AK-47 Saiga

[Rustyshakelford]

I posted some photos of one of my survival rifles in my profile. It is in the traditional 7.62 x 39 caliber and is a pretty decent, VERY affordable firearm. Take a look and let me know what you think.

[das]

Interesting gun you have there. I like it. What do they sell for?

As for the .22/.410 combo rifle I think you have a good system there. I tried a Remington survival gun similar to yours but found the .22 was wildly innacurate due to being underslung from the shotgun with metal sights. Yours may be better.

Good arsenal with the addition of a pistol in .40+ caliber.

[Rustyshakelford]

Thanks.

I have a few handguns, but a .40 is not one of them. I prefer revolvers. My survival revolver is a S&W model 686 6 shot. The old version. There are a few reasons. It will shoot 38 specials, 357 mags and even 38 S&W's. I have a great load. 4.1 grains of Bullseye, CCI 550 primer, and a 110 grain JHP slug all in a 38 case. I know, it is over the max, but you cannot pack enough powder in a 38 to blow out a 686.

686's are stainless with adjustable sights and I have added a nice set of generic rubber grips. It has a 6" BBL and, while some think it is too long, it gives a good advatage at longer ranges. I will upload some photos in the next few days.

[Rustyshakelford]

Ooops

I forgot the price. I bought my first one back in 1999 for $189.00. The 7.62 today will run you around $225. The 308 version about $50.00 more and the shotgun versions around the same. Genuine comblock scope rail is about $50.00 and the scope is crap, will run about $40.00. I did add a very nice Tapco recoil buffer for about $16.00 and the whole rifle is typical AK so really does need a trigger job. AK rifles all have crappy triggers. The recoil buffer makes the AK sound a lot less like a guy rolling a marble around in a pot, so the traditional "thwaaaaaap" sound is gone, but it keeps the bolt carrier from banging up against the receiver. The barrell will never wear out, as it is traditional Ruskie chrome lined. The barrell will outlive the rifle. Another fine characteristic of the AK is that it can be field stripped in less then 30 seconds, is simple enough that a 10 year old can work on them, and withstands dirt and grime better then any battle rifle on the market. The drawbacks?

150 yards maximum with that round. 7.62x39 is a very short range round. The old vietnam movies of the sniper with an SKS or Klashnikov 500 yards away, shooting a guy in the knees, then hands is complete BS. I have managed to squeeze another 50 yards out of her with my reloads, but you have to be careful loading for this rifle. The 7.62 x 39 does not fire.308 projectiles. It fires .310 projectiles. Thus, you are limited to either loading the Hornady .311 123 grainers, or some of the very heavy 203 grain 303 brit slugs. Inversly, the mini-30 (a piece of junk in my opinion) has a .308 barrell. If you load .310's or shoot the Comblock surplus 7.62 x 39 stuff through it you are creating dangerous pressures, which can, and have in the past blow your receiver to smitherines.

I guess that was my loading tip of the day.

[Diesel]

Rusty you're full of great info, I appreciate all of your posts

[Rustyshakelford]

Thanks

Rusty you're full of great info, I appreciate all of your posts

The wife says I am full of something other then great info. Hopefully, Yashua willing, I will neve have to prove her wrong.

[Rustyshakelford]

Thought I would toss a photo here.

[Diesel]

verrrrrrrrry nice :)

[Rustyshakelford]

Will toss up some photos of my other hardware at a later time

[75_stingray]

Hello Rusty, good looking Saiga. To have an authentic Russian AK variant made in the famous Izhmash factory can't be beat for the money. Izhevsk Mechanical Works (Russian: Ижевский Mашзавод) or IZhMASh (ИЖМАШ)

With a few mods I took two Saiga's, one 16" barrel and one 20" and converted them from sporting rifles back to something more my speed.

First I tore down the guns and using a 20ton shop press I pressed off the front site's and gas blocks. I slid on the retainers for traditional upper/lower foregrips and replaced the sites with AK-74 22mm threaded FSB's.

I then turned my attention to relocating the trigger groups forward and installing pistol grips. To bring my US made parts count up to par I used G2 trigger groups(3), US made gas piston(1), US made pistol grips(1) US made buttstocks(1) and US made muzzle brakes(1). To put my parts count over the top so to be no question I'm also using US made followers and floorplates in my mags for a total of 9 US made parts.

With a few hrs and some elbo grease this is what my Saiga's look like now.

http://www.freepicturehosting.com/is.php?i=659705&img=Saiga_001a.jpg

[Rustyshakelford]

You phtoto did not come through. I like the traditional look of the AK and have often thought about converting it. The darn 922 compliance is a pain in the ass, and makes the project so friggin expensive. The other problem I have had with a traditional AK, is that I am 6' 01" 240 lbs. The traditional stock design is too short for me. The Saiga, as you know, is longer. I could imagine firing one of my traditional sized AK's with the combloc side mount. I seem to recall that the Saiga was made at the post-commie privatized Izhmash plant. That is if my memory serves me right.

[75_stingray]

I know what you mean Rusty, I'm 6'1" @230lbs w/long arms. The 922 thing is a pain for sure, I count, recount, and count again just to make myself feel better. But having the right count is better than the alternative!

Have you picked up the Saiga-12 yet? If I can walk up on a deal I'd like to get one along w/a spiffy drum mag. I had a Saiga 410 but got rid of it like a dumbarsh.

The free image host that I'm using is free only up to 10mb of bandwidth, but I just upgraded and am waiting for it to kick in. As soon as it does I'll get you a pic of the conversion.

[Rustyshakelford]

I know what you mean Rusty, I'm 6'1" @230lbs w/long arms. The 922 thing is a pain for sure, I count, recount, and count again just to make myself feel better. But having the right count is better than the alternative!

Have you picked up the Saiga-12 yet? If I can walk up on a deal I'd like to get one along w/a spiffy drum mag. I had a Saiga 410 but got rid of it like a dumbarsh.

The free image host that I'm using is free only up to 10mb of bandwidth, but I just upgraded and am waiting for it to kick in. As soon as it does I'll get you a pic of the conversion.

Been thinking real serious about the Saiga 410. I like the round, and I seem to recall a while back, I found a company selling 12 round mags for it. I cannot remember who, or where, but with a little research I am sure I can dig the info up again.

[75_stingray]

Whew,,,my firewall has been screwing up my photobucket for the last yr, but I finally got it working again.
Here you go Rusty.
[IMG][/IMG]

[hammer502]

i found a few saiga 12 ga for sale here locally.they are ranging from 650 to 750.i will pick up a 12 and ak replica for the cost of an ar15,if one can be found that cheap.