Carbine "Saiga MK-03": reviews and tuning

"Saiga MK-03" is a hunting carbine with automatic charging with a metal butt of frame type, intended for hunting for small and medium animals in different climatic conditions. It is based on the Kalashnikov assault rifle and has a number of modifications for different calibers. It is about this weapon that will be discussed in the article.

A bit of history

The first carbine for hunting was published in 1970. The reason for the rampant design thought in this direction was the appeal of the secretary general of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan personally to Leonid Brezhnev on the invention of hunting weapons, which allows shooting out migrating populations of saigas that have eaten crops in the steppes of Kazakhstan.

Hunters, armed with standard rifles on a large beast, could not cope with such a task.

The task of creating such a product was set for the Izhmash plant. The first carbines tested on the territory of Kazakhstan were manufactured under the caliber of 5.45.

"Saiga" in the 90's

Carbine remained a rarity until the so-called dashing of the nineties in the country, when Izhmash was tasked with mass production of weapons of an army model adapted to the needs of the population in connection with the unstable situation in the country, rampant crime. And also because of the adjustment of the laws responsible for the circulation of civilian weapons.

At that time, the caliber for "Saiga" was chosen very peculiarly - a cartridge from the "Magnum" of American production.

Another stage - the release of the carbine under a more acceptable cartridge for Russia 20 caliber. Such weapons were intended not only for self-defense and guard functions, but also for hunting small and medium-sized beasts and sports shooting.

By the end of the nineties, a sample of a smoothbore saiga for a 12-gauge cartridge was created. The product was designed on the basis of the Kalashnikov assault rifle.

The further destiny

The production of hunting carbines with a rifled barrel was carried out in parallel. However, in the presence of a business card of Kalashnikov's samples - reliability, quality and long service life - hunters often complained of poor accuracy when shooting bursts. In reality, one could only dream of sniper accuracy when dealing with a carbine, designed on the basis of an automatic weapon designed for the Armed Forces.

Ideas of radical modernization led to the creation of an improved model of the "Saiga-M", which laid the foundation for a number of hunting carbines with a rifled barrel.

As a result, by 2000 the Izhmash plant had already produced a line of hunting rifles and carbines based on AK.

Carbine "Saiga MK-03" is a household name

The self-loading small carbine is made on the basis of "AK-102" for a cartridge of 5.56 caliber and on the basis of "AK-104" under the caliber of 7.62.

It is the most compact of rifled guns for self-defense, permitted by the legislation of the Russian Federation.

The technical characteristics are as follows: has a barrel length of 415 millimeters, weight (with an empty magazine) is not more than 3.5 kilograms, the magazine capacity is 5-10 cartridges (for a 7.62 caliber) and 10 (for a 5.56 caliber).

"Saiga MK-03.223 rem" in comparison with other samples

The designation ".223 rem" refers to the modification of the carabiner under the caliber .223 rem. In fact, this is the same gauge 5.56, only in the western classification. NATO countries have long liked to assign their own indices to Russian weapons development.

It differs from the Saiga MK-03 carbine by the presence of a classic hunting stock, shifted back by a shock-trigger mechanism, marked "rem" on the store. It should also be noted that this is not in the horn style of the AK.

The external tuning "Saiga MK-03.223 rem" does not focus on the domestic Kalashnikov assault rifle, but on the American "Ruger".

If we compare the 223 rem with the caliber of 7.62, then the first is more accurate, but does not have the versatility and is more suitable for shooting sports on targets than for hunting.

If you review the customer reviews, "Saiga MK-03" is the best option for hunters. First, it is suitable for hunting such an animal as a wolf or a fox. Secondly, the relatively low cost of replenishing ammunition: 3.5 rubles per cartridge.

"Saiga MK-03" is also great for self-defense: compact weapons, powerful, the cartridge has a good stopping effect.

A little about tuning

Fans of improving their hunting weapons are always not against weighing a shooting friend (or girlfriend) with all sorts of modifications, be it an additional handle, a flashlight, a laser pointer, an optical or a collimator sight. In general, everything that is enough for imagination. If only there would not have been a grenade launcher to hunt down entire bear populations or to halt the invasion of rabbits with one or two explosions.

"Saiga MK-03" also provides for the installation of a removable Weaver base of various types. The price policy of this type of tuning ranges from 2900 to 35 000 rubles, depending on the wishes and possibilities of the buyer.

On the shelves of various stores there are elongated brackets, gas pipes and receiver boxes. Budget option will cost 2500 rubles. Fans of futuristic design and diamond encrustations can always find more expensive.

Admirers of thrills and amateurs to shoot lying down from the shelter (whether hunting or sport shooting) for the Saiga MK-03 rifle can be offered various bipods that are attached to the Picattyni bar (the price is up to 2000 rubles), as well as sliding bipods On the above-mentioned bar Weaver at a price of up to 8000 rubles.

Different in terms of volume and color, shops occupy the price range from 500 to 1100 rubles.

A lantern with an under-barrel fastening and a laser pointer "Mite-2P + LTSU" will cost an amateur of this beauty already at 14 000 rubles.

Flies with various kinds of muzzle brake-compensator or flame arrester vary in the cost from 1500 to 3200 rubles.

Handles and rubber shock absorbers for butts can be found both for 600 and for 7000 rubles. The price dispersion is very patient depending on the material.

It will also cost a lot to replace gaskets on the gas pipe, as well as foreheads - from 2,800 to 3,600 rubles.

Such small items, as sighting straps, are within 3000 rubles. So the loss of those is expensive for avid hunters.

In principle, it is not difficult to find all the necessary details. If the need to replace the problem can be caused only by price policy.