I have a tradition of getting my children a rifle made in the year they were born... I have a 3 week old son and have been seriously considering getting hime a Sig 556 with quad rails... I've also been wanting a .308 Saiga... I already have a Golani in .223 with quad rails and don't think there would be TOO much difference between the two rifles... except the bolt is a little different and the Sig can take AR mags.... decisions.... btw I already have a number of other rifles... AK Polish underfolder, AMD-65, Olympic arms k30r, Wasr 10/63, and my Golani is my 3-gun competition rifle... I do need to get my son something but I can't afford both now... what would you get your son?
sig 556 vs Saiga .308
- Thread starter JohnnyK
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I love the Sig 556 on paper. Its execution has left me somewhat disappointed, particularly for the price. Double that for the sig556R I'd rather have a nice AR than the sig.
I do like the S308. I would only own one that was converted (speaking of the regular version and not the ver21) so unless you are planning on that I'd skip the S308.
I do like the S308. I would only own one that was converted (speaking of the regular version and not the ver21) so unless you are planning on that I'd skip the S308.
Ranger30-06
Member
If your willing to do a little work, the Saiga is amazing. I never really took towards the SIG. It just has always seemed that an AR-15 could do the job a little better and its more customizable.
vvvvvvvvvv Yes, I own a Saiga .308 and I am in the middle of building an AR-15
vvvvvvvvvv Yes, I own a Saiga .308 and I am in the middle of building an AR-15
Tommygunn
Member
I think the more recently made Sig 556s are better than the old ones.
I have a 556 Patrol which is good. I did not like the original Sig diopter sight so it's been replaced.
But it hasn't ever hiccuped once.
I have a 556 Patrol which is good. I did not like the original Sig diopter sight so it's been replaced.
But it hasn't ever hiccuped once.
Tommygunn
Member
Accuracy is good, although I haven't had time to do much other than zero in the Eotech the 556 is wearing and assure the BUIS Magtec rear works accuratly.
It is more accurate than my WASR 10 and probably almost as much as my AR.
It is more accurate than my WASR 10 and probably almost as much as my AR.
cluttonfred
Member
I love the title, kind of "Opel Manta vs. Lada 4x4."
Seriously, though, I can't really offer any opinions on the two rifles you mentioned, though I generally like the Saigas--ugly but effective and inexpensive if you keep them more or less stock.
On the other hand, if it were me getting a rifle for my newborn son, I'd want to get him something that he could start shooting young and continue to shoot and enjoy all his life. I'd also want something that might actually last that long.
Personally, I'd suggest a quality .22 LR. The guns you are talking about are not cheap and $600 will buy you an awfully nice .22: Browning lever, auto or bolt; Marlin Golden 39; Henry Golden Boy or something really classy like a CZ-452 with a full stock.
Cheers,
Matthew
Seriously, though, I can't really offer any opinions on the two rifles you mentioned, though I generally like the Saigas--ugly but effective and inexpensive if you keep them more or less stock.
On the other hand, if it were me getting a rifle for my newborn son, I'd want to get him something that he could start shooting young and continue to shoot and enjoy all his life. I'd also want something that might actually last that long.
Personally, I'd suggest a quality .22 LR. The guns you are talking about are not cheap and $600 will buy you an awfully nice .22: Browning lever, auto or bolt; Marlin Golden 39; Henry Golden Boy or something really classy like a CZ-452 with a full stock.
Cheers,
Matthew
sansone
Member
johnnyk-
any other choices? I don't particularly care for either of those two rifles.
I do like the saiga in x39 though.
Sig makes quality firearms, just prefer an AR15 if 5.56 is the caliber of choice
any other choices? I don't particularly care for either of those two rifles.
I do like the saiga in x39 though.
Sig makes quality firearms, just prefer an AR15 if 5.56 is the caliber of choice
Cal-gun Fan
Member
I'm 15 and weigh less than 150 pounds. I love shooting my Mosin Nagant and my dad/my Garand, so why couldn't somebody under 150 pounds shoot a .308? Plenty of people do! If necessary, get a recoil pad or a shooting jacket or something, or just don't shoot tons of rounds out of it at a time.
Ranger30-06
Member
I'm also going to disagree with that statement. I'm a lot bigger than 150lbs, but .308 out of a Saiga (gas piston operated and almost 9 lbs converted and loaded) has about 1/3 the recoil of shooting .308 in a bolt action. When you pull the trigger on a Saiga .308, there's 2' of flame and a concussion that will seem like a small earthquake (no I am not exaggerating, it's really like that), but the recoil is a firm shove against your shoulder. It's not like in a bolt action where you get that sharp snapback as soon as you pull the trigger. Heck, my 9 year old 80lb brother shot a magazine through it a long time ago and even he said "Hey, that wasn't as bad as it looks!"
I can understand the statement in a bolt-action, lever action, pump action, or single shot, but it's just simply not true with the Saiga.
Are you looking for a rifle to hand down to the kids, or are you just looking for a fun new toy? It seems like it's much more of the later than the former.
If you are really looking for something to hand down to the kid, a nice bolt action or something classic like an M1A would be my choice. But if you are looking for a fun plinker for yourself, then the Saiga looks hard to beat. I myself am interested in the Sig 550 series, but in a country dominated by AR's it's hard to justify buying one. They both do the same thing in a similar fashion, yet one has a gigantic aftermarket and the other doesn't.
If you are really looking for something to hand down to the kid, a nice bolt action or something classic like an M1A would be my choice. But if you are looking for a fun plinker for yourself, then the Saiga looks hard to beat. I myself am interested in the Sig 550 series, but in a country dominated by AR's it's hard to justify buying one. They both do the same thing in a similar fashion, yet one has a gigantic aftermarket and the other doesn't.
InkEd
Member
I vote for the Sig556. I've owned one forabout a year now and have now complaints other than it's a little heavy. Recoil is a joke with it and it's been very reliable. I bought the Classic with the Swiss style handguards. It looks better and weighs less than the railed versions. If you want to stuff on it, you can add small pieces of picatinny rail to it. The trigger on the gun feels different from anything else but in a good way. The early models had some issues but have been fixed in the newer models. I like the rear diopter sight.
mortablunt
Member
Let me get this out of the way: I have never fired a Sig 556, but I have handled them at gun shows. Now that's over, let me state the two things I can honestly say about them. Firstly, they are expensive. The performance is supposedly great, but I really cannot see a reason to dump the money on it. Secondly, I have no clue how to use the sights on it and think that their design is awful.
I can recommend the Saiga. Think of it as an AK styled to look more like a "traditional hunting weapon".
I can recommend the Saiga. Think of it as an AK styled to look more like a "traditional hunting weapon".
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