Bought a pre-converted Saiga

[malix]

A couple of weeks ago i bought one of those pre-converted Saigas from Classic Arms for $550 and i finally got to take it out to the range the other day.

It came with 2 30rd magazines - 1 metal and 1 plastic Pro-Mag. After putting a couple of hundred rounds through it, i must say that i am very pleased with the rifle. The plastic magazine appears to be a piece of junk, with it i had multiple failures to feed, but with steel mags the gun worked flawlessly.

I saw there have been a few discussions here about the bullet guides in these things, so i have uploaded a picture of mine. Im not entirely sure how it is attached, but it seems pretty solid as far as i can tell. The gun is a pleasure to shoot and so far i have no problems to report.

 

[transformerguru]

Looks good!! I just picked mine up yesterday and will convert it when I save up some more money.

 

[phoglund]

I have a pre-converted as well. I bought mine from Atlantic Arms a couple of years ago and then did some additional modifications. I've been very pleased with the rifle and have had no issues to speak of.

Pictures can be found here (Caution, large pictures): http://wardragon.com/cruffler/saiga__762_x_39.htm

 

[jackdanson]

Glad it is working out. Yeah those plastic mags aren't any good. You can get metal surplus mags for less than $15 a piece and they are much more reliable.

 

[SSN Vet]

looks like they are fabricating their own bullet guide (which is pretty easy to do from any hunk of 3/4" black iron pipe).

I you fabricate the part using a lathe, you can turn down the wall thikness a tad at the lead edge and then it will tuck right under the breach face into the small groove.

I drilled and countersunk my home made BG and then drilled and tapped into the receiver trunion.

I see no fastener head in your "pre converted" Saiga, but it looks like they may have hit it with a tig welder along the sides and ground it down smooth.

Bottom line is that it works! And when it comes right down to it, all the BG has to do is give the incoming round a little "tip up" and then it'll drive right on home.

My one word of advice for anyone making their own, is to start with a #8 fine thread screw, unless you enjoy drilling out broken #6 taps .

 

[FMJMIKE]

Saigas are great rifles.......Congratulations !!!

 

[rangerruck]

yep, it looks like they just welded and smoothed a bg for you, should last forever. also, for 550, you really stole it, you could not get one of those around here for under 600.

 

[gvnwst]

Nice rifle... wish i had one

 

[nalioth]

Better than a line of weld or glue-holding-the-bullet-guide-in-place.

Looks like the quality is coming up in these.