What's the cost of converting a Saiga?

if you havent bought it yet I would really consider getting an ak instead if you want to find out more about saiga conversions check out this forum.
http://forum.saiga-12.com
money wise you will probably have enough in the saiga after the conversion you could of bought one of the better quality ak clones.

I recently was quoted $225 for labor only (I would supply parts) to convert any of the Saigas to an AK look (including FCG parts) by a good gunsmith specializing in military style guns. I thought that was a little high. I'm probably going to do it myself or leave it stock.

If you're happy with the basic AK look, I'd consider a Saiga sold already converted; lots of dealers have those, one to note in particular is Atlantic Firearms, which is a member of THR. There are also other good AK style options, including US-made nicely finished AK's from Arizona Response Systems, and of course the cheaper imports, mostly Romanian, like the WASR series.

I would just like to point out that it isn't an AK vs. Saiga kind of thing. Saigas ARE AKs, more so than pretty much anything else we can buy, as Saigas are made in the same plant as the AKs for the Russian military.

When people say things like "if you havent bought it yet I would really consider getting an ak instead" or "the whole AK vs Saiga debate" I hear the sound of the gears in my head having a wrench thrown into them.
/rant

Anyway, if you feel that you can't convert it yourself, Atlantic Firearms is a reputable company and is great to work with. I recommend them if you plan on buying rather than building.

+1 Crushbup Saiga=AK. And I'd add that this is one conversion (Saiga) that I see discussed alot and I never understand why probably because I just don't get it. As we buy a new Saiga, it's a good gun and I don't see spending money just to make it look "cooler" like an AK. Converting to AK mags used to be an important factor, but some of the mags made for the Saiga today are completely adequate. And I understand if it's your primary home defense tactical weapon converting it for pistol grip, but just for plinking/target shooting/hunting?

Anyway, just spitballing...flame protection on.

Depending on the furniture you choose, you can convert your own Saiga ( if you can chuck up a drill bit, you can convert it ) for $125 or less in parts.

This still puts you at less $ output than any other Kalashnikov Klone for a brand new rifle.

Z-Michigan said:

I recently was quoted $225 for labor only (I would supply parts) to convert any of the Saigas to an AK look (including FCG parts) by a good gunsmith specializing in military style guns.

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Did that include tigging up all the holes and reparkerizing and repainting? Did it include installing a military lower handguard retainer?

A basic conversion (w/o the above items and you supplying the parts) for $225 is blatant highway robbery, imho.

I've wanted an AK clone for a long time, and never seriously considered the Saiga until I really started looking at them.

The way I see it: functionally speaking, right out of the box, the Saiga is a perfectly fine rifle - and a good one. But get this: it's only $300! You can't even get a WASR for that these days.

I've looked at the conversion process, and while it isn't something you could do in 15 minutes with basic hand tools (like, say, replacing the stock on a typical bolt gun), it looks doable for anybody with a modicum of DIY skill or ambition. Like anything else, it's more a function of having access to the right tools - in this case, little more than a drill and a dremel.

I figure you don't do have to do it all at once, and can buy the rifle and use it as-is while you gather parts and confidence. Eventually, the Saiga easily converts into a full-blown AK-103 clone, which in my opinion is one of the most attractive derivatives available:



If you do it yourself, you will have something closely resembling the above in the vicinity of $500:

Stock set with grip - ~$100
Trigger group - $30
Gas tube - $30
Lower handguard retainer - $30
Muzzle brake - $30

If you decide to forego the AK-103 style front end, then you're down to about $130 worth of parts. That's really tough to beat.

I've done 5 Saigas so far and I've spent between $30 and $300 on the parts for the conversions. I did one conversion for a friend and charged him $80 for my work, but if he hadn't been a friend I would have charged him more.

So far I've done three cheap conversions. For the first I used a Tapco folder that I got for $25 and I already had a Century pistol grip and trigger group lying around. The second was the conversion of my buddies S12. I used a Tapco folder on that one too, ($48 this time), and a G2 trigger, (about $30?). For the third I made my own stock, pistol grip and foreend and used an RSA trigger, ($70). It turned out looking better than my S308 with an ACE folder that I spent $300 on.

Did that include tigging up all the holes and reparkerizing and repainting? Did it include installing a military lower handguard retainer?
A basic conversion (w/o the above items and you supplying the parts) for $225 is blatant highway robbery, imho.

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He wasn't specific so I don't know for sure, but he didn't mention anything about refinishing, or about buying a lower handguard retainer. I thought the price was too high, but he comes highly recommended by a knowledgeable friend. I would speculate that he has all the work he can handle right now and doesn't need/want to lower his prices. OTOH, if the price included a complete strip to bare metal and parkerizing, the price would seem more reasonable. The stock Saiga finish doesn't impress me.

Stock set with grip - ~$100
Trigger group - $30
Gas tube - $30
Lower handguard retainer - $30
Muzzle brake - $30

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So, while we're on the topic of conversions - I've read up on them, with the pictorial guide and the saiga-12 site, and I have some remaining questions:

1) Is a gas tube needed if you're going to do AK handguards? This is the first time I've seen that part listed.

2) Will a standard AK buttstock attach directly to the rear trunion* on a Saiga, or is an additional mounting block required?
[* I know it's not considered a trunion for 922(r) purposes]

3) Making a standard AK mag fit a 7.62x39mm Saiga requires only a bullet guide and slight shortening of the mag latch, right?

You do need a new gas tube if you use AK handguards. The Saiga tube does not have the handguard retainers on it. Yes, an AK buttstock will attach directly to the rear trunnion, providing you move the trigger group forward to the standard location. Yes, that's all it takes to make AK mags work.

Saiga conversion

I've done it, and thouroghly enjoyed it. It is a very durable machine, with a degree of elegent simplicity to it. You can go as high end or low end on replacement parts as you wish. I used higher end parts. I also like the look of the Saiga handguard so I kept it. To make sure I was covered with 922R, I replaced an extra piece. I ended up replacing the stock with a USA piece, adding a USA pistol grip, used a FSE trigge assembly, used a Krebs retaining plate (awesome product BTW), used a Krebs bullet guide, and a Red Star Arms gas piston. The main reason I wanted to convert mine was to use full size mags LEGALLY. You can make the mag fit a stock Saiga by just adding a bullet guide, & shortening the mag catch a hair, but this is neither recommended or legal. Get the parts count in order.

I dont consider them an ak if you have to modify them just to have a pistol grip while the receiver is basicly of the same design as an ak they are ugly and was just modified enough to comply with different gun laws so they could import them how could you consider them an ak anymore with most of the defining features of an ak gone.
and while I dont have nothing against saigas if you get one I would get one already converted or choose another brand all together.

I dont consider them an ak if you have to modify them just to have a pistol grip while the receiver is basicly of the same design as an ak they are ugly and was just modified enough to comply with different gun laws so they could import them how could you consider them an ak anymore with most of the defining features of an ak gone..

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Semantics - and not far from the logic used by the anti-gun crowd to endorse prohibitions and restrictions of certain features on semi-auto rifles (e.g. "assault rifles/weapons"). Technically, everything readily available to the public is a clone anyhow, not an "actual" AK (thanks largely to a lack of full auto fire) - and what of the hundreds of derivatives, official or otherwise? What about modifications? What makes an "AK" an AK? It's also in the best interest of a vendor/seller to promote the idea that the Saiga isn't "really" an AK, because they want to capitalize on the interest that people have in classic AK aesthetics.

In my mind, it has to be the mechanical operation of the piece. In that sense, the Saiga is as faithful to the AK design as a WASR or any other clone. The stock design is an ergonomic/aesthetic issue and doesn't really affect the function of the weapon. Besides, you can convert and modify them to your heart's desire - many of the high-end custom builders in the US build on the Saiga receiver, and for good reason.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with buying a pre-converted Saiga, but you're going to pay more for it than you would with a DIY project (at least $100 for a pretty basic pistol grip and stock job), and I've heard varying reports on the build quality of those conversions.

In my mind, it has to be the mechanical operation of the piece. In that sense, the Saiga is as faithful to the AK design as a WASR or any other clone. The stock design is an ergonomic/aesthetic issue and doesn't really affect the function of the weapon. Besides, you can convert and modify them to your heart's desire - many of the high-end custom builders in the US build on the Saiga receiver, and for good reason.

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I think you answered the question why spend around 500 to get the same quality you could have in a wasr atleast with the wasr you wont have to do any diy mods wich the original poster didnt want to do, and having a good gunsmith do it for you could easily add to the cost significantly.
care to name a few of these high end builders that use saiga receivers, most clones ive seen was built on u.s. receivers and with several manufacturers making them why wouldnt they, as it does count toward there parts count, not to mention some of these receivers are of equal if not better quality than a saiga receiver would be to begin with.

bejay said:

jws527 said:

In my mind, it has to be the mechanical operation of the piece. In that sense, the Saiga is as faithful to the AK design as a WASR or any other clone. The stock design is an ergonomic/aesthetic issue and doesn't really affect the function of the weapon. Besides, you can convert and modify them to your heart's desire - many of the high-end custom builders in the US build on the Saiga receiver, and for good reason.

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I think you answered the question why spend around 500 to get the same quality you could have in a wasr atleast with the wasr you wont have to do any diy mods wich the original poster didnt want to do, and having a good gunsmith do it for you could easily add to the cost significantly.
care to name a few of these high end builders that use saiga receivers, most clones ive seen was built on u.s. receivers and with several manufacturers making them why wouldnt they, as it does count toward there parts count, not to mention some of these receivers are of equal if not better quality than a saiga receiver would be to begin with.

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jws527 mispoke. Several top tier builders start with a Saiga as a donor gun (they use the whole barreled receiver). Among them are Tromix, Krebs and Red Jacket.

With a WASR, you're getting parts rejected for military guns, and a horrible fit and finish.

A Saiga is a brand new rifle, all the way through.

I'll say this again, if you pay someone to do a Saiga conversion for you, you're paying too much. It is falling-off-a-log-drunk simple.

Just out of curiosity, does any US company make full-length handguards sort of like the style that comes stock? I'd like to track down as many US parts as I can, or add wood furniture all around.

I just like the look of that front section. Sort of breaks up the silhouette that sets the American masses to 'AK OMG!'.

Just out of curiosity, does any US company make full-length handguards sort of like the style that comes stock? I'd like to track down as many US parts as I can, or add wood furniture all around.

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There's a guy who goes by BattlerifleG3 who makes custom wood furniture for Saigas in a wide range of designs, including the basically OEM handguard design. Here is a link for info:

http://www.dinzagarms.com/furniture/brg3.html

It is worth downloading the PDF catalog of his work.

As far as I know, only Tapco makes a replacement US-made handguard that will fit a Saiga without the mods discussed above (gas tube and handguard attachment bracket) and the one and only version they make is Galil style, which looks totally different from the stock Saiga style.

Z-Michigan said:

As far as I know, only Tapco makes a replacement US-made handguard that will fit a Saiga without the mods discussed above (gas tube and handguard attachment bracket) and the one and only version they make is Galil style, which looks totally different from the stock Saiga style.

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Why buy that ugly thing when you can get a no-mods lower handguard reatainer from Dinzag and use any standard Kalashnikov handguard you want?

Clickable pix

There's a guy who goes by BattlerifleG3 who makes custom wood furniture for Saigas in a wide range of designs, including the basically OEM handguard design.

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Oo-wee! If I could get that guy to to do a matching vented OEM-style handguard, rear stock to fit a folding assembly, and ergo pistol grip in dark walnut...



I'm going to have to scrounge up some money and go wash my sheets now.

I did it at 19 years old in my brothers garage. Not that everyone needs to convert their own, but it's easier than most people think. Just took an hour or two and, a small drill press and a dremmel.

http://www.vikingkittyarmory.com/firearms/VKAG2b

If you want one built by a specialist with a good reputation for basic builds.

stiletto raggio said:

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If you want one built by a specialist with a good reputation for basic builds.

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I will have to correct you there.

They don't even do 'basic' conversions.

They do not install bullet guides in their builds ( I asked, and they said it was for liability reasons ).