Posted on 10/25/2011 10:45:02 AM PDT by DTogo
Thinking about .223 hardware at a good price ($329), like Soviet Bloc designs/surplus, and have a spare scope that needs a home. AR platforms are usually expensive, humdrum design, and I see a lot of jams at the range.
That is an excellent price.
Go for it.
you wont be sad, and the price will likely appreciate.
‘I have the 7.62 and the .308 Saiga.’
Aren’t .308 and 7.62x51 the same?
A picatinny scope mount for around $40, maybe another mag, that's about it.
My next project will be a piston 5.56 build.
I meant 7.62x39 Ak round for short. Should have been more clear.
I believe you are correct as far as the 7.62x51.
When I see an AR that jams, it is due to;
A nasty gun. Cleaning the buffer tube is needed as well.
A dry bolt carrier assembly. If you believe that “majic coating” will let you run it dry, you shouldn’t believe everything you read in gun magazines. NONE OF THEM WORK FOR VERY LONG! Grease the bolt lugs. Oil the rest, inside and out.
CHEAP MAGAZINES. 95% of mis-feeding in self loading firearms are magazine related. This is one area the AK shines with those thick, steel feed lips and plenty of space for the compressed magazine spring to reduce stress. As for the AR, the Lancer L5 mags are the only ones that will store fully loaded for any length of time without losing spring tension or spreading the lips. Regular AR mags are fine if you load them to 60% capacity for long term storage (12 in 20s, 20 in 30s), have no-tilt followers and chrome silicon springs.
As for no-tilt followers (L5s seem to not need them), you do not need M4 style feed ramps at all, even in pistols, if you use them.
Laquer/Polymer coated ammo causes problems, and most brands are much more corrosive than admitted by their vendors. MEK is the only thing I have found to remove the paint residue from the chamber. Clean your gun and use the zinc plated cases if you like the combloc stuff.
Either get a chrome lined or stainless barrel if you are less than fastidious about cleaning.
Watch the shooters with the jam-0-matic ARs. When they do function, they probably can’t hit too well with them either.
I like the 308 more than .223 it is more fun to shoot and makes things explode when you hit them.
I would like one of their 12 gauge models though.
Shoot what you like.
I believe if you tried an AR-10, it would help with that antique fetish.
I mean, I like souping up flathead Fords and shooting my Blue-Star Garand, but when I really want performance I embrace technology.
The good old days really were not THAT great.
BOOOYAOW! M1 Garand is my favorite rifle I own. Nothing beats the “TING” when it is our of ammo. Love it!
M1 Garand clips. LOVE EM!
Q: Preferred scope mounts - AK side mount or picatinny'd receiver cover?
Yeah, so is 7.62x54R, but again, accessibility of .223 is a consideration.
Need the M1 first... someday.
The receiver cover is too flexible to hold a good zero. For any serious work, get the side mount.
Exactly. Sidemount.
I have the 7.62 and a Saiga shotgun. Good guns for the price. Don’t forget the red dot!
The Saiga 7.62 x 39 version does not take the standard AK magazine, though aftermarket Saiga 30-round mags are available and the conversion to use an AK mag is not terribly difficult. But my Saiga is meant for use as a backup or spare rifle, a loaner to a qualified user caught without his own shooter, or for use under such miserable enviornmental conditions that a lesser weapon might prove unreliable or could be damaged. The reliability of the Kalishnikov platform is beyond legendary and I will not compromise that reliability with an aftermarket plastic magazine constructed of dubious materials or workmanship.
Just as the 7,62 x39mm Saiga can be converted to use a military magazine, so too can the 5.45mm version, and that's the one that gets rained or snowed on when long range problems ar3en't my problem.a .223 Saiga with a 20-inch barrel available, bringing the Saiga/Kalishnikov up to the level of capability of one of an M16A1 rifle of the Vietnam War era, but with better reliability and less expense- you'd still need a good optical sight, and the end result would be a tad on the heavy side, but that might be worthwhile for some users.
Accessories? Magazines, and more amnmo. Then more mags, then more ammo, and repeat as necessary. A way to carry the mags and ammo is a good idea, and a few spare parts wouldn;t hurt, even for a Kalishnikov- and do get a decent cleaning kit, even for an AK.
Go with a PSOP side mount Russian scope
http://kalinkaoptics.com/rifle-scopes/posp/ak-vepr-saiga-slr.html
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