What kind of Saiga versus what? AK47 Type I/II/III, AKM(IV), AK-74, AK-100?
Saiga is not a term Izhmash used to differentiate U.S. imports, they're also sold to Russian citizens under the same moniker. In Russia they have a chamber that marks spent casings to differentiate civilian vs. military AKs, some of these barrels are in Saigas that were imported here.
Parts differences between let's say an SGL-21(AK-100) and an AKM are muzzle brake, threaded FSB rather than threaded barrel with bayonet lug, 90 degree gas block with accessory, barrel profile, RSB, sight leaf(can be different graduations), trunnion, piston, bolt, carrier, and rear folding stock. The front trunnion features the most notable improvements of the removal of the bolt rotation being initiated by the bullet guide and the "rivet" instead of a machined bolt lug interface on the drivers side. There's other minutia like the trigger guard but in the end it's nearly the same thing.
My SGL-21 vs a Chinese 56s spiker? I'd take the spiker. I'd take a Valmet and a few others over it too. Milled guns will out shoot stamped most of the time, whether it's a brand spanking new Saiga SGL patterened after the new AK-100 series or not. Most stamped guns have the same accuracy as each other. Weight is also a big factor, there's a few pounds difference between milled vs stamped.
In the end it comes down to rarity, looking cooler, and money. Some people confuse the three by adding the entire Tapco catalog to their AK when they really wanted an AR and end up spending just as much.
Saiga is not a term Izhmash used to differentiate U.S. imports, they're also sold to Russian citizens under the same moniker. In Russia they have a chamber that marks spent casings to differentiate civilian vs. military AKs, some of these barrels are in Saigas that were imported here.
Parts differences between let's say an SGL-21(AK-100) and an AKM are muzzle brake, threaded FSB rather than threaded barrel with bayonet lug, 90 degree gas block with accessory, barrel profile, RSB, sight leaf(can be different graduations), trunnion, piston, bolt, carrier, and rear folding stock. The front trunnion features the most notable improvements of the removal of the bolt rotation being initiated by the bullet guide and the "rivet" instead of a machined bolt lug interface on the drivers side. There's other minutia like the trigger guard but in the end it's nearly the same thing.
My SGL-21 vs a Chinese 56s spiker? I'd take the spiker. I'd take a Valmet and a few others over it too. Milled guns will out shoot stamped most of the time, whether it's a brand spanking new Saiga SGL patterened after the new AK-100 series or not. Most stamped guns have the same accuracy as each other. Weight is also a big factor, there's a few pounds difference between milled vs stamped.
In the end it comes down to rarity, looking cooler, and money. Some people confuse the three by adding the entire Tapco catalog to their AK when they really wanted an AR and end up spending just as much.
