gregomega 929 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 The Saiga 22 AKM: Ive wanted one of these since I found this place. Hope one day we can get some state side. Got this info from a guy in the UK. Got a review from a guy on another forum: I shot one of these (the AKM version) today at Bisley. Oleg has received 3 guns and they are all sold, one to me The gun is really well built, it's all steel and all the parts look and feel like they are built to last, almost over-engineered for .22LR. The whole gun feels really solid. The barrel is a full diameter AK barrel, no barrel liner or anything. The trigger unit looks like a genuine AK type. The wood handguards are stamped with the gun serial number. The AKM version doesn't come with a side rail for a scope mount, it's bare. The guns shot pretty well with a variety of ammo - there was an occasional failure to fire but I put this down to the guns needing to 'bed in' a bit (we literally took them out the box and shot them). I found RWS Geco or CCI Minimag worked best during the hour that we shot them. The magazines are proper AKM bakelite mags as you've seen already. The insert is single stack and seems to be spring-loaded in the magazine body, I'm not quite sure why. I think other single stack mags like those for the CZ 452 could be mounted in a 7.62 mag to work the same way. I will have a go at modifying something when I pick the gun up. I wonder if anyone knows of any higher capacity single stack .22LR mags that might fit? I need to wait for an extra slot on my Firearms Certificate so it might be a week or two, but I'll put some pictures up when I get it. Oleg is going to put a shooting video up on Youtube soon. The gun is expensive but being in the UK it's the closest I'll get to owning a semi auto AK, plus it's great fun to shoot Here are some pics: The insert mag looks like a .22 pistol magazine held in a sleeve. There is a full size spring and follower in the 7.62 mag and the follower presses the .22 mag up against the sleeve and into the mag well. The sleeve is held in place by 2 drift pins. I am going to try and make some spare mags by Dremelling (other rotary tools are available ) a rectangular hole in the follower of a bakelite mag and inserting a 10rd CZ 452 mag into the hole. The follower spring tension should push the CZ mag up into the mag well enough to feed. There is a pivot arm above the breech that looks like it tips the nose of the round into the breech. I'll do some more playing about with the whole thing next week including trying to make a spare mag. I need to see if I can figure out how to increase the mag capacity too, but I don't think it's possible with the current insert (maybe 1 extra round, but I don't think that's worth chopping it up for). The gun comes with a cleaning kit that can be stored in the stock as per the real thing, a cleaning rod, oil bottle and instruction book. The instruction book covers the AK103 type too and mentions that it has an extra safety so that the gun won't fire if the stock is folded. Hope this is helpful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwSuAQO7UBI&feature=youtube_gdata_player Enjoy One more picture: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mullet Man 2,114 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 (edited) Thats cool! Doubt we'll ever see them stateside. Wonder what the third axis pin is about...? AZG, try and get the guy to post up some disassembled pics, including a look into the receiver. Its a Saiga but it doesnt have the typical Saiga safety/selector lever or dust cover. It looks like the GB and FSB are pinned in place too. Edited March 23, 2012 by Mullet Man Quote Link to post Share on other sites
corbin 621 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 (edited) Nice. An AK that is cheaper to shoot is a good thing. I imagine a suppressor on that might work well too. Yeah, the auto sear hole would be an issue if they're ever going to export them to the U.S. Edited March 23, 2012 by Corbin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gregomega 929 Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Thats cool! Doubt we'll ever see them stateside. Wonder what the third axis pin is about...? AZG, try and get the guy to post up some disassembled pics, including a look into the receiver. Its a Saiga but it doesnt have the typical Saiga safety/selector lever or dust cover. It looks like the GB and FSB are pinned in place too. The third pin is for full auto. It has a full auto FCG I imagine. Not sure. It would be even better if it was just for looks. I ask him if he'll post up some more pics of the internals. Nice. An AK that is cheaper to shoot is a good thing. I imagine a suppressor on that might work well too. Yeah, the auto sear hole would be an issue if they're ever going to export them to the U.S. I hope they can weld the third pin into place or something as I would like to keep it there for authenticity reasons. plus it just look better IMO. I have no want to make it full auto. I just waste ammo that way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mullet Man 2,114 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I know what the third pin is for but i was assuming that in the UK, they couldnt have anything like that. They cant even own semi auto centerfire rifles if i'm not mistaken. Still cool tho! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mancat 2,368 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 (edited) ATF's cool rules say that if there was ever a third axis pin, the receiver has to be destroyed. Welding it up is "no good," it's always a machine gun. Also remember that the US is the only country that gets neutered Saigas. In the rest of the world, you can buy a Saiga that is a civialian-legal AK, but still has all of the traditional features intact. Have you guys ever looked at your Saiga user's manual? There is a huge array of Saiga models out there - 90% of them unavailable in the US. We really do get shafted over here. It's interesting to see what Izhmash is doing with all of their leftover AKM parts. I wish we could get these here in the US. I would love to have a .22 AK to get my AK fix, and although the Romanian M10 and WASR-22 are out there, it would be nice to have one made from Russian parts. Edited March 23, 2012 by mancat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Superhawk138 202 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 (edited) Thats cool! Doubt we'll ever see them stateside. Wonder what the third axis pin is about...? AZG, try and get the guy to post up some disassembled pics, including a look into the receiver. Its a Saiga but it doesnt have the typical Saiga safety/selector lever or dust cover. It looks like the GB and FSB are pinned in place too. The third pin is for full auto. It has a full auto FCG I imagine. Not sure. It would be even better if it was just for looks. I ask him if he'll post up some more pics of the internals. Nice. An AK that is cheaper to shoot is a good thing. I imagine a suppressor on that might work well too. Yeah, the auto sear hole would be an issue if they're ever going to export them to the U.S. I hope they can weld the third pin into place or something as I would like to keep it there for authenticity reasons. plus it just look better IMO. I have no want to make it full auto. I just waste ammo that way. A soon as the 3rd pin hole is drilled that receiver is automatically deemed a machine gun in the ATF's eyes. Once a machine gun always a machine gun no mater if the hole is weld, pinned, riveted or whatever else that may be used. Some old Mak90s had a pinned auto sear hole and were considered contraband. There was a topic here a few years back that a guy had a saiga with a pinned auto sear hole. Post #24 shows the pinned hole http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?/topic/20871-saiga-dimpled-receiver-w-y-stamp/ Edited March 23, 2012 by superhawk138 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gregomega 929 Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 ATF's cool rules say that if there was ever a third axis pin, the receiver has to be destroyed. Welding it up is "no good," it's always a machine gun. Also remember that the US is the only country that gets neutered Saigas. In the rest of the world, you can buy a Saiga that is a civialian-legal AK, but still has all of the traditional features intact. Have you guys ever looked at your Saiga user's manual? There is a huge array of Saiga models out there - 90% of them unavailable in the US. We really do get shafted over here. It's interesting to see what Izhmash is doing with all of their leftover AKM parts. I wish we could get these here in the US. I would love to have a .22 AK to get my AK fix, and although the Romanian M10 and WASR-22 are out there, it would be nice to have one made from Russian parts. Thats cool! Doubt we'll ever see them stateside. Wonder what the third axis pin is about...? AZG, try and get the guy to post up some disassembled pics, including a look into the receiver. Its a Saiga but it doesnt have the typical Saiga safety/selector lever or dust cover. It looks like the GB and FSB are pinned in place too. The third pin is for full auto. It has a full auto FCG I imagine. Not sure. It would be even better if it was just for looks. I ask him if he'll post up some more pics of the internals. Nice. An AK that is cheaper to shoot is a good thing. I imagine a suppressor on that might work well too. Yeah, the auto sear hole would be an issue if they're ever going to export them to the U.S. I hope they can weld the third pin into place or something as I would like to keep it there for authenticity reasons. plus it just look better IMO. I have no want to make it full auto. I just waste ammo that way. A soon as the 3rd pin hole is drilled that receiver is automatically deemed a machine gun in the ATF's eyes. Once a machine gun always a machine gun no mater if the hole is weld, pinned, riveted or whatever else that may be used. Some old Mak90s had a pinned auto sear hole and were considered contraband. There was a topic here a few years back that a guy had a saiga with a pinned auto sear hole. Post #24 shows the pinned hole http://forum.saiga-1...iver-w-y-stamp/ Thats wierd, this guy figured out how to do it and legally: I keep drooling over your 3rd/extra Y stamp and there is also a pin I see. Is it Full Auto? or just for looks either way its amazing ...The third pin is totally fake. Even in person, it's impossible to tell without looking inside the rifle to check. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mullet Man 2,114 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 OK guys, i understand what the third pin is for and all that jazz. I was merely wondering if that Saiga .22 above is actually a FA piece or not. He doesnt fire it in FA, is why i'm wondering. If i'm making a video and i have a FA gun and one that is rarely seen, i'm firing the fucking thing in FA! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gregomega 929 Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I know what the third pin is for but i was assuming that in the UK, they couldnt have anything like that. They cant even own semi auto centerfire rifles if i'm not mistaken. Still cool tho! Oh, my bad . This is true about the not being able to have semi autos, but I think they made an exception for these. I PM'd the OP and asked if he'd take some more pics. Ill post if I get anything. OK guys, i understand what the third pin is for and all that jazz. I was merely wondering if that Saiga .22 above is actually a FA piece or not. He doesnt fire it in FA, is why i'm wondering. If i'm making a video and i have a FA gun and one that is rarely seen, i'm firing the fucking thing in FA! as for full auto, im not sure. probably not have only a ten round mag. I love that third pin though. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Foxtrot Oscar 37 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 lol I seriously doubt that it's full auto... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
liberty -r- death 1,445 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 I'd buy one in second if they come to the US. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mullet Man 2,114 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 lol I seriously doubt that it's full auto... I kind of think it wouldnt be FA either. But if its a factory piece, why would they go thru the money, trouble and parts to make it appear to be full auto, when they have the ability to use SA receivers and parts? Did i mention that i like it yet and would buy one in a heartbeat if they make it stateside? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zambidis 90 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 The .22LR is the gun I would most like them to import. I'm a huge fan of 22 trainers and would have to get one if they imported it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Foxtrot Oscar 37 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 I kind of think it wouldnt be FA either. But if its a factory piece, why would they go thru the money, trouble and parts to make it appear to be full auto, when they have the ability to use SA receivers and parts? More realistic ... for military training or as a collection piece maybe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gregomega 929 Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 AZG, try and get the guy to post up some disassembled pics, including a look into the receiver. Here you are sir. Enjoy: And some Saiga 22 gun porn from guns.ru: 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gregomega 929 Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 I want one soooo baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Foxtrot Oscar 37 Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 I want one soooo baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad! no way. it's a deadly fully automatic machine gun sniper rifle AK47 used to kill people and not animals. You must be an evil, dishonest man to want something like this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 I want one badly. I must be a bad, bad man! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Superhawk138 202 Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 I like that bolt a lot better than those of the wasr 22. Also looks like a stronger extractor as well. Bring them Stateside NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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