Stupid Saiga question of the week!

[Col. Plink]

SO, got my first SaigaScrewUp out of the way this week! WOOHOO! Bought a scope mount that has no way to attach itself to the siderail on the Saiga308.

Ordered from MidwayUSA, which has scant few items of any description listed for Saigas, so I don't know WHAT KIND OF SIDERAIL SCOPE MOUNT DO I NEED FOR A SAIGA 308? I thought the stuff labeled for AK's would work, not so! I thought I had read that the siderail mounted on the AK's (Saiga's in this case) as they come from Izmash were universal and that Saiga's take the same scope mounts, but what do I know?

So if anyone can tell me what side-mount scope rails I need for a Saiga308 (especially available at Midway) I need I would be in your debt. Thanks!

 

[malix]

I thought I had read that the siderail mounted on the AK's (Saiga's in this case) as they come from Izmash were universal and that Saiga's take the same scope mounts, but what do I know?

Yes, that is correct, it has the standard AK siderail. There is also an SVD type of side mount which will not work with a Saiga. What exactly did you get?

 

[Col. Plink]

I got what they call a '3rd generation' Leapers mount

 

[malix]

If this is it then it should work -

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=115364

Although i notice that a couple of the customer reviews mention that they needed to do some filing to make it fit. Could that be the issue with yours as well?

 

[rangerruck]

is yours too tight/ too loose? There is an adjustment on the rail itself for those problems.Read the bottom entry here;
http://70.84.217.211/forums/showthread.php?t=57970

 

[Col. Plink]

That's the one, malix, but I cannot tell how it is supposed to attach. It slides on, but the hex screws pass through the mount ABOVE the rail itself. For the life of me I can't figure out how it's supposed to get any purchase to stay on.

The mount I have has no 'levers', just three screws that are actually recessed into the mount above where the rail on the receiver is. Unless maybe the screws are supposed to be tightened so tight that it squeezes the entire mount onto the rail (I doubt three hex screws are capable of compressing that much metal), I cannot fathom how this setup is supposed to work on a rail that it merely slides over. It looks as though something would have to be sticking out higher than the rail itself for these screws to get any purchase.

For what it's worth the '5th generation Leapers' on Midway has customer reviews for Saiga 223 and 762x39 owners... (no Saiga owner reviews fir the 3rd Gen in question)

 

[malix]

Unless maybe the screws are supposed to be tightened so tight that it squeezes the entire mount onto the rail

Thats what i was thinking. The mounts for my Kobra & POSP use the lever attached to a screw in order to clamp on to the rail that way.

 

[Col. Plink]

There is no lever.

Only three screws, I can't see how they could possibly be intended to bend and compress the metal onto the rail.

Has anyone out there actually used one of these?

 

[malix]

There is no lever.

Right, but what i mean is that the lever is attached to just 1 large screw which tightens down the mount so that it clamps on to the rail.

I dont see why 3 screws wouldnt be enough to hold it... have you tried it yet?

 

[Col. Plink]

Not as such, the screws are small enough that it looks like they would certainly strip before bending the mount to the rail. Not counting it out, though, just not too keen to try something that might damage it too far to return.

Question: does the one you're talking about actually engage a moving part (like the way most mounts are screw down directly), or does it apply enough pressure via this leveraged screw to actually shape the mount as a clamp on the rail? (sounds like that's the case) Just trying to envision how much force we're talking about here.

 

[hunter25]

The mount is aluminum and bends quite easily. I have one on a .223 and thought I broke it because it bent so much. It does seem to hold quite well though.

 

[malix]

Question: does the one you're talking about actually engage a moving part (like the way most mounts are screw down directly), or does it apply enough pressure via this leveraged screw to actually shape the mount as a clamp on the rail? (sounds like that's the case) Just trying to envision how much force we're talking about here.

You are correct, there is no moving part. The screw applies enough pressure to clamp on to the rail.

 

[Col. Plink]

Got it! Clamped it down, took it to the range, sighted-in with great success!