I bought the 7.62.... why would you buy an ak chambered in .223?

 

Flatter trajectory, more accurate, more available ammunition? That is what I am asking.

 

Flatter trajectory will come from the .223. Accuracy to 300-400 yards or more (depending on quality of ammunition) will be about the same... You personally won't notice a difference. And if it's truly a .223, then 7.62 will probably be more prevelant since it's a military round. If by .223 you mean 5.56, prevelance of rounds will be about the same.

My buddy shoots his Saiga 7.62 and hits 6'' steel plates at 200 yards with iron sights and a benchrest. With milsurp/junk ammo.

Vote goes in for 762.

 

Good question, are the 5.56 and .223 equivalent? Can the Saiga .223 (or an AR in .223) use the 5.56 ammo?

 

It's generally accepted that in this specific case (.223 Saiga) you can. Not all rifles marked .223 can shoot 5.56mm, though.

 

It is safe to fire the 5.56 out of the Saiga .223, so I've been told.
As stated before not all .223 rifles can fire 5.56.

If you have plans on converting the Saiga I would get the 7.62.

I can shoot inch 1/2 groups out of my Saiga .223, with cheap Monarch ammo.(100 yards)

 

I cant speak for the Saiga... The rule is, if the barrel says .223, you cannot fire 5.56. It's typically a hotter load, with thicker brass. Makes for higher chamber pressures than .223.

Maybe there is an exception here but I can't say.

 

I bought the Saiga 7.62 as a backup for my AK47. Now that I've fired the Saiga, I'll keep the AK47 as backup. The Saiga is a little lighter and seems to be more accurate. Anything I shoot will be at around 100 yards. I'm looking forward to seeing some wild boars this spring.

 

I would go 7.62 before 5.56, with that said, do not overlook 5.45X39. This is the AK74 caliber, and can be had for $286.00 for 2160 rounds shipped. 5.56 will run you about $350.00 shipped per 1000, and 7.62X39 will run about $275 per 1260 rounds.

7.62X39 has been likened to a rainbow due to its rapid increase and then decrease in elevation as the bullet is fired, both 5.56 and 5.45 will be flatter shooting, more accurate rounds.

honestly, I dont buy into the fact that there will be alot of opportunities for resupply PSHTF. Thats why its important to stock up on ammo and parts that you will need now. I wouldn't count on being able to access large amounts of ammo from the National Guard/Goverment/Laying around etc.

Even so, the most common calibers will probably be
.22 LR
5.56 Nato
9mm Ball
and some 7.62X39

 

and some 7.62X39

every hot-spot on this planet that i know of has quantities of 7.62x39 on hand that would make a professional ammo hoarder pee in his pants with glee. during a worst-case scenario ammo manufacturers combined with smugglers would have as many rounds available for purchase as the purchaser had payment for. theres the great thing about chaos...food and basic necessities will be in scant supply but arms will be a dime a dozen. i find it strangely perplexing that somalia is supposedly suffering under a strangling famine yet they all are carrying weapons and seem to randomly spark off a few rounds into the air for no particular reason. an AK costs about $50 over there but that same $50 would pay for the feed of one of those anorexic pirate larvae for a year.

 

depends on what the intended target was. if bunny rabbits, stray squirrels, or any other small furry animal are the target-du-jour go for .223. if its anything bigger than the easter bunny in your sights...go for 7.62x39

 

The gun would be mostly for an MBR not for hunting, I have my 8mm for hunting and my crossbow. Anti-person and putting lots of lead down-range would be its main purpose.

 

If you are buying a Saiga get a 308.

 

Buy both. I did. They are cheap.

 

Saiga .223 rifles are actually 5.56mm. I have one and with a scope it weighs over ten pounds empty. The main drawback to these rifles is that one and only one magazine works well in it: Surefire plastic magazines (note: never buy Pro-Mag's junky magazines). All other magazines for it require either mods to the rifle or mods to the magazine. With a full magazine, these things weigh a ton. Be prepared to carry a twelve pound weight around if you get one. That factor caused me to buy a Keltec SU16C. It takes AR15 magazines, weighs 4-1/2 pounds, folds almost in half, uses a piston for reliability instead of direct impingement, and cost me $550.

 

Why 7.62 or .223

If your buying a Saiga get a Saiga 12. Can't get any better than that