7.62x51 AK/Saiga?

[Littlelebowski]

Any thoughts on these bad boys? I hear good stuff on their accuracy, I was wondering how accurate they are and how hard it is to work on them and make them "evil" or more accurate.

[Jay Cunningham]

More accurate than what?

[Boss Hogg]

I have a 16" Saiga .308 and it is more accurate than any of my 7.62x39 AKs.
I wouldn't hesitate to put it up against a FAL, PTR-91, M1A, etc on an accuracy test.

The barrel is very thick, and it's heavy in the support hand. The SureFire 25 round mags seem to run fine on mine, but it's not like you can do pre-GWOT mag dumps with .308 unless you're bleeding money.

Hard to beat for a SHTF AK. Get one.

[Jay Cunningham]

Spare parts?

Magazines?

Seems like sustainability may be an issue. I also don't know how much data is out there on how these actually run.

[Boss Hogg]

Good questions. I guess the key one is what parts typically break on an AK, and what is unique to the .308 AK. If you're that concerned, get a spare piston, bolt, and bolt carrier. If you're going to insist on having 30+ magazines, then the FAL or PTR-91 might be a better way to go.

There's some good Saiga .308 info at:
http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?showforum=6

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc295/B055H0GG/Saiga_308_Emod.jpg

[Littlelebowski]

I meant "more accurate" as in "more accurate than stock."

[Boss Hogg]

Depends what your definition of "accurate" is.

Not much that I'm aware of you can do for AKs in the accuracy dept, other than choice of ammo. 7,62x51 is inherently more accurate than 7.62x39.

[buckshot1220]

Bought one about a year ago and haven't done much other than put a scope on it. With a 2-7x Nikon Prostaff scope and 7.62x51 South African 146gr ball ammo, not the most accurate, she'll hold about 1.25" 3 shot groups at 100yds. Not bad for a $350 gun IMO. Don't know much about what you can do for accuracy as the gas piston makes it near impossible to free float the barrel and I don't know of anyone making heavier barrels for them. I don't know about the hi-cap mags, all I own is the standard 8 rounders from EAA/Saiga and they function as they should.

If you want to make it look like a traditional AK check out dinzagarms.com. They have everything you need to convert to a standard style pistol grip and buttstock and they make all the U.S. compliance parts to bring you up 922R compliance.

[Littlelebowski]

Good info, thanks buckshot and Boss Hogg. I already have a FAL, just pondering what to buy just in case Hussein gets in office. The thought of a .308 AK that is more accurate than the PSLs intrigues me.