Saiga Sporter?
- Thread starter sigbear
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malix
Member
The sporter stock feels cheap, the trigger is no bueno, and the magazines are expensive... all of which are addressed by a basic conversion.
Its not a bad rifle in its stock form, but the conversion is well worth it IMHO.
Its not a bad rifle in its stock form, but the conversion is well worth it IMHO.
Handgunner
Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2008
- Messages
- 197
I have one in .223 that I plan on leaving stock. I like it.
I do plan on getting one in 7.62 and converting it.
I do plan on getting one in 7.62 and converting it.
Kymasabe
Member
Convert.
I've owned over a dozen Saiga's. I even managed to keep one 7.62x39 sporter in stock form for almost three years while I bought, converted, and sold others. I'd drag it out of the safe, take it to the range with it's prettier converted siblings, fire a few rounds thru it and put it away for next time.
Bottom line is, the stock is horrible. It's hollow junk that the russians thru on knowing that the gun was going to be converted.
The stock trigger is horrible. It's long, gritty, has a poor break, real piece of crap. And, the gun has no balance. Period.
If you want to keep it in stock condition without converting, I'd suggest keeping an eye on eBay or the Saiga forum and look for someones .308 rifle wooden furniture. It may or may not fit on a 7.62 or .223 gun, no promises, but at least it's better than the plastic junk that comes on the other models.
Also, go to the Dinzag Arms website, there's tons of conversion parts, tutorials, and answers. But, again, if you're keeping the gun stock, they offer a much better trigger for stock guns that will greatly improve the trigger feel.
Don't panic about the conversion. It's really easy. If you have a pulse and opposable thumbs, you can do the conversion. You'll sweat thru the first one, then when it's done you'll say "Wow, that was easy" and you'll be hooked and blow right thru the next one. (Yes, they're addicting and you WILL get another one.) You'll need some really basic handtools, the tutorial handy, and about three hours. It's really no biggie. The gun will have much better trigger and balance.
I've owned over a dozen Saiga's. I even managed to keep one 7.62x39 sporter in stock form for almost three years while I bought, converted, and sold others. I'd drag it out of the safe, take it to the range with it's prettier converted siblings, fire a few rounds thru it and put it away for next time.
Bottom line is, the stock is horrible. It's hollow junk that the russians thru on knowing that the gun was going to be converted.
The stock trigger is horrible. It's long, gritty, has a poor break, real piece of crap. And, the gun has no balance. Period.
If you want to keep it in stock condition without converting, I'd suggest keeping an eye on eBay or the Saiga forum and look for someones .308 rifle wooden furniture. It may or may not fit on a 7.62 or .223 gun, no promises, but at least it's better than the plastic junk that comes on the other models.
Also, go to the Dinzag Arms website, there's tons of conversion parts, tutorials, and answers. But, again, if you're keeping the gun stock, they offer a much better trigger for stock guns that will greatly improve the trigger feel.
Don't panic about the conversion. It's really easy. If you have a pulse and opposable thumbs, you can do the conversion. You'll sweat thru the first one, then when it's done you'll say "Wow, that was easy" and you'll be hooked and blow right thru the next one. (Yes, they're addicting and you WILL get another one.) You'll need some really basic handtools, the tutorial handy, and about three hours. It's really no biggie. The gun will have much better trigger and balance.
Handgunner
Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2008
- Messages
- 197
Yep. I want a 7.62, a .308 and a Saiga 12.
SSN Vet
Member
whatever you do... if you get a Saiga, make sure you get the 16' barrel.
the two main drawbacks to the sporter config. are....
1. trigger is rough, largely due to the transfer linkage that is added to move the trigger group back far enough to accomodate the sporter stock.
2. the rifle is front heavy and distance from your rear hand grip to the COG makes it feel even more front heavy.
that's in addition to the inherant AK issues...
3. short sight radius and so-so iron sights
4. heave bolt carrier, which generates a lot of dynamic forces and flexes the rifle, affecting accuracy.
If you don't want an "assault style rifle" with high caps, there are a lot of other choices out there for roughly the same money that will yield FAR greater accuracy for range fun. A bolt action Savage being one of them.
But if you want a very reliable 10 round semi-auto rifle that will never let you down, get the Saiga.
After 6 months, you'll hear it crying out to you to be converted and then you'll have a fun and relatively easy project to enjoy.
the two main drawbacks to the sporter config. are....
1. trigger is rough, largely due to the transfer linkage that is added to move the trigger group back far enough to accomodate the sporter stock.
2. the rifle is front heavy and distance from your rear hand grip to the COG makes it feel even more front heavy.
that's in addition to the inherant AK issues...
3. short sight radius and so-so iron sights
4. heave bolt carrier, which generates a lot of dynamic forces and flexes the rifle, affecting accuracy.
If you don't want an "assault style rifle" with high caps, there are a lot of other choices out there for roughly the same money that will yield FAR greater accuracy for range fun. A bolt action Savage being one of them.
But if you want a very reliable 10 round semi-auto rifle that will never let you down, get the Saiga.
After 6 months, you'll hear it crying out to you to be converted and then you'll have a fun and relatively easy project to enjoy.
Last edited:
Flash!
Member
I have three Saigas with no intentions of converting any of them... they are fun just like they come from the factory....
Maverick223
Member
Rid yourself of the the evil within...for the love of gawd you must...
Convert!
Convert!
OrangePwrx9
Member
I've got three, all unconverted. Like 'em just fine as is. If they ever get boring or seem lacking, I'll convert them.
There's got to be a problem before I'll go to the trouble of fixing something.
Bob
There's got to be a problem before I'll go to the trouble of fixing something.
Bob
rangerruck
Member
I have one still unconverted; but that is not going to last. but as is, it is still a fabulous shooter, just the trigger slaps back, and with no pistol grip, it is a bit of a pain to hump around, and shooting offhand, or wanting more control from the bench, is harder without the grip, but not impossible for either situation. I regularly hunt with, and plink/target shoot with mine. the silver bear hollow points are very accurate in this rifle.
But it is still getting converted...
But it is still getting converted...
nalioth
Member
I think you've missed the "fix".OrangePwrx9 said:
These are actual Kalashnikovs "fixed" for importation.
"Converting" is the common term, but more accurately, it should be "deconverting" or "restoring (to the original)".
Maverick223
Member
Amen, it is unsporterizing a classic milsurp (well, other than the surplus part).
I just bought the wood thumbhole stock 7.62x39. Trigger is in the right place. And it's not so bad.
Heavy as a tree though. And can't convert it.
May eventually look into going full AK look with my Saiga 12. But's it's got a tapco pistol grip stock, took me 5 min, just can't use the 5 round mag, or I am breaking the law. Have to use ten rounders.
Heavy as a tree though. And can't convert it.
May eventually look into going full AK look with my Saiga 12. But's it's got a tapco pistol grip stock, took me 5 min, just can't use the 5 round mag, or I am breaking the law. Have to use ten rounders.
nalioth
Member
I believe you are misinformed about 922r and your Saiga shotgun.Aka Zero said:
You can use the 5 rounders all you like, unless you've installed a bayonet lug or grenade launcher on your shotty.
JUST adding a pistol grip does not instantly trigger 922r.
Own a few Saigas. NONE are converted or ever will be. Trigger is serviceable. I prefer the fast handling of the rifle stock. Out of the box, they are the most accurate Kalashnikovs I own. That's including a few milled Arsenal Bulgarians...
rangerruck
Member
AKA zero; what you mean? can't convert it? If the trigger is allready in the right place, then it is allready 'converted' back is it not? if you wanna, you can just get some kewl furniture , take the wood off, put on the other stuff, and now you have it back in it's origional intent, is it not? could you not add a few parts, like a piston or such, and 3 other parts, and it would still be fine for 922r?
Maverick223
Member
Huh? How does that work? You have to use "evil hi-cap magazines"?
FWIW, I find the 10rnd mags a bit unwieldy, fun for range, but for more serious applications I would turn to the Russian 5rnd mag. I haven't tried the 8rnd (I don't recall ever having seen one), and have heard they cost a fortune, but they may be the best option for size vs. capacity.
Can't convert my saiga because it's this type (top one)
Bottom wasr got traded for a saiga 12. Wasr was pretty poor compared to new russian.
And I have never claimed to understand guns laws. Why can't it be not infringed. Red tape is pretty infringing. But I like to stay out of the gray areas as much as possible.
Bottom wasr got traded for a saiga 12. Wasr was pretty poor compared to new russian.
And I have never claimed to understand guns laws. Why can't it be not infringed. Red tape is pretty infringing. But I like to stay out of the gray areas as much as possible.
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