Saiga 762X39 or .223
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Victor1Echo
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I can only speak to the rounds, not guns-- accuracy would go to the .223- hands down. Reliabilty is in the gun not the ammo; however, cheap ammo is less accurate than match grade.
benEzra
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7.62x39mm may be marginally more reliable than .223, all else being equal, because it is more highly tapered. .223 and 5.45x39 are generally more accurate than 7.62x39. Also, there are few if any readily available premium loads for 7.62x39, now that Lapua is apparently no longer imported, but premium loads for .223 are readily available.
I am satsified with mine in x39... if is as accurate as I expect an AK style gun to be... If I was looking for something in a target rifle I would pull an AR out of the sage... the ak is what it is... a battle rifle that will shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot...etc.. I say go with the "harder hitting" round... get the x39
OrangePwrx9
Member
I've got both. The .223 is a little more accurate...groups maybe .5" smaller at 100 yards. Of course this could be individual guns. Neither is a tack-driver, but the .223 will shoot 2" to 2.25" groups with Wolf ammo at 100 yards if I'm on my game.
I'd expect the 7.62x39 to be more reliable in the long (very long) run. It's the cartridge the gun was designed around. The .223 is an adaptation. Neither have given me the slightest problem so far.
The .223 is more pleasant to shoot. Recoil is hardly noticeable. The x39 doesn't recoil much either, but you do notice it more than the .223.
Don't forget, Mil-surplus steel Comm-bloc magazines can be used in the x39. They're pretty cheap and very well made. You will have to modify the Saiga a bit to use them, however. Not hard to do and tutorials abound on the Net.
Bob
I'd expect the 7.62x39 to be more reliable in the long (very long) run. It's the cartridge the gun was designed around. The .223 is an adaptation. Neither have given me the slightest problem so far.
The .223 is more pleasant to shoot. Recoil is hardly noticeable. The x39 doesn't recoil much either, but you do notice it more than the .223.
Don't forget, Mil-surplus steel Comm-bloc magazines can be used in the x39. They're pretty cheap and very well made. You will have to modify the Saiga a bit to use them, however. Not hard to do and tutorials abound on the Net.
Bob
OrangePwrx9
Member
Oh, one more thing.
If you're a reloader, the x39 Saiga will be frustrating. There's a Russian "gun control feature" that blows out the neck of the fired cartridge a bit just above where the shoulder meets the neck. Done supposedly so that the Russky authorities could determine whether crimes were committed with civilian or military arms.
Problem is, this "feature" is very hard on the brass. Almost all the brass cased x39 reloads I tried cracked severely at the neck when fired in the x39 Saiga. So, unless I have brass I want to throw away, I don't reload for the x39 Saiga anymore.
The .223 OTOH, accomplishes the same thing by using a raised ring around the firing pin. Fired case looks like it has a crimped in primer...but it really doesn't. You CAN reload brass fired in a .223 Saiga without problems.
Bob
If you're a reloader, the x39 Saiga will be frustrating. There's a Russian "gun control feature" that blows out the neck of the fired cartridge a bit just above where the shoulder meets the neck. Done supposedly so that the Russky authorities could determine whether crimes were committed with civilian or military arms.
Problem is, this "feature" is very hard on the brass. Almost all the brass cased x39 reloads I tried cracked severely at the neck when fired in the x39 Saiga. So, unless I have brass I want to throw away, I don't reload for the x39 Saiga anymore.
The .223 OTOH, accomplishes the same thing by using a raised ring around the firing pin. Fired case looks like it has a crimped in primer...but it really doesn't. You CAN reload brass fired in a .223 Saiga without problems.
Bob
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rangerruck
Member
both are equal. I know, no way the russian round is accurate as the 223, and mostly , with 99% of the ammo, you would be right. But the silver bear stuff;
lemme just say, wow!!! And it is not just my rifle, I have had 2 saigas in 762, and they both were like that, and other dudes who have used silver bear in their 762's, have been amazed. Oh yeah, make sure it is the hollow point stuff.
But generally speaking, yes the 223 stuff will be more accurate- and more
expensive.
lemme just say, wow!!! And it is not just my rifle, I have had 2 saigas in 762, and they both were like that, and other dudes who have used silver bear in their 762's, have been amazed. Oh yeah, make sure it is the hollow point stuff.
But generally speaking, yes the 223 stuff will be more accurate- and more
expensive.
SSN Vet
Member
commie calibers for commie guns
Maverick223
Member
Neither are super accurate due to the rifle design, with similar ammunition expect similar results. Accuracy is acceptable, if you want good accuracy consider the .308 Saiga, if you want really good accuracy go with a quality turn-bolt. If you can deal with the 3ish MOA that you are likely to achieve, I would advise the 7.62x39 due to lesser ammunition cost, and the ability to use steel commie mags (with modification). 5.45x39 is a great (super-cheap) alternative to either (and I believe they are now available from Saiga), however there are ZERO domestic ammunition manufacturers, so I would rule out this option. If someone starts making ammo here in the states I will be all over the AK-74.
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