AK47 and Saiga?

[jakeLC]

are the AK47 and Saiga rifles the same thing my brother just recently purchased a saiga in 7.62 but it looks like an AK. what is the difference?
thanks ahead of time

[essohbe]

The Saiga is a true Russian AK but they had to move the trigger group back to put a crappy stock on it for import laws I won't go into. Yes, it's basically the same thing - a stamped receiver Kalashnikov made in the same factory in Izhevsk, Russia. Technically anything else is an unlicensed copy but Izhmash just licensed 5000 AK74s to be produced by Azerbaijan for themselves (presumably).

[chack]

In addition to what eshobe said, AKs have a bullet guide installed on the trunnion to act as a sort of feed ramp. Saigas have a bullet guide built into the magazine. Using standard AK-47 mags in a saiga that hasn't been retrofitted will make it unreliable.

Saigas actually use an AK74 style gas block instead of an AK47 too. The AK-74 vent gas perpendicular to the bore instead of ay an angle like the 47.

[pvt.Long]

Saigas are proprietary weapon systems. only saiga parts will fit, unless retrofitted. Aks are aks most parts produced by one manufacture will fit another. Due to import requirements, you don't get a full 100% russian ak or saiga. if you want the trusest from of Kalashnikov's design get a saiga

[essohbe]

Saigas are proprietary weapon systems. only saiga parts will fit, unless retrofitted.

The biggest issue is the .223 versions and finding magazines. The 5.45 takes anything and the 7.62 usually has little problems but you can use galil mags, Romy SAR mags, and Weigar mags also for a 5.56/.223... most issues with magazines have to do with the bullet guide being installed or not.