aka108

I wanted a fairly true AK 47 so I bought a Arsenal SA M7S about 12 years ago for the price of a Saiga today. Thetwo Saigas I have will remain in stock configuration for as long as I own them.

The first one I purchased mush have be 15 to 18 years or so ago. Was 7.62x39 with the long barrel. $159 from the vendor. By the time it was shipped and run thru my FFL guy total cost was around $190.. A few years late I bought another in the same caliber withthe short barrel for &199 at a gun store in Elko, NV. A year later bought a 223 in FL or $199 also. About 10 yrs ago sold the long barrel one for $350. Prices today seem way out of line. I'm,sure the Russians are cranking these out at 20 bucks each.

I "try" to get a 100 yd zero. The AK types are not target rifles and shoot 3 to 4 inch groups at 100 yds on a good day. With a decent bolt action rifle you can get a good zero that will hit consistently but the AK is going to get you a wider spread. I zero to get somewhere in the middle of the spread by it will never get consistent hits in the 10 ring. You can get pretty decent groupings at 50 yards but to me that distance is better left to the 22rf.

Cant believe how the prices have gone up. Paid 159 for one of the long barrel Saigas from Kieslers in 2001 then 199 for the short barreled version at Gun World in Elko in 2004. Who says the Russians don't understand supply and demand.

Went to gun show here in Tallahassee last week. Saigas in 223 went from 439 to 599. All high priced but they were selling. Lucky I bought mine years ago when they were in the 200 dollar price range.

Wolf and Barnual have worked good for me. Used to shoot a bunch of Cheetah that shot good and clean but it was made in Zimbabwe and I think importation has stopped. They are probably using all they can make to kill each other in that country.

Haven't seen a Saiga in a gun store for years. Last time was in Elko and the price was $199 at that time. Seems the best way is to find a distributor listed in the RAA website and contact them. They will probably ship to a FFL in your area.

If you want a good low cost accurate plinker get a Marlin 60. The Ruger 10-22 is great once you replace the barrel, the trigger group and the stock but then it's really not a Ruger any more. Had both so that's my experience. Only decent Ruger was the early 77/22's.

Full auto would be OK if in the right hands. When you see the damage done at some ranges by idiots with single action autos you have to stop and think what these fools would do with unrestricted full autos. There are a lot of gun owners who simply shouldn't be allowed to have a BB gun or in the gene pool.

I have the 308 with 22 in bbl with wood furniture. Added a 3X9 optical scope. Wish I had purchased the 16 in with synthetic furniture as the wood and the extra bbl length and optics make it a heavy and unwieldy firearm. Fixing to trade it off shortly.

Ran across a Saiga shooter who claims best accuracy is with 62 gr bullets. He was getting some very decent groupings. Better than I was with the 55 gr. Anyhow, I've ordered in a case of 62's to see how they function. None of the Saiga's are tack drivers so if the 62's don't do any better they will still provide great recreation.

Get both a 7.62X39 and 223 at the same time. You're going to end up doing that anyhow.

If you add a scope to a Saiga or any AK you will need a cheek pad to get the cheek weld. Blackhawk makes several styles. You will notice a improvement in your accuracy and in comfort.

If you reload the 223 you can get by for 18 to 20 cents a round.

Gol in with cash in the amount you are willing to spend. Pawnshops always high ball the asking price and will settle out at somewhere between half to 2/3 of the amount after some haggling.