"Saiga 308": old good gun for the new caliber of rifle cartridges

"Saiga 308" - this is nothing like the AK-74M, which is redone for the use of rifle cartridges. Before talking about what kind of assessment it would be possible to give weapons using a caliber .308, think, is there anywhere else in the world such a weapon? Will there be models that will be completely identical to the "Saiga" in terms of its reliability and power, compactness and accuracy, universality?

Introduction

"Saiga 308" in this respect is always one step ahead of its competitors. Opinions about this model of weapons, of course, are very multi-polar. Someone considers it to be ideally suited for the relevant purposes, but someone, on the contrary, to put it mildly, is surprised at this conclusion. In any case, we should remain realistic.

For some reason, it is generally accepted that imported weapons (especially hunting weapons) are not subject to any criticism. This is fundamentally the wrong position. However, the topic of the article is somewhat different, that's why we will just make a short review, we will understand the main features of the Saiga 308-1 carbine. Reviews about it will also be stated during the article as an informational part. So, before our eyes is the same old good "Saiga", executed in "automatic" style, developed for the rifle cartridge of the NATO model, caliber .308.

Positioning by hunters

Probably everyone who at least started to look for reviews about the smooth-bore "Saiga" has more than once literally stumbled upon a huge number of negative comments. There is a feeling that every second hunter hates us. But this opinion is expressed not all (fortunately, most likely).

It is interesting enough that people who do not know how to use them effectively show dislike for this carbine. Perhaps, it can be called not even an interesting fact, but symbolic. Even greater emotions (and it is just talking about ridicule and laughter) is caused by the fact that a considerable part of the ill-wishers of our IZHMASHEVSKY brainchild never even fired a shot from the Saiga. Thus, we are dealing not with facts, but with common misconceptions and stereotypes.

Although it should be noted that such a concept is often found in our country. It is generally accepted that domestic products lose their imports almost in all areas. In fact, we will repeat, it is nothing more than a delusion. In recent years, domestic manufacturers have begun to increase the pace, apply innovative technologies in order to catch up with their Western partners, if they can be called so. The carabiner "Saiga 308" is an excellent example of confrontation of reality and stereotypes. Reviews say that this is a very competitive weapon, and not just having the right to exist.

Advantages of "Saiga" caliber .308

Perhaps, with a full analysis of this gun, you can find out that the popularity of the model is based on three unique whales. This is an adequate price, design features and ammunition used to fire on the target. In fact, the design is simple and reliable to the extreme, about the departure of the "Saiga" does not pick and choose, ammunition is omnivorous to ammunition. And besides, the carbine is self-loading. This characteristic nevertheless contributes to the common cause.

In general, about the "Saiga-308"

As mentioned earlier, this model represents an ordinary reworking of the Kalashnikov assault rifle under the NATO rifle cartridge. Fortunately, the cosmetic defects that weapons can receive in the course of its operation will not affect the performance of this semiautomatic device.

Test: shooting from a carbine

Probably, many hunters have got used to the fact that any short-barreled weapon behaves in the course of shooting aggressively enough. So to say, wants to fly out of hand at any cost, "blowing out" a large flash of flame. But that's about what, and about the impact as such, there is practically no talk. It is certainly present. But not so strong actually. Something in this regard, "Saiga" becomes similar to the "Tiger".

Interesting is the fact that during shooting, the trunk is heated not so intensely. That's why sufficiently dense shooting has never led to negative consequences. If we compare the model again with the same "Tiger", then without any doubt, we can say: the last weapon is more sensitive to the heating of the trunk.

Using optics

Suitable for mounting the sight of "Chestnut". But using it, the shooter must keep an eye on the location of his head. Otherwise, you can get a good look in the eye with the eyepiece of the sight. "Chestnut", apparently, was developed for "cooperation" with weapons that have less returns. In fact, it is quite possible to explain the small multiplicity of the sight itself, as well as its large field of view. Practical shooting showed that when firing at a distance of 100 meters, bullets fall almost exactly on the target. The spread is really minimal. This is another indicator that can be included in the comparison list of imported and domestic weapons.

Conclusion

In general, if we talk about "Saiga-308" as a weapon for hunting, we can unequivocally say: it does not concede anything to its counterparts. Neither domestic (the same models "Boar" and "Tiger"), nor imported. On the contrary, the smoothbore carbine has even a certain advantage. We are talking, of course, about compactness. Especially if the model has a folding butt. Here weapons generally come out of the field of competition.

But let's not forget that every gun has its drawbacks. In the case of the Saiga-308, this is ergonomics. The given problem was going on along and across already any more, not two and not three times. But it is subjective in some ways. Therefore, each makes an appropriate decision on the basis of his conclusions.