Tell me about the Saiga.

[Stormshotty]

I have heard that the Saiga has a lot of qualities similar to the AK. For 350 bucks, this sounds like a great deal, especially since it can be converted to an AK later on. However, I have a few questions.

How good is an unmodded Saiga? Does the fact that the trigger needs to be linked to an internal trigger significantly decrease its reliability? When they say it shares qualities similar to the AK, does they just mean cosmetically, or is it just as rugged/reliable as the AK? What is the difference between a converted Saiga and just buying an AK? If any of you have had problems with the Saiga, I'd love to hear those too. Thanks!

 

[tju1973]

It is an AK-- trigger not the greatest, but serviceable. You can spend minimal money and with the help of a Dremmel and a drill, you can make it a normal looking AK---

To each his own, but a Saiga is an AK...

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Reliability wise? It's a brand new AK action built in Russia on Russian equipment in the original factory.

They just have to be imported in sporter configuration, and the link system it takes to make the trigger work causes the trigger pull to be less than desireable in most cases.

Accuracy wise, most are capable of between 2" and 3"@100 yards with ammo they like.

Conversions back to standard configuration can be done for about 200 bucks in an afternoon by someone with a small amount of mechanical skill. Just watch your parts count for 922 compliance.

I own several, and have been pleased with all of them.

 

[JAV8000]

Unconverted Saiga's point and balance terribly and have mushy triggers. Converted Saiga's are top of the heap for an AKM clone. AKM's make great all purpose (hunting, defense, SHTF, etc) rifles except for their stock iron sights. They suck past 25 yds imho and the AK requires a quality side mount for optics. Id go for one of the russian made dot or scope sights with built in quick release mount. They are a little pricey but no more than an Eotech and much less than an ACOG. I got a new Mini 14 tactical (not the offal pistol grip version) over a Saiga only because it had a nice aperture site in its stock 6.5# form. They are also excellent light weight all purpose rifles, as long as they are kept the way a Garand was designed to be fielded. Hope this helps.

 

[TXHORNS]

I love mine in 7.62x39. For the price you cant beat it. I haven't done the AK conversion but I did buy a crapco adj stock for it and some polymer mags. I have heard many times that the conversion is way better but Im too happy with mine to mess with it. I have enough gun projects that never get done.

The iron sights aren't great but they work for me out to 50 yards pretty well. Once I get an ACOG for my AR my eotech is going on my Saiga. I think its the best deal going on AK style guns whether you convert it or not. My round count is around 1500 btw with no problems.

 

[kmcintosh78]

I would not trade my 308 for the world.
I am keeping it unconverted, but modified as a scout rifle.

 

[RatDrall]

Saiga is the only real Russian AK currently available.

I've heard they are very well made, and much better than the cobbled together parts guns we usually see here.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I've heard they are very well made, and much better than the cobbled together parts guns we usually see here.

You heard right. Short of a few high end builders, they're the best out there.

 

[Maverick223]

I have had horrible problems out of my Saiga (S-12)...I had a heck of a time finding one (without paying a fortune), then the gunsmith silver soldered the sights on (HK style) which promptly fell off, then I ran out of ammo and forgot to clean it for 3 months...but it still fires every time.

The Saiga is a great rifle for the price...it is as well built, reliable, rugged, and accurate (or inaccurate) as any other AK...buy it without fear, they are about the best and cheapest. Just make sure and convert it...it makes it relatively well balanced, and improves the trigger 200%...mine is about 2lbs. with no creep (best AK trigger that I have pulled).

 

[rockstar.esq]

I was once pondering buying one. As it turns out I didn't however a good friend of mine did. What's odd about Saiga's is that they get equally good and bad reviews of the trigger. I looked at it and discovered that the real reason for this is because the trigger pivots FAR more than a typical trigger. As a result if you try to pull straight back like a 1911 trigger you'll find it's heavy, gritty, and inconsistent. However if you pull it like a DA revolver with your hand riding more acutely on the stock it will feel like a very well tuned revolver trigger. I honestly believe it's more about how the stock fits you than the mechanism of the trigger that gives it the feel.

 

[red_cedar]

Saiga series has been one of the best buys in firearms for a while now.

 

[Maverick223]

I looked at it and discovered that the real reason for this is because the trigger pivots FAR more than a typical trigger. As a result if you try to pull straight back like a 1911 trigger you'll find it's heavy, gritty, and inconsistent. However if you pull it like a DA revolver with your hand riding more acutely on the stock it will feel like a very well tuned revolver trigger. I honestly believe it's more about how the stock fits you than the mechanism of the trigger that gives it the feel.

Mine feels like a single action revolver to me, and is not long at all. I can say that my trigger is not typical of any AK (converted or otherwise). I took my time and tuned mine to about a 1/8" pull at around 2lbs.

 

[DIM]

I had Saiga in .308 it wasn’t bad of a riffle a bit heavy for deer hunting, but I could hit coke can 200 yards away with it 80% of the time, thing is it groups within 3 MOA which is not bad for the price I paid in semi auto, my only concern was dented brass on the eject by hitting rim of the receiver, I tried to put some electrical tape on it but it still produced dents, so I stopped using it since I hate wasting good brass and I sold it few months ago.

 

[coyotewillie]

I've got 2....both .223's, one 16" and one 20". I've converted both, very easily done, for approx $150 ea. and time. Wouldn't trade either one. Go to the Saiga site for information on the rifles, shotguns, and converting. Theres a post in the .223 section of a fellow that worked up some loads for his .223. He does have a scope, BUT! I would like to be there to actually see him shooting the groups that he showed. The ones he posted were pretty impressive. LOL. Who knows, I've got a scope mount, and I'm ready to start working on some loads too. Hope I can come up with something that good! But anyway, they are what they are....a Russian made AK. Solid and reliable, don't think anyone can go wrong. Greg

 

[Girodin]

I would not trade my 308 for the world.
I am keeping it unconverted,

How do you deal with the .308 trigger? The only good thing about it is that it makes the conversion even easier. I put the stock .308 trigger behind even my bullpups.

I honestly believe it's more about how the stock fits you than the mechanism of the trigger that gives it the feel.

Take a look at the mechanism of a stock trigger versus say a tapco G2. You'll understand why they feel so different. The tapco G2 is a night and day difference on most of the saigas. Its lighter, cleaner and crisper. It is a world of difference on the .308 trigger.

The only bad thing about the saiga is that people are discovering them and the price is rising accordingly. I bought my first two for aprox $250 a piece. With that in mind, they are horrible, not a real AK and you should just buy a Wars 10 or parts kit.

 

[rangerruck]

Love, it is love, love is it, it is made for loving. A great rifle, not underappreciated. It is hard to sing it's praises enough. I was lucky enough to get them when they first came out here, about 7 years ago. They went for about 220 to 250, that includes the 308. If you want a 308, but don't want it eville looking, get the long bbl'd one, with the wood furniture, and the thumbhole stock; the trigger is allready converted. The stock 308's with the short bbl, have a crap diddy crap-crap trigger.
They are much like cz's in this reguard; you get what you pay for, and more.
When cz first came over here, with no american markings, just czech, you could get a 75 pistol for 300, and a 527 carbine for 400. and those are both top 5 all time picks for pistol and rifle.

 

[Girodin]

about 7 years ago. They went for about 220 to 250

The went for that until Nov. of last year, the 308 was going for $375, the shotguns were more however.

 

[rangerruck]

I got my boss, since he wanted one, to go with me to a gunshow and get one. a saiga 12 a while back, paid 250 for it, plus tax.

 

[SSN Vet]

it's a good quality AK in sproter config., nothing more, nothing less.

get the x39 with a 16" barrel...

shoot it and get to know it well...

conversion kits have come way down in price....

if you do your homework, the conversion is fun and easy to do....

the rifle really is front heavy in it's sporter config., it cries out to be returned to it's "proper" design

 

[kmcintosh78]

Girodin
I have not really paid attention to it. I shot by squeezing the trigger slowly, with the idea that when it goes boom, it should surprise you, as taught to me in the police academy. After the shot fires, I don't release the trigger until I can re-acquire the target in my scope.

 

[rockheadd]

I purchased a .308 several months ago for $510.00 I added the RAA Skeleton stock and a POSP 6x24 from EastWave. I bought 3 mags as well. Total I have into it is around $900.
After around 750 rounds, here are my impressions:
1. It will eat any .308 round you put into it (even Brown Bear) and spit the spent cartridge out. My doesn't dent the brass. No failures of any sort.
2. The trigger is not good. Mine has some slap, but I've grown used to it. If I had the money, I'd do a Dinzag FCG, ditch the stock and put a different configuration on it.
3. SureFire mags work, no problems at all.
4. The POSP6x24 is a great fit.
5. It is front heavy (with the 22" barrel)
Summary- I almost went with a surplus CETME for $700. Could have been a good rifle, but, it's used, a Century build. Instead I have a new, ultra-reliable, scoped rifle with 4 mags. Both are 2-3 MOA. So....am I good with my decision? Absolutely. If I were to start over again, I'd buy the NIB rifle, change the FCG, install a pistol grip and a different stock. The scope would stay and the mags are fine. At that point, I'd have around $1100 into the rifle and it would be close to a perfect .308 semi-auto MBR. As it is, it fits my needs just fine. I don't think you can go wrong with a Saiga.

 

[nulfisin]

Worth while, but not necessary

There are a number of threads on the merits of a conversion. The gun is fine without converting. The trigger is not great and the piece doesn't point the way you expect most rifles to point. But it's perfectly shootable and reliable. Lots of fun.

The conversions are great. The gun shoots and looks better, and you have an "AK." I did not modify my gun to take regular AK mags because I was able to buy 30-round mags for the sporter version. The new trigger, pistol grip, and stock make it a better gun to shoot. I don't care about authenticity, but these changes make it pretty darn close. That said, if you don't want to spend the time and money for a conversion, you aren't cheating yourself. Just enjoy it!

 

[Girodin]

I did not modify my gun to take regular AK mags because I was able to buy 30-round mags for the sporter version.

Make sure you pay attention to 922r. You can not legally put a 30 round mag in an otherwise stock saiga. I see ads online all the time where people have done this. It is illegal. If using US made mags you need to change out at least one other countable part. If using foreign mags you need to change at least 4 countable parts for US ones.

 

[Maverick223]

Make sure you pay attention to 922r

+1, for me it is not worth the risk...but if you don't convert it and use "high cap. mags" please don't advertise it.

 

[indie]

I opted not to convert, but I did want to go with hi cap magazines. So I went the tapco t6 stock route with us made surefire and promag magazines. I didnt want to convert because i like the versatility of being able to go back to the sporter config and hunt, and I also like the length of pull with the tapco collasible stock


The tapco stock counts as 2 US replacement parts, and the magazine as 3 to put you at 9 foreign and 5 US parts for 922lr purposes.
Here is my setup, 20mw green laser on the way. I absolutely love this setup so far.