Gun show glory!

[bremraf]

I picked up a new to me saiga 7.62x39 rifle with a 16" barrel. I went with the intent on buying one... just hoping to get one in .223.  Not one single one in the whole place!  There were a couple of the 308s, but they wanted the mint.. 600 bucks on upward.  Scored this one with a cheap bsa scope and the top cover drilled and tapped with scope mount for 300 out the door!  I'm looking to get a pistol grip stock, and I'll replace the scope with a red dot.  Poor man's tactical semi auto carbine.  If anyone out there has good experience with these post up some pointers please... never owned an ak variant before. 

[1911crazy]

I have a few saiga's in both 223 and in 308.  There my very first (ak/akm) type rifle too.  There awesome to shoot and there very accurate.  The only thing i did was to lube it with moly.  It smooths out the boltcarrier/bolt lockup and the trigger sear too.  I put a little moly on the recoil spring and on the gas piston too.

I would sell everything i have except for my saiga's.

[cbxboy]

$300 walking is pretty fair, heck wait that seems very fair.  I recall my buddy asked me to get him one as he sold his and I couldn't FIND one that cheap.

As Bill oops..Crazy says....they are quite nice and plenty accurate.  It wasn't my first AK platform but I too have the .308 22" barrel (shoot like  dream) and the 16" in x39.  I had 2 in x39 but traded one off for a Swede along time back.  Thought I had a bargain (did at the time) but then things reversed (Obama) and the Swede stayed and the Saiga's rose 

I have a nice original Russian scope mount with a Leupold 3x9x40 on my .308....although I though about it some I will leave the scope atop the Saiga.  I like sitting in my deer stand and knowing dang well if I get a bambi stretched out in the field I will still be looking REAL good.  My normal shot is about 60- 70 yds so not a big worry.  I don't carry "real" hunting rifles often.  Maybe thinking my 1891 this year!

Saigas are very nice, good score!   Now if I could find cheap WOOD furniture I'd be set...although why pay more into the already good rifle.....buy more guns or ammo   Crazy knows I've done that before!   

[Mikey]

I would think the Saiga's are little more than the Kalashnikov (AK) action in sporting clothing (the different stock) but you need to check the action for the mounting screw holes you will need for the pistol grip and the rear stock.  Hope it works for you. 

[1911crazy]

I would think the Saiga's are little more than the Kalashnikov (AK) action in sporting clothing (the different stock) but you need to check the action for the mounting screw holes you will need for the pistol grip and the rear stock.  Hope it works for you.  

Just my thoughts on conversion of the saiga to a pistol grip.  I enjoy them in the orginal condition.  They will out perform just about any other semi auto on the planet. (functioning) Lets face it you just purchased the russian manufactured quality ak/akm rifle.  I would suggest shooting any saiga for a while before converting it.  Its design may just grow on you, mine did.  We only have one choice between someone's butchered rework(ak47's by century arms) and buying an untouched, brand new, russian izhmash saiga.  I never in my wildest dreams thought i woule ever own a brand new russian ak/akm rifle in a sporter wrapper.  The russians were really thinking on this one.  They made them the most accurate of all the other ak/akm's.  Its just not a cheap rifle in 223/308/7,62x39 or in 5,45x39.  Just moly that baby up and let her rock n roll.  Then benchrest it for accuracy.  Like i said many times were shooting 1 1/2" groups at 100yds using surplus south african 308ball ammo with iron sights.  For a 308 semi auto that was just $289 at the time thats unheard of in accuracy.  We never touched the sites this is right out of the box accurate.

I would suggest if you don't own a saiga by now or haven't left to get one after reading this what the h___ are you waiting for?  Get them while you still can.

I passed up a $1,200 M1A to get a saiga in 308 for $289 and i'm glad i did.

[bremraf]

I was able to take tine to the range a couple weeks ago and i love it!  I drilled and tapped the dust cover and mounted a red dot atop(before yall slap my wrists it was one that had a rail on top not a fatory, the rail was too high so i liberated it off the cover and drilled and tapped it.  I plan on purchasing another to use with iron sights.)  I know that it's not the most accurate way of mounting optics on an ak, but it held 20 rounds of wolf hp in a 8" circle at 100 yards... the red dot covers a 12" target at that range so i think thats proof of very good accuracy.  Those dust covers aren't exactly 100% stable.  I also purchased some 30 rd tapco usa ak mags, modified the mag catch to accept them, and installed a bullet guide. also still accepts the factory 10 round. 

1911: I could not stand the factory stock, as i have smallish hands it didn't fit me well at all, however the tapco intafuse pistol grip stock fits me perfect.  all it does is add the pistol grip and collapsable stock to the original trigger configuration so it still looks like a saiga with the trigger to the rear of the reciever. I am working on a way to take the creep out of the trigger pull too. All in all very happy with it.