Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Balog on February 19, 2011, 02:36:02 AM

Title: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: Balog on February 19, 2011, 02:36:02 AM
Wife's out of town so I amused myself clearing the house. Much as I didn't like the A4 I was issued, it's a better weapon for that sort of thing than my beloved 91/30 Nagant. Reminded me that I need to finally get around to buying and converting a x39 and 12ga Saiga.

What store has the best price on price on unmodified Saigas these days? The x39 is the priority.
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: Jamisjockey on February 19, 2011, 09:35:15 AM
That reminds me...I get to pick up my mossberg this week  >:D

Had sights installed on it.
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: AJ Dual on February 19, 2011, 11:08:05 AM
Call every online gun dealer you can. Check Gunbroker. Perhaps you'll get lucky with a small local shop that does not know about the scarcity and has one in the back.

A couple of things happened.

- Izhmash ceased production. QC and/or financial problems. Unknown if Tula, Molot (just had gotten bought by Izhmash), or Bikal would/could pick up production. Either way, it'll take months/year or so...

- US Saiga importers switched around.

- Weakening US dollar.

- ATF "Sporting purposes for imported shotguns study" that broke right after the 2011 SHOT show. Created a huge panic run on Saiga S12 shotguns.

 
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: Harold Tuttle on February 19, 2011, 11:27:11 AM
Atlantic just announced they have Veprs

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct967.aspx
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: Tallpine on February 19, 2011, 11:32:26 AM
You should have bought one for $200 back in 2003  :P
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: PTK on February 19, 2011, 11:52:06 AM
This is the worst possible time to buy Saiga rifles/shotguns. If you have no need right now, wait. Things will smooth out and decent prices will return - you'll be paying more than twice the going rate even three months ago if you buy now.
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: Balog on February 19, 2011, 12:53:51 PM
You should have bought one for $200 back in 2003  :P

This is the worst possible time to buy Saiga rifles/shotguns. If you have no need right now, wait. Things will smooth out and decent prices will return - you'll be paying more than twice the going rate even three months ago if you buy now.

/hangs head in shame
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: gunsmith on February 19, 2011, 02:40:30 PM
still kicking my self, I never thought there wouldn't be cheapo ones around
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: roo_ster on February 19, 2011, 03:50:25 PM
I guess I am a wierdo, as I think the idea of a 5.56NATO or 7.62NATO AK appeals more to me than 7.62x39.
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: White Horseradish on February 19, 2011, 05:35:47 PM
And here I am thinking of a 5.45 AR...
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 19, 2011, 05:45:12 PM
Reminded me that I need to finally get around to buying and converting a x39 and 12ga Saiga.

What store has the best price on price on unmodified Saigas these days? The x39 is the priority.

Seeing as how I'm the only human on Earth who likes unmodified Saigas, shouldn't there be a million and one modified Saigas on the used market? And no one's selling brand-new Rambo-ized Saigas?  ???
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: MechAg94 on February 19, 2011, 07:45:18 PM
Seeing as how I'm the only human on Earth who likes unmodified Saigas, shouldn't there be a million and one modified Saigas on the used market? And no one's selling brand-new Rambo-ized Saigas?  ???
I have a .223 Saiga rifle that is a very good conversion done by Tromix.  I bought it though FBMG a while back.  It is flawless to my eyes and has always worked very reliably.  It uses those polymer mags that K-var sells.

On a recent episode of Son of a Gun(s) on Discovery Channel, some guy brought in an unmodified Saiga and the guy stated that work was 20% or 40% of their business. 

I actually have a 7.62X39 unmodified Saiga right now that I have not yet gotten around to converting.  I haven't even bought parts yet.
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: Balog on February 19, 2011, 08:34:08 PM
Seeing as how I'm the only human on Earth who likes unmodified Saigas, shouldn't there be a million and one modified Saigas on the used market? And no one's selling brand-new Rambo-ized Saigas?  ???

Problem with pre-converted Saigas is you never know if the conversion was done by a competent 'smith or Bubba out back in his shed. Even though it's simple enough Bubba'ed have a hard time screwing it up too bad. And if I buy new, I want an unconverted one.

I guess I am a wierdo, as I think the idea of a 5.56NATO or 7.62NATO AK appeals more to me than 7.62x39.

I find the performance of 5.56 to be ... sub-optimal. Or more accurately it can work amazingly well, but only within a limited velocity envelope. 7.62 is great, but it really shines past say 150-200 yards, and this rifle is not intended for social use past that range. Heck, save war or all out shtf collapse of civilization there's not much chance of using a rifle for defense past that range.

Not to mention the magazines for either caliber are more expensive and not as bullet proof as cheap com-bloc surplus.

I actually have a 7.62X39 unmodified Saiga right now that I have not yet gotten around to converting.  I haven't even bought parts yet.

Lemme know if you feel like selling that at some point in the future. :)
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: MechAg94 on February 20, 2011, 10:10:32 AM
I would probably sooner give up and pay someone to convert it for me before selling it.   =D
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: MillCreek on February 20, 2011, 11:20:10 AM
I have not kept up.  Is the Saiga-12 shotgun now the subject of an ATF ruling?  I have always casually kept my eye open for one at the local shows, but have never seen one.  I would buy one if the price was right. 
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: Tallpine on February 20, 2011, 11:25:25 AM
Quote
I'm the only human on Earth who likes unmodified Saigas

Mine works just fine for me just like it came out of the box, other than I added a sling made from a piece of 1" black nylon webbing and a couple of those slider-grabber thingies.
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: AJ Dual on February 20, 2011, 11:41:35 AM
I have not kept up.  Is the Saiga-12 shotgun now the subject of an ATF ruling?  I have always casually kept my eye open for one at the local shows, but have never seen one.  I would buy one if the price was right. 

Not yet, but possibly.

Right after SHOT the ATF came out with a "sporting purposes" study on imported shotguns with "military features".

People have been wondering for some time now why the Saiga hasn't gotten a Destructive Device classification when the USAS-12 and the Stryker/Streetsweeper did.

(Although a SOT friend of mine has told me that the Brady Campaign lobbied Lloyd Bentsen directly to get a bunch of shotguns declared DD's but only those two rose to the category too the ATF/Treasury dept's review.)

As imported, with a Monte Carlo stock and a 5 round magazine, the Saiga S12 meets the sporting purposes criteria as defined by the ATF's reading of the '68 GCA, however they have to be aware of what's being done to them after-market once imported. (shrug)

So those two things combined, that a Saiga with a drum mag and pistol grip conversion is functionally identical to a USAS-12 semi-auto and people have been waiting for the NFA shoe to drop on them for years, and the recent "study" (prelude to banning "something") is what drove the market nuts.
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: tokugawa on February 20, 2011, 12:06:15 PM
Why not just find a romy G kit and build it?
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 20, 2011, 02:17:07 PM
Mine works just fine for me just like it came out of the box, other than I added a sling made from a piece of 1" black nylon webbing and a couple of those slider-grabber thingies.

Cool. I hope one day to join you in that club. If they're not all modified first.  =(
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: Scout26 on February 20, 2011, 03:44:21 PM
Noisy Magnant's go on sale aroudn here for $69-$89, with a bunch of accessories included, all the time.   I'm seriously thinking about picking one up...
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: MechAg94 on February 20, 2011, 06:25:30 PM
I keep thinking I'd like to buy a nice M-N rifle, but then I sober up and realize I'd rather get a better rifle.  I have couple of them and some ammo, but I don't like them and need to post them for sale or something. 

I don't suppose any of you want a couple of old Mosin Nagant rifles and a tin of ammo for a reasonable amount?  One rifle shoots okay.  I got a Tapco scope mount on it.  It works okay, but was just never what I wanted.  The guy who turned the bolt handle did a good welding job though.  The other one is a 1917 stamp that is extra long with a corroded barrel.  It shoots, but not accurately.
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: lee n. field on February 20, 2011, 06:38:09 PM
I keep thinking I'd like to buy a nice M-N rifle, but then I sober up and realize I'd rather get a better rifle.  I have couple of them and some ammo, but I don't like them and need to post them for sale or something. 

I don't suppose any of you want a couple of old Mosin Nagant rifles and a tin of ammo for a reasonable amount?  One rifle shoots okay.  I got a Tapco scope mount on it.  It works okay, but was just never what I wanted. 

I can't see it being worth shipping, but what model?

Quote
The guy who turned the bolt handle did a good welding job though.  The other one is a 1917 stamp that is extra long with a corroded barrel.  It shoots, but not accurately.

I picked up an M38 carbine some years back.  It's as nice looking as you could expect a war era MN to get, but boy does it shoot lousy!  Oversized  (.314) bore and counterbored muzzle.
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: Lennyjoe on February 20, 2011, 07:03:18 PM
I guess I'm a weirdo too cause I'm almost finished building an AR in 7.62x39.   ;)
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: Balog on February 20, 2011, 07:45:05 PM
I guess I'm a weirdo too cause I'm almost finished building an AR in 7.62x39.   ;)

DI or piston? What mag type?
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: Scout26 on February 20, 2011, 08:17:24 PM
I keep thinking I'd like to buy a nice M-N rifle, but then I sober up and realize I'd rather get a better rifle.  I have couple of them and some ammo, but I don't like them and need to post them for sale or something. 

I don't suppose any of you want a couple of old Mosin Nagant rifles and a tin of ammo for a reasonable amount?  One rifle shoots okay.  I got a Tapco scope mount on it.  It works okay, but was just never what I wanted.  The guy who turned the bolt handle did a good welding job though.  The other one is a 1917 stamp that is extra long with a corroded barrel.  It shoots, but not accurately.

You can keep the scope, I'd rather shoot over irons.   How much ??
Title: Re: I need to get a couple Saigas
Post by: White Horseradish on February 20, 2011, 11:12:58 PM
If Scout doesn't take them, can I get a look at them?