best AK on market

[JeffDavis]

What is the best AK value on the market right now?  I want to know about price, accuracy, and availablility

thanks '
Jeff

[1911crazy]

If your not interested in a "battle looking rifle" and want a top of the heap ak/akm the saiga is it. Ithink right now the best quality and bang for our hard earned dollar is the "Brand New Russian Izhmash Saiga".   Its not someones butchered rework.  The fit and finish plus the accuracy in tops in the ak/akm field.  The russians did say they were going to make it the most accurate of all the ak/akm's and they did.  But they did admit the 223 remington and the 308win seem to be a tad more accurate in there saiga's than the russian calibers are.

My saiga in 308win using south african 308 ball surplus ammo benchrested will shoot 1 1/2" groups with me or my son shooting it.  I haven't benchrested my saiga in 223 rem. yet but i think its just as accurate when we tested the reliability. There are also larger capacity mags for it too now.  For me the orginal 308 8rd mag is good enough i'd only waste more ammo if it was larger.

The brand new saiga's are still under $500 for the 308win and a little over $300 for the saiga in 223.  Remember your buying a ak/akm sporting rifle and it has the same performance and reliability as the orginal battle rifle.  Just lube it with moly and it takes the roughness out of the saiga and put a tad on the trigger too.  Its a whole different gun with just a lube.

I was always looking for an ak but my state laws beat me to owning one.  I could never find a decent looking ak.  Then i seen the russian izhmash saiga.  Hands down its the top of the line.  I never in my wildest dreams think i would ever own a brand new ak/akm russian manufactured by the same people who manufacture the ak47.  The saiga's in 223 & 308 are awesome in the 16" barrels too.  They do come in 20" and in 21" barrels too.

[bremraf]

As crazy said go for the saiga... endless posibilities as far as mods, or keep it stock like him.  I have one in 7.62x39 and love it!  I have installed a pistol grip and 30 round mags on mine(yes I'm r922 compliant). Thanks crazy by the way for turning me onto these sweet rifles. 

[Pop]

Any input on these?

  http://www.royaltigerimports.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=244&category_id=24&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=2&vmcchk=1&Itemid=2

[1911crazy]

As crazy said go for the saiga... endless posibilities as far as mods, or keep it stock like him.  I have one in 7.62x39 and love it!  I have installed a pistol grip and 30 round mags on mine(yes I'm r922 compliant). Thanks crazy by the way for turning me onto these sweet rifles. 

I was never interested in the ak47's for 30+ years until i seen the new russian izhmash saiga.  I was at my local gun shop to look at a new M1A springer and see a rack of the new saiga's in 308win.  Since i was on my way hunting in the north country we took it with us after cleaning and lubing it.  After the hunt we and the boys up north all shot it.  I never seen a gun spit out the 308 round with so much authority, speed with dependability and reliability.  We were so impressed we went back to the shop when we got home and the 308's were gone but he had the rack filled with the saiga's in 223.  I was never interested in the 223 round nor the expensive blackrifles that shoot the round.  I stayed away from the 223 round until now.  I figured a saiga in 223 for just $259 how could i go wrong. With the gun laws changing or them trying to change them as we speak if you want an awesome ak/akm russian built new rifle in 223, 308, 5,45x39 or in 7,62x39 you can beat this buy and there still under $500.

If your going to purchase any other ak make sure who converted it from full auto and inspect the fit and finish closely.  I looked at a MAK once and it was done by century arms and the fit of the wood was piss poor this is why i never purchased a reworked gun.

[1911crazy]

Any input on these?

  http://www.royaltigerimports.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=244&category_id=24&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=2&vmcchk=1&Itemid=2

Some of this stuff looks awesome too.  I wonder if any are full auto?  The one in 9mm mak and 7,62x25 would be neat to have and shoot.  Really whats left after the bolt actions and semi auto's?  I guess the full auto stuff is next...

[Foxfire Rod and Gun]

Does the Russian Izhmash Saiga come with bayonet lug, pistol grip threaded barrel with slanted muzzel brake that os not welded on?

FR&G

[jmayton]

I was just looking at various AK's yesterday thinking the same thing about value and performance.  The Norinco sitting in my safe suddenly became my best value.  I know prices have gone up, but this rifle was purchased for $300 about 8 years ago and Krebs had one on their consignment page for $1550!  I don't think I could get that for my Colt 6920!  That being siad, I would have said to look for a Norinco over the Romanian or Yugos, but now I'd have to agree with others and look at a Saiga. . .or even a Krebs because they're less that the Norinco now!

[jmayton]

Ok, I'm issuing a retraction of sorts.  After looking more carefully at my rifle and the one that Krebs is selling, mine is a Norinco MAK-90 imported in 1994.  With the stocks changed it looks like any other AK-47 and because it is a Norinco it does have the thicker receiver, but the giveaway is the barrel, front sight, and lack of threads for a muzzle brake/flash hider.  Still I think it better than many of the Romanian and Yugos and I read that some think it better than the Saigas.  I don't know about that, but I know it's rock solid and shoots very well.  It seems to be better made than my friends' Romanian rifles, but theirs still shoot quite well.

[JeffDavis]

Thanks to 1911Crazy, I am now the proud owner of a 22" Saiga in 308 Win! I found it in a pawn shop for $439 on sale. I traded them out of it and a Marlin 336 in 35 Rem with some boot as well. Used some of the boot to buy 2 each of the Surefire 20 and 25 round mags from another shop today. I must have had a sad look on my face cause the clerk made me a deal on these things. The 20 round ones were $49.96 each and the 25 round ones were $44.96 (figure that one out and get back to me!). He knocked them down to $38 apiece so I bit on 4.

To thank him for his generosity,  I asked him if there were any Saigas in 7.62x39 available. He looked and said " I'm thinking we're out....wait a minute.... I got one left"
It was $399! Layaway is a wonderful thing!

Now I just need to find some deals on a few mags for this one.

1911, what are your thoughts on the best aftermarket mag for the 762x39 Saiga? Are the ProMags any good? I just have not heard many things good or bad about them, more good than bad on the Surefire brands.

Thanks

Jeff

[bremraf]

hey Jeff before you buy any 40 dollar magazines for the 7.62x39... Get some tapco polymer 30 rounders from ctd and just file the mag catch down.  The work great and only cost 13 or 14 bucks!  The original it comes with will still work as well.  Good deal on the 308.  I paid 300 for my 7.62x39 used. 

Foxfire:  They do not come standard with those things... that's how they are imported and are not branded as "assault" weapons... only as sporting rifles.  If you make any changes, like I did, you have to deal with 922r compliance(no more than 10 foreign parts) . I installed a pistol grip on my saiga as well as a telescoping buttstock, and total I have 15 major parts.  5 of them are made in the usa bringing my foreign count down to 10.  Pistol grip, stock, and my tapco mags(follower, body, and bottom plate) make up my usa parts.  If you convert the saiga to conventional ak trigger configuration it's easy as the trigger parts(4 or 5) can be purchased from tapco or other companies and they are made in the usa.  Long winded but hope that helped. 

[JeffDavis]

Bremraf,

Do you have any pics or links to video as to where to file on the mag catch? I have been reading up on that very mod, but can't seem to find any pics. Found a great 18 minute vid on the Saiga 12 forum on how to fit the pistol grip, move the trigger guard, and install a new stock. That helped me to put it into perspective. I have the mechanical ability of an infant but the desire to learn.  I managed to learn how to fit two Handi rifle barrels to my receiver, but I had great reference material and a more handy BIL>

Thanks

Jeff

[bremraf]

I'll try and get some up for you next week.  I went the easy route and bought the tapco intrafuse pistol grip stock for saiga... no trigger mods needed. I like it so far, and none of the hassle of moving all the trigger group. I'll probably end up converting it eventually.

[JeffDavis]

AWESOME!!! looking forward to it! Thanks Bremraf.

[bremraf]

Here's the pics you wanted Jeff!  I used a dremel to remove the metal circled here, but a thin file would work well too.


Just go slow and check and recheck the fit of the new magazines.  Oh and i forgot to mention if you use these mags you need to install a bullet guide... another fairly easy task... Lots of info on it on the saiga forums.  I made mine out of a piece of 3/4 rigid pipe and a dremel.  If you are handy with tools and such it's worth it to be able to use those cheap mags... 35 - 40 bucks apeice is alot for the surefires IMO.  Oh and here is a pic of my saiga 7.62x39 with all the mods done.

[JeffDavis]

Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!!! That is a sweet setup you got there Brem!

The Tapco does not have to have the triggerguard removed? If that's the case, looks like I am saving up for one.

The mag catch is filed DOWN and ACROSS, correct? And that is because the AK mags have a taller catch?  What brands are best
out of the surplus market. I am leaning towards the Bulgarian polymer type, but would not mind a cheaper reliable one either.

Thanks again for the pics. I can almost see the light bulb burning above my head!

Jeff

[bremraf]

No the tapco intrafuse saiga stock does not have to have the trigger guard removed.  It's built specifically for the saiga in oroginal configuration.

Mag catch is shortened in height because the ak mags have a larger tab than saiga mags, and have to have a bullet guide installed in the reciever to feed properly. 

You can use any ak mag, just remember 922r compliancy with your total parts count.  The tapco mags are an easy way to add 3 usa parts. They say the bulgy waffles are good, never used any myself.

If you have any other questions let me know!

[1911crazy]

Its good to see someone finally makes a replacement stock were no drilling and moving parts is needed for your guys who want to play with it.

I haven't tried my larger replacement mags yet.  I been shooting them with the stock mags.  We been hammering them trying to make them fail and there more dependable than the energizer bunny. The saiga's rock

I picked up some 223 gali 30rd mags and i got them to lock up but i haven't gone any further with them after i seen the new after market mags being offered.  They say the gali mags need a feed ramp.

If you want one i'd buy them soon before the prices go any higher.

They say the saiga in 7,62x54r is comming here soon too.  I'm dying to get one in this caliber.  I may go for both the longer and shorter barrels.  I may build a dragonov with the longer barrel mainly because there probably more accurate and won't have a first shot cold problem.

[bremraf]

I agree with buying another crazy... i had to sell a gun this past week, it was between my contender or the saiga... the saiga stayed at home.    When i Get the chance i want to get the 308.. i found a place online selling them for 450!

[ms]

http://www.arsenalinc.com/

[1911crazy]

I think the saiga's in 223 and in 308 are an awesome buy and guns to have.  The 16" barreled saiga's look neat together plus they shoot good too.  The saiga in 7,62x39 would be good too if you can own them in your state.  I can't own any semi auto rifles here in 7,62x39 but the sks's.

We must remember too sometimers an after market mag may need fitting too.  I got many of the after market steel mags to function in my sks.  I'm not sure about the plastic mags but i do have a few for my saiga's to test out soon.