Few questions about .308

[Cytan 0]

Hi everyone, somewhat new to the forum have looked on here before with friends and geeked out on the saigas. But anyway, I'm wanting to buy a rifle..and I was thinking .308 for sure. And at first was thinking bolt action but was at the gun store earlier and held a saiga .308 not sure on the exact type or anything but I really liked how it felt in my hands and I've heard great things about them. Was just wondering about opinions on a saiga .308 as a first rifle and also wondering cost of converting to a pistol grip w/ stock and changing out trigger costs. Also was wondering what people think about buying a saiga over a bolt action or something else. I'm pretty sure I'll buy the saiga but in any case I wanted to get a possibly different perspective on the whole thing. Thanks in advance!

[keyser223 0]

Hi everyone, somewhat new to the forum have looked on here before with friends and geeked out on the saigas. But anyway, I'm wanting to buy a rifle..and I was thinking .308 for sure. And at first was thinking bolt action but was at the gun store earlier and held a saiga .308 not sure on the exact type or anything but I really liked how it felt in my hands and I've heard great things about them. Was just wondering about opinions on a saiga .308 as a first rifle and also wondering cost of converting to a pistol grip w/ stock and changing out trigger costs. Also was wondering what people think about buying a saiga over a bolt action or something else. I'm pretty sure I'll buy the saiga but in any case I wanted to get a possibly different perspective on the whole thing. Thanks in advance!

 

Welcome to the forum, and should you decide to go with the Saiga, your new addiction

My opinion: It's awesome, definitely buy one!!!

Options: Just look around at the pic post, basically limited to your imagination.

Cost to convert: G2 Trigger: about $30 US Buttstock: Cheapest: about $45, Pistol Grip: around $20, US made FBMG 20 round mags: $45

 

If you are looking for long range accuracy, you can't beat the bolt gun. But the .308 Saiga isn't bad, typical of what you would expect from an autoloading military rifle and better than some of those.

 

My line of thinking: I would go with the Saiga, it may eventually not be available, I don't foresee any bans on your common bolt actions so you could always get one of those in the future.

Edited July 7, 2007 by keyser

[buckandaquarterquarterstaff 5]

As far as saiga vs bolt gun, what are you interested in doing with it?

[Cytan 0]

Well I was just wondering if people would go for a bolt action as a first rifle instead of the saiga But I plan on target shooting and possibly hunting later on but I'm not too sure. Mainly I was just looking for something longer range than my current firearms which are a walther .22 a 38sp revolver and a 12 gauge pump.

[buckandaquarterquarterstaff 5]

Well I was just wondering if people would go for a bolt action as a first rifle instead of the saiga But I plan on target shooting and possibly hunting later on but I'm not too sure. Mainly I was just looking for something longer range than my current firearms which are a walther .22 a 38sp revolver and a 12 gauge pump.

 

Put it this way, the saiga might be around for a limited time (given the political climate). It's plenty enough rifle for deer hunting, and it's got waay more range than anything you've listed as already owned. A bolt gun might be a better pure hunting choice, but the saiga is definately more fun at the range on days when you just feel like blasting away.

[Cytan 0]

Thnx for the info As I said I'm pretty set on the saiga atm. And yeah the fun factor is always important, also was just thinking...if I remember right the saiga was cheaper than the bolt action .308's I saw there and thats always a + as I am poor. Oh, another question that I just was thinking about. What kind of rounds can the saiga handle and, what is some of the better but not too spendy ammo.

Edited July 7, 2007 by Cytan

[buckandaquarterquarterstaff 5]

Thnx for the info As I said I'm pretty set on the saiga atm. And yeah the fun factor is always important, also was just thinking...if I remember right the saiga was cheaper than the bolt action .308's I saw there and thats always a + as I am poor. Oh, another question that I just was thinking about. What kind of rounds can the saiga handle and, what is some of the better but not too spendy ammo.

 

The saiga can handle any 308 winchester of 7.62x51 ammo. Wolf makes steel cased 308, and there is other military surplus stuff from sources like South Africa that also works OK. Ammo for the s308 is going to be significanly more than the 7.62x39 saiga, but that's because it's more powerful. The 7.62x39 is on the light end for a deer cartridge (in terms of energy), but the 308 is more than enough power.

 

Practice with a 22 a few times a week, and less often with the 308, you'll be a good shot in no time. A good 22 pays for itself in ammo savings, and even cheap 22's are pretty good for practice purposes. I've got a TOZ 22 bolt gun that I paid $130 for, and it can shoot a 1 in group at 50 yards with the cheapest department store 22 ammo. Practicing on some steel swingers that are about 3 inches in diamater from standing, prone, and kneeling is time well spent, I do it all the time. Mix up the ranges, elevations, and shooting positions and it rarely gets dull. $12 for 500 rounds of 22, or $12 for 20 rounds of 308. You do the math... Better to figure that part out quickly as even if you're not poor, you can go broke on ammo pretty quick these days.

[Havoc308 3]

I don't think you can touch another semi-auto 308 for the price of the Saiga. My 16 and 22in shoot right with my bone stock Remington 700 SPS in 308 using the same ammo. Plus, I got both of them for about $150 more than the 700 w/accessories.

[Cytan 0]

Yar price is a huge part of why I originally was thinking saiga. And then after holding it I fell in love with it Now I just need to get a bit more $$ and buy one. Thnx again people for opinions/facts on the gun, appreciate it!