Hi All,

I have a new Saiga 7.62x39 with about 150 rds. through so far;
(all Tulamo 124gr. fmj).  After fourty rounds today, I fired a few
brass-cased rounds (also 124 gr.).  What I am wondering about
is the odd extra bulge on the neck of the spent case.  Could I have
chamber issues?

http://rasminko.org/7.62-c.jpg


The top pic is an unfired round.  Middle pic is a case from firing
these rounds in my 7.62x39, piston AR.  Bottom pic is the Saiga.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Did all the brass look like that, or just the one pictured?

That bulge is what Saiga calls "case marking or stepped chamber". They machine their barrels to do that, as per their Gov't request, to distinguish casings fired from Military or "civilian" barrels (only the civi barrels get that). It's normal and not a concern, unless you reload a lot. Not all Saiga's have that, as many of the "intended for export" models leave that out. For a long time, they were sharing domestic and export parts, so many came shipped with that "stepped chamber". There is a very lengthy thread on it over at the Saiga forum.
Hope that helps you out.

Thank you for that info; ... figured I would get the straight-scoop here.  :-)