Well, I finally bit the bullet and got a Saiga 5.45. It set me back 392 bucks after taxes. My only previous experience with AK rifles was 2 SAR-1 rifles. I sold my SAR-1 with ammo, 3x30 round mags and 1 10 rounder for a cool 250 bucks back in 2008 so I could get an M1 Carbine. The last few months, I've been feeling the AK itch BAD. I initially decided I'd get a .223, but decided against it because of mag issues. I decided to get a 5.45 because ammo is so cheap, and well...plum looks pretty cool. The Century Arms rifle looked like a good buy...but I had a hard time getting past the bad reviews.





Anyway, I picked the rifle up tonight, and was surprised at how sturdy the stock and handguard is. I might end up actually keeping the front handguard, but obviously the buttstock is going to go bye bye when I convert it. I haven't broken the rifle down yet, but it looks like the pistol grip hole is already cut into the reciever. I was a little surprised to see a round trunnion, since I'd heard all 5.45 Saigas have flat trunnions. I did some looking around the net and found this wasn't so and there's already a round bullet guide for the 5.45.



ONE THING I WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH-On the right side of the rifle, right above the trigger, there is some kind of mark that looks like velcro. Its obviously not velcro, as its been etched into the reciever somehow. On the other side is a marking that reads "MERCURY-HERMES LOU KY" which I assume is the importer. There's also an etch indicating that its a Legion rifle. Do all Saiga rifles have this mark?



The first time I put the mag in, I thought something was wrong because it seemed like a tight fit. But, then I realized that I was used to the CAI rifles... Man, I'm glad I got the Saiga.

There was some issue with the original importer RAAC and that is likely why they crossed out some of the markings. It was posted at the Saiga forum that some rifles originally had the RAAC import markings on them and then they crossed them out. I have an older 7.62x39 Saiga that they crossed out some markings but on other Saigas I own they didn't.

The military mags will snap right in.  The pistol grip nut hole has been there on all but one of the Saigas I have converted.  I had to cut it in and then the pistol grip nut I was using was an oversized one which I hadn't noticed when I cut the hole in.  Don't know where I got an odd sized grip nut.

Both of my 5.45x39 rifles have the flat trunnion.  On my 7.62x39 rifles I had one flat and one round.

My rifles work with military AK74 mags as is. Buy some and try them, they only cost about $10.00.

Have you checked the EE for 5.45x39 Saiga mags?  How about the Saiga 12 forum?

I'm gonna convert the rifle eventually, I just found it a little odd that no one seems to be making the mags.

No one is making mags because they work with military mags which are dirt cheap.  If you need to install a bullet guide they are only $15.00 ($20.00 with the tap).