Saiga .223 or Arsenal SLR-106?

[NEjohnnyd]

Alright, so first I want to say I know the this gun versus that gun posts are kind of trite, I just wanted an opinion on some aspects of these two rifles from anyone who owns them or has used them. I DID search the forums to see if this exact question was posted before, and I only found a thread about the 7.62x39 equivalents.



I'm considering getting an intermediate caliber rifle for plinking, SHTF, and just collecting. I was leaning towards a saiga 5.45 at first, because of the cheap surplus ammo, but I figured that 5.56 is a safer bet. Supply is more stable, it's made in the US, I could reload it, etc.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but m855 penetrator is going to be a more effective round than the 7n6 surplus 5.45 available, right? It fragments, so more lethality, and its (possibly) better at penetrating cover/body armor at range?


Anyway, my main point was does anyone own the arsenal 5.56 ak, the SLR-106? How is the quality on it? I'm looking for basically an ak-100 series rifle in 5.56, and it fits the bill, with a bayo lug, folding stock, and nice polymer furniture!

My other choice would be to buy a saiga 223 and either convert it myself or take it to a smith, and get the ak-100 series folding solid stock but on it, an ak gas tube, an ak74 front sight block and compensator, and a bolt on lower handguard retainer (probably all from dinzag arms). My concern is that to do buy all these parts, PLUS pay for a smith to install some or all of them is going to cost a lot of $$$, and I'm a poor college kid!


So I'd prefer to go with an SLR-106, since it's a nice all in one, relatively cheap package. I'm just looking for top of the line reliability, and I'm worried the bulgy-produced parts might be inferior to russian production.

Any thoughts?




P.S. I'd like the rifle I choose to be capable of getting 12" groups at 300 meters with surplus or cheaper new production m855/ss109 5.56 ammo. That's 4MOA, right? Could I expect that from either of these rifles, using some good optics, of course?

 

[NEjohnnyd]

Also, forgot a few specific things. How well does the folding stock lock up on the SLR? I've read good things about it. Nice and solid?

And finally, does the SLR take standard AKM/AK47 internals? Bolt, gas piston, bolt carrier, trigger assembly, etc? Just wondering as far as ease of replacements, I don't want to get stuck with something proprietary that I'd have a pain replacing.

 

[chris in va]

It fragments, so more lethality, and its (possibly) better at penetrating cover/body armor at range?

I don't think you'll run into a situation where that's needed.

But anyway, having owned a Saiga x39 for a few years I will say this...if you want to shoot 223, get an AR-15. If you want to shoot x39, get an AK. It'll save you a lot of grief later on.

 

[sv51macross]

With what SLR-106's have been going for you will spend faaaaaar more, possible twice the amount, converting a .223 Saiga.

Could Chris please elaborate? Perhaps do you mean magazine availability? The SLR-106 has had the issues with feeding resolved.

Also, There are adapters that allow .223 AKs to take AR-15 magazines. (SLR-106 with a Beta-C mag. Mmmmmmm! )

 

[NEjohnnyd]

if you want to shoot 223, get an AR-15. If you want to shoot x39, get an AK

Why so? I don't really have an interest in 7.62x39. I'm open to getting an AR, but the higher cost is kinda discouraging. I know, I know, I could get an AR for the $800 I'd spend on an SLR, but if I were to buy an AR I'd want a higher end one, like a colt or a bushmaster, and those would end up being more like $1200 or so, IIRC. I'm looking for a 5.56 rifle that I don't have to worry about keeping in pristine condition, but will still perform reliably

There are adapters that allow .223 AKs to take AR-15 magazines.

Yeah, I figured I would spring for the MSA adapter with either the Saiga or the SLR. STANAG mags seem like they'd be the way to go. Some of the new quad-stack surefire 60 rounders would be pretty nice!

 

[Kurt_D]

STANAG mags are absolutly not the way to go with the AK platform. The Arsenal circle 10 mags for their 5.56 AKs are the best available for the platform. The Saiga and SLR both have `74 pattern magwells so the circle 10s will work fine in either. They do run ~25 bucks apiece at Midway but they are worth it and will last a lifetime.

IMO, I really feel people should start with a native AK caliber for AKs like 7.62 or 5.45 just due to cost, reliablity, and parts availablity. Unless you already have an investment in .223/5.56 or already have other AKs I'd seriously look at the ARs for that caliber. Bushies can be had in the $900 range and I've seen Colt's dangle down to $1100. S&W M&P are still in the $800 too. There's also the build option for the AR too.

ETA: I do have several ARs and AKs including the SLR-106. The SLR-107 (7.62x39) and SGL-31 (5.45x39) are my favorite AKs while my Bushy A2 and M4gery are my favorite ARs. While I will not get rid of the 106, I would buy the 107 or the 31 first if I had to do it again b/c #1 they are available and weren't when I was buying and #2 accuracy of all 3 seems about the same mil surp type ammo (and Russian 5.45 is the best deal going in centerfire ammo). I also wouldn't trade my ARs and feel they handle the 5.56 ammo better than the 106.