Why are Saiga firearms so cheap are the guns terrible or just because they're Russian

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I'd say the receiver is the trigger housing;

If you've pulled the top cover, recoil assembly and bolt assembly out of an AK pattern rifle and looked into the receiver, BINGO, the trigger mechanism is right there, housed inside the receiver.
 
They are so cheap because they are not "AK's". If they could be imported in regular guise, which would cost no more, probably less, than the current configuration to build, they would be the most expensive AK's on the market. After all, who would buy an Arsenal AK for $800 when you could get the real deal Ruskie AK? I know that many are upgraded, but they are still Saigas. In the end, they are the very best imported AK's, even if they aren't "real" AK's.

Ash
 
In simplist terms, the Saiga is just a "sporterized" AK. If someone sold an AR15 without a pistol grip or flash suppressor, everyone would still call it an AR15.

It's imported as a "Saiga", and lacks a few hot-topic features in order to get around import barriers. That's what it all boils down to.

I'm a "mechanically challenged" man. yet with little more than a dremel I was able to convert my Saiga to pistol grip configuration. The difference between the sporterized condition and the "evil black rifle" condition? Just moving the fire control group and changing the furniture on it. Sure, you have to watch your parts count, but that's just another hoop the government added in hopes of discouraging you from bringing the AK back into proper configuration.
 
Keep in mind that if you want to put in a new trigger group you need to do the conversion (moving the entire FCG forward). Since I didn't want to do that, I can only replace the hammer with an American made part from the TAPCO G2 trigger group. I'm getting my other parts from replacing the piston, handguard, and stock. I'm also using US made magazine followers to give me overkill on the 922r part count.

EDIT: I'm also putting in a pistol grip, but since its US made it doesn't add to the foreign part count.
 
I understand that. The point is, they are cheap because they are not "AK's" in quotes. If they were imported in military-esque configuration, they would sell for twice as much.

Ash
 
why so cheap....

designed from the get go to be a rifle of simple construction.

stamped receiver.

mass produced in a factory that's been cranking them out by the millions for eons.

produced in a low cost of labor, low cost of energy, resource rich country.

produced in a state substidized factory.

reduced market demand, due to sporter config.

----------------------

Yuri, what should we do with the gazillion parts we have in excess of our current orders? Darn those American gun laws, they're shutting us out of one heck of a huge market....

I don't know Mik, it's not very sporting of them, is it?.....but wait....

"light goes on"

Can you say "sporting purpose" rifle?
 
I'd say the receiver is the trigger housing;

If you've pulled the top cover, recoil assembly and bolt assembly out of an AK pattern rifle and looked into the receiver, BINGO, the trigger mechanism is right there, housed inside the receiver
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i believe the idea of a trigger housing refers to an AR lower, G3 lower or even a SKS trigger group. and that like. a seperate part from the reciever that containes the triggers workings
 
see the pic by Storm? A friend of mine sells that version, with the collapsible stock, and the real ak type muzzle flip supressor, and pistol grip , for 379dollars!!!! it is totally insane, I said to him, i dont' know where you are buying them,and for how much, but that conversion normally runs about 100 bucks higher. Look for him at the next gunshow here in houston, at the George R. Should be in about 10 days.
 
Here's an odd question! This thread, and the research it inspired, has nearly convinced me to get a Saiga. Convincing the wife to go along with the purchase is much easier if it has more uses than as a range toy, so naturally I said, "Of course! Deer hunting!"

But there's a problem. In PA, semi-automatic weapons are illegal for hunting.

Is there a straightforward modification to convert the gun to single-shot? It would need to be non-destructive and reversible, because I'd only use it in that mode during hunting season. I can of course buy a different gun for hunting, and sooner or later will, but that defeats my rationalization of this purchase. The real reason, of course, is that I want a battle rifle on the cheap. :D

EDIT: I asked a similar question on a PA forum, and the answer was that the AK family is generally difficult to modify for single-shot, but the AR family is easy to modify. So naturally I plan to get the Saiga anyway... the big question is how to 'splain it to the wife. :evil:

--Len.
 
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The thumbhole stock on my Saiga is an IZHMASH factory part. The old stock is removed which is easy with the removal of three screws, two on the top, one on the bottom. The old stock is wiggled out or tapped lightly to get it going. The new stock slips right in. I tapped it a few times on a carpeted floor to seat it all the way. The two screws on the top are replaced. It does require you to drill two started holes on the new stock, which is incredibly easy. The whole installation took me 15 minutes, and I was taking my time. I bought my stock here: http://www.gilbertsguns.com/Stocks/Saiga/Russian+Saiga+Skeletonized+Stock They were good folks to deal with.

Since these guns are coming into the US now with these stocks, and since you are swapping a foreign part for a foreign part there are no 922r concerns.

I have found that the "pistol grip" portion is wide from front to back, but in practice not nearly as wide as it looks. I find it to be a comfortable reach. I have larger ahnds but I don't see this as an issue except possibly with small hands. The cheek piece rotates out of the way and locks in place in two positions. The padding and material is quite nice and appears as if it will be very durable. The cheek piece sets my head to high for the stock sights, but for optics the height is nice. But then again, it can be rotated out of use The POSP mount is excellent and can be acquired numerous places including eBay. This is the one marked "Belarus".

Just one more thing about the Saiga. I say this owning a .223 and a 20 gauge, and in 30 minutes I'm leaving to go pick up a .308 if it is still there. IMO, these guns are possibly the best value in the gun world today. They are built rock solid and represent the best built Russian "AK" in existence. For guys who want they can modify them out the whazoo, which looks like a blast, or for a guy like me they can be modified with ease without conversion for shooting. Or, as in the case of my 20 gauge, they can be left stock as a sporter, an option that to me has merit, especially for a shotgun. One way or the other the prices will rise on these guns drastically, and if the antis have their way they will be banned. Lets face it, if it comes down to it and any gun bill gets legs, the gun industry and lobbyists will compromise, and it will most likely take the same form it did in the past with imports taking the big hit. I see the future of the Saiga very doubtful and predict that if one of the gun bills gets legs the antis will use the Saiga as their poster boy the same way that they used the Streetsweeper and USAS-12. An evil Russian wolf in sheeps clothing, and, a magazine fed shotgun with ten round mags available. They won't be able to resist. My thought is to get them while you can. They are already starting to get scarce, from what I hear.

On the other hand, if someone like Fred Thompson gets into the White House (sorry for the plug, but he is 100% pro-gun) the Saiga will continue to be available and at worst you'll have one heck of a rifle for next to nothing.
 
Skeletonized/thumbhole style stocks are not considered "evil", so you can install one without getting into 922R issues. If you use a separate stock/pistol grip combo that doesn't require a conversion to install, like this one: http://riflestocks.com/SaigaAK.htm, then even though it's US made, you've crossed the threshold for 922R and you need to come up with 3 more compliant parts. Handguard, hammer, and magazines are all quick and easy options without having to go to the full conversion.

Jim
 
FYI, you can keep the rifle in the stock configuration and replace the Russian trigger group with a G2, you will need to modify the G2 slightly, i.e. cut off the trigger and shave down the side of the hammer (I'm in my cubicle at work so I can't look ATM) to accomodate the bolt hold open if you choose to keep it.
 
Kingpin, I am making a few posts about HR 1022 because people don't know about it. I didn't know about it until I went into the hardware store and bought two guns two months after the bill had been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. The counter help pointed me to a pamphlet about it. I read it and knew our guns were again in peril from the freedom-haters. If a few people spread the word, it will go out and those gun-owners who think their guns are not next on the hit list might get a clue.

You'd be surprised at how unaware of things Americans are. Ever listen to Sean Hannity when he asks people on the streets of New York who is our Vice President and Secretary of State? Most don't know. Yet they know every word to the rap lyrics of Fifty Cent, the exact minute when Paris Hilton is getting out of jail or who is going to get kicked on the next episode of American Idol. We pay attention to things that don't matter...
 
...and in 30 minutes I'm leaving to go pick up a .308 if it is still there. IMO, these guns are possibly the best value in the gun world today. They are built rock solid and represent the best built Russian "AK" in existence.
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100% agreed....for what may be arguably one of the best AK derivatives out there.

One way or the other the prices will rise on these guns drastically, and if the antis have their way they will be banned.
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Again, agreed and I doubt they will allow loop holes like 922r ect to flourish.

I see the future of the Saiga very doubtful and predict that if one of the gun bills gets legs the antis will use the Saiga as their poster boy the same way that they used the Streetsweeper and USAS-12.
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Quite possibly especially with the S-12's and the new 20 rnd drum release. They, they could conceivably lump all Saiga's in to the same deal. Frustrating to think about. It is actually what prompted me to get seven Saiga's in the past month and half while prices and availability was reasonable. I will play with some of them, but some are just to have for now. Then there is the aspect of modifying and tinkering that I find fun on them. Just now waiting on my Shotties to arrive.

My thought is to get them while you can.
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Not to be an alarmist or feed any panic, but I felt/feel the same way. That said I got mine now and feel more secure for doing so.

Cheers,

TOU
 
I will give you one warning about the Saiga. When you first pick them up they seem light. But, today when I got home from picking up my new .308, I leaned it up against a table and it slid over and landed square on my big toe. That gun isn't all that light! I think my toe is broken. I'm still glad I bought the rifle :)
 
Budney, I really looked long and hard at the 7.62x39. It probably would have been the smart thing for me to do as I have two other rifles that shoot it, and it is so much more economical. I also could have used the Galil handguard like I have on my .223, but it won't fit onto the .308 without surgery. I have three other .308s, so I guess it made some sense. Enjoy the 7.62x39, it's a fun shooting round. Some of my fondest shooting memories are shooting an SKS for hours on end.
 
man all this saiga talk is making the 223 want a bigger brother. perhaps 308 or 12
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LOL...these things are as addictive as CZ's and Brno's, eh?! :scrutiny: Glad to hear I'm not the only one. :neener: I don't think any of us Saiga owners will ever be happy until we have at least one of each model. :eek: One more for me to go in the short barrled carbines...just the .410 shottie. The problem is there is even less support for it then the others and the magazines and ammo is completely ridiculous! :cuss:

Not sure if I will ever add the Saiga longer barreled rifles or shotties as I have bolties for the serious target duties. Now if I can just find the time and money to get them all converted.

Enjoy!

TOU
 
Not to divert this thread.....but I too am close to purchasing .308 saiga. Does $369 sound good? Local purchase, no mailing or transfer fees, all that. All this talk about 'em is pushing me closer.
 
For local...that seems pretty good out the door. (Especially if the 16" carbine) After shipping and transfer fees, I'm sure most of us are into them at around that...IF you can find them much cheaper in the first place.
 
$369 is a great deal for a S-308.

I own an S-308, S-12,and a S-410.
If I didn't have AK's in .223 and x39 already,i'd have more Saiga's.

Go get it !!!


MRI
 
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