Proud new Saiga owner

I finally got it. After shooting my brother's model 3, I have been wanting one. I actually bought it for $399 at the Mesquite (BigTown) gun show today. She's dimpled and arsenal marked just like I wanted of course. Tomorrow, I'm breaking her in real good!

Sounds like a good deal. The dimpled ones are really nice.

converted or not? as the owner of .223 saiga converted to the AK look i find them to be great guns. a few years back the converted ones where running about 460, local current price for a converted one runs about 610 for .223 or 7.62x39.
best part is its russian. :small_gri

Sounds like a good deal. The dimpled ones are really nice.
. . . . as are the slabsided ones.

I've noticed a lot of the smooth side ones have the pistol grip hole, while a lot of the dimpled ones do not. it's not a strict rule but seems most common that way. I used to see some 7.62x39 Saiga's that had firing pin springs but they don't seem to be any newer ones like that.

I looked at the bottom of the receiver last night and mine (with dimples) has both the trigger and pistol-grip holes already cut. Mine is a 2009 model, maybe they realize their customers want them that way? I guess I'll be doing a partial conversion soon (and do the fore-grip later). What is the standard furniture to put on these, I take it everyone hates the Tapco saw-grip and folding stock? Who sells the best US made AK-103 stuff? K-Var?

I just picked up another Saiga .223 conversion 3 days ago, this one has the Tapco collapsable M-4 style stock on it and i can set full out for me or in about 2-3 inches for my 12 year old son. i find it better than the K-VAR furniture on the other one for my boy.

I looked at the bottom of the receiver last night and mine (with dimples) has both the trigger and pistol-grip holes already cut. Mine is a 2009 model, maybe they realize their customers want them that way? I guess I'll be doing a partial conversion soon (and do the fore-grip later). What is the standard furniture to put on these, I take it everyone hates the Tapco saw-grip and folding stock? Who sells the best US made AK-103 stuff? K-Var?

Sounds like a good find. There were some recalled ones a year or two ago with the third axis pin. I bought my dimpled ones before that. K-var is likely the best US made stocks. Some other places sell K-var parts without the crazy shipping charges that K-var has.

Shot it again today. Is it just me or does the Saiga not have any 45 degree climb? It is a real difference from the other AK's I've owned. I can't wait to convert it.