AK-saiga mag conversion alternative ?

[MIL-DOT]

yes, i know this should be posted on the saiga forum ( i already have) but that's not the most active of forums.
anyway, i recently got a saiga x39 with the intention of doing the ever-popular legal conversion to pistol-grip/hi-cap standard AK platform. yesterday while fidgeting with both a saiga and a standard AK mag, it looked like i could bypass the grinding of the steel mag catch on every magazine to be converted, and instead simply dremel away 1/8 " or so of the top of the magazine catch lever. this part isn't expensive should it get screwed up,and it keeps all the mags unaltered for use in standard AKs or converted saigas. any downside to this that i'm not seeing? as always, thanks for any input......

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

That's the way to do it. However, it is not 1/8" ....compare a saiga magazine to an AK magazine. Note the difference in thickness. It is very slight, but enough so that the AK mag cannot lock in.


GO SLOW. You can always take more off, but you can't put any back on. Sure, the part is cheap, but why screw it up?


Dremel little by little and test fit the AK mags. IF there is a variance among catches on the AK mags, find the average one - this will ensure that they all lock in with the least amount of play. If you do it right, it should be tight!


Also, don't do it to where the catch doesn't want to catch easily. This slows down magazine changes. It should work freely like it does now, but hold a magazine well at the same time.


Good luck.

 

[MD_Willington]

Same answer here as there, go slow, and if you mess up, buy an actual AKM trigger guard, if you can't rivet, you can get a screw play or button head screws and scre the new guard on the rifle.

 

[rangerruck]

yes, but then will the origional saiga mags still work?

 

[SSN Vet]

any downside to this that i'm not seeing?

if you want to use un-altered AK mags, you'll also need to install a bullet guide. You can buy one pre-made or make your own using 3/4" i.d. "black iron" pipe. Either way, you'll have to drill and tap the block in the reciever.

yes, but then will the origional saiga mags still work?

no....sell them on e-bay

 

[MIL-DOT]

thanks for the replys everyone. the saiga forum has kicked in a little too. seems everyone agrees that this is a viable alternative to grinding the mags. i myself wasn't concerned that this would render the original saiga mag unusable (or at least poorly fitting). i only have ONE of them, but several AK mags that i won't now be screwing up !!
and thanks SSNvet, the bullet guide from danzig has been on order for a week. i'm still doing a little research and deal shopping on other conversion and compliance parts.

 

[MD_Willington]

Well Vjor and dutchman also make guides... they may be able to get one to you if danzig is too busy.