Saiga .308 16" - Ak reliability and M1A Accuracy at .22LR prices.

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Sharpe,
It doesn't look bad if it is converted.
Ask what stock. Some you cannot adjust so make sure that fits you ok.

These are the cost of some parts I posted a while back, same used in other conversions. I am very happy with the tapco stuff.

saigabudget.gif

Add the tapco gas pug in the gas tube that is about $12 and another compliance part that makes the piston system US compliant.
I also had a pug custom made with special grooves that seems to improve self cleaning.

In the last one I also tried the UTG US made rail that runs over $92. It fits well.

100_6220b.gif


Cheers,
E.
 
That is a beaut for sure. I am on a budget, so will have to take it slow. I am thinking about letting this guy convert it for me for the $200 and staying there and doing it with him so I can learn.

Also, what can you recommend for mags? I am reading a lot of bad stuff out there about nearly every after market mag available. What have you guys found works well?
 
Makes sense. The mags are expensive for what they are. Everyone knows that. I had good luck with both the surefire and promag. If I had to stick with one I would stay with the promag for the saiga 12 and the surefire for the rest.
I bought a lot of them so as expected some might work better than others as it happens with mags sometimes.
I leave the original ones for the unconverted systems and seem to work ok but they are lower count (European style).
Cheers,
E.
 
I was shooting on Sunday and this is what I got at 150 yards. Very windy. Same thing, consistency is the name of the game with the 308 in 16".

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notasfancy said:
Prices on the Saigas have been always rising. I got my first one many years ago for $135.
Click to expand...

I miss those days. I had two back then. A .308 and a 7.62x39. Sold them to help pay for a new fuel pump on a POS Pontiac Grand-Am.

Now I'd have to pay $400+ each to get new ones, and I scrapped that #$*#%! Grand-Am for $600!
 
Haha, yeah, that's what I paid for my first one back in the day. I didn't know much about it, but I knew it was pretty much a Russian made AK, and it came with a scope/mount, so I thought that was a screamin deal. I took it home and was like, "***? My AK mags don't fit." So I did some filing and got them to fit, and was like, "***? it doesn't cycle rounds with these AK mags." Then I realized it didn't have a bullet guide, and fixed that too. I remember walking around with it at a gun show and people were amazed that I got AK mags to work in it, lol.
 
When they first came out some people thought those were cheaply made Russian guns until we were told these were fashionable good quality built. I guess they whole thing exploded as the good quality US compliance parts became available.
There is never enough LOL!... so I am looking at the next one from the Molot plant. Awesome systems too.
 
God, I remember four years ago looking at the rack at Show Me Shooters I know I thought: "The SKS is nice, but I'll save $100 if I buy the Saiga"!
 
Here is a picture of another Saiga .308 converted with three functional sighting systems, very light and versatile in deed....
A) Burris 2x7 long eye relive with bullet drop comp.
B) T1 2MOA red dot at 1 o'clock.
C) iron sights will still work fine. I have the post at the gunsmith to do a custom mount so I cannot shot this one today.

100_6687b.jpg

100_6644b.jpg

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Scope with bullet comp, very clear, light and small footprint....
100_6662b.jpg

Red dot 2moa at 1 O'clock......
100_6665b.gif

Cheers,
E.
 
1stmarine,

May I ask how you are still able to use the iron sights? I've been looking for a scope mount like that one that still lets me use the iron sights, but doesn't mount the scope too high on the gun.

Also, is the scope mount attached to the dust cover or the side rail?

P.S. Nice job on the conversion!
 
A_mathew,
Yes. I just have the front post off as I am adapting that to be clamped and lightweight.
One of the reasons I got the Israeli weapons mount is because it adjusts in elevation and also sideways so you can make sure you have a tad of space to use your iron sights. I was told this part is milled in Israel and everything I got from them is top quality, even things used by military.
The scope is a tad high but that is what that cheek raiser is for. It can tilt easily even pushing with your own cheek and go from long shot to 1 o'clock easily. Things that you might have to tune for yourself.
This is attached to the side rail and it is a very robust and long rail. Everything else that I tried through the years has failed to retain zero. This is the way the AK is meant to be and that is the way I am going in the future. The mounts in the dust cover do not work so save your money or have a dinner with it.

I am also trying the UTG rail in the shotgun and so far so good but it is a little flimsy. Shotgun is different though.

I believe this is what you want to see when you look down below or through the rail, right?. This is a regular UTG mount. not too shabby for the dollars...

100_6022.gif

Read the entire post. It is long but might give you more ideas and put a lot of pictures there. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Cheers.
E.
 
Hi Cryogaijin,
It might be the saiga is unleashing its true spirit by itself! LOL.
Now the question is what to do with the others. I have converted 4 and have 8 more unconverted.
Any creative ideas are welcome.

Post some pics or yours here mang!

Cheers,
E.
 
1stmarine said:
I believe this is what you want to see when you look down below or through the rail, right?
Click to expand...

I'm a little ambivalent about those high profile side-rails. It's nice being able to see the irons underneath, but it places your mounted optic fairly high. The K-Var rail has a lower profile so the irons can't really be used under it, but it is quick detach so you can get to them pretty fast if need be. That rail costs about 3x as much though, so the UTG seems like a solid choice if it's stable.
 
Effigy,
I hear you. I think if you raise the rail then use lower rings in the end you have to make sure the scope is not in the way. It is hard sometimes to tell w/o trying and that's why I have a box full of mounts, scopes, raisers, rings and anything you can think of down in the basement.
If anything I can try will help you I will do it.

Manufactures should have specs in all the dimensions so could virtually calculate but it would not be easy anyway. nothing like trying things that's why I ask in the forums and then offer myself to help when I can.

This setup is not awkward. It is functional but one has to be confortable with the 1'oclock dot. and a tad higher scope.
there is no one single system that I have that I do not tune one way or another to get the most of it.

I was just throwing out some ideas for the saiga addicts like me.

Cheers.
E.
 
For the traditionalist, Russian rifles should be chambered for 7.62x39mm or 7.62x54R. If I was looking for a 7.62x51mm, I'd go with an FAL, M1A, or an AR-10.
 
Curiously, for years now senior Russian Engnineers at the IZMASH and MOLOT plants have been praising the results of their classic platforms in combination with the NATO rounds. And there is nobody more traditional than those folks.
For me accuracy and reliability of the .308win is what it matters the most. Others might like something else and that is ok too.
Cheers,
E.
 
I think 7.62 russian is a touch weak for what I want it for. The .308 is just perfect, tbh.

1st marine: If I were to be doing another .308 today I'd go through the annoyance of setting it up with an underfolder, put a gas-tube top rail on it, snip off the side scope mount for the extra couple of ounces, and see exactly how light I could get the bugger.

I wonder what the OAL and weight of a .308 16.5" with that setup would be?

I'll be posting pictures once my s12 conversion is done.
 
Cryogaijin,
You know what? I like the idea. I am not sure about those tubes with the rail on top. I might not put anything on but if I do, what about the heat? anyone knows? I shoot slowly in my training routine though.
Any stock in mind? the problem in some states like liberal NY is that folded is not allowed but we could find something short and light, right?
Any ideas let me know.

Cheers,
E.
 
Most AK underfolders are bolted onto the receiver on the sides, which is why I mentioned the annoyance of setting one up. If you have the tools, go for it. Otherwise, a side folder like this:

As for the rail,
SAI-RIF-QR-D3.jpg
though I consider that to be a bit overkill. (I'd love to see a product that put a simple sight rail and nothing else up there.) The alternative is to keep the side rail mount, and use one of the ultra-light AK rails.
 
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