Saiga 223 canted front sight?.

[BigBill]

Years ago I purchased a brand new saiga in 223. Never shot it. I found out it has a canted front sight. Should I fix it or scope it?

[huntinkillin]

Just slap one of these on it.



http://www.apexgunparts.com/romanian-m1964-rpk-rear-sight-leaf-w-windage-knob-complete-good.html

[BigBill]

I figured out I need to pull the front pins move the front sight and repinning it. The gas tube is missaglined when the front sight is canted. This new Saiga purchased 15 years ago was such a deal at $220. Missing the mag from my LGS.

[Hodgie]

This is common and typically can be resolved by adjust the windage on your friend sight post. If it's looks your worried about well that's another story.

[AKBLUE]

I figured out I need to pull the front pins move the front sight and repinning it. The gas tube is missaglined when the front sight is canted. This new Saiga purchased 15 years ago was such a deal at $220. Missing the mag from my LGS.

Yes., that is the journey.  Take your time.  Use a short starter punch (cleaned up old broken punch?) or nail set to start the pin moving.  A solid base for the front end of the firearm and a larger short handled hammer works best.  If you are not a great hammer person.,  lock the punch in a set of vise grips etc., to hold it as you hammer the pin.
You ay have to press or pull or force the front sight partially or fully off the journal to get it to move. But you can try a mallet or padded hammer ec., first.

[Laufer]

Gents/gals: this was a coincidence.

A quick ten-twenty rounds heated the front sight drum enough to allow my Tapco to adjust both the Saiga .223 and Maadi 'AK'.

[Meshuggah12]

Gents/gals: this was a coincidence.

A quick ten-twenty rounds heated the front sight drum enough to allow my Tapco to adjust both the Saiga .223 and Maadi 'AK'.

Huh?

[Mr.RMZ]

Gents/gals: this was a coincidence.

A quick ten-twenty rounds heated the front sight drum enough to allow my Tapco to adjust both the Saiga .223 and Maadi 'AK'.

He said his front sight is canted...

[Meshuggah12]

Gents/gals: this was a coincidence.

A quick ten-twenty rounds heated the front sight drum enough to allow my Tapco to adjust both the Saiga .223 and Maadi 'AK'.

He said his front sight is canted...

 
 I see...

Most canted sight issues can be fixed by adjusting the front post or installing an RPK style rear sight leaf that is adjustable for windage.  Only in extreme cases do you need to repin the sights, unless cosmetics are very important or you are familiar with doing it yourself.

[Laufer]

Before barrel heat expanded the front sight base, allowing the brand-new Tapco to make lateral adjustments, only the gun smith's punch worked (on a 'cold' gun). The gun smith even suggested using a torch to heat the sight base.

This has worked on both the 'nib', all-original Saiga .223, the 'nib' 7.62x39 and Maadi "AK".

[Rocketvapor]

This has worked on both the 'nib', all-original Saiga .223, the 'nib' 7.62x39 and Maadi "AK".

You had canted front sights on all of these?
Are you just lucky, or is your face on crooked

[Laufer]

Rocketvapor: Good guess. My face could be crooked.
It must be, because my wife said at least once that I'm warped (no connection with Stephen Hawking or Kip Thorne). That explains why my bicycle pulls to one side-not enough opposite rudder when below Vmcg.

But both of those factory 'nib' Saigas are worth it, along with the Maadi.
The acclaimed Arsenal AKs are built on Saigas.

[Meshuggah12]

Rocketvapor: Good guess. My face could be crooked.
It must be, because my wife said at least once that I'm warped (no connection with Stephen Hawking or Kip Thorne). That explains why my bicycle pulls to one side-not enough opposite rudder when below Vmcg.

But both of those factory 'nib' Saigas are worth it, along with the Maadi.
The acclaimed Arsenal AKs are built on Saigas.

 

Saigas are nice and were so cheap. 

The old Arsenals are saigas.   They now use Bulgarian rifles

[Onepoint]

The orginal Arsenals were Bulgarian to start with, they used Saigas as base until the ban.