Saiga semi-automatic rifle
| Saiga Semi-Automatic Rifle (/ˈsaɪɡə/, Saiga) | |
|---|---|
The Saiga-308 rifle
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| Type | Semi-automatic rifles |
| Place of origin | Russia |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Mikhail Kalashnikov |
| Designed | 1990s |
| Manufacturer | Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash) |
| Variants |
(based on the caliber of ammunition used) |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.6 kg (7.9 lb) |
| Length | 900 mm (35 in) |
| Barrel length | 415 mm (16.3 in) |
| Width | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Height | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
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| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Effective firing range | 500 m (550 yd) |
| Feed system | Magazine |
| Sights | Iron "Leaf" sights |
(based on the caliber of ammunition used)
The Saiga semi-automatic rifles (/ˈsaɪɡə/, Saiga) are a family of Russian semi-automatic rifles manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash), which also manufactures the original AK-47 and its variants, Saiga-12 shotguns and Dragunov sniper rifle. Saiga rifles are a sport version of the AK-series rifles, and are marketed for hunting and civilian use. They are sometimes referred to as "Saiga Sporters".
Named after the Saiga Antelope, the Saiga series of rifles is based on the AK-47 weapon system originally designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. The series was developed for shooters who wanted the reliability of an AK pattern rifle in a non-military package.
Originally designed in the 1970s, the first rifles were chambered for 5.6×39mm. The project was not a huge success and only about 300 rifles of this design were produced.
The Saiga was reintroduced in the 1990s and was marketed as a rifle capable of hunting medium-sized game. Improvements were made to the initial design from the 1970s which made the rifle capable of handling more powerful cartridges such as the .308 Winchester/7.62×51mm and the more prevalent .223 Remington/5.56×45mm, 5.45×39mm, and 7.62×39mm calibers. These improvements contributed to the modern line of the Saiga rifles being adopted by many different hunters.
The rifle is currently made in the Izhmash factory in the town of Izhevsk, the same plant that makes Kalashnikov military AKs. In fact the Izhmash factory is the factory that Mikhail Kalashnikov worked at for so many years. The Saiga line was initially exclusively imported into the United States by Russian American Armory and then RWC. Some rifles were imported by the FIME group (Arsenal) for conversion and resale under the Arsenal SGL line. After the U.S. levied sanctions against Russia in response to their actions in Crimea, imports from the Kalashnikov Concern company (parent company of Izhmash) were banned from import. RWC (originally from Tullytown, Pennsylvania) then changed their name to "Kalashnikov USA" and has started manufacturing their own AK-pattern rifles in Florida.
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Wikipedia