First Saiga - more accurate than I expected!

[BinaryBoris 1]

First I have to thank Obama for encouraging me to finally pull the trigger and order a Saiga in 7.62x39.  Had it not been for his recent EO, I'd still have this rifle on my "someday" list.

 

Anyway, in honor of Kalashnikov I took my brand new stock Saiga in 7.62x39 straight out of the box, the only cleaning involved running a bore snake down the barrel, and fired 100 rounds down range.

 

I am by no means a crack shot, but I'd put myself as at least "average".  Here's my Saiga's inaugural grouping of 20 shots at 25 yards, using plain old Brown Bear steel cased ammo.

 

Again - I'm not Mr. Awesome Sniper, but the fact that this fine rifle can shoot this well for me straight out of the box and with me having no familiarity with the trigger or sights is very very encouraging!

 

 

Edited July 28, 2014 by BinaryBoris

[imarangemaster 315]

I like it!  Saigas tend to be more accurate than most other AKs.

[jimdigriz 580]

I like it!  Saigas tend to be more accurate than most other AKs.

 

Not to divert the thread too much I hope, but do you still prefer the VZ 58?

[BinaryBoris 1]

Things really tightened up with my last couple of 5-round groups.  Again, not Elite Socom Sniper … but man-oh-man this rifle will get the job done.

 

Next week I'll bump her out to 50 yards.

 

 

 

 

I like it!  Saigas tend to be more accurate than most other AKs.

 

Thanks!  Yeah, I have been shooting a Yugo NPAP Gen II and even with the "better" Tapco trigger I am not able to get groups like this.  I'm so glad I was able to get one before they're totally dried up.

 

Of course, I doubt I'll ever have a second one to convert … but one is better than none!

[ShadowFire 220]

Welcome to the "club".  Yes AK styled rifles in general are more accurate than people think.  With a well put together one, it's respectably accurate and not to be laughed at.  If you do your part the rifle will do it's part.  I've often wondered how accurate it might get for 7.62x39 variants if one tightens the twist rate by one full turn.  I think the standard is what, 1/9 or 1/10?  What would happen at a full turn tighter at I guess it would be 1/8 or 1/9?  It works well for AR rifles whos owners don't plan on dropping below 55gr 5.56 and .223 rounds with the mil-spec 1/7 at longer ranges.

[paprotective 362]

Nice shooting OP.. Usually the Saiga come with a certificate which will have the mm of the grouping on it.. (insert in booklet)

 

Since yours is new.. does it have a round 'trunnion' or flat 'trunnion' where the bullet guide would be??

 

I got one coming in from Classic so I figured I ask about the latest 'batch'..

Edited July 29, 2014 by YWHIC

[Protectandserve 6]

I picked up mine new a month or so back and it had a round trunnion.

[imarangemaster 315]

Yep, I still prefer the VZ58 platform!  Wish I still had mine.  Lighter weight and a milled receiver. Can load with stripper clips.  I still have some mags, but would be a pain getting one behind enemy lines in CA.  Fixed stock with Kydex paddle.

 

For now, though, my featureless Saiga will do.

[BinaryBoris 1]

Nice shooting OP.. Usually the Saiga come with a certificate which will have the mm of the grouping on it.. (insert in booklet)

 

Since yours is new.. does it have a round 'trunnion' or flat 'trunnion' where the bullet guide would be??

 

I got one coming in from Classic so I figured I ask about the latest 'batch'..

 

Thank you!  I'm still relatively new to the sport but I love shooting, so the "practice" is more fun than work.

 

Thanks for the tip on checking out the certificate.  I was so psyched to get this out to the range I hadn't even bothered to look at the manual.  Very impressed by all the Russian typography (I'm a sucker for Mosins, btw).

 

Looks like it was tested at 100m and pulled 127 mm groups, which works out to around 4-5 MOA (5" at 110 yards?).  That's pretty impressive for a $600 rifle considering it's tossing the 7.62x39 cartridge down range.

 

Since I only plan on using iron sights on this baby that should get me inside 8-12" at 100 yards for starters, which is exactly the role I envision for this rifle.  Unless the Obama EO is reversed at some point and I can get another Saiga in 7.62, I'm keeping this completely "stock" (just like the Saiga in .223 I managed to snag).  I just find something inherently beautiful about this rifle.  Built like an effin' tank, simple to operate, and accurate with smooth lines.

 

I am pretty sure I have a round trunnion as well (ordered it from Mississippi Auto Arms last Sunday).

Edited July 29, 2014 by BinaryBoris

[paprotective 362]

And thats with the factory trigger thats on a hinge. slap a Tapco G2 in and cut that in half at least. The last 762x39 I had back in 2007 to 09 would do 2x3 groups off a bag after I changed out the factory tigger.

[BinaryBoris 1]

And thats with the factory trigger thats on a hinge. slap a Tapco G2 in and cut that in half at least. The last 762x39 I had back in 2007 to 09 would do 2x3 groups off a bag after I changed out the factory tigger.

 

Wow - that's a huge difference!  I'm glad you mentioned this.  I've been wondering how big of a difference a Tapco trigger would make.  If I'm not mistaken, that's what is in my Yugo NPAP Gen II … and that thing outshoots my SKS.

 

Thanks for the tip!

 

 

----

 

OK I just did some searching and it looks like not all Tapco G2 triggers can be dropped into the Saiga.  I do want to keep this pretty much as close to "stock" as I can without making too many changes (if any) to the receiver.  However, a really nice trigger is top on my list.

 

Any suggestions?

Edited July 29, 2014 by BinaryBoris

[Bigtwin 219]

The Tapco G2 is designed for AK style trigger group, not the Saiga sporter configuration. I/We use the G2 after the Saiga is restored to an AK configuration. There is a company that sells the G2 modified for the sporter Saiga, also you can modify the G2 yourself if you have the ability.

 

Imarangemaster, I believe, modified his own G2 himself. He would be the one to ask how to do that mod.

[jimdigriz 580]

OK I just did some searching and it looks like not all Tapco G2 triggers can be dropped into the Saiga.  I do want to keep this pretty much as close to "stock" as I can without making too many changes (if any) to the receiver.  However, a really nice trigger is top on my list.

 

Any suggestions?

 

 

RSA trigger is by far the best.

[sirosisofliver 3]

Feed your Saiga with some brass cased PPU or Fiochi, and see it tighten up a bit more..

[mostholycerebus 415]

My Saiga "M-series" is more accurate than my dads Vepr. Love that rifle, wish I could buy a couple more saigas.

[Mike-4 0]

My stock Saiga x39 is about as accurate.  Great guns for the price (paid $299) from a great lineage.

 

Regards

[BinaryBoris 1]

Actually it turns out the 127mm groups at 100m was from my Saiga .223.  The Saiga in 7.62x39 tested at 95mm at 100m!  I am lovin' it.

 

Well I will keep looking for a good trigger replacement online (RSA?)  It has been taking a lot of weeding through AK-47 triggers ...

 

 

Also on a side note … I am thinking about getting into 3-gun competitions and have already decided:  I *will* be using the Saiga in 7.62x39 as my long gun.  Iron sights, all the way.  I think that would be making a statement.

Edited August 8, 2014 by BinaryBoris

[Lone Eagle 839]

Yep.  I have an Arsenal Saiga SGL21-61 I bought in 2010.  I slapped a Kalinka mount and a NcStar 2-6x32mm compact sniper scope on it.  After the initial 25yd sight in, I decided on a 50/200 zero.  Dialed it in on the 50 yd mark, ran the zoom all the way down to 2, aimed for the small diamond, and.......

 

 

First round is the low/left hole, as I screwed up on my breathing technique.  This was on Silver Bear 125gr SP.  Federal Fusion 123gr brought it down to a nickle sized group at 50.  At 200, the groups were still minute of deer kill in the 4" diamond.

 

The rifle:

 

[gunfun 3,931]

 

OK I just did some searching and it looks like not all Tapco G2 triggers can be dropped into the Saiga.  I do want to keep this pretty much as close to "stock" as I can without making too many changes (if any) to the receiver.  However, a really nice trigger is top on my list.

 

Any suggestions?

 

 

RSA trigger is by far the best.

 

 

Yes. And the next  best is going to be modding a G2 as is described in the trigger job link in my sig line.

[imarangemaster 315]

I left mine stock (no pistol grip) and replaced the FCG with modified G2 Tapco.  I used Tapco hammer, disconnector, and trigger (with trigger ground off and modified to replicate the stock sear/disconnector set up.  Very sweet trigger pull for a stock configuration.  Se my Kaliforniacation Saiga thread.

 

Edited August 10, 2014 by imarangemaster