Saiga 308 ???

[HIPOWER]

Anyone have one of these? How is their durability? I like the concept but I am a little concerned about the AK style receiver holding up to the 7.62 NATO round. Any real problems with that? Thanks for any help.

 

[Dave R]

Don't have one, but have read many reviews at AK-47.net. There was also a review in the NRA's "American Rifleman". General consensus is accuracy is good (surprising for an AK?). Trigger is not good. They had to put additional do-dads to make it reach the sear because....the receiver is lengthened and strengthened to accommodate the .308.

The guys at AK-47.net think they'll be plenty robust, but they love everything AK, sooo....

Anyway, the guys who shoot them love them, other than the trigger.

 

[Tomac]

I own one and pretty much agree w/what Dave R has said. The trigger pull is very smooth and light but excessively long for best accuracy (accuracy is surprisingly good). However, a good 'smith can add a perceived "stage" so you know when the trigger's about to break. I topped mine w/a Russian 8x42 scope and the 18" gong at 500m was a piece of cake using surplus ammo (haven't tried it w/match ammo yet). Receiver is definitely beefier than a std AK receiver and if the PSL/Romak-3 (which is a beefed up AK) can take the pounding of the 7.62x54 then there's no reason the Saiga shouldn't be able to handle the 7.62x51. A side benefit is that since the Saiga isn't classified as an "evil assault rifle" it has all-original Russian parts.
Tomac