SKS, Saiga 5.45 or something else

[mod60rimfire]

I am looking to buy a rifle but I am torn between a saiga in 5.45 or a SKS.
I got a chinese sks (under 2m serial, unissued) and a russian tula(white bolt) I am looking at.

 

[amd6547]

I recently bought a Saiga 5.45 and could not be happier. I also got a case of surplus Russian 7n6 ammo.
This little carbine shoots great, and I am impressed by the wicked little cartridge.

 

[jawn]

I'm quite fond of my SKS. I have a commercial production Norinco, and it's a blast to shoot.

 

[wnycollector]

I own all three rifles in your poll. I voted Saiga since it's hard to beat $0.11/ round for a centerfire rifle.

 

[mdThanatos]

Ammo cost alone, and fun factor the Saiga, 1,080 round cans for less than 200 bucks = lots of range time.

 

[chrt396]

A friend of mine just gave me a Chinese SKS that was manufactured in 1968 in the 26 arsenal. It had a black tacticool stock installed that I thought tacky. Bought a SKS wood stock, 10 round magazine box, stock bolt and had it all fitted for a total outlay of about $150. I bought some stain...oil, for the stock to refinish. Shot it this weekend and LOVED it! First at 25 yards. I just wanted to try it, since I never actually shot the darn thing. It went bang. Fired off 20 rounds..in a group of aprox 3 ", Went to 50 yards..groups stayed about the same. Will check out 100 yards this weekend. I guess that is about the limit for accuracy on the SKS. Fun gun and CHEAP!

 

[wnycollector]

I love my M/N and SKS. The are fun and cheap to shoot, but 5.45x39 is the king of cheap. US Armory has 2160 rounds for $238+shipping here http://www.usarmorycorps.com/index....pl&product_id=65&Itemid=53&vmcchk=1&Itemid=53

 

[P5 Guy]

I'm very happy with the Russian SKS I have.

 

[M1key]

+1 for the Saiga

fun/cost/accuracy factor

M

 

[amd6547]

"...I'd like to get a 5.45 Saiga but until I do and see for myself that it's as dependable as my SKS I won't be convinced...."
The Saiga is a Kalashnikov made by Izhmash, for crying out loud...What more do you need?
I bought Saiga 5.45, cleaned the bore, and lubed the action with WeaponShield CLP. Took it to the range, and fired 100rds through it with perfect function, and very good accuracy. About 2.5 to three inches at 100yds using irons and surplus 7n6 ammo.
I have owned a Norinco SKS, and several AK's, so I am well familiar with the 7.62x39...the 5.45 is a fantastic round for SD/HD use. Hornady now sells a 60gn Vmax bullet which most likely will not overpenetrate. 7n6 with its designed in quick yaw would be excellent for SD and for varmints like coyote.
I bought a case of 2160 rounds of 7n6 for $299 delivered...I want to get more while it is cheap.

 

[CornCod]

The SKS and Saiga are good rifles. The only downside to the Saiga is the expensive magazines, which cost in the neighborhood 20-30 dollars apiece. The SKS uses cheap stripper clips, which cost pennies apiece. The Saiga is lighter and manufactured as a new weapon. If you can afford the magazines get the Saiga. If the Saiga mags are a deal breaker, get an SKS. As for Mosin-Nagants, they are a great way to get full-sized .30 caliber rifle practice without breaking the bank. However, the Mosin's bolt is awkward to operate and the rimless cartridges sometimes jam-up in the internal magazine. While some guerillas and irregulars are still toting Mosins, they are not optimum for self-defense.

 

[amd6547]

It has been reliably reported to me that the Saiga 5.45 can use Bulgarian surplus 30 rd mags with no problem. The few that do have a problem can have a bullet guide owner installed which cures them.

 

[Twmaster]

I voted for the SKS. Price on both the gun and the ammo is the selling point for me.

 

[mshootnit]

I have had SKS rifles and several saiga 5.45 I would go Saiga 5.45 if you could find one.

 

[amd6547]

Jeff56...I have long experience with the AK, including having built my own. I have owned AK's built by very good custom builders. I have owned a pre ban Hungarian AK, considered one of the very best imports.
I now own a 5.45 Saiga, and it is a fantastic rifle...one which can be kept fully stock, or easily converted to standard AK style. I am thinking I will keep mine stock.
It really is a very capable little carbine. I consider it and it's ammo to be the best deal in a semi auto rifle. ...and they do seem to function with standard magazines.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Proof. Speculation isn't proof for crying out loud. Remington makes the Wingmaster 870, the 700 and the 710. Just because a company makes one gun that's good it doesn't mean they make all their guns well. The 710 is junk compared to those other Remington products.

You're talking about a gun that has been built in peoples garages for decades that have little to no experiance building a gun and they work with the first round. Doesn't Izhmash build the rifles for the Russian military anyway?

 

[M1key]

I'd like to get a 5.45 Saiga but until I do and see for myself that it's as dependable as my SKS I won't be convinced. I have too much experience with the SKS to doubt it.

I own/owned several Izhmash-built Saigas in all calibers except 30-06. The 5.45 Saiga is as quality-built and reliable as all the rest of their models. AK buffs consider Russian Saigas to be top notch, NEW MANUFACTURE rifles...not somebody's surplus rifles or built with used, left-over parts...and are excellent platforms for custom conversions. Ever watch "Sons of Guns"?

M

 

[bri]

Proof. Speculation isn't proof for crying out loud. Remington makes the Wingmaster 870, the 700 and the 710. Just because a company makes one gun that's good it doesn't mean they make all their guns well. The 710 is junk compared to those other Remington products.

Proof? Do you need a tour of their factory?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izhmash

 

[straybullet]

I bought a $300 Chinese 56 with no matching serials. Decided to go all out Tapco with it and am very satisfied. One of my cheapest and funnest guns to take to the range.

 

[ball3006]

I have all of them and you can't go wrong with any of them........chris3

 

[Kliegl]

I must quote Ivan Chesnokov here about tacticooling the SKS

WHAT IN <beep> IS DONE TO THIS POOR RIFLE? STUPID HICK AMERICAN WITH TEN GALLON HAT AND GIANT PICKUP TRUCK LOOKS AT PERFECTLY FINE SIMONOV KARBIN AND SAYS "NO, RIFLE NEED MORE DUMB <beep> ON IT"?

WHAT IS REASON FOR PISTOL GRIP? IF YOU NEED TO FIRE FROM HIP IN EMERGENCY, NOW HAND IS TWISTED INTO PAINFUL ANGLE AND YOU MISS EVERY ENEMY! LOOK AT WRONG ANGLE OF BAYONET! LOOK AT CHEAP PLASTIC MAGAZINE THAT FEEDS CARTRIDGE LIKE CONSTANTLY JAMMING PEZ CANDY BOX! WHERE DID CLEANING STICK GO?

I HEAR OF 922 LAW IN AMERICA. ADDING PISTOL GRIP TO WEAPON MEANS YOU CHANGE OTHER PARTS. WHAT ELSE YOU <beep>? YOU PUT NEW BOLT EDIFICE? HOW ABOUT BAD FIT RECEIVER COVER FOR CHEAP SCOPE TO SHOW OFF AT HICK PARTY AND NEVER HIT LARGEST SIDE OF BARN?

SURE, IS ONLY YUGOSLAV COPY TYPE BUT IS STILL PROUD DESIGN OF SERGEI SIMONOV. THIS IS LIKE SENDING HIM BIRTHDAY CARD WITH SEVERED OFF THUMB OF DAUGHTER IN ENVELOPE. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SERGEI! I <beep> ON ALL YOU CREATE!" LARGE MOUND FORMS OVER SIMONOV'S GRAVE BY CONSTANT TUMBLING OF HIS ANGRY CORPSE. IS FAULT OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

RIFLE WAS FINE BEFORE YOU <beep> IT. NOW IS TRASH. MAYBE YOU CHECK IN GARAGE AND ORIGINAL BOLT EDIFICE AND WOOD ARE STILL THERE. MAYBE IS NOT TOO LATE TO KEEP RIFLE SOMETHING NOT SHAMEFUL TO TAKE TO FIRING RANGE. TAKE <beep> OF GOAT AWAY AND COULD STILL BE GOOD WEAPON.

I took the expletives out, heh.

 

[spence]

I have a saiga in .308 . I think its an excellent rifle . I would choose a saiga in 5.56/.223 caliber . more choices , and availability of ammo.

 

[GRIZ22]

I wouldn't buya 5.45 as while ammo is cheap and plentiful now that may not be the case 5 years from now. You most likely won't find it at your local gun shop. Only one commercial manufacturer makes that caliber AFAIK.

If you want a Saiga get the 223.

 

[forestdavegump]

SKS for Semi-auto

the Mosin Nagant and a ton of ammo For the price these are incredible and well made?(considering) battle proven, etc etc. You can get a rifle and 1k-1500 rounds of ammo for the price of a good Yugo SKS.

I love my M/N and SKS. The are fun and cheap to shoot, but 5.45x39 is the king of cheap. US Armory has 2160 rounds for $238+shipping here http://www.usarmorycorps.com/index....pl&product_id=65&Itemid=53&vmcchk=1&Itemid=53

So what does your wallet say?

 

[forestdavegump]

How many times do I have to say this. I need to have one in my hands. That's not so hard to understand is it? Apparently it is for some people. Do you believe everything you read on the net? If you do I have a great piece of land in Florida that's for sale. It's got a view of the Everglades (in every direction). I can let it go for the low, low price of $1000. Send me a PM and I'll tell you where to send the check. Well technically it isn't "land" I guess but there's land under that water somewhere. It's probably right below the pythons and the gators. I will have to say the road is a little wet some of the time (no more than 99.9% of the time I assure you for crying out loud). Just bring a swamp boat and lots of gas and you're gator gun and a snake trap and LOTS of insect repellant and you'll be all set (for crying out loud).

I don't really have the money to buy anything right now. I just spent $4000 on a lawnmower. That sorta set me back on my gun budget. Plus I've bought all sorts of new computer equipment. Gotta stay modern in my business. So bri if you have a few hundred bucks to loan me or you buy my "property" then maybe I'll buy a new gun. But I will probably get something else right now. You know how it is. I have other things I want more for crying out loud. For crying out loud I would buy those first for crying out loud.

MAYBE someday I'll buy one. I'm not looking to buy anything right now except a better scope for my long range rifle and some upgrade parts for some of my other rifles and maybe a better shooting rimfire rifle even though I have one that shoots pretty darn good. I've won my share of contests with it but for crying out loud there's always something better out there. I guess I do have some money coming from the sale of the timber on my farm but I need a tractor pretty bad and there is that right of way lawsuit I'm fighting. I could lose I guess (for crying out loud).

I have nothing against these guns but taking the word of someone I don't know on the net isn't my idea of using common sense. My pappy didn't raise no idjits. Heck I don't trust half of the people I actually know. I'm not trying to insult anyone BTW. I really just don't want to buy another rifle that essentially does what the one I already have does. That rifle has been so close to perfect it's amazing. It's just me and the wife here and we have enough guns to keep firing for a week without reloading so it's not like I "need" another semi-auto carbine. I've said it several times I've been interested in buying them recently. I might have bought one at the local gun shop but it was a .223 and AFAIK that's not the best choice in a Saiga from what I've read. Again I want to get my hands on one before I make up my mind anyway. I am not in the habit of speculating about guns I haven't fired or owned and I'm not in the habit of taking people's word on such things. Nothing person. It's just the hillbilly way.

(for crying out loud)