cpileri
11-28-2006, 06:17 PM
About the heavier 180-200 (to 220) grain bullets available in 308 and 30-06, are the beloved Saigas safe for use of these in factory loads?
In other words, are the Saigas limited to safe use with loads that approximate the 147gr military loads (150-ish grains at 2700-ish fps?); or is it safe to move up to heavier loads?
reason: hunting with the Saigas!
Looking over what the Russians load for Russian guns: the Barnaul (and Silver Bear) 30-06 ammo comes in 145gr FMJ @2780fps (though the CMP forums claim 200fps HIGHER than that) and 168gr JSP@2590fps, so i imagine a normal (non +P, non- light magnum) load in 168gr would be OK in the Saiga-30-06. But as for Wolf Gold 30-06, which is 180gr Sp @2690fps; isn’t that made for an American market and not necessarily for a Saiga?
Whereas the only 'Russian' 308 is the Silver Bear (140gr SP @ 2765fps, and 145gr FMJ@2455fps) &Wolf Gold (not made in Russia, i know) which loads 150gr SP @ 2805fps. Yet, aren’t these also made for an ‘American’ market (esp the Wolf) and therefore may be loaded not necessarily taking the Saiga into account?
For taking some 200yd shots at Texas wild hogs, I am looking at the heavier end 308 and 30-06 loads. In 308 some possibilities include:
CorBon 168gr DPX @ 2600fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/15502-14778-123.html )
Fed. 180gr Nosler Partition @ 2740fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/36225-47882-123.html )
Rem. 180gr SP Core-Lokt @ 2620fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/66214-7343-123.html )
And other 180’s @ 2600-ish fps;
and in 30-06, some heavy-end loads are:
Fed. 180gr Barnes MRX @ 2700fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/36231-48305-110.html )
Norma 180gr ORYX @ 2700fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/40192-48197-110.html )
Rem. Swift A-frame 180gr @ 2700fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/66594-7083-110.html )
And other 180grainers at 2700fps; and
Rem. 220gr SP Core-Lokt @ 2410fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/66201-7333-110.html )
So, again, all this background info aside: is it safe to use these loads in the Saiga rifles?
Has anyone done so? rifl ehold up ok? did it explode? etc. etc. details wanted!
Thanks all!
C-
In other words, are the Saigas limited to safe use with loads that approximate the 147gr military loads (150-ish grains at 2700-ish fps?); or is it safe to move up to heavier loads?
reason: hunting with the Saigas!
Looking over what the Russians load for Russian guns: the Barnaul (and Silver Bear) 30-06 ammo comes in 145gr FMJ @2780fps (though the CMP forums claim 200fps HIGHER than that) and 168gr JSP@2590fps, so i imagine a normal (non +P, non- light magnum) load in 168gr would be OK in the Saiga-30-06. But as for Wolf Gold 30-06, which is 180gr Sp @2690fps; isn’t that made for an American market and not necessarily for a Saiga?
Whereas the only 'Russian' 308 is the Silver Bear (140gr SP @ 2765fps, and 145gr FMJ@2455fps) &Wolf Gold (not made in Russia, i know) which loads 150gr SP @ 2805fps. Yet, aren’t these also made for an ‘American’ market (esp the Wolf) and therefore may be loaded not necessarily taking the Saiga into account?
For taking some 200yd shots at Texas wild hogs, I am looking at the heavier end 308 and 30-06 loads. In 308 some possibilities include:
CorBon 168gr DPX @ 2600fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/15502-14778-123.html )
Fed. 180gr Nosler Partition @ 2740fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/36225-47882-123.html )
Rem. 180gr SP Core-Lokt @ 2620fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/66214-7343-123.html )
And other 180’s @ 2600-ish fps;
and in 30-06, some heavy-end loads are:
Fed. 180gr Barnes MRX @ 2700fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/36231-48305-110.html )
Norma 180gr ORYX @ 2700fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/40192-48197-110.html )
Rem. Swift A-frame 180gr @ 2700fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/66594-7083-110.html )
And other 180grainers at 2700fps; and
Rem. 220gr SP Core-Lokt @ 2410fps (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/66201-7333-110.html )
So, again, all this background info aside: is it safe to use these loads in the Saiga rifles?
Has anyone done so? rifl ehold up ok? did it explode? etc. etc. details wanted!
Thanks all!
C-