Saiga .308 vs Springfield M1A scout.

[NorCalK9.com]

All said is for most part true. But the saiga isnt a tac.driver but its still a accurate rifle there are forums dedicated to saigas as well. My groups at 200 yards was 2 1/4in with iron sights w my 16in saiga 308 at 400 yards that is 4 1/2in so though its not a tac driver its still damn decent. And I was using south african ammo.
Now an m1a is a beast I want to own one for the simple reason of saying I have one but id still shoot the saiga 308 more. What ever you choose from youll have fun with it.

[gotshotgun?]

Newyawker, what s ope and mount are you running? Looks great!

[thegamettt]

one more vote for the M1A. I never shot one before and i went 8/10 my first time at 300 yards with irons. Honestly I only missed the last two shot because i got tired from standing LOL. I am a novice shooter too, I can barely do that with my AR with a red dot. I'm extremely inconsistent with the saiga platform though.

[Bug Splat]

Saiga. As much as I love the M1A, its too much money IMO plus they cost a lot to make sub MOA. An AR10 would be cheaper and more accurate if you have $1400 to spend. If you want a budget 308 saigas are the best game in town. I've talked to a few guys who claim to get 1.25MOA from their 21" 308 saigas shooting reloads. For $500 thats damn near good enough for me.

I'd only own an M1A if I had the funds burning a hole in my pocket and that would just be to say "I own an M1A"

[H2O MAN]

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 am a huge fan of the M14... given your budget and goals I say get the Saiga .308, plenty of ammo and some extra mags.
Use whatever $$ is leftover to upgrade and massage the Saiga.

Good luck

[Rekrab]

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.

Remember that the PSL/SVD and Saiga 12 are also designed around the AK platform. I don't think stepping the power up from 7.62x39 to 7.62x51 is really going to be an issue.

[Kodachrome]

Ammo runs about $13 on sale. Match ammo $20 on sale.
M1A is a heavier rifle and if you get the standard barrel you have capabilities of reaching 1,000 yards with the right scope.
I really enjoy shooting mine, don't have a Saiga.
Tough choice.

[Pryde]

I don't understand why so many people are under the impression that an M1A is a 1 MOA gun. I have never seen a non-bedded stock M1A shoot under 2.5 MOA

[cfusionpm]

Ammo runs about $13 on sale. Match ammo $20 on sale.

If you're near one of the Crossroads Gun Show areas, I generally pick mine up there. Last time they were around, I picked up 400 rounds of non-magnetic factory reloads for $180 ($89 per box of 200, $0.44 per round). They looked clean as new and shoot at least as accurately as I can with an unmagnified optic (~4MOA). It's probably not the greatest stuff in the world, but I only shoot recreationally and that's plenty fine for me.

[rojocorsa]

I don't understand why so many people are under the impression that an M1A is a 1 MOA gun. I have never seen a non-bedded stock M1A shoot under 2.5 MOA

This.

[Hoop]

M1A is a heavier rifle and if you get the standard barrel you have capabilities of reaching 1,000 yards with the right scope.

Reach yes hit something smaller than a car not so much.

To the OP if $$$$ is a concern 308 is the wrong choice to begin with it is just too expensive. 1400 could get you a really nice 223 AR that will be accurate, reliable and economical.

If however those are the ONLY choices you can make I'd vote converted saiga.

[armtactical]

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

Saiga

[Rekrab]

If you're near one of the Crossroads Gun Show areas, I generally pick mine up there. Last time they were around, I picked up 400 rounds of non-magnetic factory reloads for $180 ($89 per box of 200, $0.44 per round). They looked clean as new and shoot at least as accurately as I can with an unmagnified optic (~4MOA). It's probably not the greatest stuff in the world, but I only shoot recreationally and that's plenty fine for me.

Bwuh? Seriously? Which manufacturer?

[Inquirer]

Get the Saiga 308 and spend the rest on a nice bolt action 308 for hunting rifle and ammo. This way you have the best of both worlds AND have money for ammo. The M1A is more of a collectors/range rifle, its rather heavy for hiking the hills. Saiga for <200 and Rem/Savage 308 >200 yards. Get the M1A when you have more money to burn, you'll have more fun with 2 very good rifles vs 1 great rifle.

This sounds like a really good idea. But, if you're set on .308 and your price range is 1400, why not a .308 AR? You can build your own for about that price, and Rock River Arms's LAR-8 is $1126, so you'll have 300 left over to buy an optic.

--Inq

[calilivin]

What should I get? A Mercedes or a Kia? That in its self should be the answer to your question. These platforms are as different as these cars. Go Scout and you will not be disappointed. I could not be happier with my Scout, it definitely gets more range time then my AK platform.