scott22
Member
Check out Tromix for some Saiga conversion goodies...
http://www.tromix.com
ETA - More goodies here http://www.dinzagarms.com/
http://www.tromix.com
ETA - More goodies here http://www.dinzagarms.com/
saiga over ak?
- Thread starter shevrock
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Z-Michigan
Member
Nalioth has it right, but I would add that a US-made magazine (US body, spring, and follower) gives you 3 US parts. You need one more US part to be legal to use a mag over 10rds. This can be done with a replacement US-made gas piston or handguard.
rangerruck
Member
Saiga 12 .com and you tube, all you want to know about conversions.
shevrock
Member
Do you guys know where i can get longer barrels for the saiga/ak?
I converted 2 of these.
A 7.62x51 NATO and a 7.62x39 Russian.
Very heavy duty well built firearms.
I'd say its almost comparable with a VEPR when rebuilt.
Well I got lazy with the russian and haven't put in the half piece of pipe for it to accept normal mags. Sad since that's probably the easiest part but unfortunately requires the most tools.
A 7.62x51 NATO and a 7.62x39 Russian.
Very heavy duty well built firearms.
I'd say its almost comparable with a VEPR when rebuilt.
Well I got lazy with the russian and haven't put in the half piece of pipe for it to accept normal mags. Sad since that's probably the easiest part but unfortunately requires the most tools.
kcmarine
Member
Saigas are brand new, Russian-made rifles, tested in the same factory that makes the AK-100 series rifles for the Russian military and others throughout the world. Did I mention Mikhail Kalashnikov works there? Sure, you could get a WASR, and provided you did your homework (and you actually handled the rifle), you could be happy. But it doesn't have the lofty pedigree that the Saiga has, and it sure as hell isn't new production. I haven't done the conversion to mine, but there is definitely value in doing so. I wouldn't call buying a WASR a crapshoot, because they can be good, but you don't have to worry at all when getting the Saiga.
shevrock
Member
Same question. Where can i get new barrels for the ak/saiga?
nalioth
Member
A small correction: WASRs are new production, they're just made using parts-rejected-for-military-service by underpaid Romanians. Some of those parts can be graded toward the end of the scale, unfortunately.kcmarine said:
You definitely do not.kcmarine said:
I think that double posting the same question is uncalled for. Your original question is still up there, and when someone with the answer comes along and reads it, they will answer.shevrock said:
Repeating the same question in new posts on a discussion forum is not gonna send out psychic waves to bring the person with the answer immediately to their keyboard JUST TO ANSWER YOU.
Once is enough, as you can see from all these zombie threads being answered years after they were initiated.
Don't Tread On Me
Member
It is my opinion that a Saiga IS an AK.
Same barrel. Same action. Same bolt. Same carrier/piston. Same receiver.
Made at Izhmash in Russia. As original as you can get.
It's isn't a neutered AK, nor is it a different rifle that becomes an AK. It is an AK that has a traditional, sporter style non-pistol grip stock. To do that, all they do is add a transfer bar and move the trigger back.
Is a California top-loading AR not an AR because it is configured differently?
What a lot of rifles that people consider straight up AKs came in as parts kits, have been modified, altered, hacked up and assembled by monkeys at various manufacturers/importers.
A Saiga that is converted back to AK form has the build quality of the Arsenal, even better I believe because the Saiga has a better bore and barrel and a chromed piston (not stainless steel) made in Russia. Compare that to a Romanian. Those things have rounded crowns, mediocre barrels, canted sights, canted gas tubes, rough parts, sloppy rivets, sloppy cuts ...
My Saiga bore is much nicer than any of my AR-15's bores. With the exception of a non-chromed match barrel. But that's a match barrel...excusable there.
Mine has the dimples, but no Y stamp. I'm happy enough.
I don't know exactly what makes the difference, but my Saiga's action is smoother. Run the charging handle on it, and you will feel and hear the difference. And it has nothing to do with break-in, as this is the same new vs. new.
Finally, it is quite accurate. It matches service grade AR-15's. Some may say that isn't anything special, but it is very good combat accuracy. Even better considering the AK has the disadvantage of its gas tube/piston setup. The AR has the direct impingement system and a multi-lug bolt which helps accuracy. No paper plate groups at 50 or 100 with the Saiga.
Actually, why the hell am I talking up the Saiga so much? People read these threads and all I'm doing is encouraging and reassuring potential buyers. Too much demand as is. Driving up the prices and causing them to go out of stock too often. Go buy those Romanian AK's instead. They're "real" AK's.
Same barrel. Same action. Same bolt. Same carrier/piston. Same receiver.
Made at Izhmash in Russia. As original as you can get.
It's isn't a neutered AK, nor is it a different rifle that becomes an AK. It is an AK that has a traditional, sporter style non-pistol grip stock. To do that, all they do is add a transfer bar and move the trigger back.
Is a California top-loading AR not an AR because it is configured differently?
What a lot of rifles that people consider straight up AKs came in as parts kits, have been modified, altered, hacked up and assembled by monkeys at various manufacturers/importers.
A Saiga that is converted back to AK form has the build quality of the Arsenal, even better I believe because the Saiga has a better bore and barrel and a chromed piston (not stainless steel) made in Russia. Compare that to a Romanian. Those things have rounded crowns, mediocre barrels, canted sights, canted gas tubes, rough parts, sloppy rivets, sloppy cuts ...
My Saiga bore is much nicer than any of my AR-15's bores. With the exception of a non-chromed match barrel. But that's a match barrel...excusable there.
Mine has the dimples, but no Y stamp. I'm happy enough.
I don't know exactly what makes the difference, but my Saiga's action is smoother. Run the charging handle on it, and you will feel and hear the difference. And it has nothing to do with break-in, as this is the same new vs. new.
Finally, it is quite accurate. It matches service grade AR-15's. Some may say that isn't anything special, but it is very good combat accuracy. Even better considering the AK has the disadvantage of its gas tube/piston setup. The AR has the direct impingement system and a multi-lug bolt which helps accuracy. No paper plate groups at 50 or 100 with the Saiga.
Actually, why the hell am I talking up the Saiga so much? People read these threads and all I'm doing is encouraging and reassuring potential buyers. Too much demand as is. Driving up the prices and causing them to go out of stock too often. Go buy those Romanian AK's instead. They're "real" AK's.
FMJMIKE
Member
This is my Saiga conversion. Nice rifles...........
Z-Michigan
Member
Despite posting it twice, I'll still answer. Realistically, you can't get replacement barrels. The barrels are installed into the front trunion with a hydraulic press. They are not replaceable by the typical owner or even a well equipped gunsmith. Only somone who does that part of building them is likely to have the press and jigs to do a replacement. And the barrels you'd get would probably be cheap US made barrels. Best bet if you want a longer barrel is to buy a Saiga with the longer barrel option (20.5" or so on .223 and 7.62x39mm). If you want even longer than that, look for an RPK (which won't be a Saiga or likely anything made in Russia unless you have some super-double-secret importation source).
shevrock
Member
Yeah. i think i'll get my mosin, then n ak. Then maybe a saiga. is it able to swap out from 7.62 to 12GA with a simple "upper" switch. i don't think so. I'll probably have to buy a new rifle right?
nalioth
Member
Right.shevrock said:
Hooey. Replacing an AK barrel is simple, and doesn't require any special tools. If you're building from a parts kit you have to be able to pull the barrel to remove the old rivets from the trunnion. Many homebuilders use steering wheel gear pullers to remove the barrels, and if you don't have a press (cheap at Harbor Freight) you can use threaded rod and a couple of nuts to pull the barrel back into the trunnion. About the only other tool needed is a punch and a hammer to drive out and reinstall the barrel pin.
SimpleIsGood229
Member
Something worth noting is that a 23" barreled AES-10B can be had for around four bills. You can hack off the bipod easily enough.
I'm about to get one, myself.
Ya dang sure are!Don't Tread On Me said:
I'm about to get one, myself.
shevrock
Member
AHHH GHOST WITH A GUN!!!!
you coulda just bought an ak and switch the furniture out for that price. or bought a nice ar15. o.0
you coulda just bought an ak and switch the furniture out for that price. or bought a nice ar15. o.0Yeah, I know. I kind of wish now that I had just found an Arsenal SA-M5 or Global Trades SLR-100. But this rifle is just about perfect so I'm not complaining. Tromix does the rivets and welds on these Saiga conversions perfectly. It's as close to an honest-to-god Russian AKM as you can get.
I don't like ARs when compared to good AKs. I don't want to have to baby my rifle (keep it wet, gets too dirty too quickly, yadda yadda yadda) in order for it to go bang reliably.
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shevrock
Member
Exactly. I'm not a big fan of ar's either. maybe one like in the new ugly black rifle thread. but that's about it. I want a gun that you can run a thousand rounds through a day, and not have to worry if it'll misfire when a guy jump around a corner with a gun.
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