x39, Cz or Saiga?

which would you recommend/get?

  • CZ-527

    Votes: 9 56.3%

  • Saiga-IZ 132

    Votes: 7 43.8%
  • Total voters
    16
  • Poll closed .
T

TX_QtPi

New member
Alright boys, Finally buying my own...

I've come down to 2 choices, fired both, like both...
and yes I know the actions are different on each but,
all things being equal, what I'm looking for is quality &
reliability factor so opinions from actual owners of these
two would be appreciated, please.:D

chamber as it says above is the 7.62x39 the rest of it
has come down to either the

Saiga IZ-132...............OR..............CZ-527
16.3" Barrel...................................18.5 Barrel
Adjustable Sights...........................fixed sights
Black Composite Stock....................walnut stock
10 rnd clip incl...............................5 rnd clip incl
Ak type action...............................Bolt Action

Opinions please, thanks!
Cyn
 
I voted for the saiga. You can leave it stock if you want and shoot it as it comes. Or you can put it into the ak configuration for about $150 more. If you want to use the AK mags get the bullet guide from DINZAG. And if you do change it make sure you are 922 compliant.
 
CZ hands down for quality, reliability and accuracy. It's only limitation is obviously as a Zombie rifle, because of its action and mag capacity.
 
Apples and oranges is right. Saigas are cheap again right now. Not $150 like they were 10 years ago, but still cheap. $299 at several places online. CZ will be more than that. I really like CZ's. I have a 527 chambered in .223. Buy the Saiga now and get a CZ later??? Whittakers lists the CZ at close to $600.
 
I've owned a Saiga conversion and (still) own my 527.

The Saiga was great. Ate everything, no malfunctions. Had it for a few years, then one day I realized...hey, I can't reload for this thing! When I started getting the itch to put an optic and other accessories on it, I knew it was time to sell and get an AR.:cool:

My 527...well, that's a tough one. It's very light, handy, short...almost kid sized if it wasn't for the adult sized buttstock. Sights are nice, if fixed. Just a quick handling little cabine and I'm a sucker for carbines. Recoil is very manageable. Nice Mauser action. Set trigger, adjustable...in other words, you can push it forward for a REALLY light 'breathe on it' pull, or just start from the normal position for an average 4# or so.

Minuses? Despite CZ sending me another firing pin spring, it still doesn't reliably set off primers, especially Wolf. I even started using CCI in my reloads and about one in ten doesn't go off the first time. Factory Wolf ammo is the same, haven't bothered with the $$$ American stuff.

Mine had a feeding issue that had CZ stumped. They sent me two new mags, same issue. The follower would tilt, sending the round at a 45 degree angle. I did some fiddling and (true to CZ manufacture) the inside of the mag had burrs where the hole on the end is. The case rim would get hung up on that sharp point and send it askew. A little file work and they all feed normally now.

The action takes a little time to wear in, just like their handguns of which I have three. CZ's are quirky, so if you can apply a bit of troubleshooting, they turn out to be quite stellar. I sat in front of my small gun safe thinking about which gun to sell so I could pick up my 97b, and the 527 survived the cut...the Glock did not.:p

Really it boils down to it's intended useage. In stock Saiga $300 form, the trigger is crappy and you can't use bigger mags. $150 more and a few parts you'll have a bullet hose that refuses to quit...but still stuck with those darn near useless sights. The 527 forces you to slow down and TAKE that shot, but really the cartridge is more for cheap plinking than hunting, although some say it can be done with the right ammo.
 
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