sks or Saiga?

[Concho Mike]

I'm buying just in case rifles this week and have narrowed it down to either of these two rifles. I'm looking at three or four of the 7.62 yugo sks's on-line and was wondering if the quality is there OR should I go ahead and step up to three or four saiga's in 5.45x39 with chrome lined barrels. Are most of the sks rifles well used or just knocked around a lot and shot little? 
5.45 ammo is somewhat cheaper and does shoot a little farther I guess. These rifles are going to get peep sights (or scopes) since I don't have the eyes I used to so lets figure that in too.   

[Mikey]

Saiga.  It is a sporterized AK with all the proper mounting brackets for scopes and you might want to think of one or two in each caliber, the 7.62x39 or the 5.45 x39.  The SKS is older technology and althoguh they may last and are rugged, the Saiga/Kalashnikov action is better.  jmtcw.

[1911crazy]

The sks in 7,62x39 is unmatched in performance and price, plus once you figure out the right diet they can be pretty accurate too.  You can still find the chinese norinco sks's at affordable prices too, most of them here have been safe queens and shot very little if shot at all.  I think the norinco sks's will give us the most bang for our dollar when it comes to accuracy and quality.
 
I have a few brand new russian saiga's in 223 rem and in 308win.  both of these are awesome rifles and will eat a steady diet of any brand of ammo i feed it.  My saiga in 308win w/16'' barrel will shoot 1 1/2'' groups at 100yds benchrested using surpls south african 308 ball ammo.  We haven't benchrested the saiga's in 223 yet.
 
With the russian izmash saiga's we must remember were purchasing a brand new russian manufactured AK/AKM rifle not someone's butcherd rework.  This battle field proven design is unmatched in performance / quality today.  The russians at izmash said they focused on making the new saiga's the most accurate than all there ak / akm brothers and it is the most accurate ak/akm on the planet.  With better quality ammo some guys are posting 1/2'' MOA's at 100yds and some are shooting out too 450 to 500yds too.
 
I been interested in the russian 5,45x39 round in the saiga's too but i haven't seen any here yet.
 
All i did to my saiga's when they were rght out of the box brand new is to lube them with moly.  Once there lubed with moly they feel like a more expensive gun. Putting some moly on the sear smooths out the trigger and reduces the trigger pull too.   I really like the saiga's with he 16'' barrels too. I was never fond of the 223 round nor ever wanted an ak/akm rifle.  But once I shot the saiga in 308win i had to have it in 223 also.  If your going to purchase one semi auto rifle make sure you get a saiga.                                                     CZY
 
BTW;  Once you shoot your first saiga you will make room in the safe for more.  I purchased a saiga for every family member. Don't sell the sks short either, there another great rifle in 7,62x39 too. I say get one sks and a saiga in 308win, another one in 223 rem, and another one in 5,45x39 too. The four will make great shtf guns too.

[Concho Mike]

Actually I was sitting at work today and decided to get a couple sks's and one Saiga. Since I live in one of the border states i'm thinking anything with fixed mags would be off the radar. Might just pick up one Saiga every couple months.
Don't wanna make any fed watch lists.     
 
 

[OldSchoolRanger]

I would get the SKS, for the money you could probably buy whatever amount of SKS's you want and still save money on the amount you would have spent on the Saiga's.  Plus the ammo (7.62x39) is a lot less expensive than the 5.45x39, or .308 ammo.  I even think it is cheaper or close in price to the (US made) .223 ammo.

If you want the fixed magazine SKS's make sure you buy some stripper clips to facilitate reloading.

IMO, the 7.62x39 is a better man stopper than the 5.45x39.