Saiga .308 vs Bolt Action

[Saiga39]

I'm considering getting a .308 for deer season. Probably something within the $450 dollar range.

I was hoping some people here might have a both a Saiga and a Bolt Action in .308. Where I hunt I'm probably looking at 150 yards max.

I'm wondering what I'm giving up in accuracy not going with a bolt action.

 

[R.W.Dale]

You'll give up some accuracy but not enough to matter at 150yds, A good sporting weight bolt action should do good to shoot right at MOA and a Saigia maybe 2.5 so that means that you're still good for a rather small 5"kill zone at 200m with the saiga. But let's face it the kill zone on a deer is MUCH larger than that. If you miss a deer 150yds away with the Siaga it's your fault not the rifle's

 

[Saiga39]

One thing I forgot to mention is that I'm planning on scoping the Saiga. I already have a Saiga in 7.62x39 and have extra mounts I'm not using.

 

[Avenger29]

The Saiga will make a nice hunting rifle and do double duty as a zombie rifle. Get one! You will be hunting. With an AK. Which gives the antis fits.

Remember Nobody needs an assault rifle for hunting?

 

[rbernie]

The Saiga will be heavier than the bolt gun. It will also have a greater rate of fire and capacity. You get to decide what you value more.

FBMG makes good 20rd mags for the Saiga.

If you get a Saiga, I'd recommend the 16" version - it balances better than the longer tube, and it's a bit more accurate due to the shorter tube.

 

[elmerfudd]

I've got three .308's right now, a Saiga .308, a Remington LTR and an Ishapore 2A1. I'd also like to have a light sporting bolt action in .308. It's a great all around cartridge.

Accuracy wise, the Saiga is fine for deer hunting within 200 yards, but it is easier to shoot accurately with a good bolt action. I agree with the post above where typical accuracy was about 2.5 MOA for a Saiga and 1 MOA for a bolt action. You probably will have to spend awhile at the range however to figure out what ammo will deliver those kinds of groups. I've shot some stuff out of my Saiga that only grouped about 6" and I've shot other stuff that grouped under 2". My LTR on the other hand is a tack driver even with bad ammo. My worst groups off a bench with it have been around 2" and my best have been less than 1/2" at 100 yards. With good ammo it will consistently shoot less than 3/4". An LTR is an unusually accurate bolt action however.

For hunting deer at 150 yards or less however, your Saiga x39 will do the job pretty darn well. A good bolt action would be better, but the Saiga's plenty adequate.

 

[skinewmexico]

People can get pretty confused, and sometimes think minute of angle and minute of deer are the same thing. As long as you can consistently hit a 12" circle, the deer is dead.

 

[rangerruck]

with a scope, I personally don't think you are giving up anything. with open sights, I would say yes, but if you are scoping, then no. I actually did both this weekend, and with a scoped 243, everything I saw was a one shot dead flop. not so with the open sites.

 

[sarduy]

if you are going to use a scope get a saiga.. is an AK at heart

 

[MD_Willington]

Got to dinzag arms link in my sig...

Speaking of hunting season, the 2007 shotgun/rifle season in Michigan is off to a great start. I bagged this nice little 8-point whitetail opening morning.

Did it with the Saiga .308

 

[trstafford]

Why not buy some good soft point ammo and use the 7.62 x 39 that is what I use in my CZ 527 carbine

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

The Saiga is much heavier, has a horrible trigger, bad ergos, and is less accurate. You are giving up a LOT IMO. Having said that, the Saiga will work just fine, as long as you're not toting it miles through the woods (see "heavy"), so get what you WANT! It really comes down to whether, in the long run, you want one rifle or two to fill the two roles, and furthermore, which one you want first. You may want both a good turnbolt and a semi-auto, but if you want the semi-auto first, then get it, and press it into service as a hunter until you add the turnbolt to your arsenal - it will work fine if you find the ammo it likes and know how to shoot it, espec. if you scope it, as you say you are.