Saiga 762X39 or .308?
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wally
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The Warsaw Pact side rail mounted scopes are pretty nice once you get used to the reticle, before I had lasik eye surgery my PSOP was about the only scope I could use effectively without reading glasses -- its even better now that that my astigmatism is also fixed.
These were a steal when they first came available as "surplus" at $60-100, I got three, wish I'd gotten more!
--wally.
These were a steal when they first came available as "surplus" at $60-100, I got three, wish I'd gotten more!
--wally.
If you go with the Beryl (and I do think it is the best way to mount a scope) I would use one of the "quick disconnect" models that attach in the rear via a latch. The ones that attach via a screw are much less expensive but to me it is definately worth the extra money to be able to unlatch the thing for cleaning and then simply snap it back down and have it hold zero.
The two I am looking at are the Krebs and the Texas weapon systems rails. I have only heard great things about the Krebs but it is spendy. Both allow for the use of a rear peep sight so you can have a back up sight.
I'm leaning towards the texas weapons system rail and I'll spend the extra $ for the rear peep. I want to get some more feed back on it though first.
The two I am looking at are the Krebs and the Texas weapon systems rails. I have only heard great things about the Krebs but it is spendy. Both allow for the use of a rear peep sight so you can have a back up sight.
I'm leaning towards the texas weapons system rail and I'll spend the extra $ for the rear peep. I want to get some more feed back on it though first.
The POSP 6x24V comes ready to go for the Saiga. I put one on my .308 and it works just fine. Being a southpaw, it's not "optimal", but having shot weapons all my life that were not optimal for lefties, this set-up is no worse than most others.
Recoil is nothing to note. 200 rounds at the range won't leave you bruised or damaged. Factory trigger is bad to worse, ammo still plentiful and it will eat anything you put into it. Mags are $35 and up, but who REALLY needs more than 2-3?
The 7.62x39 round is fun, less expensive and there are tons of options for 100 yard plinking. A WASR 10/63 gets the job done, it's already in an AK configuration and it goes boom everytime you pull the trigger.
So, unless you have money to burn, get the .308 in the Saiga, convert it if you must and enjoy the capability of really reaching out there (200yds +). Spend $350 on a WASR for the 39 and have fun at 100 yds and less.
Recoil is nothing to note. 200 rounds at the range won't leave you bruised or damaged. Factory trigger is bad to worse, ammo still plentiful and it will eat anything you put into it. Mags are $35 and up, but who REALLY needs more than 2-3?
The 7.62x39 round is fun, less expensive and there are tons of options for 100 yard plinking. A WASR 10/63 gets the job done, it's already in an AK configuration and it goes boom everytime you pull the trigger.
So, unless you have money to burn, get the .308 in the Saiga, convert it if you must and enjoy the capability of really reaching out there (200yds +). Spend $350 on a WASR for the 39 and have fun at 100 yds and less.
Hello sigbear. I bought both the 7.62x39 and 308 saiga rifles. I actually bought (2) 308 rifles with the 16.5 inch barrel because I am very impressed with this firearm and cartridge combined with the short barrel length. I'm certainly not going to try and tell anyone which caliber or firearm is better or best.
I used to own (5) CETME's. I enjoyed them but the Saiga 308 just fits me better. I am more accustomed to the controls of the AK platform. YMMV! And I absolutely hated the muzzlebrakes which came on some of the CETME's. Extremely loud! If you lived near to me I would let you shoot both for the experience and help you make up your mind which is right for you. Both have their pluses and minuses. I just love that 308 power. I posted a picture of a 16.5 inch barreled saiga with a Surefire 25 round magazine compared to a CETME with a 20 round magazine for comparision. The 7.62x39 saiga is a bit lighter than the 308-1 saiga but that is about it. I will admit the CETME's were more accurate than the saiga 308 rifle and seemed to kick less. But, I have only fired (1) of my saiga 308's so that is not a fair comparision. All of the (5) CETME's shot very well. Also, all of the CETME's except one had jamming issues. The one pictured needed almost 100 rounds fired through it before it ran right. Two of the (5) cetmes never came out of the jamming issue. I never had them gunsmithed either which would have probably fixed the problems.
I used to own (5) CETME's. I enjoyed them but the Saiga 308 just fits me better. I am more accustomed to the controls of the AK platform. YMMV! And I absolutely hated the muzzlebrakes which came on some of the CETME's. Extremely loud! If you lived near to me I would let you shoot both for the experience and help you make up your mind which is right for you. Both have their pluses and minuses. I just love that 308 power. I posted a picture of a 16.5 inch barreled saiga with a Surefire 25 round magazine compared to a CETME with a 20 round magazine for comparision. The 7.62x39 saiga is a bit lighter than the 308-1 saiga but that is about it. I will admit the CETME's were more accurate than the saiga 308 rifle and seemed to kick less. But, I have only fired (1) of my saiga 308's so that is not a fair comparision. All of the (5) CETME's shot very well. Also, all of the CETME's except one had jamming issues. The one pictured needed almost 100 rounds fired through it before it ran right. Two of the (5) cetmes never came out of the jamming issue. I never had them gunsmithed either which would have probably fixed the problems.
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malix
Member
^ i hope you have enough US made parts in that Saiga to be 922r compliant while using that big magazine.
but i'm sure you do. nice rifles.
but i'm sure you do. nice rifles.
Ignition Override
Member
nulfisin:
I became really interested in the idea of a CETME (yes, have read about problems. i.e. Century), but after reading many comments-and heard some in person-about the difficulty of reloading the banged-up .308 brass, it does not seem like an economical rifle to shoot, unless:
1) Buying a 'port buffer' and paying a gunsmith to install it is really cheap, and
2) A reloading beginner (who is also kind of new to guns) can easily find components to make it at about .30/round, after two-three hundred or so. Have seen US (Boxer)and Russian-made "Brown Bear" (Berdan primed, not reloadable) .308 ammo retail prices.
Col. Plink:
Your idea of securing an affordable ammo supply is my only critical factor in deciding whether to buy a given caliber rifle.
Last April, if Samco had already sold out their cheap .303 ammo, I probably would not have bought my first LE (#5 "Jungle Carbine").
If the ammo is not in my house, the rifle is postponed.
t165:
Very cool rifles, especially with the wood. Have you found an easy way to reload .308 for the CETMES at about .30/round, with stuff which Lt. Forrest Gump could find at current prices?
I became really interested in the idea of a CETME (yes, have read about problems. i.e. Century), but after reading many comments-and heard some in person-about the difficulty of reloading the banged-up .308 brass, it does not seem like an economical rifle to shoot
, unless:1) Buying a 'port buffer' and paying a gunsmith to install it is really cheap, and
2) A reloading beginner (who is also kind of new to guns) can easily find components to make it at about .30/round, after two-three hundred or so. Have seen US (Boxer)and Russian-made "Brown Bear" (Berdan primed, not reloadable) .308 ammo retail prices.
Col. Plink:
Your idea of securing an affordable ammo supply is my only critical factor in deciding whether to buy a given caliber rifle.
Last April, if Samco had already sold out their cheap .303 ammo, I probably would not have bought my first LE (#5 "Jungle Carbine").
If the ammo is not in my house, the rifle is postponed.
t165:
Very cool rifles, especially with the wood
. Have you found an easy way to reload .308 for the CETMES at about .30/round, with stuff which Lt. Forrest Gump could find at current prices?
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Ignition Override
Member
t165:
A friend will have a table with between a dozen and twenty Saiga-12s at the Jackson, TN gun show Saturday morning.
A friend will have a table with between a dozen and twenty Saiga-12s at the Jackson, TN gun show Saturday morning.
I didn't see you initial question Ignition Override. I do not reload for the CETME. I do not reload at all. I have friends that do it for me when I need something special. All I ever fired in the CETME's were 7.62x51 loaded milsurp shells. I do not how much of what I'm about to say next is true or not but I have been cautioned not to shoot commercial 308 ammunition in a CETME. I was also advise not to shoot commercial 308 brass reloads in the CETME. The reason had to do with the chamber flutes a CETME has and the belief that commercial 308 brass is thinner than military 7.62x51 brass. I honestly do not know if this is true or not. The argument is the thinner/weaker commercial 308brass could rupture or expand too much upon firing and stick in the chamber due to the flutes. Some have reported case heads ripped off 308 brass also resluting in a stuck shell. Also, some believe commercial 308 loaded cartridges are loaded to a higher pressure than nato 7.62x51 shells which justs exacerbates the beforementioned "alleged" problems with the CETME's chamber flutes. I'm not going to stick my neck out and take a position on how much if any of this is true. I replaced the last two black plastic stocks of my CETME's with stock kits from cheaperthandirt.com. The wood kits look nice and come with several accessories at a very low price.
What are the Saiga-12's bringing now? I got caught up in the "Obama scare" and paid $600.00 for my last one.
What are the Saiga-12's bringing now? I got caught up in the "Obama scare" and paid $600.00 for my last one.
Calm yourself Girodin! There is nothing for you get get all nervous about. No law is being broken. If you had any experience in law Enforcement you would know better than to make presumptous comments without knowing the facts first.
After I posted the picture I thought to myself I was going to receive some 922 compliance comments and was merely jesting over the Miranda Warning. I'm really not going to arrest myself and I didn't mean to scare anyone.
As for spending $600.00 for the Saiga-12. Well, that was the going price months ago. The Obama administrations decision to go after health care before other policies (gun control) was not known at that time. I decided to be safe than sorry. It still would have been nice to have known in advance and saved the $150.00.
After I posted the picture I thought to myself I was going to receive some 922 compliance comments and was merely jesting over the Miranda Warning. I'm really not going to arrest myself and I didn't mean to scare anyone.
As for spending $600.00 for the Saiga-12. Well, that was the going price months ago. The Obama administrations decision to go after health care before other policies (gun control) was not known at that time. I decided to be safe than sorry. It still would have been nice to have known in advance and saved the $150.00.
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