[Hammer problem - New Saiga .308 16"]

It's possible that the trigger return spring was not installed, or a weak one was substituted. You should be able to feel if it's there by dry firing. Unloaded of course. Once the hammer pops up (ie the rifle would fire if loaded), then you should be able to feel spring pressure returning the trigger forward. Then, check if there's any obstruction by pulling off the dust cover, removing the piston/bolt, pull (fire - unloaded of course), keep the trigger pulled, manually recock the hammer, all the way back so the trigger is holding it from popping up again to the "ready to fire position", then let go of the trigger. The trigger should move itself forward, allowing the hammer to pop up a bit to the "ready to fire" position.

 

That said, if you're pulling tight on the trigger as it fires and don't release it, then it should operate exactly as you're describing (though it should be returning itself forward if you let go of it). That little bit of material you describe as needing to be cleared to have the hammer pop up to the second position keeps the rifle a semi auto (and no, the full auto's aren't just like what you have with just a little grinding).

 

If the spring isn't the culprit, then the angle of the notch that holds the hammer down when the trigger is held back (as the hammer is recocked), may be cut incorrectly or there is a burr edge that needs wearing off.

 

Overall, this is likely an item that will correct itself with some wear in. I'd try a couple hundred rounds of dry firing to see if it's just a burr somewhere along the hammer, or in the "trigger notch." You can always go through the trouble of sending it back, and a couple hundred dry fires won't cost you anything.

 

Let me get this right... A rifle is being sold in the USA that may or may not have the following problems: "return spring was not installed" or a "weak one was substituted" or may have and "angle of the notch that holds the hammer back may be improperly cut" or a "burr edge that needs wearing off" and of course may need "a couple of hundred rounds of dry firing" to make it right? This rifle is a DEATH TRAP! You guys make me sick. GONE FOR GOOD!

[New Saiga 308 & Surefire Mag Test Fire]

Safety is in the operater, not the rifle.

Rule No1: There's no such thing as an unloaded gun.

Now it's time to get it fixed or sell it to me.

$150.00 last offer.

 

DEFECTIVE = LAWSUIT....Get it? Trigger that STICKS in the ON position with a LOADED CHAMBER?

 

Refund or lawsuit. Get it YET??

[New Saiga 308 & Surefire Mag Test Fire]

There is a new post on this forum about the "hammer sticking" which is exactly what mine is doing. Both are brand new just purchased rifles. Seems to indicate there is a serious quality and SAFETY issue with at least TWO brand new Saiga 16" barreled rifles out there. Mines going back Monday.

 

 

Two rifles out of the hundreds that are owned by people here?

I can assure you that, were it a problem with several or more guns, then the info would be on these forums!

I really didn't expect someone with 20 years of AK experience to be such a titty baby over what is obviously not a series or design flaw.

 

Two rifles, purchased in the SAME WEEK would seem to indicate the POSSIBLITY of many more being defective. Just think of the new Saiga 308 owner who thinks his rifle is EMPTY and then the trigger suddenly comes back alive and snaps into the "ON" position. Can't understand why you guys are so hostile to this issue. I've fired and owned AK's from China, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Russia. Never,, NEVER have I experienced the problem I had with the Saiga 308. Even the WASR crap, sloppy wobbley mag hunks of crap fuction flawlessly.

[Hammer problem - New Saiga .308 16"]

Well I know a couple of people that won't be around here long..................

 

Guess I don't know what you mean?

 

I think they are saying if you bring up quality control and SAFETY issues with brand new Saiga's then they may delete your account and prohibit you from posting. Any rifle, new out of the box, sold in the USA, should NOT require "bending", "emery cloth", "filing" or other such hack procedures to make it work properly and SAFELY. A live round in the chamber...hammer BACK...trigger locked back and needing to MANUALLY pushed FORWARD?? Are you kidding me?? These rifles are obviously DEFECTIVE and should be returned. I'm curious as to the serial number range your defective rifle is. PM me with the last few digits if you don't want to post it and I will share you mine. The best bet is to return this rifle and get a replacement or a refund. AK type rifles should work, out of the box, covered in mud/sand/snow without so much as a FTF.

[New Saiga 308 & Surefire Mag Test Fire]

Now I am confused!?

 

My .308 has done just fine since day one with both the factory mag AND my Surefire mags.....

I'm sure it's probably because the rifle and mags are crap though, right?

 

 

My point is that you cannot judge an entire line of rifles by one with a bad part.

 

There is a new post on this forum about the "hammer sticking" which is exactly what mine is doing. Both are brand new just purchased rifles. Seems to indicate there is a serious quality and SAFETY issue with at least TWO brand new Saiga 16" barreled rifles out there. Mines going back Monday.

[Hammer problem - New Saiga .308 16"]

That is the same thing mine did...brand new out of the box. Very UNSAFE! Live round in the chamber and you pull the trigger and nothing happens. My trigger sticks back due to weak spring pressure and clicks when you have to manually push it forward. JUNK and DANGEROUS. I'm sending mine back first thing Monday. Mine is the Saiga 16" with skeleton stock and yes I just bought it this week.

 

Did you buy it from one of the online dealers listed on the Russian Saiga site?

[New Saiga 308 & Surefire Mag Test Fire]

Take the dust cover off, you will most likely find that one ear of the hammer spring is not in the right place.

But you would have known to look for that if you weren't too fucking lazy to search the forum for the information ASSHAT. Coming here and calling it a POS is not the freindlyest thing you ever did!

 

Pretty hostile forum here. I took the dust cover off and have owned many AK type rifles for over 20 years. I've never seen a spring this weak. I've also NEVER had to "adjust" an ear on a hammer spring on even the cheapest AK clones. In fact, I've never had to do ANYTHING with ANY AK version other than load it and pull the trigger. Reliability is the reason why these rifles are so prolific. I'm done with this hostile forum but I'll leave you with a movie quote about the AK-47. The Saiga 308 Version should not be included in this quote as it is an inferior version:

 

Of all the weapons in the vast soviet arsenal, nothing was more profitable than Avtomat Kalashnikova model of 1947. More commonly known as the AK-47, or Kalashnikov. It's the world's most popular assault rifle. A weapon all fighters love. An elegantly simple 9 pound amalgamation of forged steel and plywood. It doesn't break, jam, or overheat. It'll shoot whether it's covered in mud or filled with sand. It's so easy, even a child can use it; and they do. The Soviets put the gun on a coin. Mozambique put it on their flag. Since the end of the Cold War, the Kalashnikov has become the Russian people's greatest export. After that comes vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists. One thing is for sure, no one was lining up to buy their cars.

 

Lord of War, 2005

[New Saiga 308 & Surefire Mag Test Fire]

You should have your rifle looked at, or take it back to wherever you bought it from. That isn't normal. Also, you need another US part to use those Surefire mags legally.

 

The surefire mags never really worked to begin with. I already tossed them in the trash. JUNK. You could hear the rounds bouncing around inside them when it was loaded to capacity.

The factory Saiga mag worked ok as long as I PUSHED the trigger forward after each shot. This rifle was brand new.

[CRACKS in Surefire 308 Magazines?]

I manufacture polymer parts, poured and injected molds, several times a week. It is a knit line or more technically speaking a sept. Structurally insignificant. But cosmetically...poor quality.

 

Thanks. I was wondering why they were identical on both mags. The mags seem solid enough. Now off to test fire.

I have 200 rounds of some vintage 1975 Radway Green I plan on burning up this weekend. I bought the surefire mags because they were the only brand available

 

I posted about my experience with these mags and the new Saiga 308 I just bought. With all due respect, I have no idea what you guys see in this rifle. It has to be the worst AK design ever made. Trigger spring is so weak it won't even go back into position after chambering a round.. Mags won't even let me chamber a round when loaded to capacity. Horrible.

Factory Saiga mag is no better. I have to pull back with all my strength just to get this thing to chamber a round. Crap.

[New Saiga 308 & Surefire Mag Test Fire]

I bought a brand new Saiga 308 with 16" barrel and skeleton stock. I also bought two 25 round Surefire mags, new in wrap.

 

Took it out to the range today. Loaded both to full 25 round capacity. I couldn't even pull the action back to chamber a round! Tried the other mag and the same. Took 10 rounds out of each and finally got it to chamber a round. Fired it and the trigger stuck all the way back. Took the BRAND NEW Saiga apart and saw that the spring was so WEAK that it had trouble pushing the trigger back into position after firing. I've never seen this with any AK type rifle. I tried the factory Saiga mag and the same thing.

 

I hate this rifle already and have no idea what you guys see in them. A better choice would be the PTR-91 in any configuration compared to these hunks of crap. $1000 will get you a PTR-91 and G-3 20 round mags are ........oh how about 20 for $100 ?? Or even less if you buy them used.

 

This rifle has to be the worst AK type rifle ever. I feel like a rape victim.

[CRACKS in Surefire 308 Magazines?]

I manufacture polymer parts, poured and injected molds, several times a week. It is a knit line or more technically speaking a sept. Structurally insignificant. But cosmetically...poor quality.

 

Thanks. I was wondering why they were identical on both mags. The mags seem solid enough. Now off to test fire.

I have 200 rounds of some vintage 1975 Radway Green I plan on burning up this weekend. I bought the surefire mags because they were the only brand available

[CRACKS in Surefire 308 Magazines?]

These are new, in the factory plastic, unfired Surefire 25 round 308 Saiga mags. I have two that have identical hairline cracks that do NOT transfer to the inside of the magazine. Just wondering if this is ok or should I return them? It's not a scatch. I looked at it with a 10X magnifying glass and it's a hairline crack Thanks