Saiga Iron Sights and Optics Mounts
Iron Sights
The sights for Saiga rifles and Saiga shotguns are very different, and are not compatible as replacements for one another without extensive modification.
Iron Sights for Saiga Rifles
To this author's knowledge, there are no replacement iron sights specifically for the Saiga rifles. However, some sights intended for AK clones will fit the Saiga, though some modification may be needed and it is advisable to check carefully with the manufacturer before purchasing. A second difficulty is that replacement AK sights are most often calibrated for 7.62x39mm, and Saigas are available in four other calibers besides that. See the bottom of the page for some options available on the market, but buy carefully if your Saiga is not chambered in 7.62x39mm.
To this author's knowledge, there are no replacement iron sights specifically for the Saiga rifles. However, some sights intended for AK clones will fit the Saiga, though some modification may be needed and it is advisable to check carefully with the manufacturer before purchasing. A second difficulty is that replacement AK sights are most often calibrated for 7.62x39mm, and Saigas are available in four other calibers besides that. See the bottom of the page for some options available on the market, but buy carefully if your Saiga is not chambered in 7.62x39mm.
Iron Sights for Saiga Shotguns
Saiga 12 iron sights are usually a fairly crude bead-and-notch design, with a sight plane (distance between front and rear sights) as short as a pistol's. This setup is considered unsatisfactory by many shooters, and as a result several aftermarket sight options have come to light. Some require welding, but most are simple (if somewhat ungainly) bolt-on designs. See the bottom of the page for links.
Saiga 12 iron sights are usually a fairly crude bead-and-notch design, with a sight plane (distance between front and rear sights) as short as a pistol's. This setup is considered unsatisfactory by many shooters, and as a result several aftermarket sight options have come to light. Some require welding, but most are simple (if somewhat ungainly) bolt-on designs. See the bottom of the page for links.
Rails and Scope Mounts
The "traditional" way to mount a scope on a Saiga is to use the side rail. The aftermarket industry for Western (Picatinny) mounts for AK-pattern rifles has exploded in recent years, but a savvy shooter should closely examine that pre-installed side rail before spending money elsewhere, because it's really quite a practical little device. All but the cheapest mounts for the side rail are quick-detach designs that retain zero between installs, a feature Western shooters pay embarrassing amounts of money for in their Picatinny mounts. Side rail mounts are also available in different styles to let the shooter choose between a low-profile mount for good cheek weld and a high-profile mount that allows an unrestricted view of the iron sights. If you're really serious about durability and fast installation, pick up a PSO scope or PK series dot sight, both military-issue sights which mount instantly and directly to the side rail, no rings attached (get it?).
However, take care to ensure that your purchase is intended to mount on a Saiga's side rail. There are a number of different variations of the AK side rail, all of them difficult to distinguish without a reference guide, and most are only loosely compatible. The optic may slide onto the rail, but it will likely not hold a zero if the mount and rail are incompatible.
If you do elect to go with a Western-style Picatinny or Weaver rail, remember that you get what you pay for. Simply because the $35 polymer handguard you bought on Amazon has a top rail does not mean you can mount an optic to it and expect it to hold a zero. High-quality handguards that are sturdy enough for an optics are available, but limit your optic selection to LER scopes and dot sights, and most sit too high to allow co-witnessing with iron sights. As a result, most people who put a serious optic on their AK elect to use a gas tube rail for LER optics and a rail that replaces the dust cover and rear sight (beryl mount) for traditional scopes. Finally, there are a slew of well-reviewed Picatinny adapters that mount to the AK side-rail on your Saiga, which are able to set the optic nearly as low as a dust cover mount but with the added convenience of quick-detach mounting (and you can keep your iron sights).
See below for a small but representative slice of the Picatinny/Weaver rail market for Saigas.
However, take care to ensure that your purchase is intended to mount on a Saiga's side rail. There are a number of different variations of the AK side rail, all of them difficult to distinguish without a reference guide, and most are only loosely compatible. The optic may slide onto the rail, but it will likely not hold a zero if the mount and rail are incompatible.
If you do elect to go with a Western-style Picatinny or Weaver rail, remember that you get what you pay for. Simply because the $35 polymer handguard you bought on Amazon has a top rail does not mean you can mount an optic to it and expect it to hold a zero. High-quality handguards that are sturdy enough for an optics are available, but limit your optic selection to LER scopes and dot sights, and most sit too high to allow co-witnessing with iron sights. As a result, most people who put a serious optic on their AK elect to use a gas tube rail for LER optics and a rail that replaces the dust cover and rear sight (beryl mount) for traditional scopes. Finally, there are a slew of well-reviewed Picatinny adapters that mount to the AK side-rail on your Saiga, which are able to set the optic nearly as low as a dust cover mount but with the added convenience of quick-detach mounting (and you can keep your iron sights).
See below for a small but representative slice of the Picatinny/Weaver rail market for Saigas.
Disclaimer
This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or generally in cahoots with any of the below manufacturers or product lines.
The below products are not claimed to be the best or worst available, they are merely listed to provide a "jumping off point" for a prospective buyer's search. Whenever possible the link will be directly to the manufacturer, but that does not always mean the product cannot be found elsewhere.
Prices are listed only to provide a general idea, not a guarantee. Prices may change over time.
This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or generally in cahoots with any of the below manufacturers or product lines.
The below products are not claimed to be the best or worst available, they are merely listed to provide a "jumping off point" for a prospective buyer's search. Whenever possible the link will be directly to the manufacturer, but that does not always mean the product cannot be found elsewhere.
Prices are listed only to provide a general idea, not a guarantee. Prices may change over time.
Iron Sights for Saiga Rifles
Meprolight Tritium AK Sights - Replacement AK iron sights calibrated for 7.62x39mm, with tritium inserts for low-light use.
$120 - $150
Meprolight Tritium AK Sights - Replacement AK iron sights calibrated for 7.62x39mm, with tritium inserts for low-light use.
$120 - $150
Iron Sights for Saiga Shotguns
Krebs Custom Saiga 12 Combat Sights - Bolt-on sights with a ghost-ring rear sight that replaces the factory rear sight.
$95 - $105
Carolina Shooter's Supply Tactical Sights - Bolt-on sights with a fiber optic point-of-aim. The rear sight is a buckhorn notch that replaces the factory rear sight.
$75 - $85
Tromix H&K Sights - These sights are similar to the sights used on many Heckler and Koch firearms, and are welded to the gas tube and dust cover. Also available with tritium inserts.
$75 - $100 plus welding work for installation
Krebs Custom Saiga 12 Combat Sights - Bolt-on sights with a ghost-ring rear sight that replaces the factory rear sight.
$95 - $105
Carolina Shooter's Supply Tactical Sights - Bolt-on sights with a fiber optic point-of-aim. The rear sight is a buckhorn notch that replaces the factory rear sight.
$75 - $85
Tromix H&K Sights - These sights are similar to the sights used on many Heckler and Koch firearms, and are welded to the gas tube and dust cover. Also available with tritium inserts.
$75 - $100 plus welding work for installation
Weaver/Picatinny Rails for Saiga Rifles and Shotguns
UTG Pro Side Mount - A made-in-USA Picatinny mount with a good feature set, including a cutout to allow iron sight use, a quick-detach mount, and a side rail.
$45 - $60
Tula Extra Low Side Mount - A Russian-made Weaver mount intended to sit the optic as low as possible, allowing co-witness with some dot sights. The rail and mount body are machined as one piece from a single bar of stock for maximum strength and minimum weight.
$190 - $210
TWS Dog Leg Scope Rail - A "Beryl" style mount, adding a rail on the dust cover and replacing the rear sight with a hinge mechanism to allow the dust cover to be opened and closed without losing zero. The factory rear sight is lost but can be replaced with a non-adjustable version from TWS, at additional cost.
$110 - $140 plus rear sight ($35-$45)
Ultimak Gas Tube Rail - Replaces the gas tube and upper handguard and can easily co-witness with iron sights, but requires a LER optic.
$90 - $105
JT Innovation Sight Rail - A rail designed specifically for the Kushnapup stock system. This "gunsmith free" rail installs with simple hand tools.
$145 - $155
UTG Pro Side Mount - A made-in-USA Picatinny mount with a good feature set, including a cutout to allow iron sight use, a quick-detach mount, and a side rail.
$45 - $60
Tula Extra Low Side Mount - A Russian-made Weaver mount intended to sit the optic as low as possible, allowing co-witness with some dot sights. The rail and mount body are machined as one piece from a single bar of stock for maximum strength and minimum weight.
$190 - $210
TWS Dog Leg Scope Rail - A "Beryl" style mount, adding a rail on the dust cover and replacing the rear sight with a hinge mechanism to allow the dust cover to be opened and closed without losing zero. The factory rear sight is lost but can be replaced with a non-adjustable version from TWS, at additional cost.
$110 - $140 plus rear sight ($35-$45)
Ultimak Gas Tube Rail - Replaces the gas tube and upper handguard and can easily co-witness with iron sights, but requires a LER optic.
$90 - $105
JT Innovation Sight Rail - A rail designed specifically for the Kushnapup stock system. This "gunsmith free" rail installs with simple hand tools.
$145 - $155
|
|
|