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Russian Saiga 7.62X39 carbine

CS8161
I was wonderinf if anyone had any experience with these rifles. MY loacl dealer has them for $189 and they seem to be pretty nice considering the low price. They come with only a ten round polymer magazine. Will these rifles accept the pre ban 20, 30 and 40 round AK-47 magazines? Has anyone fired one of these? I would appreciate any feedback about these rifle before I decide to buy one.
Thanks
Curt
Nearearthorbit58@aol.com

Chris8161
Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • kingjoey
    They will not take a hi-cap mag, although Kreb's does a M1A mag conversion on the .308 Saiga. They are pretty good rifles like most Kalashnikov based rifles. The trigger arrangement takes some getting used to, but they are an excellent rifle for the money.

    Love them Beavers
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  • lrarmsx
    I've sold the Saiga's since the early 1990's. They work well and are a lot cheaper to buy today than they were back then. There are two problems with them however. Number one, there aren't any replacement stocks for them unless you do a complete internals refit. Secondly, they do not take a standard AK mag. There hasn't been any factory made high capacity mags for them either. I have had some mags custom made for the Saiga in 7.62X39. I currently have the 20rd and 30rd mags available. I have had some 40rd ones previously, but I think I'm out of those at the moment.

    LRARMSX@MCHSI.COM
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  • gunner8479
    Like the guys said, excellent rifle for the money. Also is a great ranch rifle. I live in a tropical environment and we take them and other Kalashnikov variants in the jungle. Sometimes we take 'em through the river without a hitch and take a wild boar or two. For $189.00 you can't go wrong!!!

    gunner8479
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  • CS8161
    Thanks all for the feedback. I am going to buy one from my local dealer. For the money, I can't go wrong and the ammo is sure cheap enough!

    Chris8161
    Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!
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  • Nighthawk
    Just my 2 cents it will be one of the best $200.00 you will spend on a firearm.Mine will shoot all day without cleaning and never studder,accuracy isnt bad either.


    Safe Shooting!!

    Rugster


    "Toujours Pret"
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  • Mr.PissyPants
    Ditto to what everyone has been saying. I have one and it is great. A real trooper. I bought some 30rd mags and filed them down to fit and they work just fine.

    fc3000ae.jpg"Dying ain't much of a living, boy."
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  • CS8161
    Where do you have to file the 30 rd mags to make them work in the Saiga?

    Chris8161
    Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!
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  • Mr.PissyPants
    Well the mags I got had a lip on them that was too thick to click into the Saiga magazine catch. So I filed about 1/16 in. off the magazine lip and it snaps right into place.

    fc3000ae.jpg"Dying ain't much of a living, boy."
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  • Supreme One
    Hello, we sell them at Dunham's, $199.99. Looked good enough, but if it won't take hi-caps, why bother?

    Michael

    Paranoid keeps you alive, worry just gives you stomach problems.
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  • competentone
    quote:Originally posted by Mr.PissyPants
    Well the mags I got had a lip on them that was too thick to click into the Saiga magazine catch. So I filed about 1/16 in. off the magazine lip and it snaps right into place.



    I assume you mean you filed down the rear latch point on the magazine--but that alone normally won't work. The front "notch" on the standard AK magazine needs to be built-up (welded), or a "ramp" into the chamber is needed to assure reliable feeding in the Saiga.

    At shows, I often see dealers who have done the filing on just the magazine rear latch and have a 30-round magazine locked in place--making the Saiga look like it will take high-capacity mags. I'm sure there are disappointed buyers when they actually start shooting the rifle.
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  • drobs
    That's a good gun at a good price. Also later on if you want you can legally convert it to take full capacity mags. As Joe said Krebs will gladly do a front end conversion for you for $550.

    http://www.krebscustom.com

    If you are handy you can do it yourself for less, just make sure you keep your parts count up. Check out the following links:

    http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=131464

    http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=74113


    Regards,
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