Saiga'd Out

[SouthernShark]

Here are some pics of my Saiga-103 and my Saiga-12 (as requested in another post).

http://members.telocity.com/southernshark1/myak2.jpg

http://members.telocity.com/southernshark1/mysa1.jpg

http://members.telocity.com/southernshark1/myaks1.jpg

-SouthernShark

[Ugh!]

They look great! Did they include any info on what company made the stock set or fire control parts on the AK-103?

Is that the 16.5" barrel on the AK-103?

[This message has been edited by Ugh! (edited 08-31-2000).]

[AKM's]

They are NICE! How is the cleaning rod retained under the gas block of the AK-103? I can't see a lug of any kind under there?

[Flyn_Bryan]

Southern have you taken it out to the range yet? My AK103 should be in sometime next week. Can not wait http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif!

Bryan

[trotsky]

Now THAT'S the way to properly display an AK http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif...

I'm curious about the cleaning rod also. I have a 103 in transit & am wondering if I'm gonna have to do my "silver solder a cleaning rod holder" trick when it gets here. Done right, you can't tell that the rifle wasn't made with one.

[Jimbob]

I am going to drool my way into yet another unplanned AK purchase here. Guys stop it please stop it http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/wink.gif AKs are driving me into the poorhouse they are worse than kids to keep properly fed and clothed!

[SouthernShark]

Let me try to answer as many of these questions as I can. I don't know where the stock or fire control came from. I know the stocks are made in the US, but I don't know who made them. I assume the fire "control" (semi- auto only) is from Saiga, but I could be wrong about that. As for barrel length, I will have to look that up, but I think its longer than 16.5" (probably more like 18"). I just purchased a Bagmaster carrying case for a full sized AK, and the 103 is too long.

The cleaning rod runs through a circular metal loop under the barrel. It runs back into a chamber under the barrel. It is held in such a way that the cleaning rod presses upward against the barrel and this keeps it in place. It is easy to take in or out, and it won't fall out easily (its on there pretty tight).

I have not taken it to the range yet. I hope I get a chance to shoot it this weekend. I will post the results.

Here is one more pic I took. This clearly displays the Cobra sight that I have on it (a nice accessory).

http://members.telocity.com/southernshark1/myak1.jpg

-SouthernShark



[This message has been edited by SouthernShark (edited 09-01-2000).]

[CAMPYBOB]

no wonder lenin is smiling!

[LAgunman2K-3]

those are great pics, and nice background, is that a flag of lenin or something else?
if its a flag where ya get it? and do you know by chance what it says ?

also just for historical accuracy -- i think lenin was dead before the AK ever came around, stalin was in power in the 40s, but im sure lenin would of been proud of comrade kalashnikov http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/biggrin.gif

------------------
and on the 8th day GOD made the AK-47 and saw that this was good

talk is cheap, but bullets are even Cheaper!!!

[This message has been edited by LAgunman2K (edited 09-01-2000).]

[SouthernShark]

That's a real Soviet Flag (3'x5'), circa 1970's. It says Workers/ Proletariat of the World Unite. I have been told by an ex-young Pioneer that it is a call for military action. (She said the flag always scared her when she was growing up http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif hehehe ).

I am sure that Lenin was dead when the flag was made. But the people who had that flag had AK's that's for sure.

I bought it over the internet at http://www.collectrussia.com/showcat.htm?cat=FLAGPENN

This sight has some great historic items from the Cold War and from WWII.

-SouthernShark

[trotsky]

Thanks for your info... it is GREAT news. What you've told me is that the people that make this rifle did NOT totally grind off the cleaning rod support. Many people do - it's a faster way to get rid of the bayonet lug.

FYI - those stocks come from KVAR - they are US copies of the Bulgarian/Soviet black stocks... and they are VERY GOOD ones. If you look on your trigger group, my guess is you will see a mark like "FSE" - this is "First Son Enterprises" - the ONLY maker of US AK fire control components that are any good. If you see a "C" in a circle - please let us know - then I'll tell you how to get GOOD US trigger parts http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif

[Pro2Am]

Southern Shark,

Have the pictures of your guns been removed from this page or is it just my stupid WebTV? Now when I click on all I see are these little blank "windows". I'm about fed up with this system. The keep coming out with these so-called "upgrades", and everytime they do something goes haywire. I wanted to forward your pic's to a friend who's interested in the Saigas, since I can't find any other good pics of the 103.
Luckily for me I have the same guns so I can look at 'em anytime I want http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif - just got my 103 today from L.A. Austin/D.G.S., and is it a beauty!

------------------

Mike R.

[SouthernShark]

Its your web TV, the pics are still there. Let me know how your AK-103 fires. Mine is fine, but somebody said they had some problems with theirs. I think its probably an isolated incident, but its worth watching.

-SS

[WJ-Polish Guy]

Originally posted by SouthernShark:
That's a real Soviet Flag (3'x5'), circa 1970's. It says Workers/ Proletariat of the World Unite.


NO Sir! Your damn commie flag says "We will transform party`s plans into reality"... WHERE IS McCarthy when we need him! Ha!

[SouthernShark]

Polish guy, a Russian lady told me it says "Workers of the world unite". She just moved here and used to be young Pioneer (commie).

Although, it does have writing on both sides, so maybe I am confused about which side says what.

-SS

[This message has been edited by SouthernShark (edited 09-06-2000).]

[WJ-Polish Guy]

I`ve said what I`ve read from it Shark, maybe you showed her other side... or she is an Iranian spy, pretending to be Russian?... OK lets do a test on her. Ask her what was Stalin`s nickname (Koba), when she fail. just call FBI! http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif

[Pro2Am]

SS,

Will do. I'm planning on a range trip Saturday. I'm eager to see how the rifle performs - and the looks on people's faces when they get to see it. Same thing happens when I take my Saiga-12 out there. A lot of wide eyes and even some drooling! http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif

P.S. WebTV is really starting to suck!

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Mike R.

[Pro2Am]

Well, I see that this board is finally back online. Good!

Took my 103 to the range for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I'll say right off that I've never enjoyed shooting a long arm as much. This rifle is beautiful. At first I thought that the relatively short buttstock would be uncomfortable, but it turns out to be just fine. I also thought that recoil might be a little stiff with the plastic buttplate, but was I surprised. I've never shot a softer recoiling AK-type firearm. It's even milder than my friend's (considerably heavier) SKS. And the muzzle rise is negligible on account of the excellent muzzle brake. And the trigger action - how to describe it? Very smooth yet solid. And quick! At one point the range officer nearly had a cow because he thought the gun was a full-auto version (these have been banned from IN public ranges).
As far as accuracy goes, I was getting 3/4" to 1" 4-shot groups @ 50 yds. with a Kobra red-dot sight and the rifle hand held with my arms resting on a shooting table. This was with Wolf FMJ and some older Russian HP rounds. Not bad.
Quality of workmanship is generally fine. There are a couple of minor rough spots, but you have to look for them to notice them, and they do nothing to impair the gun's functioning. Besides, this is military-style weapon, not a glossy wall-hanger.
One glitch: out of 150-200 rounds I had 4 or 5 jams. The point of each bullet would lodge agains the receiver immediately under the feed ramp. The ramp may need to be enlarged a little. However, this seemed to occur with the last round in the mag, so maybe it's a matter of insufficient mag spring pressure (a new Bulgarian 30-rounder picked up at a recent gun show).
As far as a rifle is concerned I couldn't really ask for more than what I got with this AK-103. Not only is it extremely easy to shoot (it's a breeze to shoot one-handed should the urge strike you), it's sufficiently accurate and reliable - not to mention a visual knockout (talk about envy! I've never seen folks more impressed with a firearm than with this black beauty). All things considered, this is the best and most satisfying rifle purchase I've ever made.
Mucho thanks to Dave Austin, D.G.S., and Kalashnikov USA Ltd.

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Mike R.

[dadx]

No AK type rifle should jam.

If I had this rifle, I would consider it to be unacceptable!

You have a right to a rifle which does not jam! At least, not repeatedly.

I don't think its the Bulgarian magazine. Their springs are stronger than the other mags.

[trotsky]

Check the mag latch - make sure your's has not been hacked at - mine was, resulting in the mag's not quite latching in correctly.

[jim c]

your problem on the intermittent ftf is perhaps related to the fact that every single dgs that gets shipped to dealers either has or hasn't a feed ramp. they tack weld a bead so the round rides up into the chamber.
i picked up 2 of them and neither one had a feed ramp nor the "weld" also....
how is this for quality control
in 1 box was a rifle, cleaning kit, 2 (5rd)mags, manual and warranty card.
in the other box was a rifle and manual, NOTHING ELSE!!!!! dissapointed.. to say the least.
i am just going to look for some saiga's and have informer do a conversion for me.