WASR 10 or Saiga?

[sigbear]

I have read many post on the AK 47 and type rifles and 2 new available at the gun shop are :

ROMARM/CUGIR/CAI WASR-10 w/1x30rd & 1X5Rrd mags, laminated stock

Saiga 1x10 round mag.

The description of the WASR 10 came out of the gun shops new gun list and comes with 1x5 round mag and 1x30 round mag.

Most of the post that I've read favor the Saiga, however, living in Massachusetts I would be reluctant to do the conversion and my mechanical skills are awful, I wouldn't want to butcher a new gun.

What are the major differences in functionallity?

Sigbear

 

[MAKster]

You can now buy converted Saigas for only $499, so there is little reason to buy a lower quality WASR. Check out the SGL21 on K-var's web site.

 

[Quiet]

My $0.02...

The Cugir WASR-10 is made by the lowest rank European manufacturer of AK clones.

The Izhmash Saiga is a sporterized AK made by the same people/tooling that makes real AKs for the Russian military.

If you want fit & finish, accuracy and reliability; go with the Saiga.
If you don't care how it looks (it is an AK after all), don't care if it's that accurate (it is an AK after all) and just want it to shoot when you want it to; get the WASR.

 

[nalioth]

WASRs are made from (originally) AK parts rejected by QC and (currently) cut-up Romanian military rifles. Do you want your "new" rifle to have the chrome flaking out of the bore, or have more chrome at one end than the other? How about your "new" rifle being the former "test to destruction" rifle of the 7663th Romanian Weapons Testing Unit?


Saigas are brand new rifles, built out of brand new parts. They're built right alongside their military brethren, and use many of the same parts.


You make the decision.

 

[damagedworld]

Saiga

 

[Dutchman01]

So, what kind of three shot 100 yard groups can one expect from a 7.62x39 saiga? It's my understanding arsenal is converting these to look more like a standard ak. I'm somewhat interested.

 

[Col. Plink]

if you're going 7.62x39 and HAVE to have big mags (versus being adept at stripper clips, which I find have their own genius) might as well get a Norinco SKS so you can use the big cheap AK mags. Nothing in that round will have an appreciable accuracy advantage; SKS is rock solid and doesn't have the AK cache' boutique price scale either.

 

[nalioth]

might as well get a Norinco SKS-D or SKS-M so you can use the big cheap AK mags.

A little addition for clarity, there, Kernel.

Norinco has made 99% more standard SKS' than the -D or -M models which are factory built to accept AK mags.

PSA: Please don't bubba your standard SKS to take AK mags, as it just doesn't work and it ruins a perfectly good SKS in the process.

 

[Autopistola]

I've read the "D" and "M" only like chinese AK mags too.

 

[AK103K]

I have an early WASR, an early SAR, and an early Krebs converted Saiga. They all shoot pretty much the same with ammo they like.

So, what kind of three shot 100 yard groups can one expect from a 7.62x39 saiga?

Saiga at 100 yards, using an Aimpoint mounted on an Ultimak rail, from a cross legged sitting position.


SAR at 200 yards, using factory (slightly canted to boot) iron sights. The three round group was fired from a rest to confirm zero, the group above was fired form a cross legged sitting position at a steady cadence.


You decide.

 

[geolemer]

I own the best Wasr-10 I have ever saw. I don't know what it is It has almost perfect paint and Finnish. I bought it new and it stuck out like a sore thumb from those around it.

 

[nulfisin]

I have both (two Saigas actually, one I converted and one from KVAR). The form and fittings on the Saiga are clearly better; whether they will last longer, I don't know. And the Saiga looks better. There is, however, no noticeable difference in accuracy or handling, mostly because I have the same trigger in both gun. Unless there's a substantial difference in price and/or your dealer is throwing in lots of extra "goodies" with the WASR, I'd go with the Saiga.