More AK-103 (Saiga) info??

[Okami]

I am about to receive my Saiga AK-103 this weekend, but probably won't have a chance to fire it any time soon. I would appreciate if everyone who has one and has fired it would post their opinions. I see Lone Wolf has had some problems, and I just wondered if anyone else has too.

[SouthernShark]

Mine shoots ok, but the paint job isn't great. I don't really care, I planned on dragging it through the woods and scratching it all up anyway. But if you bought it for some reason other than blasting a few thousand rounds, (like mounting above your hearth... hehe) then you got screwed. hehe.

-SouthernShark

[backblast]

http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/Forum8/HTML/000193.html

cya

[Okami]

I got my Saiga II/AK-103 today and it looks very cool. I agree that the finish isn't the greatest, expecially compared with my SA-85M, but it could be worse. I haven't shot it, but it seems to feed hollowpoints reliably enough by manually cocking the bolt. It's my first pistol gripped AK, and I think I'll have to get a US parts kit for the SA-85M now.

[trotsky]

Mine just shipped today - from WILLIAMS AND SONS ARMS of Olrlando FL 407-682-3579 or email Brad at BrWII@cs.com ...

I don't have it yet, but I can't say enough good things about WILLIAMS AND SONS ARMS ... they bent over backwards to get this rifle to me - the DEALER is great, and highly recommended.

Now - I MAY need to re-paint, maybe even clean up a bit with some silver soldering. On the other hand, the price was VERY good - and I'm used to working over SARs that look like hell http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif So this one should be a bit of a treat http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif

[SouthernShark]

Yeah its really not bad. Even my paint job was good, except for a spot on the bottom that had flaked off. But I can fix that for about .25 cents and ten minutes of work.

It fired the first 200 rounds without a problem. I think some of the negative press is just skepticism oriented towards a new product. People need to get a grip. http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif

-SouthernShark

[jscor]

It fired the first 200 rounds without a problem. I think some of the negative press is just skepticism oriented towards a new product. People need to get a grip. http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif

-SouthernShark[/B][/QUOTE]


Good to hear -- makes me feel a bit better about my purchase


[This message has been edited by jscor (edited 09-10-2000).]

[Flyn_Bryan]

Saiga AK 103 received today. You guys are right about the finish. The paint around the receiver wears off very easily. The synthetic furniture makes the rifle very light in comparison to my MAK90. One minor irritation was that the gas cylinder tube rattled, however, that was fixed with some improvisation. Overall the rifle feels solid and will certainly turn heads at the rifle range. I plan to put the rifle through a firing test tomorrow and hopefully it will be uneventful.

Bryan

[backblast]

Keep us posted.

cya

[Biggame223]

My buddy told me today that he called Kalisnikov USA and they told him that they were setting up shop in the US making receivers and all. I have yet to call but will on Monday.

Biggame223

Out

[trotsky]

Thanks for all the info - mine is not here yet, but I'm already planning on a total refinish with GunKote - no worse than a Rom gun.

[Flyn_Bryan]

Well just came back from an indoor range and quickly put 60 rounds through my rifle without any problems. If you like attention, this rifle will certainly get you noticed. One thing to note was that the sights on my AK103 were way off. Anyone else have this problem? Very embarassing not to hit anything at 25 yards. http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/frown.gif

Bryan

[SouthernShark]

Well I had trouble hitting the bullseye at 25 yards, but I attributed that mostly to my uncorrected 20/60 eyesight. http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif Seriously, it seemed a bit to the right, but not so bad.
Certainly none of my shots missed the target..... hehe.

I bought a Kobra site for mine, so that should take care of most of those problems.

-SouthernShark

[BlondinaAZ]

Hi Everyone,
I work for L.A.Austin in Phoenix, and I just want to say that Kalashnikov is not the place to call for the AK-103's. DGS in Port St. Lucie manufactures them for us and we take orders for customers. I'm including my e-mail address for anyone interested in an AK-103. Lately we have not been able to connect with customers over the phone because Dave's wife had 2 back surgeries in a row and he was very busy taking care of her. Things have settled down now, though. We are working on a bigger flyer to post on-line so you can see and read it better. I will be in the office on weekends now so calls will be answered by me, or, if I go out of the office, you can expect a return call the same day. Please call (623) 584-5016 or e-mail me at zeta93@juno.com for inquiries and orders. Thanks for your time!

Sarah K. Kelly
Director of Sales
L.A.Austin International Inc.
(623)584-5016
zeta93@juno.com

[trotsky]

Got my AK-103 last week. For those of you with feeding problems: CHECK THE MAG LATCH... the folks at Dons really hacked these - a typical EG 30 Rounder may not totally latch in, requiring a simple 10 minute job with a small file on the TOP of the latch.

I have only good things to say about the dealer that sold me my AK-103... this was William's & Sons in Florida. D&G, though, could stand to send some folks to gunsmithing 101. I'm going to be repairing & repainting my 103 - removing ugly cheap Aluminum rivits from the rear, shimming pistol grip back from the guard so the trigger rotates without interferance (and so the SAFETY works), replacing the KVAR rear stock that they hacked off on the end to clear the cheap aluminum rivits, and painting the gun with KalGard (after Acetoning off the gummy Krylon paint they used). The odd thing? NONE of these flaws was necessary to produce the rifle rapidly, and at low cost...

On the brite side - this rifle's accuracy is EXCELLENT. Once I get it LOOKING like an AK, it will be a treasure.

[Tantal]

It would be fair to state there are at least two and maybe three manufacturers of these new Saiga-based US built Russian "AK-100" style rifles.

If you decide you want a high quality version out of the box, call Kalashnikov USA directly, in Port Lucie. After studying prototypes from all three manufacturers, they have decided to carry only the Krebs version, based upon it's quality.

They are more expensive, but you get what you pay for. You will not need to do any project work on one of these.

[This message has been edited by Tantal (edited 09-17-2000).]

[recon]

So Tantal in your opinion out of the 3 out there this is the one? Okay what about the company in Phoenix good or not? What about Williams&Sons-Arms? Now the Krebs AK-103 what makes them the best of all three? To many claims of problems so before I take the plunge I need to know!

[SouthernShark]

I still think D.G.S. is getting something of a bad wrap. I have no doubt that some people have had problems, but mine has worked fine. None of the parts malfunctions. Even my old Hungarian mags that are about falling apart work fine in it.
I had no problems with anything mechanical on it.

The only thing I really didn't like was the paint job. The paint job isn't great. But the stock and rivets on mine look fine to me. But then I don't claim to be an afficiando. I like the way it looks and leave it at that (but I admit that I like the surplus look, if this isn't for you, I understand).

Although I have never seen a Krebs, people say that they are very well done. In the end I think it comes down to personal aesthetics. My experience with D.G.S. is that it shoots and works fine. So its just whether you want to pay an extra 200-250 bucks for a better paint and weld job.

I would like to get a shorty AK-104 from somebody eventually, but right now I am pretty happy with my D.G.S. 103. If D.G.S. ever makes an AK-104, I would purchase one from them.


-SouthernShark


[This message has been edited by SouthernShark (edited 09-17-2000).]

[lone wolf]

I can personally vouch for Brad and Don, I had major problems with my AK-103, Don repaired it and sent it back within one week, it works fine now. I recently purchased another rifle from Brad and he took 25 percent off the price for my problems. They are both good people.

[Tantal]

It sounds to me like both DGS and Brad are good people and stand behind what they sell. This goes a long way, and no doubt says a lot of good things about them and their companies. I am sure any teething problems that made initial quality suffer can be worked out, to everyones advantage. I would have no problem with ordering a rifle from them right now, especially considering the low cost.

I think all of these rifles fill niches in the marketplace, at different levels.

I reserve my judgement and will not express a preference with either model or builder, until I have had a fair chance to test each model, although I do place a large amount of trust and weight in what board members here have previously (and in the future) posted concerning the performance and quality of the new models we are describing here.

I have never bad mouthed anyone's services or products and I will not start tonight. I just wanted everyone to understand there are choices, and the differences, I suspect (through personal knowledge and previous postings) are based on the amount of detail that went into the remanufacturing process.

Like everything else, the price is determined in a large part on the cost of production, and this is no different. The buyer must weight every variable, and determine what is his priority. Low cost and above average quality, or higher cost and a resulting higher attention to detail?

Let me say first that I do not work for Krebs and I do not sell rifles.

Why do Krebs rifles cost so much? Well, he is a pistolsmith and race gun builder of fame, and accuracy and quality are his trademark. Several of the parts he mills himself, because he could find no parts on the market deemed high enough in quality to fill the bill. Every rifle is built to a certain standard, using professional techniques with accuracy and quality kept in mind at all times. And every rifle must meet an accuracy test before it goes out the door.

Since all models are based on the same receiver/barrel, bolt and carrier, then it would be assumed initial costs, and in a large part reliabilty/operation, would be close to equal. I dont think you will get a lemon with any of these, since the Russian Saiga is a very well made, highly reliable and refined Kalashnikov.

Things such as accuracy, trigger pull, durability of US trigger components, smooth action cycling, quality and durability of finish, quality of assembled barrel items, straightness of assembly, and other fine points may vary if the attention to detail is not meeting a set standard.

I guess it boils down to what you want to invest, and what you expect from the rifle, for the money you paid, out of the box.

Lets all be glad we have so many makes/models right now to choose from. No doubt this may all end one day. I hope every company involved, prospers and continues to serve the shooting community.

[Pro2Am]

Nice to see the post from Sarah Kelly of L.A. Austin. Dave Austin is whom I bought my AK-103 from (Dave is seen late in the Kalashnikov episode of "Tales of the Gun" demonstrating Saiga rifles and shotguns for military personnel). It arrived less than 2 weeks after I put the check in the mail, and the gun is beautiful. Dave and Sarah are great folks to do business with. If you're interested in one of these rifles, give them a call.

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

Mike R.

[recon]

BTT!

[Zeke]

Where are Dave and Sarah Speaking up for DGS and the great job their doing in designing and producing these weapons for us. Helping them do a better job by sending back customer complaints and trying to perfect the success of future development.?? Williams and Son does.