AK advice needed

[Miss Debbie]

Hi there fellow THR gurus first I want to think everyone for there help on my purchase of my LMT AR rifle. Now I need advice, here is my situation I am thinking a buying a Saiga rifle and have a gunsmith do the conversion for me which they will only charge 50.00 plus parts, all conversion parts total 290.00 ( bullet guide, bolt on hand guard retainer, vented gas tube with retainer, hand guards, single hook FCG, ect ect).
Or just buy an AK the only place I have looked so far is at Atlantic firearms this model
http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/programming/expand.asp?Prodid=9
Can someone explain the pro/cons of both for me please.

 

[MIL-DOT]

I'd say that's a decent deal. I had a local smith do my conversion for $35, then i later went by with Dinzags bullet guide, and he charged me another $10. He also parkerized the whole thing for another $80, but my conversion/labor only charge was $45.So,yeah, get that Saiga and pay the $50, my guy said it was a bigger PITA than we're always reading on-line.

 

[Miss Debbie]

Thanks Mil-Dot and has anyone herd good/bad about a company called Arizona Response Systems? A friend of mine at work suggested them. Here is there web site http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/

 

[MD_Willington]

Miss Debbie, have you considered doing the work yourself, it is pretty straight forward stuff, especially the handguard retainer...

Not sure where you live, but you could also lookup local AK builders in your area, maybe they are having a build party?

 

[nalioth]

Thanks Mil-Dot and has anyone herd good/bad about a company called Arizona Response Systems?

Top quality outfit. I'm very surprised they're gonna do the conversion for $50 + parts cost.

I'm with MD Willington, it's not that hard to do a conversion. If you use Master Molder or Surefire mags, you don't even need to install a bullet guide.

 

[Avenger29]

I'd go with the conversion by Arizona Response Systems. That seems to be a pretty good price...you could do it yourself, too, if you are mechanically inclined. And even if I was doing it myself, I would still have a smith to add the bulletguide to be able to use standard AK mags...me, powertools, and firearms do not mix well.

What caliber are you looking at for the Saiga?

 

[Miss Debbie]

Sorry about this let me clairify myself Arizona response Systems is not doing the conversion of my saiga I was asking if anyone has herd of them a co-worker suggested that I buy one of there AK rifles as opposed to buying a Saiga and do the conversion.

 

[Avenger29]

Sorry about this let me clairify myself Arizona response Systems is not doing the conversion of my saiga I was asking if anyone has herd of them a co-worker suggested that I buy one of there AK rifles as opposed to buying a Saiga and do the conversion.

Oh...in that case...I'd get one, they seem to have a good price. Or get a Lancaster Consulting AK. Or a Vector. Or get the Saiga and convert it. Any way you cut it with those options, you should be happy, as they are all high quality.

Again, what caliber are you looking at? .223/5.56, 5.45x39, or 7.62x39?

And what you linked to in your original post is a Vector. Good choice, too.

 

[nalioth]

as they are all high quality

You've obviously not seen some of the trainwreck kits that are out there.
I'd avoid any vendor that builds from kits, unless you can inspect it first.

The Saiga is used as the base gun for Tromix, Red Jacket and Krebs for a reason. It would have been far cheaper for them to order up a container load of kits.

Use your head and think about it.

 

[Miss Debbie]

Ok thanks for advice nalioth, what do you mean about "kits"?

 

[MD_Willington]

Kits are the parts that are imported from a foreign country, some are brand new parts, some are used and in various shape.

 

[nalioth]

what do you mean about "kits"?

Over the past few years, somebody had a bright idea to make some money. They got the commies to cut up all their old Kalashnikovs and send them over here. Without a receiver, they were pretty much considered "parts" ( not firearms ) and freely importable.

Some AKs came from armies where discipline was lacking or totally missing, and these kits are in rough shape, as their original users never cleaned them (or cleaned them improperly). They also imported parts kits that used to be 40 year old guns.

Kalashnikovs are easily rebuilt and many companies are offering Kalashnikov rifles built with parts kits. A trip through the blast cabinet and a nice exterior coating can hide a lot. If you buy one of these rifles, do you want to gamble that your rifle was built with a 100% never-left-the-warehouse-unissued parts kit?

There is a reason that the 'big boys' ( known for their quality ) use brand new factory built Saiga rifles as their base guns.

 

[Miss Debbie]

Again thanks I am leaning towards the Saiga and heve a gunsmith do the conversion for me

 

[Miss Debbie]

HI there some more questions regarding the Saiga how hard is it to install a compensator on my rifle? I am thinking of this one
http://primaryweapons.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=6&idproduct=15

 

[jlbraun]

The Saiga muzzle is unthreaded. You would need to buy a 14x1mm LH threading kit, thread the muzzle, and install the compensator.

 

[nalioth]

The Saiga muzzle is unthreaded. You would need to buy a 14x1mm LH threading kit, thread the muzzle, and install the compensator.

... but first you'll have to cut the shroud off the end of it.

Whoever does your conversion can remove the shroud and thread it for you.

 

[SATX man]

What is the average cost to thread a barrel? Is 120.00 average or to expensive? Or can anyone recommend a shop in the San Antonio-Austin area.

 

[equitytrader]

Six-hundred for a that?! You could get a Norinco for that.

 

[SATX man]

Sorry didn't mean to hijack someone else thread I have a Saiga also and wanted to put a flash hider on it.

 

[Doc S]

Look at this...

Hi Miss Debbie,

I'm getting ready to convert a 7.62x39 and a .308 Saiga.

I recently came across this: http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/New_Rifles_.html

Aim is selling converted Saiga's in 7.62x39.

I thought you might be interested in getting one that's already converted for $549.95...

SATX Man, you can rent the appropriate tools from Danzig to thread your barrel.
http://www.dinzagarms.com/tools/tools.html

Good luck with your build!


God Bless,
Doc S

 

[nalioth]

What is the average cost to thread a barrel? Is 120.00 average or to expensive? Or can anyone recommend a shop in the San Antonio-Austin area.

Whoever is charging you that needs a good tar and feathering. That is out right highway robbery.

My local place ( ElK River Tool & Die ) does it for $20

Aim is selling converted Saiga's in 7.62x39.

The problem with that is, you don't know who did the conversion. If it is a shoddy company, you'll think your Saiga is crap, not realizing it was the people that converted it.

Not to mention it's way more expensive than doing it yourself.

A Saiga conversion is so simple, there really is no excuse not to do it yourself.

 

[wisocki]

Forget the saiga. Get the vector. I have a vector and and Aresnal. You really should just save up and get an Arsenal though. They are phenominal.

 

[Miss Debbie]

So the Vercor is a better rifle than a Saiga?

 

[nalioth]

Vectors are built from parts kits.

Saigas (converted or otherwise) enter the country as brand new rifles.

I would not buy a parts kit rifle. My luck is such, that the park and paint'd be holding it together. . .

 

[HighRoad]

In response to that link in the OP's 1st post; nice rifle, but for a mere $50 more there are venders out there selling new Arsenals with 100+ units in stock. 5.56 and 7.62. I would go that route.