"Saiga MK-03" is a hunting rifle with automatic charging with a metal butt frame type, designed for hunting both small and medium-sized animals in various climatic conditions. It is made on the basis of a Kalashnikov assault rifle and has a number of modifications for different calibers. It is about these weapons 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 idea in this direction was the appeal of the Secretary General of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan personally to Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev about the invention of hunting weapons, which allows to shoot migrating saiga populations eating out crops in the steppes of Kazakhstan.
Hunters armed with standard rifles for a large beast could not cope with this task.
The task of creating such a product was set before the Izhmash plant. The first carbines tested in Kazakhstan were manufactured to 5.45 caliber.
Saiga in the 90s
A carbine remained a rarity until the onset of the so-called dashing nineties in the country, when Izhmash was tasked with mass production of army-style weapons adapted to the needs of the population in connection with the unstable situation in the country and rampant crime. And also because of the adjustment of laws responsible for the circulation of civilian weapons.
At that time, the caliber for the “Saiga” was chosen in a very peculiar way - a cartridge from the American-made Magnum.
Another stage is the release of a carbine with a cartridge of 20 calibers more acceptable for Russia. Such weapons were intended not only for self-defense and security functions, but also for hunting small and medium-sized animals and sport shooting.
By the end of the nineties, a sample of smooth-bore saiga was created under the 12-round cartridge. The product was designed on the basis of a Kalashnikov assault rifle.
Further fate
The production of hunting rifles with rifled barrel was carried out in parallel. However, with a Kalashnikov business card - reliability, quality and a long service life - hunters often complained of poor accuracy when firing bursts. In reality, one could only dream of sniper accuracy when handling a carbine designed on the basis of an assault rifle designed for the Armed Forces.
Ideas for radical modernization led to the creation of an improved model of the Saiga-M, which laid the foundation for a number of hunting rifles 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" - a common name
Self-loading small carbine is made on the basis of "AK-102" under a cartridge of 5.56 caliber and on the basis of "AK-104" under a caliber of 7.62.
It is the most compact of rifled self-defense guns allowed by the legislation of the Russian Federation.
Specifications are as follows: has a barrel length of 415 millimeters, weight (with an empty magazine) - not more than 3.5 kg, magazine capacity - 5-10 rounds (for caliber 7.62) and 10 (for caliber 5.56).
"Saiga MK-03.223 rem" in comparison with other samples
The designation ".223 rem" refers to the modification of the carbine under the caliber .223 rem. In fact, this is the same 5.56 caliber, only in the western classification. NATO countries have long liked to assign their own indices to Russian arms designs.
It differs from the Saiga MK-03 carbine by the presence of a classic hunting stock, the trigger mechanism pulled back, and the marking “rem” on the store. It should also be noted that this is not made in the style of a horn from AK.
External tuning "Saiga MK-03.223 rem" focuses not on the domestic Kalashnikov assault rifle, but on the American "Ruger".
If you compare 223 rem with a caliber of 7.62, the first is more accurate, but does not have versatility and is more suitable for sports shooting at targets than for hunting.
If you look at customer reviews, "Saiga MK-03" is the best option for hunters. Firstly, it is suitable for hunting such an animal as a wolf or a fox. Secondly, the relatively low cost of replenishment of ammunition: 3.5 rubles per cartridge.
"Saiga MK-03" is also suitable for self-defense: a compact weapon, powerful, the cartridge has a good stopping effect.
A little bit about tuning
Fans of improving their hunting weapons are always not opposed to outfit a shooting friend (or girlfriend) with all kinds of modifications, whether it be an additional handle, a flashlight, a laser target designator, an optical or collimator sight. In general, all that is enough for fantasy. If only the underbarrel grenade launcher would turn out to hunt whole bear populations or to stop the invasion of rabbits with one or two explosions.
“Saiga MK-03” also provides for the installation of a Weaver removable base of various types. The pricing policy of such tuning varies in the range from 2900 to 35 000 rubles, depending on the desire and capabilities of the buyer.
On the shelves of various stores there are elongated brackets, gas pipes and receiver boxes. The budget option will cost 2500 p. Fans of futuristic design and diamond inlays can always find more expensive.
Thrill-seekers and amateurs to shoot while lying down from cover (whether hunting or sporting shooting) for the Saiga MK-03 carbine can be offered various bipod arms that are attached to the Picattini rail (price up to 2000 rubles), as well as sliding bipods on the above Weaver bar for up to 8000 r.
Different in volume and color stores occupy the price range from 500 to 1100 rubles.
A flashlight with an under-barrel mount and a laser pointer “Kleshch-2P + LTSU” will cost a lover of such beauty already 14,000 rubles.
Flies with different types of muzzle brake compensator or flame arrester vary in cost from 1,500 to 3,200 rubles.
Handles and rubber shock absorbers for stocks can be found for both 600 and 7000 rubles. The price range is very painful depending on the material.
Replacing the linings on the gas tube, as well as the fore-end, will cost from 2800 to 3600 rubles.
Such small elements as aiming strips cost around 3000 rubles. So the loss of those is expensive for avid hunters.
In principle, all the necessary details are easy to find. If replacement is necessary, problems can only be caused by pricing.