The Saga of the Saiga - The Loadout Room

In years past it use to be if you said the word Saiga you were referring to a very odd-looking animal that is listed as Critically Endangered by scientists, an antelope type animal whose existence stretches from the Carpathian Mountains to Mongolia. That all changed around 2002 when the Saiga Rifle hit the market. The rifles, produced by a plant in Izhevsk, Russia have always been an odd creature by many in the gun community, sorta like it’s namesake. Until recently getting the Saiga rifles were fairly easy and cheap, but after July 12th 2014 all that changed when President Barrack Obama signed a package of economic sanctions in retaliation against Russia after the country invaded the Ukraine and the Crimea. Whenever the word “Ban” comes into play concerning firearms or magazines, prices on whatever just got banned or restricted generally skyrockets.

What Makes A Saiga So Different ?

The Saiga isn’t exactly an AK47 or AK74, but it has enough common parts that I would call it very closely related cousin. Many anti gunners have tried to add a list of “Evil” features that make a rifle turn from a sporting implement to an implement of war. A pistol grip, flash suppressor, and bayonet lugs are usually some of the offending features that make anti gunners go crazy. The Saiga was designed and imported into the United States with markets like California in mind. That being said Saiga’s don’t in their factory stock condition have any of the offending features, making them legal to own in many states that have ridiculous laws. They use standard AK trigger parts, and with a little work can be made to reliably use all varieties of AK-47/74 magazines making them friendly to the home gunsmith or creative gun owner.

Many people under the age of 40 will not remember than in years past getting anything, especially anything firearms related into the United States that was made in Russia was difficult if not impossible. Most firearms or accessories were war trophies from Vietnam or service in Eastern Europe, that being said the possibility of getting Russian made rifles that can be converted to look like AK-47’s made many gun enthusiasts snap these rifles up while they were still cheap. In the world of Kalishnikov fans, owning anything in the Kalashnikov Family made in Russia is a dream. The Saiga rifles and shotguns fill that role nicely but also features a few little twists of its own that the AK-47 does not have and that is a last round hold open feature.

Specifications & Variations

Model Name & Numbers:

Saiga Model IZ-214 (.223) Available in 16″, 20″ or 21″ Barrel Length
Saiga Model IZ-240 (5.45x39mm) Available in 16″, 20″ or 21″ Barrel Length
Saiga Model IZ-139 (.308 Win) Available in 16″, 20″ or 21″ Barrel Length
Saiga Model 100 (,223, .30-06, .308 Win, 7.62x39mm) Built with 22″ Length Hunting Barrel
Saiga Model SGL21/26 Series Imported by Arsenal (7.62x39mm)
Saiga Model SGL31 Imported by Arsenal (5.45x39mm)

When you read the above listed Saiga models you can notice a few things, first that the Saiga-12 semi automatic shotguns are not listed, and both the SGL21/26 and SGL31 are both listed as Arsenal Rifles. These Saigas were converted by Arsenal to have the AK pattern hand guards, and relocated fire control group as well as the installation of the bullet guide to the receiver. That among other reasons is why they are to my knowledge all stamped Arsenal made in Las Vegas, Nevada and not Izhmash and Russia

The work around the regulations that Arsenal and Izhmash had been legally doing from 2011-2014 worked well for both countries and introduced many shooters to the Saiga family of rifles. The reputation that these rifles earned for being well-built and highly functional still continues today. Of all the Saiga rifles on the market the SGL21/26 and SGL31 are the most desirable. Part of that desirability is because no modifications were needed to make them look like any other AK on the market, and the superior quality control Arsenal had already earned by the time they took over the Izhmash line.

Photo:Rick Dembroski
Left: 5.45x39mm
Right: 7.62x39mm

When it all boils down the Saiga family of rifles like so many other designs just fell into the area of what I would call rotten timing. The rifles internally are mostly like any other member of the Kalashnikov family, and easy to modify to act and look like AK74/74’s, but then the 2014 bans went into place and a great rifle for shooters in gun unfriendly states fell flat. All is not lost though, there are plenty of Saiga model IZ-240 and IZ-114 out there and can still be had at very reasonable prices, just waiting for new owners with a little time and mechanical skill. Converting the Saiga’s is a rather straightforward and simple task if you have a few tools, a drill and can follow YouTube videos. There are many videos out there but some of the ones that we feel are the best are listed at the end of the article.

If you eventual do decide to pick up a Saiga rifle for conversion the one stop shop for Saiga to AK47 conversions is Carolina Shooters Supply. The company offers many versions of its kits and contains all of the needed parts to remain compliant with the dreaded 922(r) regulations for U.S. Made parts in imported rifles. The company is what I would consider the experts when it comes to what materials and parts on needed to convert not only Saigas but Vepr’s as well. If you haven’t every tried your hand at garage gunsmithing, there are easier projects to tackle but with a little experience this type of project should be easy to accomplish successfully.

The Future

The future of the Saigas is muddy at best, unless there is a cataclysmic change in United States foreign policy I think we have seen the last of any type of firearms being imported from Russia. This unfortunately also will include the importation of parts kits or weapons accessories such as the ZenitCo rail systems. That as we have previously stated will drive the costs up of these rifles, not long ago the Blue Book of Gun Values listed unconverted Model IZ-240 (5.45x39mm) for $450-500, they have gone up tremendously in the last year and a half to the $600-$750 range. If you are considering picking one up I would advise doing it soon, the prices unfortunately will continue to climb.

We here at the web site have been fortunate enough to acquire a partially completed Saiga conversion. I say partially because the fire control group has been relocated, and bullet guide installed as well as the magazine opening has been modified to accept AK74 magazines. The rifle now sports a pistol grip and proper AK74 style stock in place of the hunting stock that was standard with the Model IZ-240. The previous owner(s) have also threaded and installed an AK-74 style muzzle brake but retained the unsightly elongated fore end and stock gas tube. The plan for this rifle is still unfolding but we are going to put it through its paces before we change anything on it and adjust our goal from there.

The question we want to ask before we start anything on this rifle is: What would you, our readers want to see us do to this Saiga ? We are willing to listen to any serious suggestion on the build, we are also hoping to hear from people who have converted their own Saigas. If you fall into either of those categories drop us a line in the comments section below.