Saiga experiences?

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a Saiga is your new mid-level AK, with the yugos drying up and such. Saigas are somewhat noticeably more accurate than your throwback AKs, but they all function the same past that. The thing that makes a Saiga so nice is that you can get a really nice AK for only 550-700 bucks out of them, compared to paying 1100-1200 for an SLR Arsenal model as your next step up.

The only real cons to Saigas are: 1) finding one right now, and 2) converting one, since it means you can't enjoy it in its AK form until you're done

I bought the converted saiga from Atlantic. After fixing some of the negligence due to TG, it works like a thing of Russian art.
 
Converted mine a few months ago. Works great, functions beautifully.

I borrowed a friend's Norinco AK the other day and couldn't believe what a rattletrap the thing was. Likewise he was shocked how tight mine felt.:p

BTW I'm not sure why everyone is listing a drill press and all these expensive tools to build a conversion. I mainly used a Dremel with cutoff wheel, vise and hammer for most of it. Dinzag's bullet guide was a no brainer.
 
Pardon the dumb questions here. I've only been buying guns and doing regular plinking for the last year, and I'm now 53.
Very late-bloomer (the .22 Savage seldom left the closet in younger years).
There were two or three used or new Saiga rifles two weeks ago at Brighton Arms, Brighton, TN (15 min. north of Millington):
(901) 476-3030. Handled a .223 and either 7.62x39 or .308. Even their used guns can be tested at their range if ammo has no steel core.

I read several gun websites quite often and only see fragments and general descriptions of what the AWB was about.
Frankly, still have no idea at all as to just why the ATF requires X number of gun parts to be US-made.

1) Such a gun shoots bullets, no matter where the parts are made, so why does this matter with the ATF? Was it lobbying by US gun manufacturers?
2) What is an arsenal gun?

Mini 14/30, SKS and two MN 44s (plus closet-queen, ancient .22).
 
1) Gun laws don't make any sense. The federal AWB is dead, for now. Some states have state copies still in effect. 922(r) is a completely separate issue and is 100% in effect, and not likely to go away.

2) Arsenal is a Las Vegas, NV based company that makes very nice AKs (starting from Bulgarian parts) and sells them at very high prices. They are considered one of the nicest AK's you can get, but the price is awfully high.

Note that while Arsenal uses Bulgarian parts, not all Bulgarian guns are Arsenal nor even especially high quality.
 
The Saiga is a reasonably accurate and 100% reliable firearm. Cost is right at 300 bucks. I have several and a Arsenal SAM 7S with milled reciever. The Saiga is equally accurate and I find myself using it more that the Arsenal. I left the Saiga stock as it came.
 
I have no plans to convert mine. I bought mine and appreciate it for what it is...a simple, rugged, reliable, and cost effective...all around general purpose/utility rifle. Which is what I think the orginal poster was asking about. While some consider the conversion necessary/mandatory..others such as myself are happy with the rifle as it is. The conversion nets an extremely good AK...stock configuration nets an extremely good no frills utility rifle (with the option to do a conversion in the future should someone change their mind). All I have done with mine is to switch out the standard buttstock to a skeleton stock which is shorter..better fit for me. If magazine capaicity is or becomes a concern..by replacing 1 part such as the hand guard...and using US made magazines...as I understand it (insert appropriate legal disclaimers here) you are legal. There are some US made mags specifically for the Saiga...and other mags such as the Master Molder mags can be easily modified to fit and function as well.
 
I just bought a 7.62x39 already converted. It's the nicest AK I've ever handled, the receiver finish is excellent, and that sucker was zeroed right out of the box. I love my Saiga and will buy more if they become available in 5.45x39 and 7.62x54.
 
vent your handguard and it can look like this.....

attachment.php


The AK does benefit from a compensator/break. Not because the kick is excessive, but the muzzle rise will slow down getting rapid fire shots on target.

The Saiga rifles are well put together from quality parts.

The balance of the rifle is improved greatly by doing a "true" PG conversion (i.e. swapping out the fire controll group). I found the rifle to be obnoxiously front heavy in it's sporter configuration.

If you're 6' or over, consider getting a NATO length stock.

At the end of the day you'll have a good quality semi-auto AK. Nothing more and nothing less.

You can certainly get AKs cheaper.

If you're mechanically inclined and like to tinker, then you'll probably enjoy doing the conversion. Then you'll have the pride of having done it yourself and have an AK that's a little unique.

As far as tools go, many report getting it done with nothing more than a cordless drill and some good drill bits. Drilling the spot weld is a little bit of a bugger. As is tapping the hole for the bullet guide. The receivers are all coming into the country pre cut for the PG trigger and PG bolt ... and that was historically the hardest part of the conversion.

I found the Tapco G2 trigger to be surprisingly smoothe. Definitely a big imporvement over the sporter trigger with it's transfer bar.

Bullet guides are easy to make from a stub of 3/4" black iron pipe.

I personally wouldn't pay someone else to do the conversion for me.

Bottom line.... do what you want to do and what suites you best.
 
SSN VET said:
Bullet guides are easy to make from a stub of 3/4" black iron pipe
Click to expand...
. . . but you can certainly get your moneys worth from Dinzags's bullet guides.

For $30, Dinzags bullet guide is a much better choice than the frustration I'd have to endure making a guide from pipe.
 
the frustration I'd have to endure making a guide from pipe.
Click to expand...

to each his own...

some might call it the "joy of working with ones hands" and the "sense of accomplishment of DIY"

No slight to Dinzag, everyone I've heard of speaks well of both his products and business practices. He'a obviously a big Saiga enthusiast and graciously advised me on making my own when I posted questions on the Saiga forum.

This can be functionally accomplished with a hack saw and a file. You get a better fit if you have access to a lathe though, as the pipe wall thicknessis is slightly thicker than the arc shaped groove under the bolt face. Turning down the leading edge of the pipe makes bullet guide fit into the groove makes it lock up tight.
 
Such a gun shoots bullets, no matter where the parts are made, so why does this matter with the ATF? Was it lobbying by US gun manufacturers?
Click to expand...

there were alot of abusive practices by importing companies that led to a crackdown on several companies, and a general fear of cheap surplus ammo and AKs on the market - some of which were being imported as full-auto and in violation of NFA and the 1986 freeze (remember, this was during the gun fear of the 90's). So, they decided to make it so that could no longer be done by saying that non-sporting guns could not be imported with, say, any sort of barrel, a number of original parts, etc. without being built to some extent domestically in order to prevent said abusive companies from doing it ever again (and to inconvenience the gun industry). It really doesnt make any sense because the importers then just started importing chop-ups and assembling them by replacing the less costly components with American-made ones to by-pass the laws without spending more money to manufacture the whole gun here. Problem now is that alot of the chop-up parts kits are just about dried up from countries willing to scrap them off.

...and that is why you have to convert Saiga rifles yourself.
 
I bought a Saiga 7.62x39mm and put on a red dot from Tantal. It is the one gun I would grab if SHTF. I have a DSA Fal, AR 15 and M1. Never jams or fails. Ammo cheap.

The red dot holds zero and in my opinion is much more important than pricking around with a pistol grip.

Who wants to haul around a 30 rnd. magazine?
 
REOIV said:
All that said to get your 'cheap' saiga to look just like an Arsenal gun with a fixed stock you're looking at this.

Saiga 7.62x39 $299
K-var-Furniture set $110
Tapco Trigger Group $35
Muzzle Brake $20
Bullet guide (dinzagarms.com) $25
Hand guard retainer (dinzagarms.com) $75
Gas Tube (dinzagarms.com) $31
TOTAL: $595
Click to expand...

Well said.

I have nothing against Saigas. I bought one. When I realized the costs for a full conversion, I sold it and bought a CIA M70B1 for $510.
 
If you want one, get one now. I can't believe how the price of this rifle is going up.

As far as doing the conversion, it is simple. I hesitated for two months before I finally did it. I regret not doing it sooner. I still can't believe how easy it was.
 
That's one of the main advantages, you can buy the rifle now when you find a good price and convert it later when funds permit.

With the "better AKs" you've got to have all the cash up front to buy.

--wally.
 
When you say conversions does that mean you get as a shotgun and make it a 7.62, or does it mean you get a kit and build it yourself? How accurate, effective, and difficult to shoot is a Saiga 12?
 
no.

There are Saiga-12/20/whatever shotguns, then there are Saiga rifles. The rifles are currently available in 7.62, .223, and .308 over here stateside.
 
If you want one, get one now. I can't believe how the price of this rifle is going up.
Click to expand...
I paid $239 for a 16" in .223 a little over two years ago. No interest in converting it--I just wanted a cheap, reliable .223 semi-auto.
 
One thing I will say for converted rifles it that the trigger is SOOOOO much better.

Dinzag offers replacement triggers for unconverted rifles. I haven't used one but most of Dinzags stuff is really good.
 
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