JK-47 33 Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 I just saw 20" barreled 5.45 rifles listed on the Classic Arms website. Has anyone seen one in person yet? This is the first I've heard that a 20" barreled version even exists. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vulcan16 971 Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 New model. I'm waiting delivery of a new 20" 7.62 from Centerfire with a 1000meter leaf sight. Already own a 20" 223 & its way more accurate then the 16. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
supertex 242 Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 when were they made? do they have dimples?importer? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vulcan16 971 Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 (edited) they have dimples and the one pictured at centerfire has the match striker. marked tgi. Edited January 28, 2012 by Jetmech Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joebanda1213 59 Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Ive always wanted to do a faux mini RPK type build with a 20 inch Saiga 5.45 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JK-47 33 Posted January 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 (edited) Edited February 4, 2012 by JK-47 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YodaMaadi 3 Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 http://www.classicar...aiga20-bbl2.jpg Take a look at the rifle shown at classicarms... At first I thought it was a Saiga .308 due to the front sight base, but there is no bulge at the front trunnion. The magazine is either .223 or 5.45. Now take a look at the rear of the receiver, it has the two rivet holes for the trigger linkage, which the .308 doesn't use at all. If this is indeed the new target model (and not just some random picture classic put up) I'm excited. Siaga .308 barrel parts are similar in diameter to RPK parts. If they put larger diameter barrels (with S-308 RSB, gas block and FSB) on the intermidiate caliber 20" guns, that is something to get excited about.***Looks like the picture on Classic's website si simply wrong. I just picked up a 5.45 Saiga with 20" barrel at the gun show and I can confirm it indeed does have a heavy barrel with the .308 style front sight base. The front sight base and gas block are pinned on and not dimpled. I just converted the back end and will have pictures soon. It also has the TGI engraving and dimples. I can't wait to see how it shoots! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rs51085 136 Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 i just called classic arms and asked them if these 5.45 20" saiga's have thicker barrels than the standard 16" model and her response was "not that i know of". i am disappointed by this response. it is disappointing that she had no desire to find out if it did and just assumed it did not. that was a lost sale. has anyone ordered one from these guys and can confirm that these do have thicker barrels? if these do have thicker barrels i MAY consider ordering one from them. so far there customer service is not very good. and they don't even have my money yet. i realize the guy above me got one from a gun show that had a thicker barrel but who knows how many the Russians actually did like that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marc 147 Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 If any of you guys that are going to get a 20" 5.45 also have a chronograph, I (and I'm sure others) would be interested in some velocity figures. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rs51085 136 Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 i dont have the 20" i have the 16" but i did check it with a chronograph with the cheap surplus and the hornaday steal match. the surplus was between 2950 and 3000 fps. the hornady was slower at around 2850. just thought this would be a good baseline to campare to the 20". 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
finishman2000 2 Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 i just called classic arms and asked them if these 5.45 20" saiga's have thicker barrels than the standard 16" model and her response was "not that i know of". i am disappointed by this response. it is disappointing that she had no desire to find out if it did and just assumed it did not. that was a lost sale. has anyone ordered one from these guys and can confirm that these do have thicker barrels? if these do have thicker barrels i MAY consider ordering one from them. so far there customer service is not very good. and they don't even have my money yet. i realize the guy above me got one from a gun show that had a thicker barrel but who knows how many the Russians actually did like that. really??? they are selling saiga's as fast as they can get them and you're surprised she didn't seem to want to research your question? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
m1key 7 Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 FYI, JG Sales is also advertising the 20 inch 5.45 Saiga for $349 M Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GregM1 241 Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 notice the FSB on the ones at J&G look like the standard rifle FSB not the 308 look. Maybe not all of them will be the heavy barrel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
m1key 7 Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 notice the FSB on the ones at J&G look like the standard rifle FSB not the 308 look. Maybe not all of them will be the heavy barrel. Yeah, it could be a picture of a 223. Hard to tell... M Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rs51085 136 Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 (edited) really??? they are selling saiga's as fast as they can get them and you're surprised she didn't seem to want to research your question? just because you don't think customer service is a must doesn't mean i feel the same way. believe it or not i sent j and g a similar question asking what the barrel diameter is on these 5.45s and they sent back this response: Sir, The barrel has a diameter of .700 Thank you. that is how you do business. they answered my question directly. they now have a new customer. the picture they have on there website must just be a stock photo. i just measured my 16" 5.45 and it is 0.56". so these seem to be heavy barrel models. Edited February 17, 2012 by rogers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JK-47 33 Posted February 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 Wow, that is awesome news. I just assumed Classic was using the wrong picture (again). Does any one have a pic of one of these elusive and rare H-Bar Saiga's the wild? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YodaMaadi 3 Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 Saiga 20" I did the rear conversion the night I got it, hopefully I will get to shoot it this weekend. For those looking to do a front end conversion of some form, the barrel diameter under the FSB is .673, GB is .710, and barrel between FSB and GB is .693 With Saiga 16" 5.45 and Bulgarian 74 for comparison 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rs51085 136 Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 Wow madi that's a nice rifle and great info. Let us know how it shoots. Quick qestion. Does it have a round trunion or a flat one? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YodaMaadi 3 Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 Wow madi that's a nice rifle and great info. Let us know how it shoots. Quick qestion. Does it have a round trunion or a flat one? It has a Round Trunnion, actually both my saigas do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JK-47 33 Posted February 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 WOW, unbelieveable. How did heavy barreled saigas sneak into the country like this? No hype or even advertising on the new model. The dimensions seem to fall short of RPK barrel dimensions, but is still a heavy barrel as far as AK's are concered. I guess those are Saiga-308 barrel parts repurposed. Very interesting. ROMANIAN RPK PATTERN BARREL: Chamber .908" (23mm w/ .003 - .006" press fit) Rear Sight Base .884" (22.45mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit) Handguard Retainer .863" 8.0938" (8 3/32") / 205.58mm from breech face Cleaning Rod Retainer .756" 15.6875" (15 11/16") / 398.46mm from breech face Gas Block .789" (20mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit) Front Sight Base/Bipod Base ?" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JK-47 33 Posted February 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 YodaMaadi, thank you for the pics... Now I must have one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
m1key 7 Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 (edited) Nice rifles Yoda. I too would like to see some chronogragh results from that 20 inch tube. M Edited February 19, 2012 by m1key Quote Link to post Share on other sites
azchris11 2 Posted February 22, 2012 Report Share Posted February 22, 2012 Dang it, now i'm not sure on which saiga to get to start my first build. A 20" model or the one from Atlantic that has the front end work already done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jdmakersmark 15 Posted February 23, 2012 Report Share Posted February 23, 2012 Now I am totally confused. Get the target 20" or the 340 with the front end done? I like how the 16" handles, but the heavy barrel is great option. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
azchris11 2 Posted February 23, 2012 Report Share Posted February 23, 2012 Now I am totally confused. Get the target 20" or the 340 with the front end done? I like how the 16" handles, but the heavy barrel is great option. For my first project I picked the 340. Figure I'll learn enough this time round that I can spend the time/money/energy next time on a heavy barrel, since I'll already know how to do the back. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jdmakersmark 15 Posted February 23, 2012 Report Share Posted February 23, 2012 I think my first choice is the 340, but I am tempted with the 20". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
azchris11 2 Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 I think my first choice is the 340, but I am tempted with the 20". What did it for me was there is a ton of help/guidance out there for normal barrel dimensions, seemed a bit slimmer for the heavy barrel stuff. Just figure I don't need that headache on my first go. But looking forward to seeing what you decide on! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JK-47 33 Posted February 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 IF you are deciding which to convert, the heavy barreled models will not readily accept any hand guard retainer I know of. You options are much more limited swapping barrel parts because of the barrel dimensions (really it's a medium-weight barrel profile, being half way between standard AKM and the RPK's heavy weight barrel- it shares dimensions with the Saiga .308 ONLY AFAIK). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jdmakersmark 15 Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 IF you are deciding which to convert, the heavy barreled models will not readily accept any hand guard retainer I know of. You options are much more limited swapping barrel parts because of the barrel dimensions (really it's a medium-weight barrel profile, being half way between standard AKM and the RPK's heavy weight barrel- it shares dimensions with the Saiga .308 ONLY AFAIK). That is a very good point. Probably no chance the barrel is threaded either. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CPE1704TKS 24 Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 That is a very good point. Probably no chance the barrel is threaded either. Excuse me for asking, but for this caliber and barrel length, why the need for a muzzle device? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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