Saiga .308 vs Springfield M1A scout.

[Rekrab]

I have a hard choice ahead of me. Spend my years allowence on a M1A scout $1400 or get a saiga .308 $569 and buy another gun too. I have $1400 till next year. I have done some homework on the M1A and I'm very pleased but the price is what is holding me back. I want a fun semi auto shooter to take the range and the mountains and maybe hunting. I have a saiga ak and I love the reliablitiy but the accuracy of the round is questionable ( 7.62x39). How accurate is the saiga .308 at distance like 400 to 500 yard?
Would would you get? Cost of operation on the M1A?

I can't really see myself ever owning an M1A, not for the price they're asking. For the same price you could build an AR style .308 and it would be more accurate than the M1A out of the box.

I've shot the .308 Saiga and I wouldn't buy one without doing a full conversion on it. The trigger is atrocious in the stock position and you need to clean it up to get it bearable. Also, with a .308 Saiga you're still not going to have amazing accuracy just because of the design of an AK. It will be reliable long after you and your grandchildren are dead, but it won't be as accurate as other, more expensive rifles. It's a good gun, and if you want a reliable but not-super-accurate .308 you'd have a hard time doing better for the price.

That said, if this is just a range toy go for the Saiga. If you want it to do anything else I'd drop that cash on a Savage or a Remington.

[ZX-10R]

Get an M700 SPS, Millet LRS-1, Harris Bipod, and magazine conversion and that rifle will shame both your choices.

If you want only one...Yes I am an AK guy...The M1A.
- Most of the people who own a Saiga will probably never own a M1A
- The price is high but you are getting something that is legit over a Saiga everyday of the lifetime of the gun. I see a bunch of guys with M1As in my range and they are shooters. I have shot an M1A and like it but that is purchase down the road due to price
- As one member said due to the Saiga being an AK pattern due not expect tight groups at long range. Not at all.
- Do not buy cheap and buy ammo...Buy a good gun and live it large. You will be able to buy more later but maybe not so easily and that is why the M1A is your choice. I bought a beautiful house in a great neighborhood not a huge mansion in a ghetto...You see the analogy.
- You can buy a Saiga everyday of the year if money comes at you...You cannot say the same about an M1A. Even a purchase like that needs to go through approvals with my wife.
- Think long term...If you hate the M1A you can sell it quicker than you will ever sell a Saiga. How many M1As do you see in the for sale forum here compared to Saigas...Lots of Saigas in their at one point.

Keep doing your research. However, I would do the M700 and a nice extremely accurate set up versus both your choices but the M1A is my choice for you if you want semi auto.

[terrapinflyer25]

I say you just buy the M1A your going to always want it no matter how much you love that new Saiga.

[Abra Philippines]

I just wished the Saiga 308 distributed its weight evenly. Feels too light in the rear. Manufacturer should fill in the buttstock with more material.
The M1a is a bit heavier throughout and double the price. Also, It's written in the service manuals that the M1a were originally made for right hand shooters (per Uncle Sam).

[17+1]

.308 at distance like 400 to 500 yard?
Would would you get? Cost of operation on the M1A?

You want the longer sight radius and fully adjustable aperture sight on the M1A if you plan on taking her out to 'mid-longer' ranges. Wind starts to become and issue and with the Saiga, you won't be able to correct.

Saiga will be cheap to shoot, can use steel Russian ammo; think I saw 308 available. M1A should be fed brass cased American military ammo. Can handload and get good results with once fired military brass.

[zfields]

I just wished the Saiga 308 distributed its weight evenly. Feels too light in the rear. Manufacturer should fill in the buttstock with more material.
The M1a is a bit heavier throughout and double the price. Also, It's written in the service manuals that the M1a were originally made for right hand shooters (per Uncle Sam).

I felt the same way. So I converted : )

[missiontrails]

If I had a Budget of $600, I would not buy that Saiga either, because I probably could not afford to shoot it. .308 is not for everybody, that is if you are planning in really shooting it.

[gotshotgun?]

As far as reliability goes the m1a was built on the garand action and is VERY reliable, just because some of Springfield's parts could be weak doesnt mean the gun's design is not relaible. Also, the Saiga (ak) was designed for the 7.62 round and therefore stepping up to a full power caliber in the design may shake it's reliability somewhat. But I don't know for sure.

[maddoggie13]

Have them both...the m1a is good to 300 yds with iron sight. The saiga will eat any ammo without issue; but, doesn't shoot as nice as the m1a.

[gotshotgun?]

I've had lots of rifles including Saigas, right now I can only have one purely due to finances. That said, I have an M1A scout. I wanted .308 in a semi auto package with droppable mags. I also love the sights and wood on the gun. Finally, consider resale/inherent value, the m1a will hold it's value far better than the Saiga, and your $1400 scout will cost $1600 before you know it.

[Caseless]

Saiga .308 (Version 21 preferred) + quality scope + a case of surplus ammo will cost less than the bare bones M1A Scout.

[nyc71]

I can't even describe how much I enjoy shooting my M1A Scout, I like it so much that bought the SOCOM too!

[nyc71]

Saiga all the way, and 1400 seems like the very low end of M1As and 569 seems like the high end of Saigas.

Buy Saiga,
Spend left overs on ammo
Enjoy

Buy Saiga in 223 and enjoy extra savings on ammo

You can get a SOCOM 16 for that price

http://www.slickguns.com/product/cdnn-weekly-gun-specials-08-11-2011

[Noobie]

Don't know squat about Saigas.
Ammo cost will be the same.
M1A mags are $20 a piece.
Springfield has a lifetime warranty.
M1A has many match upgrades possible.
M1A/M14 has it's own forums dedicated to it.

[X-NewYawker]

Duh. M1A.


Springfield lifetime guarantee. Preban mag use. US rifle. Find a used one -- people need money and are selling their Obama impulse buys..