SAIGA - best bang for the buck?

[makarov]

Now that you can supposedly get high-caps for the SAIGA sporter rifles, they would seem to be one of the best buys out there. I am planning on getting one of the 7.62x39 models soon. CDNN has them pretty cheap, not as cheap as they were last year, but... I noticed on the EAA website that they are going to start making a SAIGA with a "skeletonized" stock. Do you suppose this means a thumbhole or Fiberforce style stock? There were no pictures of the new design.

Just my two cents, but since these guns come in .223 and .308 too, there doesn't seem much reason to buy a Ruger Mini-14 or 30 or CETME.

 

[Eric86GT]

Saiga is the best bang for the buck right now while they last. Don't count on Saiga hi-caps being available anytime soon. It's not hard to mod it to accept AK mags though.

EAA will not be importing the Saiga line anymore. Remington has bought the rights to other lines EAA has been importing, but not Saiga. Hopefully an importer will be found soon. I'd hate this to be the end of Saigas in the U.S.

 

[Slimjim]

Saiga is currently looking for a new importer, but says it'll take about 8 weeks or months, something like that, for the paperwork to go through.

 

[wally]

It's be great if CDNN became the importer!

I think it'd be pretty hard for anyone to do worse than EAA.

--wally.

 

[azrael]

Personally I am glad that Remmy didnt aquire the rights to the Saiga's...We couldnt afford them if they did...

I dont know if CDNN has the money to BE an importer, but since I am on a mission to aguire FIVE different models, I hope someone does soon...

 

[Drakejake]

Both the rifles and the mags are in short supply. CDNN has had 10 round mags for the 7.62 by 39 for $10--a great price--but has no other Saiga rifle mags, as of the last time I checked. EAA has no mags except the same ones that CDNN has been selling much cheaper IIRC. There are no 20 rounders for the .308 in existence, so far as anyone seems to know. Perhaps in six months. A few of the 30 rounders for the 7.62 by 39 are around. Non-Saiga mags will not fit in these rifles. This is by design, as I understand, to make the rifles importable under federal law. To use other mags for the .308 you have to modify the rifle considerably as well as the mags. Mags have to comply precisely with the specifications of the rifle in order to work reliably. At least regular AK mags resemble the Saiga mags for the 7.62, but these also cannot just be plugged in. So, Saigas are great rifles at CDNN prices but the mag situation is not very good.

Drakejake

 

[jefnvk]

For a 7,62x39, I am more in favor of the SKS. FOr $99 every now and then, I think it is simply the best buy on the market.

Saigas are still a really good buy, though, if you want a semi-auto intermediate cartridge.

 

[Eric86GT]

The AK mags can be used in the 7.62x39 Saigas by grinding the mag catch down a little and installing a feed ramp before the chamber like AKs have. Some people choose to modify the AK mags themselves by grinding down the tab on the back and building up the front to properly feed in the Saiga.

 

[azrael]

ak-103.com for the 762/39

 

[plateshooter]

I had a couple 20 round 308 Saiga mags on backorder from EAA. I got an email last week saying that they decided not to import them any longer and that my order was cancelled. Doesn't look to good for the hi caps at this time.

 

[Browns Fan]

Funny that you guys just happenned to start this thread. I bought a Saiga 7.62x39 a month ago and finally got it out to the range today and fired 4 boxes of Wolf through it (Ouch! My aching shoulder!). I was just using the standard iron sights on it at 30 yds and it was shooting a little low and to the left. Other than that, great gun!