Preacherman said:
I'm going to convert a Saiga carbine in 7.62x39 into a full AK configuration, as a gift for a friend who's coming home from the sandbox. I know roughly what I want, but I'm sure there are many on this forum who can offer good suggestions. The parts I want to add are:
Tapco G2 trigger group - do I need the single-hook or double-hook version for the Saiga?
Not sure about these from first hand experience. The RSA and the Power Custom are probably better, but they cost over twice as much. I am cheap and can't afford the more expensive units so I'll probably be ordering one of these in the near future for my WASR. I would recommend the detent plate TAPCO sells to go along with the G2. It makes disassembling the fire control group much easier.
Tapco SAW pistol grip
Modification to use standard AK mags (with ramp below chamber for ease of feeding)
The M249 grip is awesome. Very comfortable and worlds above the standard spatula style grip. I highly recommend it.
As for the magazine conversion, I can't speak from personal experience on this other than to say my WASR had to be converted to accept standard capacity mags and even then it was a little rough and I had to Dremel some corners away to make it accept the Bulgarian waffle mags. Being able to accept something other than the butchered reduced capacity mags is pretty much necessary with a Kalashnikov copy.
Ultimak gas-piston housing - do I need the model with side cut-outs, or without? Not sure what the Saiga uses...
I hear all sorts of good things about the Ultimak, but at $90 I can't afford it when my rifle already has a side mount.
The TAPCO folding stock is cheap plastic crap. The locking mechanism is made of plastic and is quite flimsy. I had mine come apart on the first range outting after it fell about two feet. Two thumbs down. Save your money for an actual Commie stock or an ACE.
I'd also like to install a flash hider or muzzle brake (the latter with flash-hider properties, if possible). Suggestions as to the best part are welcome.
I am threading my muzzle and will probably end up with the M16 style flash surpressor over the AK-74 style just because the 74 style does a good job of keeping the muzzle down, but basically nothing, in my experience, to keep the flash out of your sight picture and nobody can tell me how the Krink brake works to control flash. Flash surpression is more important to me.
Apart from these items (or instead of them), what would you recommend as being the best thing for a defensive rifle on an AK platform? Any and all suggestions welcomed.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Get a Mojo ghost ring sight. The thing works wonders on your sight picture and I think is about the best thing to be done about the AK sights without being able to extend the sight radius. Look into a Kobra reflex sight. I am getting one for my siderail as soon as funds will allow. They have a very good reputation for quality, cost less than many comparible Western units, and maintain the authentic Russian feel of the weapon. Models are available to fit on Weaver mounts or work with the side rail bracket so regardless of whether you choose to go with the Ultimak, I would keep on in consideration. The AK's sights are still its weakest link IMO and I think a reflex or red dot sight could work wonders on it.
And if the rifle is to be used indoors or in an urban scenerio, test your ammunition before you use it. If I didn't live in a fairly rural area, I'd accept nothing less than a rapidly expanding soft point but would consider myself very well armed so equipped and sleep better knowing I had capabilities far beyond even the scattergun for protection of life and limb.