway. Not a big deal either way, both have pros and cons.

.223 Pros?

I have more .223 ammo.

Better for long range.

.223 Cons?

Light weight bullet.

7.62 Pros?

Better up close

7.62 Cons?

Long range trajectory.
 
Better up close
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Kind of ambiguous statement. How is 7.62x39 "better up close", other than if cover is involved? Which can also be a downside. The .223 round is better up close because it fragments AND it tends to cause less collateral damage in an urban environment.
 
True^. But if you use Wolf MC 7.62x39 HP, they are loaded with the 8m3 bullet which is far more devastating than even m193 at closer ranges. But, when comparing both using FMJ obviously the 5.56x45 does more damage up close.
 
Kind of ambiguous statement. How is 7.62x39 "better up close",
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More bullet weight. Goes through barriers better. I like that. It's a toss up anyway. ;)

I want my AK in 7.62 and my AR in .223, but that's just me. :)

ambiguous
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Great word, by the way....
 
I was always under the impression that a 55gr 5.56 round within about 200 meters (varies upon barrel length) was more lethal than the 7.62 round simply because of fragmentation. Past that range, the 5.56 velocity is such that it wont fragment as violently.
 
dscottw88,

That is pretty much true, although it does depend on the load. M193 spec ammo certainly will fragment within certain ranges (has more to do with the velocity and design of the bullet). Wolf 55gr FMJ will not though.

However, you can even do much better with other loadings such as 68gr, 75gr, and 77gr OTM's and SMK's.
 
also 223 ammo is so darn expensive right now, about 10 bucks a box or more.
I was at a gunshow this weekend, and one dude was selling it for 1 dollar per
round.
 
I'd personally love a .223 converted Saiga, but I went with x39 to keep it traditional. I may pick up a .223 so I can have one in a caliber that is domestically made at a reasonable price. As a person who is loving his AR more and more, there are tremendous advantages to the .223 over the x39.

also, what kind of 'hi-cap' mags are used with converted .223s?
 
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