Is a Saiga 7.62X51 any good?

[Gunner3456]

I'm wondering what the deal is on these. I know that the AK has a rep sometimes of not being all that accurate, but very dependable.

Does anyone have any experience with these? I'm wondering especially about accuracy. Link

Thanks.

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[tonyspdx]

I was really thinking about getting one of these. They have a great price point for a magazine fed 308.

 

[slingshot1943]

I bought one recently. Just put a scope on it and haven'tsighted it in yet. Sure looks like a great gun. Shot it a little with open sights and it seemed to shoot pretty good just shooting at a stick or something in the pasture. I really like it so far. A little on the heavy side with a full clip.

 

[Riot]

They're not as accurate as their bolt counterparts....but decently accurate when compared to AKs. Throw a scope on there and she should see decent groups out to about 300M.

 

[landcbeitner]

My cousin has one that we shot a coupple weekends back. With some cheap ammo he bought at a gun show it was shooting about 2 MOA from an improvised rest. I wouldn't recommend them for accuracy shooting but his was lots of fun to blast with (we were also ringing a 10" steel plate at 200yds and that thing would really swing!).

 

[Silver Fox]

Great guns and I had one converted by Tromix but the after market mags made me trade it.

SF-

 

[das_napeth]

I have one but run the open sights on it. It was designed as a sporting rifle so it has much better accuracy than a regular AK. I consistently hit a paper plate at 100 freestanding with semi-rapid fire. The biggest downfall is there is less of an aftermarket following. Especially fun with the 25rnd mags though.

 

[Bon Sauvage]

I like mine well enough: wood furniture with a 21.8" barrel. It takes a .308 bullet not a .310 bullet like many AK varients. I always found the 25rd magazines pretty awkward in use. I ended up buying some heavy duty steel 20rd magazines. Both magazines and rifle work well for my purposes.

 

[Gunner3456]

Great guns and I had one converted by Tromix but the after market mags made me trade it.

SF-

What was the problem with the aftermarket mags?

 

[bmw2]

The mags are good, just expensive. I had one and consistently got 1 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards with cheaper american eagle brass ammo and a bit bigger with wolf. I think someone could hand load for it and get pretty close to M.O.A.. You definitely want to convert though, the stock trigger is awful and has a weird geometry, so figure that into the cost. If you do it yourself it shouldn't cost more than a hundred or so, depending on the stock you choose. I've been thinking about getting another one.

 

[cbdolphin]

For the money, I'd just get a Cetme. Roughly same price but more accurate, better looking and has much much cheaper mags.

 

[Deavis]

PM sent

 

[SquatchWorks]

I know 2 people with them (real people not internet rumors) that have had a gunsmith work on them because of not cycling right...

I never understood when companies change cal. on rifles. Ar15=AR10, AR9, AR45 AKM=Saiga762

You should get a gun that was designed for that CAL. like a FAL or M1a

 

[das_napeth]

The original M16 was actually designed as a 7.62 NATO round but had to switch to a 5.56 because of complaints that it was too hard to use the charging handle. There are always some mechanical malfunctions with any piece of equipment. I've heard of "regular" AK's not cycling also as well as AR's which my buddy's in the service hated them just cause a wrong look would get them to jam.

 

[BADBLOOD911]

Well don't know much about saiga--- but i have a remington 308 carbine semi
auto with 5 20 shot mags. That i had a freind make for me that work just fine. And it is made in the usa. And at 1500 yards it is dead on.
Thats my 2 cents

 

[onearmedswordsman]

You should get a gun that was designed for that CAL. like a FAL or M1a

Funny that you say that. The FAL was not originally designed for 7.62 NATO. In fact, it is said to be almost too much for this platform.

Gunny, if you can stretch your budget for a FN-AR, do not overlook it.

 

[Gunner3456]

PM sent

I didn't get a PM if it was for me. ??

 

[Gunner3456]

Funny that you say that. The FAL was not originally designed for 7.62 NATO. In fact, it is said to be almost too much for this platform.

Gunny, if you can stretch your budget for a FN-AR, do not overlook it.

I'm just looking for a new toy. I already have AR's. I'm thinking of a Saiga 12 shotgun with a drum mag and a Saiga 7.62/308. I was hoping since they are built in Russia by their military factory (is that right?) that they would be decent guns.

??

 

[Bon Sauvage]

Well don't know much about saiga--- but i have a remington 308 carbine semi
auto with 5 20 shot mags. That i had a freind make for me that work just fine. And it is made in the usa. And at 1500 yards it is dead on.
Thats my 2 cents

1500 yards? 1 5 0 0 yards? I am impressed.

 

[onearmedswordsman]

I'm just looking for a new toy. I already have AR's.

If you mean a AR-10 or clone, then, ok, disregard. But if you meant a AR-15, the <broken link removed> is a different animal.

Sorry if you already know all this (as you probably do). I'd rather not assume. FNs makes nice guns! I wished I could get my hands on a SCAR.