The Saiga-308 Semi-automatic Rifle le64
This document was ed by and they confirmed that they have the permission to share it. If you are author or own the copyright of this book, please report to us by using this report form. Report 3b7i
Overview 3e4r5l
& View The Saiga-308 Semi-automatic Rifle as PDF for free.
More details w3441
- Words: 1,999
- Pages: 6
Saiga semi-automatic rifle
1
Saiga semi-automatic rifle Saiga Semi-Automatic Rifle
The Saiga-308 rifle Type
Semi-automatic rifles
Place of origin
Russia
Production history Designer
Mikhail Kalashnikov
Designed
1990s
Manufacturer
Izhmash
Variants
(based on the caliber of ammunition used) • • • • • • •
7.62x39mm 5.6x39mm 5.45x39mm .223 Remington/5.56x45mm .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm .30-06 Springfield 9x53R
Specifications Weight
3.6 kg (7.9 lb)
Length
900 mm (35 in)
Barrel length
415 mm (16.3 in)
Width
70 mm (2.8 in)
Height
220 mm (8.7 in)
Action
Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Effective range 500 m (550 yd) Feed system
Magazine
Sights
Iron "Leaf" sights
The Saiga Semi-Automatic Rifles are a family of Russian semi-automatic rifles manufactured by Izhmash, who also manufacture the original AK-series assault rifles, Saiga series shotguns and SVD sniper rifles. The Saiga rifles are a sporter version of the AK-series rifles, and are marketed for hunting and civilian use.
Saiga semi-automatic rifle
History Named for the Saiga Antelope, the Saiga series of rifles is based on the AK-47 weapon system originally designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. The Saiga platform was developed for shooters who wanted the reliability of an AK pattern rifle in a non-military package. Originally designed in the 1970s, the first rifles were chambered for 5.6x39mm. The project was not a huge success and only about 300 rifles of this design were produced.[1] The Saiga was reintroduced in the 1990s and was marketed as a rifle capable of hunting medium-sized game. Improvements were made to the initial design from the 1970s which made the rifle capable of handling more powerful cartridges such as the .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm and the more prevalent .223 Remington/5.56x45mm, 5.45x39mm, and 7.62x39mm calibers. These improvements contributed to the modern line of the Saiga rifles being adopted by many different hunters.[1] The rifle is currently made in the same Izhmash plant as military AKs, and imported into the United States by Russian American Armory.[2]
Description Most of the components of the Saiga are similar if not identical to an AK-47 rifle, but there are many cosmetic and functional differences between a Saiga and an AK-47. On the Saiga there is a notch that is used to secure the hand guard on to the front and a screw that is used to hold the hand guard in towards the rear. The 7.62x39 version Saiga is unable to accept standard AK-47 magazines; physically the magazine catch will not allow a magazine to lock into place inside of the receiver. Even if the magazine was modified to lock into place, cartridges may not feed well because the Saiga lacks a device called a A closer look at the trigger mechanism of the bullet guide.[3] The bullet guide allows a round to be stripped from the Saiga. magazine and fed into the chamber without getting caught up on anything inside of the receiver; this bullet guide is specifically built into the magazine of the Saiga rifle. Any magazine that is used that does not have this feature may not feed reliably in the rifle.[3] Another difference of some later model Saigas is that they have a bolt hold open button. The Saiga bolt hold open is engaged by manually depressing a button by the trigger guard and pulling the charging handle rearward and does not automatically hold the rifle's action open after the last round is fired as seen on the AR-15. Some versions of the rifle lack a pistol grip and don't have a threaded muzzle, making it unable to accept muzzle devices. The trigger and trigger guard of some versions are placed farther back on the receiver than on a typical AK-47 rifle, and a transfer bar type system is used to release the hammer. This can result in the Saiga to have a considerably heavier and grittier trigger pull than that of other Kalashnikov-made firearms.[4]
2
Saiga semi-automatic rifle
3
Design and Operation The Saiga uses the same type of gas system that the AK-47 rifle uses: a gas piston. This gas piston is pushed by the force of the gases from the firearm when a round is discharged, and it keeps powder residue and carbon from gumming up the action of the Saiga. Some shooters believe the rifle is more reliable than other semiautomatic rifles because of this. This piston is located inside the gas tube. As gas is siphoned into the gas tube, the gas piston is sent rearward. While the gas piston is sent rearward, the bolt, attached to the gas piston, is unlocked from the chamber and ejects the spent casing. When the bolt and gas piston reach the rearmost position of the receiver, the recoil spring pushes them forward again, and the cycle repeats when the trigger is pulled.[5]
The Saiga 7.62x39 rifle disassembled. The charging handle is attached to the gas piston. Also the recoil spring and Saiga bolt are visible.
Another key feature cited in the reliability of the Saiga is that the rifle is designed to have loose tolerances. These loose tolerances allow more space between the moving parts of the rifle, and they allow the rifle to push any dirt and debris out of the way when the action cycles. All Saiga rifles have a hammer-forged chrome-lined barrel, which influences the Saiga's reliability by making the inside of the barrel more resilient to corrosion and enabling the rifle to withstand more rounds to be fired out of the barrel without an adverse effect on accuracy. This allows the firearms barrel to be cleaned easier than that of a non-chrome lined bore.[6]
Market Since the expiration of the Federal 1994 Assault Weapons Ban in 2004, so called "military-style" weapons have become wildly popular with marksmen in the United States. The Saiga, a variant of the ubiquitous AK-47 design, is no exception. Often, firearms enthusiasts will "restore" a Saiga to the configuration of the modern AK-100 series rifles produced alongside the Saiga rifles at Izhmash. The goals of these restorations are often as follows: • To install standard AK furniture on the rifle- i.e., a pistol grip, military butt stock, and handguards. • Gain the ability to accept standard capacity AK magazines. • Enable the rifle to be equipped with muzzle devices such as compensators, flash suppressors, bayonets, and suppressors. • Give the rifle places to attach tactical accessories such as lasers, flashlights, and optics. To achieve this, permanent changes must be made to the rifle. The factory fire control assembly must be removed and replaced with a semiautomatic only trigger group that fits in a standard Kalashnikov rifle. The aforementioned absence of a bullet guide must also be dealt with. A hole must be drilled and tapped in the front trunnion of the rifle so that the bullet guide may be fastened in the receiver. Material must be removed from the magazine latch to allow a standard
Sayga Mk .223 Rem "Tactical Edition"
Kalashnikov magazine to be used. The factory butt stock is removed and replaced with a piece similar to that found on military issue rifles. A pistol grip is installed. These are the basic steps needed to make the rifle consistent with
Saiga semi-automatic rifle most AK's in function. Some armorers also take steps to make the rifle even more similar to the AK-100 series rifles. The handguard is replaced by the removal of the factory gas tube. A standard gas tube is used as a replacement, since they have the ability to retain the top portion of the handguard present on military issue Kalashnikovs. The rifle must also be fitted with a lower handguard retainer in order to use a military-style lower handguard component. Both press-on and bolt-on retainers are available, with the press-on versions requiring the removal of the front sight post and the gas block for installation. Finally, the owner may choose to thread the muzzle of the rifle or to install a threaded front sight block to enable the use of muzzle devices. This requires the removal of the front sight block installed at the factory, or removal of the additional material over the muzzle that extends from the front sight block. At the end of this process, a Saiga may not be readily distinguishable from a fully automatic military issue AK-100 series rifle, save the third receiver axis pin required to house the additional fire control parts necessary for fully automatic fire. This procedure is legal in most states, but those with laws regulating "assault weapons" may consider a restored Saiga a contraband weapon. Such a procedure is not without risk. Damage may occur if the individual doing the upgrade does not take care while working. Furthermore Saiga conversions fall under section 922(r) of BATFE regulations. 922(r) requires that a "non-sporting" weapon imported to the United States have a certain number of its components manufactured in the United States. Since the Saiga is Russian made, care must be taken to make sure that the foreign parts count after the conversion does not exceed ten components out of the rifle's fourteen. As with all civilian-held firearms in the United States built after 1986, it is a felony to convert, transport, buy, sell, or be in possession of a Saiga with full-auto capability that does not fall under the grandfather clauses of the US government. Converted Saigas are notable for their "pedigree" among Kalashnikov collectors and enthusiasts. Value is given to the weapon based on the fact that it is made from brand-new parts, as opposed to many commercially available AK pattern rifles, which are commonly built using an American-made receiver completed with surplus or retired parts kits from the rifles of the former Soviet Bloc. As a result, fit and finish on Saigas tends to fall into a higher category than the "de-milled" rifles of Romanian or Polish origin. Rifles that have undergone more changes to resemble a military-issued weapon are often of a higher value than those that undergo a more simple conversion. These factors all enable converted Saigas to command high prices when sold relative to other civilian-legal Kalashnikov rifles. Such rifles may be sold at two to four times the value of a stock, non-converted factory Saiga. Saigas are also considered "true" Kalashnikovs, since they are made legally (without design license violations) in the same Russian Izhmash factory where Mikhail Kalashnikov works. Currently, this is a unique feature of the Saiga, since Izhmash, the Kalashnikov's main producer, states that the vast majority of Kalashnikov-pattern rifles produced in the world today are illegal copies produced without a license.
References [1] Popenker, Max (1999). "Modern Firearms - civilian guns for self-defense, training and hunting - Saiga self-loading rifle / carbine" (http:/ / world. guns. ru/ civil/ civ011-e. htm). World.guns.ru. . Retrieved 2010-04-16. [2] http:/ / www. raacfirearms. com/ rifles. htm [3] Self-Loading Hunting Carbine Service Manual. Izmash. p. 8. [4] 'Self-Loading Hunting Carbine Service Manual. Izmash. p. 31. [5] Self-Loading Hunting Carbine Service Manual. Izmash. p. 14. [6] 'Self-Loading Hunting Carbine Service Manual. Izmash. p. 20.
4
Saiga semi-automatic rifle
External links • Izhmash in Russia, the manufacturer of the AK and SAIGA self-loading hunting carbines (http://www.izhmash. ru/eng/product/saiga.shtml) • Legion USA Inc. - Official Importer of Saiga 12 Shotguns and Rifles (http://www.legionusainc.com) • Article on Saiga to AK Conversion (http://www.minutemanreview.com/2008/08/saiga-ak-556.html) • SAIGA ( photo site guns.ru) (http://photofile.ru/s/vinnipuh83/96474814/)
5
Article Sources and Contributors
Article Sources and Contributors Saiga semi-automatic rifle Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=523628982 Contributors: AK47Expert, Andyfox5, Apau98, Auntieruth55, Avatar9n, BornInLeningrad, Chris the speller, Clovis Sangrail, CommonsDelinker, EoGuy, Firemann78, Geniac, Joel7687, John Nevard, Killian441, Magioladitis, Michaelmas1957, Mike Searson, MuZemike, Mzwhiz21, Naaman Brown, NativeForeigner, OrangeDog, PoorRichard22, Prari, R. S. Shaw, Rlinfinity, Sinodov, Surv1v4l1st, Tabletop, Thumperward, TomStar81, Trekphiler, Weepy89, Whitepaw, Yuriybrisk, 39 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors File:Saiga-308.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Saiga-308.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Joel7687 File:Flag of Russia.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Russia.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Anomie, Zscout370 Image:Saiga Internals 2.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Saiga_Internals_2.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Weepy89 Image:Saiga Disasembly.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Saiga_Disasembly.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Weepy89 File:Сайга Мк.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Сайга_Мк.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: :Sinodov
License Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
6
1
Saiga semi-automatic rifle Saiga Semi-Automatic Rifle
The Saiga-308 rifle Type
Semi-automatic rifles
Place of origin
Russia
Production history Designer
Mikhail Kalashnikov
Designed
1990s
Manufacturer
Izhmash
Variants
(based on the caliber of ammunition used) • • • • • • •
7.62x39mm 5.6x39mm 5.45x39mm .223 Remington/5.56x45mm .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm .30-06 Springfield 9x53R
Specifications Weight
3.6 kg (7.9 lb)
Length
900 mm (35 in)
Barrel length
415 mm (16.3 in)
Width
70 mm (2.8 in)
Height
220 mm (8.7 in)
Action
Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Effective range 500 m (550 yd) Feed system
Magazine
Sights
Iron "Leaf" sights
The Saiga Semi-Automatic Rifles are a family of Russian semi-automatic rifles manufactured by Izhmash, who also manufacture the original AK-series assault rifles, Saiga series shotguns and SVD sniper rifles. The Saiga rifles are a sporter version of the AK-series rifles, and are marketed for hunting and civilian use.
Saiga semi-automatic rifle
History Named for the Saiga Antelope, the Saiga series of rifles is based on the AK-47 weapon system originally designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. The Saiga platform was developed for shooters who wanted the reliability of an AK pattern rifle in a non-military package. Originally designed in the 1970s, the first rifles were chambered for 5.6x39mm. The project was not a huge success and only about 300 rifles of this design were produced.[1] The Saiga was reintroduced in the 1990s and was marketed as a rifle capable of hunting medium-sized game. Improvements were made to the initial design from the 1970s which made the rifle capable of handling more powerful cartridges such as the .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm and the more prevalent .223 Remington/5.56x45mm, 5.45x39mm, and 7.62x39mm calibers. These improvements contributed to the modern line of the Saiga rifles being adopted by many different hunters.[1] The rifle is currently made in the same Izhmash plant as military AKs, and imported into the United States by Russian American Armory.[2]
Description Most of the components of the Saiga are similar if not identical to an AK-47 rifle, but there are many cosmetic and functional differences between a Saiga and an AK-47. On the Saiga there is a notch that is used to secure the hand guard on to the front and a screw that is used to hold the hand guard in towards the rear. The 7.62x39 version Saiga is unable to accept standard AK-47 magazines; physically the magazine catch will not allow a magazine to lock into place inside of the receiver. Even if the magazine was modified to lock into place, cartridges may not feed well because the Saiga lacks a device called a A closer look at the trigger mechanism of the bullet guide.[3] The bullet guide allows a round to be stripped from the Saiga. magazine and fed into the chamber without getting caught up on anything inside of the receiver; this bullet guide is specifically built into the magazine of the Saiga rifle. Any magazine that is used that does not have this feature may not feed reliably in the rifle.[3] Another difference of some later model Saigas is that they have a bolt hold open button. The Saiga bolt hold open is engaged by manually depressing a button by the trigger guard and pulling the charging handle rearward and does not automatically hold the rifle's action open after the last round is fired as seen on the AR-15. Some versions of the rifle lack a pistol grip and don't have a threaded muzzle, making it unable to accept muzzle devices. The trigger and trigger guard of some versions are placed farther back on the receiver than on a typical AK-47 rifle, and a transfer bar type system is used to release the hammer. This can result in the Saiga to have a considerably heavier and grittier trigger pull than that of other Kalashnikov-made firearms.[4]
2
Saiga semi-automatic rifle
3
Design and Operation The Saiga uses the same type of gas system that the AK-47 rifle uses: a gas piston. This gas piston is pushed by the force of the gases from the firearm when a round is discharged, and it keeps powder residue and carbon from gumming up the action of the Saiga. Some shooters believe the rifle is more reliable than other semiautomatic rifles because of this. This piston is located inside the gas tube. As gas is siphoned into the gas tube, the gas piston is sent rearward. While the gas piston is sent rearward, the bolt, attached to the gas piston, is unlocked from the chamber and ejects the spent casing. When the bolt and gas piston reach the rearmost position of the receiver, the recoil spring pushes them forward again, and the cycle repeats when the trigger is pulled.[5]
The Saiga 7.62x39 rifle disassembled. The charging handle is attached to the gas piston. Also the recoil spring and Saiga bolt are visible.
Another key feature cited in the reliability of the Saiga is that the rifle is designed to have loose tolerances. These loose tolerances allow more space between the moving parts of the rifle, and they allow the rifle to push any dirt and debris out of the way when the action cycles. All Saiga rifles have a hammer-forged chrome-lined barrel, which influences the Saiga's reliability by making the inside of the barrel more resilient to corrosion and enabling the rifle to withstand more rounds to be fired out of the barrel without an adverse effect on accuracy. This allows the firearms barrel to be cleaned easier than that of a non-chrome lined bore.[6]
Market Since the expiration of the Federal 1994 Assault Weapons Ban in 2004, so called "military-style" weapons have become wildly popular with marksmen in the United States. The Saiga, a variant of the ubiquitous AK-47 design, is no exception. Often, firearms enthusiasts will "restore" a Saiga to the configuration of the modern AK-100 series rifles produced alongside the Saiga rifles at Izhmash. The goals of these restorations are often as follows: • To install standard AK furniture on the rifle- i.e., a pistol grip, military butt stock, and handguards. • Gain the ability to accept standard capacity AK magazines. • Enable the rifle to be equipped with muzzle devices such as compensators, flash suppressors, bayonets, and suppressors. • Give the rifle places to attach tactical accessories such as lasers, flashlights, and optics. To achieve this, permanent changes must be made to the rifle. The factory fire control assembly must be removed and replaced with a semiautomatic only trigger group that fits in a standard Kalashnikov rifle. The aforementioned absence of a bullet guide must also be dealt with. A hole must be drilled and tapped in the front trunnion of the rifle so that the bullet guide may be fastened in the receiver. Material must be removed from the magazine latch to allow a standard
Sayga Mk .223 Rem "Tactical Edition"
Kalashnikov magazine to be used. The factory butt stock is removed and replaced with a piece similar to that found on military issue rifles. A pistol grip is installed. These are the basic steps needed to make the rifle consistent with
Saiga semi-automatic rifle most AK's in function. Some armorers also take steps to make the rifle even more similar to the AK-100 series rifles. The handguard is replaced by the removal of the factory gas tube. A standard gas tube is used as a replacement, since they have the ability to retain the top portion of the handguard present on military issue Kalashnikovs. The rifle must also be fitted with a lower handguard retainer in order to use a military-style lower handguard component. Both press-on and bolt-on retainers are available, with the press-on versions requiring the removal of the front sight post and the gas block for installation. Finally, the owner may choose to thread the muzzle of the rifle or to install a threaded front sight block to enable the use of muzzle devices. This requires the removal of the front sight block installed at the factory, or removal of the additional material over the muzzle that extends from the front sight block. At the end of this process, a Saiga may not be readily distinguishable from a fully automatic military issue AK-100 series rifle, save the third receiver axis pin required to house the additional fire control parts necessary for fully automatic fire. This procedure is legal in most states, but those with laws regulating "assault weapons" may consider a restored Saiga a contraband weapon. Such a procedure is not without risk. Damage may occur if the individual doing the upgrade does not take care while working. Furthermore Saiga conversions fall under section 922(r) of BATFE regulations. 922(r) requires that a "non-sporting" weapon imported to the United States have a certain number of its components manufactured in the United States. Since the Saiga is Russian made, care must be taken to make sure that the foreign parts count after the conversion does not exceed ten components out of the rifle's fourteen. As with all civilian-held firearms in the United States built after 1986, it is a felony to convert, transport, buy, sell, or be in possession of a Saiga with full-auto capability that does not fall under the grandfather clauses of the US government. Converted Saigas are notable for their "pedigree" among Kalashnikov collectors and enthusiasts. Value is given to the weapon based on the fact that it is made from brand-new parts, as opposed to many commercially available AK pattern rifles, which are commonly built using an American-made receiver completed with surplus or retired parts kits from the rifles of the former Soviet Bloc. As a result, fit and finish on Saigas tends to fall into a higher category than the "de-milled" rifles of Romanian or Polish origin. Rifles that have undergone more changes to resemble a military-issued weapon are often of a higher value than those that undergo a more simple conversion. These factors all enable converted Saigas to command high prices when sold relative to other civilian-legal Kalashnikov rifles. Such rifles may be sold at two to four times the value of a stock, non-converted factory Saiga. Saigas are also considered "true" Kalashnikovs, since they are made legally (without design license violations) in the same Russian Izhmash factory where Mikhail Kalashnikov works. Currently, this is a unique feature of the Saiga, since Izhmash, the Kalashnikov's main producer, states that the vast majority of Kalashnikov-pattern rifles produced in the world today are illegal copies produced without a license.
References [1] Popenker, Max (1999). "Modern Firearms - civilian guns for self-defense, training and hunting - Saiga self-loading rifle / carbine" (http:/ / world. guns. ru/ civil/ civ011-e. htm). World.guns.ru. . Retrieved 2010-04-16. [2] http:/ / www. raacfirearms. com/ rifles. htm [3] Self-Loading Hunting Carbine Service Manual. Izmash. p. 8. [4] 'Self-Loading Hunting Carbine Service Manual. Izmash. p. 31. [5] Self-Loading Hunting Carbine Service Manual. Izmash. p. 14. [6] 'Self-Loading Hunting Carbine Service Manual. Izmash. p. 20.
4
Saiga semi-automatic rifle
External links • Izhmash in Russia, the manufacturer of the AK and SAIGA self-loading hunting carbines (http://www.izhmash. ru/eng/product/saiga.shtml) • Legion USA Inc. - Official Importer of Saiga 12 Shotguns and Rifles (http://www.legionusainc.com) • Article on Saiga to AK Conversion (http://www.minutemanreview.com/2008/08/saiga-ak-556.html) • SAIGA ( photo site guns.ru) (http://photofile.ru/s/vinnipuh83/96474814/)
5
Article Sources and Contributors
Article Sources and Contributors Saiga semi-automatic rifle Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=523628982 Contributors: AK47Expert, Andyfox5, Apau98, Auntieruth55, Avatar9n, BornInLeningrad, Chris the speller, Clovis Sangrail, CommonsDelinker, EoGuy, Firemann78, Geniac, Joel7687, John Nevard, Killian441, Magioladitis, Michaelmas1957, Mike Searson, MuZemike, Mzwhiz21, Naaman Brown, NativeForeigner, OrangeDog, PoorRichard22, Prari, R. S. Shaw, Rlinfinity, Sinodov, Surv1v4l1st, Tabletop, Thumperward, TomStar81, Trekphiler, Weepy89, Whitepaw, Yuriybrisk, 39 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors File:Saiga-308.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Saiga-308.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Joel7687 File:Flag of Russia.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Russia.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Anomie, Zscout370 Image:Saiga Internals 2.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Saiga_Internals_2.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Weepy89 Image:Saiga Disasembly.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Saiga_Disasembly.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Weepy89 File:Сайга Мк.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Сайга_Мк.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: :Sinodov
License Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
6
Related Documents 3m3m1z
The M1841 Mississippi Rifle 186r5t
December 2019 35
Rifle 6w661d
October 2021 0
Zeroing The M1a Rifle 1p5w33
October 2019 53
The Art Of The Rifle i1b47
October 2019 82
The Ballard Single Shot Rifle 1c3m61
November 2019 104