I fired my first Saiga .223 today

[sigmtnman]

After being used to only shooting .223 through an AR, it felt much different. Obviously the guns are totally different so why would they not? It seemed like a much larger caliber and it really felt nice to have the solid feedback from the rifle. I hit a gallon milk jug with 8/10 at about 75 yards using the irons.

[sigmtnman]

No one else has one? Anybody know what sort of accuracy I can expect out of this at 150-200 yds?

[Guest Ae-35]

I've never shot a Saiga, held one, seemed nice. My old Romy in 7.62x39 will shoot 1 in. all day at 100yds. with Win. ammo. So the saiga which is Russian built , should shoot at least that at 150, with that little bullet.

[sigmtnman]

How far out you reckon it will hold 1 inch groups?

Surely farther out than I can... Kevo, I know you have one. What is the farthest you have shot yours?

[Guest Ae-35]

125 is the fairest I've shot targets with it, measured behind my house, uphill. Kneeling still able to hold 1in. Did I mention at 100 bench rest, 40% of my groups are 3/4in. , thats with Win. ammo. The cheap Wolf opens up to 1 3/4in. groups at 100. I've got a cheap Tapco single stage trigger in mine, good quarter inch take-up but breaks at a nice crisp 3lbs. The crude iron sights are the biggest draw-back, that and the short sight radius.

[Kevo]

Ummm... Well to be honest the furthest I've shot a Saiga 223 was at about 25 yards, offhand, at dusk. I actually have the Crazy Bones as Terrorist target hanging on my closet door. My 5 round head shot grouping was about 2 inches with iron sights. That's about the same as my (former)AR. Admittedly I am a poor rifle shooter... I was using Remington 55 grain FMJ. As soon as I can shoot rested at distance I will be sure to post again. The recoil from a 223 AK seems alot less than from the 7.62X39, but alas I couldn't do a side by side comparison. Can't wait to try a 308.

[sigmtnman]

125 is the fairest I've shot targets with it, measured behind my house, uphill. Kneeling still able to hold 1in. Did I mention at 100 bench rest, 40% of my groups are 3/4in. , thats with Win. ammo. The cheap Wolf opens up to 1 3/4in. groups at 100. I've got a cheap Tapco single stage trigger in mine, good quarter inch take-up but breaks at a nice crisp 3lbs. The crude iron sights are the biggest draw-back, that and the short sight radius.

Is that wolf with the bench rest?

[sigmtnman]

Ummm... Well to be honest the furthest I've shot a Saiga 223 was at about 25 yards, offhand, at dusk. I actually have the Crazy Bones as Terrorist target hanging on my closet door. My 5 round head shot grouping was about 2 inches with iron sights. That's about the same as my (former)AR. Admittedly I am a poor rifle shooter... I was using Remington 55 grain FMJ. As soon as I can shoot rested at distance I will be sure to post again. The recoil from a 223 AK seems alot less than from the 7.62X39, but alas I couldn't do a side by side comparison. Can't wait to try a 308.

The recoil is much less, yes I agree. I have a blackjack buffer in my .308 and that tamed it.

[Guest Ae-35]

The recoil is much less, yes I agree. I have a blackjack buffer in my .308 and that tamed it.

I put one of those Blackjack buffers in my Romy, combined with the JTEC muzzle-brake, sure tamed the "kitty" no it's not as soft as an AR, but teamed with a AK74 but pad, felt recoil is cut by 40%. It's really a sweet shooter for a cheapass Romy.

[Kevo]

Finally got to shoot my Saiga 223 at 50 yards today. Of course it was late afternoon, with the sun hanging low in the sky, at about 1 o'clock behind the target. Not to mention I have a boo boo on my trigger finger. Anyways, I opened up my brick of Hornady steel cased 55 grain FMJ-BT MADE IN THE USA training ammo. Didn't shoot, smell or frustrate me like my brick of Wolf did. Of course it did cost me $45 more for 500 rounds than my Wolf did a year and a half ago. Maybe only $25 difference currently. Anyways to the point, after rigging a shade so that only the front sight had glare, I was able to shoot a 3 shot slightly less than one inch group while resting on my Ace Case pistol bag. That is exactly the same as I could shoot my former AR with iron sights and brass case Remington 55 grainers. When it warms up I'll do a side by side comparison with my sissy AR-totin shooting buddies... Can't wait to try the 100 yard at Prentice Cooper but I don't hang targets there without a friend watching my six. Other than my canted front sight I couldn't be happier with my Russian 223.

[Guest Ae-35]

Yeah, I've never shot any wolf that was "match grade" haha, yep, 1 and 3/4 in, wolf fmj at 100yds. from bench, best 5 round group 1 and 1/4in., worst 1 and 7/8in. "slight cant" won't hurt a thing. Key word is slight. Might I make a suggestion? Get you a QD scope rail, and an inexpensive, Truglo makes some good ones, 3,4,even 5moa red dot. That will turn your Sagia from fun to shoot, to a Blast to shoot !!! You'll get more shots quicker on target.!

Edited February 19, 2010 by Ae-35
spelling Yeah, I know