WASR or Saiga

[Jenrick]

The local shop has a WASR side folder for $413, not the deal of the century but not bad. They've also got Saiga sporters for $399. Is the Saiga worth the extra $$$ that the conversion will require to get it into full AK trim? Looking at just parts it will easily be another $150-$200. The WASR is ready to roll from the get go.

I'm currently leaning towards the WASR and getting a Saiga down the road as a long term project.

Thoughts?

-Jenrick

 

[rizbunk77]

I'd go saiga first, having owned both. I am done with Romanian stuff.

 

[Quentin]

Well this may turn into a heated topic but if you're firm on the price I'd say carefully inspect the WASR (or get someone you trust to) and if it passes inspection, buy it. Or get the Saiga and don't convert it.

No doubt the WASR is low end but it's a true AKM that works and is 100% compatible with AK parts and magazines. I've had mine three years and not one problem. It functions with Wolf, corrosive surplus and all other ammo I've thrown at it. I've toyed with the idea of upgrading but this thing is a lot of fun and works 100%. There's no guarantee another will so why bother.

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

The Saiga is a true AKM, a couple hours with a Dremel and an extra hundred bucks and it's a better rifle than a WASR hands down.

 

[Quentin]

The conversion definitely is doable but anyone trying it better know what he's doing.

Why does the picture of Homer Simpson with a dremel come to mind?

J/K!

 

[Mags]

Go with Saiga. WASRs for some reason are really overpriced.

 

[nulfisin]

The conversion isn't that hard. Check out multiple threads on the topic. Or buy a converted Saiga. There have been, and probably still are, converted rifles that cost the same as what it would cost you to do it yourself. It's a fun project, but if that's not your cup of tea don't bother.

I have a WASR and two Saigas. The Saigas are better rifles -- clearly superior fit and finish. On the other hand, there's no difference I can see in accuracy or reliability. I assume the Saiga would hold up better in combat conditions, but I don't foresee using these guns (or any guns, God willing) for that purpose.

 

[Avtomat Kalashnikova]

the saiga conversion is very hard to screw up, and it is a great gun

 

[Jenrick]

This rifle is mainly going to be for fun, and maybe take a tac-rifle class with it just to do it. I've got an AR-15 and AR-10 for social purposes and black rifle hunting.

-Jenrick

 

[rangerruck]

best vid for conversion is on Vimeo...

 

[Val USP]

The Saigas are better rifles -- clearly superior fit and finish. On the other hand, there's no difference I can see in accuracy or reliability. I assume the Saiga would hold up better in combat conditions,

Saiga - is a Russian original, quality rifle.
WASR - it is a not good copy of Russian rifle, based on Romy Communist regime quality.
Well, you didnot see difference in accuracy and reliability - because both of them - AK.
And I had problem with WASR accuracy, I sold it in 2 month of ownership. Now I got Saiga, Yugo M-70, Tantal - and all of them much better than WASR.

 

[chris in va]

If you just don't want to mess with anything and have a 'ready made' AK, get the Romanian. If you want to spend hours and days ordering parts to 'return' the sporter back to original configuration, but have an all-new gun, get the Saiga.

Here's mine, with about $150 in parts. As you can see it would take a lot more money to add things like a correct handguard/gas tube, furniture, flash hider etc.

 

[Bailey Guns]

K-Var.com has the Arsenal, Inc converted Saiga rifles for $579. I bought one on sale at K-var a few months ago for $499 + $19.00 shipping. That's a slight increase in price and a tremendous increase in quality over a Romanian gun.

 

[Quentin]

Saiga - is a Russian original, quality rifle.
WASR - it is a not good copy of Russian rifle, based on Romy Communist regime quality.

Actually the 30rd WASR 10 is a very close copy of the original Russian AKM while the Saiga is much different. Most Saiga conversions stop at the trigger and magwell since the front end costs even more money to convert. The WASR has had magwell work too, but most come out of the box already accepting standard AK magazines.

I'm not anti-Saiga, it's a nice rifle, but let's be factual.

 

[nalioth]

The WASR has had magwell work too, but most come out of the box already accepting standard AK magazines.

To be factual, every WASR that enters this country comes in with a thumbhole stock and a "special" proprietary mag well.

Century opens 'em and adds 922r parts and military furniture and sells 'em on down the road. .

 

[elmerfudd]

Actually the 30rd WASR 10 is a very close copy of the original Russian AKM while the Saiga is much different.

The problem with the WASR isn't its authenticity, it's its quality. Hesse made a lot of very close copies of various firearms too, but that didn't make buying a Hesse a good decision.

To be fair, I have a couple of Romanian guns myself and they aren't utter crap, (ie. they both work). All of my Saigas however have level scope rails and neither my SAR3 or my PSL do. The Romanian guns just look and feel like they were hammered together haphazardly, while the Saigas appear to have been competently assembled.

 

[Exodus72]

I have 2 WASRs and love them both. For the extra time and money involved in the Saiga, I'll just keep my WASRs. They are a LOT of fun, and require no maintenance. Two things to pay attention to though are: When selecting the rifle, try to find one without a canted front sight block AND lock a couple of empty mags in to find a rifle that was properly ground out so you don't have too much wobble. Both are VERY common issues with the Century WASRs and aren't that big of a problem, but if you can find one without the issues, do so. IF you go with the Saiga, you can get them HERE for $349, also these guys sell poly mags for the AKs that will fit snugly into any WASR and eliminate the wobble. Oh, and if you can, get one manufactured before 2008, the newer imports don't have chrome lined barrels, some sort of ban on barrel importation or something....

 

[Mr.510]

Get the Saiga. They are far nicer guns IMHO and have the only Russian-made AKM receivers that can be imported. A Saiga is a real-deal AKM built in the same factory as the current-issue military 100 series guns. They are a quality rifle front-to-back and many would say they aren't just the best value in AKs, but the best value in rifles. Yes, they had to screw up the furniture and trigger group for importation but they made it really easy to make it "right". I converted my .308 and it's a really nice shooting rifle, though a bit brutal with it's 16" barrel and no muzzle brake yet. Shooting it with the stock folded is not really an enjoyable experience but I had to try it. I shoot "minute of 1 gallon water jug" with it easily at 100 yards standing, with no sling, and stock irons. This will probably start a flame war but with a decent scope and mount .223 Saigas are on-par with at least half the ARs out there when shooting from a bench. *Puts on nomex driving suit*

 

[Aka Zero]

Sweet case. 308 seems a bit overkill for a violin case though.

I vote saiga. Bought a wasr "tacticool" and a sagia with wood thumbhole stock. same day.

I still have the saiga, the wasr got traded for a saiga 12.

 

[Zach S]

Saiga. Hands down.

 

[alemonkey]

I actually really like the looks of the converted Saiga with the factory handguard. It looks more modern than most AK's.

 

[Zach S]

I dont think it looks more modern, just different. I once thought about putting a 413/727 in a Dodge Aspen wagon, so I like different...

 

[Exodus72]

I can't believe all the gun snobs in here. The OP is looking for a "fun" shooter, not a competition shooter.

 

[Zach S]

I dont see anyone turning their noses up.

The OP asked "Is the Saiga worth the extra $$$ that the conversion will require to get it into full AK trim?" and most of the answers have been "yes."

 

[rd2007]

Not worth it for me. I looked at a couple Saigas here and went with a former coworker's WASR. I know the Saiga is good quality and I definitely wouldn't say no if someone made me a good deal, but they're too pretty. My WASR UF is exactly what I envision an AK-47 should be. It's a little on the not so pretty side in the looks department, but its original owner has about 20 AKs and made sure everything on it was good to go. I'm deadly accurate with it and love everything about it.

BTW, go with the UF if that's an option.