Saiga AK's, how do they weigh in?

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grimjaw

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I've been shopping around for another AK in .223. The Saiga's are reported to be quality rifles and consistently accurate. What I'm hoping to find out is what they weigh. I have an Arsenal SA M5 that I don't want to tote around because of the weight. I was hoping a stamped Saiga would weigh less, especially with a folding stock of some sort. How does it compare to a SAR 1/2/3 or the like?

Can anybody 'weigh' in on this subject? :scrutiny:

jmm
 
Check back tomorrow. After I pick one up from my local transfer agent, and bring it home, I'll weigh it and let you know. It is not the stock Saiga, though. It is a Tromix conversion.
 
Where do you get one and what kind of mags do they take? I've been looking for something like the .308.
 
Kentucky, I'm a distributor for Russian American and stock all the Saigas, and we pretty much monopolize Tromix now. :) Link to FBMG is in my sig line.
 
As far as I can tell from looking around arsenals website a while ago, the stamped rifles are about a pound lighter than milled..
 
i have three saigas, and they are all very accurate. I would also say that the are also all m.o.a. now i have the 16 in bbls, so i do not know how well the longer bbls shoot, but i would say that the weight of the saigas is the same as a milled ak , maybe lighter. the 223 has a one /9 twist, so it can handle the heavier rounds, which i like, and they will also take regular ak mags, with very little mods to the mag, usually just a little grinding to the back slope that goes up ward to the catch, and a small threaded screw down in the gap of the front catch.
 
Wow? MOA Saigas? Forget spending top dollar on AR's with custom barrels and free float tubes...:rolleyes:



I'm skeptical on Saigas being MOA. But not skeptical about them being accurate for that particular platform. I was thinking of ordering a Saiga tomorrow actually. So if that accuracy is true, I will be pleasantly surprised and will probably begin collecting many of them (and coverting them too).
 
I don't benchrest for tight groups often, but when I tried to using my .308 Saiga 16" it certainly approached 1 MOA (I don't recall any sub-MOA groups). I'm not an ace shot, either. I'm not saying all or most are MOA, just that it's not impossible.
 
the stamped rifles are about a pound lighter than milled

Unless you're talking about a VEPR, and it's as heavy or heavier than the milled versions.

I'm not up to spending $600+ only to find out I bought another 8.5lb 'carbine'. I'll get a WASR before I go that route.

jmm
 
I have 2 saigas that are several years old and love them. Whats the deal with having to move the trigger and install a pistol grip? mine came like that new. mine are 7.62 and by Far the most accurate ak type rifle i have ever fired. I dont have a scale but i think my chinese folding stock ak is heavier.:D
 
I believe that all Saigas have stamped receivers, there are no milled. Perhaps you are thinking of the MAK-90, a Chinese AK. Some of these have milled receivers (mine does). I believe the Saiga .308 weighs about 8.5 pounds.

Drakejake
 
Here is mine. It is plenty accurate. Only problem is I don't let the barrel cool enough (Having too much fun.) and it gets hot and accuracy suffers when it is hot.
BAW_Saiga_Small.jpg

/BTW, that's a 6x42 POSP scope on top.:cool:
 
Crosshair, is that the Saiga Galil handguard from Tapco? If so, how difficult was it to install?
 
http://www.raacfirearms.com/Saiga.htm

3.8 kilograms is 2.2 pounds. So the Saiga weighs 8.4 pounds. I was actually going to guess less than that before I looked it up, since they balance really well. Hmm... that weight is probably for the 21" barrels. I may have to stick one on the postal scale when I go into the store tomorrow morning.

Don't Tread On Me, in our experience, Saigas are a 2 MOA or better gun. I've had a few people report in excellent groups, especially with the .223 and some load experimentation. The .308 also has brought in some great ones. The 7.62x39 is mechanically the same, but I haven't gotten as many reports of super accuracy, but I chalk that up to lack of people handloading x39 and the lack of precision factory ammo.
 
i agree with correa, the 76239, you really have to bear down to get moa. the 223 is pretty easy to do it though. I still think the 76239 is pretty accurate, though. i was at the range about a month ago with it, and i was using the shoot and see targets at 100 yds. i loaded up 100 rounds in the mags, and with open sites, started shooting away. About 1 shot per every 10 seconds I would guess. the targets were the 3 inch targets. After the smoke had settled, i had hit the circle 96 times. Again , open sites, fast fire.
I think the weight from the siaga comes primarily from the bbls, it is pretty stocky. the accuracy def comes from how the bbl is made, cold pour hammer forged type.
 
Don't Tread On Me, in our experience, Saigas are a 2 MOA or better gun. I've had a few people report in excellent groups, especially with the .223 and some load experimentation.
Click to expand...

Sounds great. I'm looking mainly for a 0-50m blaster, with the ability to score a headshot at 100m if necessary (I know, silly requirement, but hey - it tickles me). Mostly as a super-duper quick go to home defense rifle that has no optics and gadgets attached. Bare-bones approach. Also, something expendable for road trips and travel.


Anyhow, curiosity has got the best of me, and I've put an order in for one in .223. When I get it, I'll try and borrow my buddy's side mount rail so I can mount my Burris scope and test for accuracy since I handload .223 and have been producing ammo with very low SD's. But that won't be for a while.


I'm wondering if the 1/9 twist 16" will stabilize a Hornady 75? Not a necessity, but would be interesting to find out. I'll test that too.
 
TexAg

Not hard at all, just put it on and tighten the screw. Not very "AK" looking, but I like it. Did the whole converson myself. (Had to wing it a bit when some parts didn't fit like the plans said.:uhoh: )
 
All regular AK sights should work on the Saiga. Except for the furniture and trigger group, they are pure Russian AK.

Don't Tread On Me, did you order that from me this weekend? Or some other "sniff" distributor? :p
 
From you of course! I always go with the company that offers customer support and information online. That's why I order stuff from many of the vendors on AR15.com, because they talk to their potential customers and are stand up guys. It is like getting the one on one interaction in a gunshop, but instead online, and with a business that has the right attitude (see the gunshop hate threads for lists of grievances).


Hopefully, the Russians will ship them soon. Don't they understand that the American people have needs? Like Saiga rifles and 7.62x39mm ammo? They need to get with it.
 
I had a Saiga .308 that was extremely reliable and accurate. Problem was, I didn't fee like spending hundreds of $$ to move the trigger group and buy new furniture, only to be stuck with a gun with a 22 inch barrel and only an 8-round mag. Mine had the hunting style stock and it just didn't look right. So, was cheaper to sell it and buy the AK I wanted. Now have the Armory USA in the traditional 7.62 (which I prefer) and have a nice heavy 1.6mm (instead of 1mm) stamped receiver, chrome lined hammer forged barrel, and other goodies.
 
How much does the 5.56 version weigh? I was considering getting another 5.56 rifle one of these days, but had been looking at the SU-16. I'll have to keep the Saiga in mind.

Which 5.56 AK mags work with that rifle? Or do you need to convert 7.62 mags?
 
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