Related thread:
Gun Review: Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport (A brand new AR-15 for $640?)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2753925/posts
My AR has never jammed. But then I keep it clean, buy quality mags, and quality ammo.
Don’t do those and you might have trouble.
Since AK platforms are considered a bit shorter range than the AR platform, why not get it in the real AK caliber, 7.62x39?
http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/saiga.shtml
Believe they’re made by the same Russian company that made AKs. I own WASRs. They’re knock-offs, but nothing wrong with their performance.
This is worth a close look too: http://www.ruger.com/products/mini14TacticalRifle/index.html
Right now AR15 platforms are a great price for the money.
you can pick from a number of them in the $600 range.
That is very good when you consider AKs are demanding $500.
go for the AR.
I have the 7.62 and the .308 Saiga. All good shootin. I have no interest in the .223. *shrug* Just doesn’t leave the kind of hole I’m looking for. I would be willing to betcha that the gun works though. I just don’t think you’re likely to get the accuracy down range that the round is designed for.
I love my Saiga .308. It’s never failed to go boom, boom, boom. The only 3 things I require for my guns.
The saiga is not near as accurate as the AR due to the sheet metal receiver flexing when it is fired.
It has an odd trigger arrangement that gives it a long pull.
Nothing approaches the AR15 for accessories.
I love the Saiga .308(But prefer the VEPR) and the Saiga 12
I just got my iz132 7.62 x 39 saiga and love it. Have put about 500 plus downrange with no fte or ftf- not even a hiccup. I could not be happier with this rifle and am seriously considering adding another. The only customization I have done is remove the factory 10 round mag and paint the front sight. The reputation of all ak platforms being loose claptraps is bull. Svetlana groups as well as I can shoot her.
The Saigas are PC versions of what they could be, because of the import ban on firearms with certain features. The furniture on the Saiga rifle is akward, and the trigger mechanism is horrendous.
The good news is, you can replace all those parts and convert it back to the guns correct form. You just have to stay within the laws. I’m not going to get into the details, but go to Saigaforum.com and they can lead you through a conversion and the laws.
I’ve had a Saiga 12 and a 7.62 x 39. Both were reliable guns, but the rifle was mediocre in accuracy.
Just finished building a very reliable AR 15: complete lower $150; complete 14.5 in ch barrel upper $425; nice compensator welded on to bring barrel to 16 inches, $35; forty round mag $18; 5.56 caliber so it will run 223 also. When you get through converting/upgrading the Saiga, how much do oyu think you’ll have in it? Why not just start with an AK74?
Do a quick search on gunbroker.com. Buy a gun out of state for less than you can find it locally and avoid sales taxes. The shipping is usually reasonable. Add the fee for your local FFL (mine charges $25) and you can generally come out cheaper than a local dealer.
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.
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.
