Saiga 308: carbine based on the Kalashnikov assault rifle

The history of the creation of the Saiga 308 carbine

The history of creation begins in the seventies of the last century. At this time, there were numerous requests to create hunting rifles that could be used to fight large numbers of saigas in the steppes of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The available hunting weapons were not enough to hunt these animals.

Saigas ate branches of young trees and trampled crops. To combat them, more advanced weapons were needed. These animals showed great caution. They did not allow hunters to approach a distance of less than 100 meters, at which smooth-bore weapons could be effectively used. As a result of a personal appeal from the First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee of Kazakhstan to Brezhnev in Moscow, a decision was made to develop and subsequently produce a new family of carbines. Work on its creation began at the Izhevsk plant. During these years there were the first copies of Saiga carbines. Despite the serious need for them, a small amount was produced.

The basis for the development was an assault rifle, which had recently entered service. AK 74 had a caliber of 5.45 mm. This model has been slightly modified. The main changes were made in accordance with the requirements for civilian weapons. At the same time, firing in bursts was prohibited, and the magazine was reduced to 10 rounds. Special bullets were developed that did not use a metal core. Their peculiarity was a higher stopping effect. Such bullets were well suited for hunting animals that did not hide in shelters when running away from hunters.

Changes were made to the attachment of the magazine to the weapon. Now it was no longer possible to insert horns with cartridges that were used for military weapons.

In the early nineties, the plant found itself in a difficult economic situation. The number of government orders has greatly decreased and in order to stay afloat, it was necessary to master the production of various models of weapons. At this time, a package of laws was adopted that regulated the circulation of weapons. Hunting weapons have always been in great demand, and models that had the best qualities of the famous machine gun were very popular.

At this time, production of models of the Saiga family appeared and was resumed based on the carbine developed in the seventies, which actually became the ancestor of an extensive family of hunting carbines. Subsequently, both rifled and smooth-bore varieties were created. The Saiga 308 carbine began production in 1996. Its immediate predecessor was the Saiga MK model.

AK-type, Saiga, Vepr

In this section you will find all the accessories for modernizing and tuning semi-automatic, smooth-bore and rifled weapons made on the basis of domestic automatic military ones. AK-47, AK-74, RPK, SVD, etc. Such versions as Tiger, Saiga, Vepr, etc. Stock for AK and Vepr, Rails for mounting optics, stock, stock, handle, folding or telescopic stock and much more.

The 7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle (AK, called AK-47) is an assault rifle developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1947 and adopted by the Soviet Army in 1949.

It served as the basis for the creation of a whole family of military and civilian small arms of various calibers, including AKM and AK74 assault rifles (and their modifications), the RPK machine gun, carbines and Saiga smoothbore guns and others.

AK and its modifications are the most common small arms in the world. According to available estimates, up to 1/5 of all small firearms available on Earth belong to this type (including licensed and unlicensed copies, as well as third-party developments based on AK). Over 60 years, more than 70 million Kalashnikov assault rifles of various modifications have been produced. They are in service with 50 foreign armies. According to many experts, AK is the standard of reliability and ease of maintenance.

The most famous civilian weapons based on the AK are the Saiga hunting carbines, produced by the developers of the original AK - the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant. The plant's engineers have created many different designs of smooth-bore hunting weapons of 12, 20 and .410 calibers, as well as rifled ones chambered for 5.56×45 mm, 7.62×39 mm, 7.62×51 mm cartridges, as well Small exclusive batches were produced for rare Soviet cartridges 5.6x39 mm and 9x53R mm. Moreover, the first in the series was Saiga-5.6 chambered for 5.6×39, released in 1974.

The first carbine of the Saiga family appeared in the 70s. The impetus for its creation was the appeal of the First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee of Kazakhstan personally to Brezhnev with a request to create a weapon with which it would be possible to shoot saigas. The fact is that the migrating saigas ate and trampled large crops, and groups of hunters armed with smooth-bore hunting rifles were not able to fight the animals. Then Izhmash designers began creating Saiga hunting carbines. For four years, Izhmash designers and testers, together with representatives of Glavohota and local game managers, tested carbines and brought them to perfection, mainly in Kazakhstan. After the development of the new weapon was completed, about three hundred Saiga model carbines were manufactured chambered for 5.6x39 mm. And although in the 1970s the first industrial batch of self-loading hunting carbines chambered for 5.6x39 mm was made, the carbine remained rare for many years.

The turning point in the history of the Saiga carbines was the “roaring nineties” - the adoption of new laws regulating the circulation of civilian weapons, coupled with the worsening crime situation in the country, created a great demand for powerful army-style self-loading rifles. It was then that the Izhevsk gunsmiths, who were also left without a “state order,” remembered the Saiga.

Saiga Mk and Saiga-20K in a tactical version Starting in 1993, the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant launched production of the Saiga family of smooth-bore self-loading shotguns. The task of adapting a combat assault rifle for the needs of the population was solved by a group of weapons engineers consisting of G. Nikonov (the author of the assault rifle of the same name), V. Afonin, V. Tsypko, A. Turkin, V. Abrahamyan, L. Ponomarev, and V. Simonenko. The ammunition chosen for the new weapon was a cartridge that was quite exotic for post-Soviet Russia - the .410 Magnum, which was of American origin. The length of the sleeve in this case is 3 inches (76 mm), and the caliber is 410/1000 inches, that is, 10.2 mm. Initially, it was assumed that the carbine would work with foreign cartridges, then the production of this type of ammunition was established at the Tula, Krasnozavodsk and Barnaul factories.

The next stage in the creation of a family of “smoothbore carbines” was the release of similar weapons chambered for the more powerful and traditional for Russia 20-caliber cartridge. Functionally, such a carbine was intended not only for self-defense and sport shooting, but also for hunting small and medium-sized animals, as well as effectively performing security functions.

By the end of the 90s, based on the layout of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, the Saiga smoothbore carbine was created for the 12-gauge hunting cartridge, which became one of the most powerful examples of semi-automatic weapons. It is interesting that “Saiga 12” in the “030” version is used not only by civilian shooters in practical shooting competitions, but is also of serious interest to professionals as a powerful assault weapon. In its combat version it is called the “18.5 KS-K” Carbine.

In parallel with the development of smooth-bore models, Izhmash designers continued to develop a family of rifled hunting carbines. Production of rifled Saiga was restored in 1992. However, despite all the reliability and trouble-free operation of the Kalashnikov mechanism, many hunters noted that the accuracy of the carbine left much to be desired. Indeed, it was difficult to expect sniper accuracy from a weapon developed on the basis of an army machine gun. To radically improve the combat characteristics of the Saiga, it needed deep improvement. This led to the creation of a modernized version of the Saiga-M carbine, which became the founder of a new family of rifled weapons. By the end of the 20th century, the plant was already producing a whole range of rifles and carbines, based on the well-developed and, of course, popular design of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. The pinnacle of exploitation of the image of the legendary Kalash were the models released in the early 2000s. Carbines branded “Saiga Mk” isp 02 and “Saiga Mk” isp 03 were identical in appearance to the Ak-103 and Ak-105 combat assault rifles, respectively.

Currently, “Saiga” has already become a household name. Under this brand, the Izhmash concern produces a wide range of rifled and smooth-bore semi-automatic weapons, including both purely hunting models and compact carbines suitable for home defense, sports, training and recreational shooting. Moreover, weapons are produced in a wide range of calibers - from rifled 5.45 mm to smoothbore 12 gauge.

[edit] System Incomplete disassembly of the gun. 1 - lock with return spring, 2 - bump stop (optional), 3 - shutter for the cartridge ejection window, 4 - return spring, 5 - bolt frame, 6 - receiver cover, 7 - bolt, 8 — gas piston, 9 — gas regulator, 10 — nozzle to protect the threads from damage, “flash arrester,” 11 — forend with swivel, 12 — magazine, 13 — set of accessories, from top to bottom: case cover, screwdriver, drift, pencil case Saiga hunting carbines Initially, they were based on the design of the AKM assault rifle, but over time they underwent a number of changes and improvements aimed at improving performance. The carbine differs from a military weapon primarily in that it is impossible to fire in bursts, for which some details have been changed. In addition, the attachment point for the magazine to the weapon has been changed so that it is impossible to insert a magazine from a combat assault rifle into the carbine, which, however, is solved by various tuning workshops depending on the legislation of the country of use, both by altering magazines from military weapons, and with their own interesting developments. The butt and fore-end of the carbine are made like classic hunting rifles; the parts are made of plastic, wood or frame-type steel with a rubber lining. If the carbine version does not have a pistol grip fire control, and the trigger and its safety guard are shifted closer to the neck of the hunting-type butt, a special trigger rod is introduced into the trigger mechanism. The capacity of the magazines depends on the legislation of the country and the types of cartridges.

“Saiga” operates by removing powder gases through a side hole in the wall of the barrel bore. In rifled versions, the gas piston with a rod is rigidly connected to the bolt frame. Smoothbore versions have a completely redesigned gas exhaust engine with a short piston stroke. After the bolt frame moves away to the required distance under the influence of gas pressure, the exhaust gases escape into the atmosphere through holes in the gas tube. The barrel bore is locked by turning the bolt, while the two lugs of the bolt fit into the corresponding grooves of the receiver. The shutter is rotated by bevelling the bolt frame. The bolt frame is the leading element of the automation: it sets the direction of movement of the moving parts, absorbs most shock loads, and a return spring is placed in the longitudinal channel of the bolt frame (by analogy with submachine guns, it is sometimes not entirely correctly called “return-combat”). The reloading handle is located on the right and is integral with the bolt frame. When the bolt is unlocked by the bolt frame moving backwards, the cartridge case in the chamber is pre-displaced (“disturbed”). This helps relieve pressure in the chamber and prevents the case from rupturing during subsequent removal, even if the chamber is very dirty. The ejection of the spent cartridge case to the right through the receiver window is ensured by a spring-loaded ejector mounted on the bolt and a rigid receiver reflector. The “hung” position of the moving parts in the receiver with relatively large gaps ensured reliable operation of the system even with heavy contamination.

[edit] Smoothbore hunting carbines Saiga Saiga-20KS is a self-loading smoothbore gun (or a smoothbore carbine as the manufacturer calls it) can be presented in a hunting-sports, hunting-trade, special service, tactical or combined version. Available in versions chambered for 12 (18.5 mm), 20 (15.6 mm) and .410 (10.2 mm) calibers.

The marking has a single way of reading, describing the modification.

The name of the Saiga family or Sayga in Latin spelling is indicated first. The caliber of the weapon is indicated through a hyphen. At the same time, early modifications that did not have a gas regulator could operate in nominal modes only with cartridges of normal 70 mm length, and the use of magnum cartridges with a length of 76 mm or half-magnum cartridges with a length of 73 mm was extremely undesirable or impossible. All modifications with a gas regulator, as well as the new variation “version 030”, which does not have one, can work with any type of cartridge of their caliber.

Next comes a letter index indicating the standard combination of lengths and types of barrel and butt, determined by the intended typical application. The absence of a letter means a standard hunting version, with a long barrel and a standard hunting stock. Index M means the presence of an orthopedic butt. Index C denotes a shorter folding stock and the presence of a pistol grip with the same barrel lengths. Index K indicates the presence of a shortened trunk. To comply with the Weapons Law, the buttstock of modification K can only be folded with the safety engaged, which precludes the readiness for firing of weapons less than 800 mm in length. If you try to turn off the safety with the stock folded or fold the stock with the safety off, the weapon mechanism will be damaged. Next in the designation is a digital index that determines the option of additional parameters. In addition to numbers, letter indices can also be used in markings:

KV - Indicates that the weapon has been modified to “service” standards. Technically, they differ from hunting samples in the absence of blocking and marking on the bullet and cartridge case. Visually, they are easy to distinguish by their white plastic handguard. EXP-01 is an export, “police” version. Intended for law enforcement agencies. Regardless of the main index, the barrel length is 430 mm, a full bolt stop has been introduced into the design, and there is no fire blocking with the butt folded. Prohibited for sale under hunting licenses on the territory of the Russian Federation.[edit] Features of the designs There are three main modifications that are common to the entire Saiga family:

Saiga (.410, 20 or 12) without a letter index is a self-loading smoothbore shotgun with a hunting plastic (or wooden) butt and forearm. Barrel length 570 (580 for 12K) or 680 mm. Sighting devices - front and rear sights (or an adjustable sighting rib on special order) are located above the gas exhaust tube. Saiga (.410, 20 or 12) with index C is a version of the gun, with a folding plastic butt, fire control handle (similar to an AK assault rifle ) and a hunting-type fore-end. Barrel length 570 (580 for 12C) or 680 mm. Sights - front and rear sights (or an adjustable sighting rib on special order) are located above the gas exhaust tube. Saiga (.410, 20 or 12) with index K is a shortened self-loading gun - a “smoothbore carbine”. The butt and pistol grip, and in some versions the fore-end, are borrowed from the Kalashnikov assault rifle. A locking mechanism has been introduced into the design, which does not allow the weapon to be removed from the safety until the butt is folded back. Barrel length from 330 mm. Sights of the hunting or “automatic” type. In addition to the main modifications, today there are a huge variety of different versions of them on the market:

Saiga-20K in a tactical body kit Saiga-410K version 01/02 is a self-loading smoothbore carbine with a shortened barrel, a folding plastic/framed metal stock and a plastic/plywood forend. Appearance similar to AK-74M/AK-74S. This design was developed as a “Cossack” design, but did not gain recognition among the target audience due to a host of shortcomings that affected the reliability of the automation. It is in demand mainly for training, entertainment and security purposes. Saiga-410K isp.03/04 is a self-loading smoothbore carbine with a shortened barrel, a folding plastic/framed metal stock and a plastic/plywood forend. The appearance is similar to a small-sized AK of the “hundredth series” or AKS-74U. Saiga-20K isp.04 is a self-loading smooth-bore carbine with a folding plastic butt and fore-end. The barrel is shortened, 400 mm long with replaceable muzzle attachments, sighting devices - rear sight, with an 8-place magazine. Saiga-20 version 30 is a self-loading gun with a hunting quick-release wooden butt and fore-end, a 680 mm long barrel with replaceable muzzle attachments. Sights - adjustable sighting bar. Saiga-12 isp.75 - a self-loading rifle with a hunting quick-release wooden butt and fore-end. Barrel 580 mm long with interchangeable choke tubes. Sights - adjustable sighting bar. Saiga 12 sp. 261 - a self-loading shotgun with a magazine receiver, a butt with a rotating cheekpiece like SVD, and a plastic forend. The carbine can be equipped with a hunting plastic butt. Equipped with replaceable choke tubes. The receiver has a rail for mounting a sight. Saiga-12 isp. 278 is a self-loading shotgun with a magazine receiver, an AK-type plastic stock and a pistol grip. Equipped with replaceable choke tubes. Saiga 12 K isp. 043 is a smooth-bore carbine with a magazine receiver, an adjustable aiming bar, a folding machine gun stock and a plastic forend. The carbine is equipped with a lock that allows firing only with the butt folded down. Saiga-12K isp.030/ 12С isp.031/ 12EXP-01 isp.030 - Strictly speaking, this weapon is a service smooth-bore carbine "KS-K 18.5" with added software requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation by blocking firing with the stock folded (except for the EXP option). This version differs from the usual Saiga 12K in the magazine receiver, the hinged fastening of the receiver cover with a Picatinny rail installed on it, a folding automatic butt (plastic or metal, SVDS type) and an AK-type plastic forend. Saiga-12K 030 The developers position it as a weapon for a “universal” shooter - equally well suited for self-defense, practical or recreational shooting and hunting at short distances. Military origins and the desire for universalization predetermined the main pros and cons of the model. The two-position gas regulator (present in earlier versions of the Saiga 12), intended to adapt the automation to Magnum cartridges, was excluded from the gun’s automatic system. The manufacturer states that the gun’s automatic system ensures reliable operation of the automatic with all types of cartridges, even with “inedible”, for almost all semi-automatic, traumatic cartridges with a double rubber bullet. In practice, Saiga 12k isp.030 works reliably mainly with large loads from 28 g. and higher, and the myth about reloading “traumatic” cartridges remains on the conscience of the developers. The gun is well suited for installing the widest possible range of sighting equipment, and is the first of the Saiga series to be standardly equipped with Picatinny mounting rails. In addition, already in the basic configuration, the carbine is equipped with a specially designed muzzle attachment - allowing the use of “knockout” ammunition (to destroy door locks, hinges, etc.) and at the same time working as an effective flame arrester. It is also possible to use the entire range of 12 gauge Saiga choke tubes. Izhmash designers paid special attention to the convenience of quick reloading of the carbine. In addition to the magazine receiver, the carbine is standardly equipped with an automatic bolt stop (abbreviated as AZZ). The price to pay for the compactness and ease of transportation of the weapon was a rather low sighting range, associated with an insufficient (by hunting standards) barrel length and a short sighting line. At distances over 40 meters, even with a choke attachment, the declared accuracy is still about 40%, in contrast to the hunting, long-barreled Saiga, which has this figure of at least 60%. Another controversial point in the design of the carbine is the abandonment of the traditional side mounting of sighting devices in favor of a Picatinny rail on the receiver. Based on its combination of qualities, many experts call the Saiga 12K isp.030 smoothbore carbine the most powerful and trouble-free personal self-defense weapon available today for purchase on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Saiga series 100: In this version, the receiver is covered with a plastic casing, with which the butt, forearm and plastic receiver cover are smoothly connected. The carbine is equipped with a push-button safety. There is a version with a detachable rail - the carbine is equipped with a front sight base with a front sight at the end of the barrel and a detachable rail, which increases the length of the aiming line and increases the convenience of shooting “offhand”. Initially, this design was intended for export, in order to circumvent the bans established in some countries on the use of hunting weapons similar to military analogues. Saiga-410 isp. 102 is a self-loading shotgun with a plastic stock and a hunting fore-end. The weapon is equipped with a convenient push-button safety; the open sight consists of a rear sight on a gas tube and a front sight located on the gas chamber. The receiver has a unified base for mounting an optical sight. The carbine is equipped with a 4-seater magazine and interchangeable barrel attachments. Saiga-12 version 103 is a self-loading shotgun with a plastic butt, a hunting fore-end and a reinforced plastic receiver cover. It is also equipped with a convenient push-button safety and a unified base for mounting the sight. The high “rifle” front sight is located at the muzzle. Saiga Tactics

Saiga-12k “Tactics” version 040 with a collimator sight mounted on a piccatini rail on the receiver Legion LLC, a subsidiary of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant, has been assembling smooth-bore and rifled Saiga carbines since 2000 with improved consumer characteristics, which have received the common name Saiga Tactics. Legion LLC receives sets of main parts directly from the manufacturer’s workshops, and then, on its own, carries out their assembly, finishing and even artistic finishing (polishing, carving, engraving, inlay). Like a regular Saiga, the “Tactics” can be manufactured in one of 3 calibers .410 20 or 12. The main difference is the presence of an automatic rear sight and front sight on a high stand, similar to the AK-47, instead of an aiming bar or a low front sight. There are many versions of the “Tactics”, differing in the fore-end, butt (in particular, parts from the AK-74 or SVD can be used), sights, etc. The barrel length can correspond to the “C” or “K” modification.

One of the most interesting modifications is the Saiga 12K “Tactics” version 040 (040-01 is shown in the photo on the right). When developing this model, Legion specialists followed approximately the same path as the IOZ engineers who developed the Saiga version. 030. It differs from the standard Saiga 12K in that it has a magazine receiver neck installed, similar to the foreign M16 rifle, which is not found on the original Kalashnikov assault rifle. Because the 12-gauge cartridge is larger than the intermediate cartridge and protrudes more from the magazine jaws, when the magazine is installed, it rests against the bottom of the bolt, providing resistance to the magazine snapping. If there is a neck, the magazine cannot be “twisted” to the side when trying to insert it with force. The receiver cover is made non-removable; it tilts up on an axis fixed under the block of the gas release mechanism (similar to the AKS-74U type). This solution increases the rigidity of the structure, allowing you to install a universal piccatini rail on the cover for mounting sights. The weapon can be equipped with either a manual or an automatic (rarely lately) bolt stop. Magazines from this version do not fit other variants of Saiga-12 except the Spanish version. 030", but are interchangeable with the magazines of the Vepr-12 shotgun, also based on the AK design and having a magazine neck. There are several variants of this design, differing in the type of forend and butt.Modification Saiga-410[1] Saiga-410S Saiga-410K Saiga-12[2] Saiga-12S Saiga-12K Saiga-20[3] Saiga-20S Saiga-20K Caliber .410″ (10.4 mm) .410″ (10.4 mm) .410″ (10.4 mm) 12(18.5mm) 12(18.5mm) 12(18.5mm) 20(15.6mm ) 20(15.6mm) 20(15.6mm) Weight with empty magazine, kg 3.4 3.4 3.2 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.2 Length in firing position , mm 1170 1080 840 1145 1060 910 1135 1050 910 Length with folded stock, mm (dash - stock does not fold) — 840 595 — 820 670 — 810 670 Barrel length, mm 570 570 330 580 580 430 57 0 570 430

[edit] Saiga rifled hunting carbinesThe markings of Saiga rifled carbines have a single reading.

First comes the word Saiga or Saiga in Latin spelling, denoting belonging to the family. Next, separated by a hyphen, follows a letter designation that determines the version of the carbine. Known indexes:

The absence of an index means the original version of the carbine with a barrel length of 520 mm for calibers 5.56×45 mm, 7.62×39 mm, 5.6×39 and 555 mm for 7.62×51 mm and 9×53 mm with a wooden hunting rifle butt.

M - a modernized version of the Saiga carbine with the following changes: an extended barrel of 555 mm, available only in calibers 7.62x39 and .223Rem, a bolt with three lugs (for caliber 7.62x39), a trigger mechanism with a reduced trigger force, wooden the ergonomically shaped butt is equipped with a rubber butt pad;

M1, M2, M3 - versions of the Saiga-M carbine

MK - a variant of the Saiga-M carbine with a shortened barrel (336 or 415 mm) and a lock that does not allow firing with the butt folded;

Next, separated by a hyphen, comes the caliber designation:

The absence of an index means that this carbine is chambered for 7.62×39 mm.

223 - chambered for 5.56x45 mm.

308 - chambered for 7.62x51 mm.

5.6 - chambered for 5.6×39 mm cartridge.

9 - chambered for 9×53 mm or 9.3×53R Russian cartridge according to the American classification.

Saiga-MK-223 isp.03 Then, separated by a space or a hyphen, if there is a special version, there is an index indicating this.

An example of such an index: EXP 01 - police execution.

Sometimes the retailer's policy index.

Example: The shortest-barreled carbine from the Saiga series of carbines with a barrel length of 336 mm chambered for 5.56×45 mm with a fire lock with a folded butt in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation and the presence of crimson marks in accordance with it, fully suitable for use in Russia and popular as a self-defense weapon with full designation: Saiga-MK-223 isp.03 according to the Russian classification and Saiga-MK-223-03 according to the export one.

However, the Legion studio, like many sellers, designates it as Saiga-MK-03. You can also find the name Saiga-MK-223. The designation Saiga-MK-03 is associated with a marketing move, exploiting the maximum similarity of this carbine with the AK-102/AK-104 assault rifle, and on the basis of this distinguishing it from the MK variant into a separate MK-03 variant. Which, however, is not stated by the manufacturer.

[edit] Features of the design The Saiga hunting self-loading carbine is produced in the following modifications:

Saiga is a self-loading rifled carbine with a hunting stock and forearm, wooden or plastic. Barrel length - 520 mm.

Saiga isp.02 is a self-loading rifled carbine with a hunting plastic butt and a short AK-type plastic forend. Shortened barrel, 415 mm.

Saiga isp.03 is a self-loading rifled carbine with a hunting stock and forearm, wooden or plastic. Shortened barrel, 415 mm. Saiga isp.04 is a self-loading rifled carbine, the fire controls (handle, fore-end, gas chamber cover and permanent stock) are made like an AK-74 assault rifle, made of wood or plastic. Short barrel, 415 mm, hunting type flash suppressor.

Saiga-M hunting self-loading carbine - chambered for 7.62x39 mm, made on the AKM base, with a permanent hunting (wooden or polyamide) buttstock, equipped with a rubber butt plate, a hunting (wooden or polyamide) forend, and a front sight block with a short slotted flash suppressor.

Saiga-M isp. M-1 is a self-loading rifled carbine with a quick-release hunting stock and fore-end (wooden or plastic).

Saiga-M isp. M-2 is a self-loading rifled carbine with an orthopedic wooden butt, rubber butt and fore-end.

Saiga-M isp. M-Z is a self-loading rifled carbine with a folding plastic stock and an AK-type forend. Front sight block with a short slotted flash hider with a barrel length of 555 mm or with a long slotted flash hider with a barrel length of 520 mm (for Saiga-MZ version “01”). By special order, a front sight block with a muzzle brake-compensator can be installed. By replacing the standard plastic controls (handle, fore-end, gas chamber cover and butt) with the appropriate spare parts from a mock-up of the mass-dimensional RPK-74 and installing a bipod, you can achieve almost complete external compliance with this weapon.

Saiga M isp. The M-3 “Praktika” has a folding stock with an adjustable buttstock and a rotating cheekpiece (similar to the SVDs). For installation of optical, collimator sights, laser designators, in addition to the standard side rail on the receiver, there is also a Picatinny rail on the receiver cover. The carbine has a guide neck for quick magazine changes. The magazine latch and safety lock are designed to be controlled without removing your hand from the control handle.

Saiga-MK cal. 223 RemSaiga-MK is a hunting self-loading carbine made on the basis of the Ak-74M and its further modifications AK-101, / AK-103, chambered for 5.56x45 mm and 7.62x39 mm cartridges, respectively. In version 01, the carbine is equipped with black, polyamide fire controls (stock, handle, fore-end and barrel guard) used on Kalashnikov assault rifles of the “hundredth” series. For lovers of classic Kalashnikovs, the Saiga MK carbine is produced. 02" in it the controls are borrowed from the AKs-74 assault rifle (metal, folding buttstock of the “frame type”, wooden fore-end and receiver guard, fire control handle made of brown plastic). Depending on the batch, the carbine can be equipped with a DTK simulator, or a short hunting-type flash suppressor. On some examples of carbines there are elements inherent to combat assault rifles - receivers with engraving AB / OD and stamping for the self-timer axis, gas tubes with gas release holes, receiver covers with stiffening ribs, etc. As a rule, these parts are “substandard” from a military assembly. It should also be noted that a number of Izhevsk companies (usually closely associated with Izhmash) offer to order carbines that are maximally unified in appearance with the combat prototype, but at the same time fully comply with the restrictions established by the current law “On Weapons”.

Saiga MK-03 is a small-sized, hunting self-loading carbine, chambered for 5.56×45 mm based on the AK-102, and chambered for 7.62×39 mm based on the AK-104 and is one of the most compact among civilian weapons with a rifled barrel, permitted by the legislation of the Russian Federation. Due to the short barrel length (only 336 mm), it is more suitable for self-defense purposes.

Saiga M3 EXP 01 - designed for security activities, escort units and law enforcement services. The carbine is created on the basis of “police” modifications of the Kalashnikov Ak-103-1 / Ak-101-1 assault rifle (index 1 indicates the inability to fire in bursts) and is highly reliable in the most difficult operating conditions. This modification does not fall under the restrictions established for hunting weapons by the current law “On Weapons” and is sold only under special conditions. permissions.

Saiga-5.6 - The first model of the Saiga family carbine. Produced since 1974 in the Saiga-5.6 and Saiga-5.6C variants in a limited edition chambered for the Soviet hunting cartridge 5.6x39 mm. Production was discontinued due to difficulties with the ammunition (the bevel of the “bottle” cartridge was too large, which prevented reliable operation of the automation) and lack of demand.

Saiga-308 is a .308 win caliber carbine (7.62x51 NATO). It is criticized by some hunters for its shorter firing range compared to the bulk of automatic rifles of this caliber.

Saiga-308 type MK is a self-loading rifled carbine that externally copies the Kalashnikov assault rifle of the “hundredth” series, but in a caliber of 7.62x51 mm.

Saiga-308-1 isp.21 is a self-loading rifled carbine with an orthopedic wooden butt (with a cutout for the thumb) and a forend.

Saiga-308 in the exclusive Legion version Saiga 308-1 isp.34 is a self-loading rifled carbine with a control handle, a plastic fore-end and a plastic non-folding AK-type stock, the gas chamber is combined with the base of the front sight, there is no muzzle.

Saiga-308-1 isp.100 is a self-loading rifled carbine with a plastic butt. The handguard consists of two plastic plates, the receiver cover is made of reinforced plastic, and the receiver is covered with a plastic casing. Push-button safety, 3-place magazine.

Saiga 308-1 with a solid wooden stock is a development of the Saiga 100 series carbines. The barrel and receiver are placed in a single wooden stock. The carbine is produced upon special order in a piece version.

Saiga-9 is a limited series of Saiga rifled carbines chambered for the ultra-rare cartridge produced by the Finnish company Sako 9.3x53R (Rant) according to the international classification and 9x53 mm according to the Soviet one. The use of this carbine presents very specific difficulties caused by the shortage of available domestic ammunition (NPZ) of native caliber and the need to select and remake Western ammunition. In particular, the use of 9x53R(Finnish), although possible, is associated with a change in the performance of the carbine due to the fact that the Finnish Sako 9.3x53R cartridge is about 20% more powerful than the domestic 9.3x53. The cost of an imported cartridge is 10 times higher than the cost of a Novosibirsk cartridge - self-loading rifled carbines, created using design solutions implemented in the RPK small arms systems, and are chambered for cartridges of calibers 7.62x39, 7.62x51 (.308 Win), 5.56x45 ( .223 Rem), 7.62x54R, 7.62x63 (.30-06Spr) and have a high degree of reliability and reliability when working in various operating conditions.

To increase durability, the bore and chamber of the carbine are chrome-plated.

Automatic reloading of the carbine is carried out by using the energy of the powder gases removed from the barrel bore into the gas chamber when fired, and the energy of the return spring.

To reduce the flame when fired, a non-removable flash suppressor is installed on the Vepr series carbine.

To eliminate possible inertial pinching of the primer on imported cartridges, the bolt striker is spring-loaded.

To increase safety, the Vepr series carbines are equipped with a flag-type safety lock. The stock is combined, with a pistol grip. A rubber butt pad-shock absorber is installed on the butt to reduce recoil.

The receiver has a base for mounting an optical sight bracket.

The sighting bar of the Vepr series carbines allows for effective shooting at a distance of up to 300 m.

Modifications “Vepr-223”, “Vepr-308”, “Vepr-Pioneer”, “Vepr-Super”, “Vepr-Hunter” are also produced. Produced at the Vyatsko-Polyansky Machine-Building Plant.

Performance characteristics of the carbine

In various modifications, the barrel length may vary. The presence of strong recoil affects the accuracy of aiming and accuracy of fire. In a hunting carbine, the use of magazines from combat models is excluded.

The structure of the Saiga carbine

This weapon inherited the design features and high reliability from the Kalashnikov assault rifle. Recharging is performed automatically as follows.

• When fired, the powder gases push the bolt frame back, and a new cartridge is fired.
• When the trigger is pulled, the hammer is released and hits the firing pin. After detonation, the primer ignites, igniting the powder charge. When fired, a rapid expansion of the powder gases occurs, which gives the bullet high speed. Their part moves the bolt back, removing the spent cartridge case. It flies out under the influence of the reflector.
• The sear secures the trigger in the firing position using a return spring. After it takes the extreme position, the force of action of the powder gases will dry up, since at this time the bullet has already flown out of the barrel, allowing the powder gases to freely escape.
• At this moment, forward movement begins due to the fact that the compressed spring begins to straighten. At the same time, the bolt frame moves forward. This movement ensures that the cartridge is snatched, which is pushed out of the magazine under the action of a spring. It is sent into the chamber. The weapon is now ready to fire the next shot.

The inner surface of the barrel is chrome plated. This reduces barrel wear and protects the barrel from corrosion. If the stock is in the folded position, it cannot be fired. This eliminates the possibility of an accidental shot in this position. This restriction is also related to legal requirements that the length of civilian weapons must be no less than the established value.

The stock is made of lightweight and impact-resistant polymer material. The forend has Picatinny rails designed for mounting various types of body kit. One of them is located on the side, the other on top. The sighting bar is marked up to a distance of 1000 meters.

The structure of the receiver ensured trouble-free operation even with heavy contamination. The barrel has four grooves.

Today I picked up my parcel from one specialized store. Here's what I ordered: a shock absorber backplate for the buttstock from Alfa Arms , a polyurethane recoil buffer Top for the recoil spring, and also some weapons chemicals for cleaning and lubricating the weapon. With the help of this butt plate, I finally increased the length of the butt that was missing for me, and the buffer should soften the impact of the bolt frame on the receiver and prevent the formation of hardening. This is not the first time I have purchased a polyurethane buffer; a similar part has been working on my AKMS-MF1 7.62x39 for more than 8 years and I have no complaints about its performance.

As I wrote in previous articles, I do not have enough length of the stock on my Saiga and decided to puzzle myself with the question of how to increase the length of the folding plastic stock. I solved this problem by installing a rear shock absorber from Alfa Arms.

I will first tell you step by step how to install the butt plate, and then about installing the recoil buffer on the recoil spring.

1. First of all, you need to unscrew the standard screws securing the standard back plate. I also recommend removing the pencil case with accessories from the buttstock, since you will no longer have quick access to its “storage chamber” after installing a new butt plate.

2. Without removing the standard butt plate, put a new polyurethane shock absorber back plate on top of it, having previously “increased” the butt lock button using the button included in the kit.

3. Fix the rear shock absorber to the butt using the screws included in the kit, screwing them into the standard seats. That's all.

The backplate became clearer and my Saiga became more adaptable. The problem with the insufficient length of the stock is closed for me.

Next, I proceeded to install the buffer. To do this you need:

— remove the receiver cover;

— remove the return spring;

— put a buffer on it, as shown in the photo;

— put the spring back into the receiver and put on the receiver cover.

Price: rear shock absorber 1300 rubles, buffer 250 rubles.

In general, something like this. Thank you for attention!

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Advantages and disadvantages of the model

Advantages and disadvantages

High reliability.

Availability of used ammunition.

A large number of modifications.

Good opportunities for tuning.

Can serve as the main hunting weapon.

The sighting range reaches 200 meters. And for some there may be more options.

Use of powerful cartridges with high stopping power.

Convenient ergonomics.

Strong recoil.

A clearly visible bright flash when fired.

The quality of cartridges may vary between different manufacturers.

The weapon becomes very hot when fired repeatedly.

This model has features that need to be taken into account when choosing. Its advantages are:

1. A powerful cartridge is used, which is characterized by a high stopping effect. The stopping effect is evident even when shooting at a considerable distance.
2. This weapon is considered universal among hunters. It is, for example, suitable for hunting wood grouse, wild boar, hare or deer.
3. High reliability of use, which is inherited from the machine gun on the basis of which the weapon was developed.
4. The design of the muzzle compensator and the design features of the gas outlet tube made it possible to ensure high accuracy of fire.
5. The weapon has good ergonomics. For anyone who has used a Kalashnikov assault rifle, this carbine will be familiar.
6. This weapon provides many opportunities for tuning, and you can ensure the use of a variety of optics, replace the stock with a more convenient one, or install a new muzzle brake.

Unfortunately, the following disadvantages were noted when using this weapon:

1. Shooting cartridges produced by domestic manufacturers have very uneven quality. Purchasing those manufactured abroad is significantly more expensive.
2. When shooting at a distance exceeding 200 meters, the accuracy increases significantly.
3. The slide stop is not used when the magazine is fully used. After this, the shutter returns to its normal position. After inserting a new magazine, the cartridge must be manually loaded.
4. This weapon has strong recoil.
5. When fired, there is a bright flash that reveals the shooter's position.
6. When firing repeatedly, the weapon becomes noticeably heated.

Despite these disadvantages, this weapon has important advantages, which have gained it popularity among hunters.

MAKSIMOV.SU

Before you pass judgment on the .308 caliber Saiga, ask yourself one question: are there any alternatives to this autoloading carbine that offer the same compactness, reliability, power, accuracy and versatility?

Write

This is exactly the weapon I've been thinking about for a long time. Understanding very well the extreme polarity of opinions regarding domestic conversion weapons (for some reason, protected military “imports” are not subject to criticism in our country), I will risk stating my position on the Saiga carbine, this time in an “automatic” configuration and, what is more interesting in total - chambered for a full-fledged .308 NATO rifle cartridge.

The smooth-bore Saiga is fiercely hated. But not all. Interestingly, dislike for this brainchild of IZHMASH is mainly felt by those who do not own it. And he never even fired. A kind of conceptual, truly intelligent, inexplicable dislike for everything domestic. Without trying to understand the root causes of production problems, the country’s economy in general and the characteristics of its industry in particular.

And I perceive Saiga positively. Because of its three advantages - an adequate price for the carbine itself and its cartridges, design simplicity and reliability (including low maintenance requirements and omnivorous use of ammunition).

Yes, I lost sight of the main thing - the self-loading of this weapon. Despite the “anti-self-loading” position of our “correct” hunters, as well as armchair “hunters”-legislators and other “greens”, reliability was, is and will be the most significant advantage that is valued by forest people. There are few good SKS left, so the 7.62x39mm Saiga and Vepr are very popular.

Further. The more we learn about imported weapons, the more warmly we look at domestic guns and carbines - that’s it, we’re full. Enough. Both Western life “values” and open marriage in foreign weapons, which are not cheap, which has long become the norm, which is typical.

“Wedges” of cartridges in the feed, “non-reloading”, cracking receivers and bolts, bursting stocks and other “little things” - this is all about that same “import” that causes a lot of frustration to connoisseurs of Western weapons thought (sarcastically so).

Saiga-308

"Saiga" chambered for a good "forest" cartridge 9.3x53R

Izhevsk residents did it a long time ago. However, like the “Saiga” chambered for the serious cartridge 7.62x51, popularly referred to simply as “three hundred and eighth”. Only at first it was a carbine in a hunting version. And now you can buy a Kalash of the “hundredth” series, and chambered for the .308 cartridge.

And this immediately brought this “Saiga” into a completely different niche - either an assault rifle chambered for a powerful cartridge, or a compact and powerful self-loading hunting weapon that claims to be effectively used in driven hunts.

However, the choice of weapon for penning can also be influenced by such a seemingly unusual circumstance as an injury to the shooter’s right hand. One of my friends, who is physically unable to shoot a rifle without a pistol grip, bought a Saiga precisely for these reasons. Forced, so to speak. So it’s not just a matter of love for the design.

So, "Saiga-MK" -.308. Structurally, it is a Kalashnikov assault rifle, but chambered for an enemy rifle cartridge. Not at all probable, as life has shown. The Izhevsk company began making the “MK” variant of “Saiga-308” relatively recently. It's crooked, but there are no options. And cosmetic defects do not affect the performance of this semi-automatic machine at all.

stamps
on the receiver of Saiga-308

The carbine is equipped with two magazines for 8 rounds. The weight of the carbine is 3.5 kg. Is it a lot or a little? If the weapon were chambered for 7.62x39, then such a mass of weapons would seem quite large. But we have a self-loading rifle chambered for a full-fledged rifle cartridge, so the extra 200-300 grams here are not only forgivable, but also not superfluous.

Shooting

Like any weapon with a short barrel, the Saiga-308 behaves quite aggressively when firing: it kicks, rumbles and produces a powerful flash of muzzle flame. Although there is no need to talk about the recoil as being so strong - this “Saiga” has it at the level of the recoil of the “Tiger”.

What’s interesting is that the barrel of the carbine doesn’t get very hot, so intensive shooting did not have a negative effect on the group size. For example, the same “Tiger” is more sensitive to barrel heating.

cartridges on the feed line

When shooting with the Kashtan sight, I had to pay attention to the position of my head: otherwise, getting the eyepiece in the eye would be as easy as shelling pears - these optics, apparently, are designed for use on weapons with a lower recoil impulse, which explains the small focal length of the sight.

But the sight, with its low magnification and significant field of view, turned out to be quite convenient for both targeted shooting and intensive shooting.

The geometry of the .308 cartridge case is almost identical to that of our 7.62x54 rifle cartridge

When shooting quickly handheld from a distance of 100, with an open sight, at the silhouette of a boar, all the bullets fall “in place” or so. According to this indicator, the Saiga is no different from any semi-automatic machine, whether ours or imported.

Conclusion

"Saiga"-308

, in terms of its effectiveness in driven hunts, where shooting distances rarely exceed 100-150 m, is as full-fledged a weapon as our “Tigers” and “Veprs”, as well as imported self-loaders (working normally).
At the same time, "Saiga" has a clear advantage in compactness (with a folding stock - generally unrivaled) and price. any Saiga is good in the standard version: painted steel and plastic are completely insensitive to external influences

To be fair, it should be noted that the Vepr-.308 was certified with a very short barrel, but the butt of this carbine is not folding. There are versions of the BAR-II with a short barrel, but it loses to the Saiga in all criteria except ergonomics. We’ll talk about the Benelli “Argo” separately, but in terms of all its indicators it is much inferior even to Browning.

view of the aiming line. Nothing new has appeared in Saiga-308 here

What can Saiga-308 do? I had enough time to study this weapon well in practice. I mean, shoot her “in the tail and mane.” And my conclusions are unlikely to differ from the opinions of the owners of these weapons.

The main drawback of this Saiga is the problem with ergonomics that has already been voiced a hundred times. Although, this is very subjective. But, as you can hear, nothing “fits” everyone around at all. But in practice, many do not have the correct tab skills. Maybe that's the whole point?

And - when buying, it is better to be careful, otherwise you may come across such a specimen that the front sight will point to the right, and the aiming bar will point to the left. Or vice versa. Like a military-issue PPSh. Of course, you can adapt to anything, but is it necessary?

Standard machine gun front sight
Saiga-308

Entire books have already been written about the shortcomings of the Kalashnikov fuse, although, as usual, in reality everything is not so bad: the problem is solved by bending its lever and winding at least a couple of turns of thick fishing line.

Due to the short barrel and fake flash suppressor, the sound and flash when fired is greater than when firing a 7.62x51 cartridge from a rifle with a regular-length barrel. The recoil is noticeable, but (especially when using a rubber galosh from a grenade launcher on the butt) not excessive. The descent is normal, “AK-ish”, by the way – not bad at all.

Pseudo-Kalashnikov DTK Saiga-308
does not have an internal washer

Accuracy at 100 m when shooting with domestic inexpensive Centaur cartridges is more than acceptable: 60 mm with an open sight and about 45 mm when shooting with a brutal, but quite convenient and effective Kashtan sight with x2.8 magnification.

There were no delays or difficulties during shooting. And what difficulties there might be - the Kalash is familiar to any black man in Africa, let alone a person born in the USSR.

And the already stated advantages speak in favor of the Saiga: reliability and omnivorousness, compactness, simplicity in all respects, the highest operational strength, more than acceptable shooting performance and a universal cartridge. You can easily attach an optical or collimator sight to this carbine.

With the stock folded, the Saiga-308 is very compact.
Shooting in this position is impossible

And in general, this Izhevsk carbine is full of various “bells and whistles” for unrestrained tuning. "Saiga" can withstand the most barbaric treatment, and with the .308 cartridge it is acceptable for hunting large animals. For some hunters, it is the embodiment of old dreams from the series “Oh, SKS, but with a .308 cartridge - there would be no price for it...”

folded butt, left view.
Manipulations with the stock take just seconds

sector sight.
The bar is cut to 1000 m. For those who are ready to laugh at this distance, let me remind you of the same numbers on the sight of the famous Mauser S-96 pistol

But this is still not SKS. And not even “Tiger” with “Veprem”. What’s interesting is that in many hunting brigades, whose composition is not burdened by Anglo-Saxon or “New Vasyukov” snobbery, they will accept a person with a “Veprem” without any complaints, but they will look askance at a recruit with a Saiga-MK under .308. Probably, of all our “conversions”, this “Saiga” is the least “hunting”.

It must be said that even in Abkhazia it is now “not fashionable” to hunt with AKM. The people there, tired of the endless war, are slowly switching to more “civilian” weapons.

So the Saiga-MK, with all its advantages, no matter what cartridge it is made under, is still a highly specialized and specific weapon, with all its disadvantages and advantages.

The article was published in the magazine “Hunting”, No. 5 (153), May 2011

Ammunition for carbine

The cartridges used here are .308 Winchester. They have a caliber of 7.62 mm, using the metric notation. It has a shorter length compared to the standard cartridge - 51 rather than 54 mm.

This cartridge in Russia is considered by many as exotic, but it is widespread abroad. Since there are many types of weapons for it in the world, many varieties of this cartridge have been created: armor-piercing, tracer, armor-piercing incendiary, conventional and others. However, the law prohibits the use of military cartridges in carbines intended for civilian use.

For hunting weapons, the use of steel-jacketed lead bullets is available. Their significant weight provides a high stopping effect. When hit at a distance of 100-150 meters, it makes it possible to kill a large deer. The steel shell protects the inner surface of the barrel from the chemically aggressive effects of lead.

There are varieties of cartridges that use a steel bullet.
Its weight is 9.6 grams versus 13 for lead. Lightweight options with a weight of 6.5 grams can also be used. Such bullets have a reduced stopping effect, but they are able to penetrate obstacles more effectively. Lighter options have less flexibility. Using them, you can conduct flat fire at a distance exceeding 200 meters. Expansive bullets can be used. It shows good results when shooting at distances of 100-150 meters. Such ammunition dampens impulse well. When they hit an animal, they open up inside and cause severe wounds to the animal. One shot is usually enough to kill the animal.

Exotic versions of cartridges can be used for shooting. For example, the use of molybdenum bullets reduces barrel wear when shooting. However, non-standard types of cartridges can rarely be found in domestic specialized stores.

Modifications

This weapon is produced by the Kalashnikov concern in various modifications. The popularity of the Saiga 308 model in Russia and outside the country has created significant demand for it. At the same time, in order to better meet the needs of customers, options were created that had certain features. This allowed those wishing to choose the most suitable options for themselves. The most common modifications are the following:

1. The basic model is Saiga 308. One of its features is the stock, which can not only be folded, but also completely removed. To do this, just click on the appropriate button. In this model, the barrel is 520 mm long, the fore-end and butt are made of plastic.
2. In the Saiga 308-1, the stock is made especially convenient for the shooter. Some call it orthopedic. In particular, there is a special hole for the thumb. In Spanish 21 butts are made of wood.
3. In Saiga 308-1 isp. 34 uses a one-piece buttstock made of plastic, has a pistol grip, and the front sight is located on the gas chamber.

In addition to these modifications, there are several more. There are no significant structural differences in them. They can be distinguished by their appearance.

Disassembling the Saiga 308 carbine

The carbine will last a long time if you take care of it properly. To do this, you need to know how disassembly and assembly are done. In order to clean or lubricate the carabiner, you must first prepare it. Sometimes disassembly is required in order to carry out repairs. In most situations, partial disassembly and reassembly is necessary. Full is usually required when the weapon is heavily soiled.

To carry out the procedure, you need to prepare the place. It is convenient to carry out operations on a clean table. If this is not possible, you can do this on the ground, covering it with a piece of clean cloth of sufficient size.

When disassembling, parts must not be stacked on top of each other. This may cause scratches or damage. The parts are arranged in the order they were removed. The procedure is simple. After a few repetitions it is easy to remember.

To perform partial disassembly, proceed as follows:

1. If the hunting weapon has an optical sight, the procedure begins by disconnecting it. Actions are performed in accordance with the characteristics of its model.
2. Disconnect the magazine.
3. You need to make sure that there is no cartridge in the chamber. To do this, you need to tighten the shutter. He is taken back and released. After this, it is installed in its working position. If there was a cartridge there, it will be ejected as a result. After this, you need to perform a control shot. In this case, the weapon is pointed to the side.
4. The receiver cover is separated. To do this, you need to press on the protrusion that is located in the back. By pressing it is immersed inside the box. After this, by moving upward, you can easily remove the receiver.
5. To remove the return mechanism along with the spring, you need to push it forward, slightly lift the back part, then pull it out.
6. After the bolt frame is moved to the rearmost position, it is pulled out upward.
7. The bolt frame is released from the bolt. The latter must be turned in order to be released from the groove.
8. Disconnect the gas pipe. To do this, first release the latch.

Usually this completes incomplete disassembly. Some weapon variants provide the ability to completely detach the stock. In this case, this will need to be done. To do this, press the latch and then disconnect the butt.

If possible, the forend will need to be removed. To do this, you first need to unscrew the screw. This can be done using a regular screwdriver. To disconnect the forend, you need to move it back a little.

After disassembly, perform the necessary actions: inspection, cleaning, lubrication or repair. After this, assembly begins. To do this, perform the following actions:

1. Put the handguard in place. To secure it, tighten the screw.
2. Attach the butt.
3. Place the gas pipe in its original place.
4. The bolt is placed in its place in the bolt frame.
5. It is installed in the receiver.
6. The return mechanism is inserted into place. To do this, it is pressed forward all the way, then the rear part is carefully inserted into the receiver.
7. The receiver cover is placed first with the front part, pressed, then the rear part is inserted downwards and snapped into place.
8. Insert the magazine.
9. If necessary, install an optical sight.

The weapon is now assembled and ready to use.

Saiga MK 308-1 device

The developers did not come up with anything new and made the carbine simple, understandable and reliable. Reloading occurs automatically due to the energy of the powder gases and the energy of the return spring. When firing, gases from the barrel enter the gas chamber. The channel is locked in a way familiar to many hunters - by turning the shutter around its axis.

The trigger-type trigger, barrel bore and chamber are protected by a chrome-plated composition.

It is possible to install an optical sight. Standard sighting mechanisms allow shooting at a distance of up to 300 meters. Some versions of the gun are equipped with a cheek piece on the butt for comfortable shooting. It has two positions: for an optical sight and for open sighting mechanisms.

Specifications:

• For shooting, .308win charges are used;
• Barrel length 555 millimeters;
• Total length 1,125 millimeters;
• The mass of the unloaded weapon is 4.1 kilograms;
• The magazine holds 8 rounds;
• Effective firing range up to 300 meters.

The muzzle of the weapon is presented in several types and in different versions for the buyer to choose from: a short conical flash suppressor, an elongated cylindrical flash suppressor, or no flash suppressor at all.

For ease of transportation and storage, you can choose a modification with a removable stock. It can be removed very easily due to the latch located in the rear of the receiver.