easiest way to convert saiga?

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mod60rimfire

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I am looking for the easiest way to 922r my saiga rifle. I just want to be able to use 30rd magazines(us made).

I have a few tapco 30rd ak74 mags with all American parts.

What else can I replace for that last part?(to make it 10 ruskie parts)
 
Don't take this is gospel but i dont think you have to do any conversion to be compliant with 922r if you are just looking to use high cap mags. It's my understanding that 922r isn't an issue unless a gun has at least two of the "naughty" features: high capacity detachable magazine, flash hider, pistol grip, collapsing/folding stock, or bayonet lug(the silliest of all)
Just inserting a high cap mag would only put you on one item so you could add up to one more before 922r becomes an issue. You will also have to add a bullet guide for reliability but isn't an issue since 922r wont be.
 
I don't know it has to have 10 or less non american parts.

Putting on a US hi cap mag makes it have 11 so I need one more part.
 
"I don't know it has to have 10 or less non american parts.

Putting on a US hi cap mag makes it have 11 so I need one more part."

Huh? 922r means that a gun is of a "military" style configuraiton and must have no more than 10 imported parts. You can add as many american parts as you like beyond what is required to function. But if i am not mistaken simply using a standard AK mag will not require the gun be 922r compliant regardless if the mags are american made or imported. Add a pistol grip and flash hider and its another story. This is how i understand things but please somebody correct if i am wrong.
 
I was reading the "sporting purposes" part of the law and it says if it has any "evil" features then it is not sporting.

So I need at least 4 American parts to make it compliant.
 
I just completed my fisrt saiga 7.62 conversion and it was pretty easy. However before I converted it I filed down the magazine catch and installed the bullet guide to use standard AK mags. I used a tapco mags which counted as 3 parts and had a tapco m4 style stock which counted for a couple more. That configuration got to the point where i just got sick of the ergos. One day I got a little file happy and started the real conversion. All It really took was a big file for the rivets and a power drill. Good luck!

I think the G2 trigger system is overrated but still a little better than the stock Saiga trigger.
Arsenal AKMs are practically exact same as the saiga when converted and you will save a few bucks and get to choose your upgrades according to your needs.

My rifle


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Last edited:
mod60rimfire said:
Buttstock + Grip are two parts
+ three trigger parts

thats complaint :D
guess I'll just do that
Click to expand...

The grip does not count toward compliance, since the Saiga was not imported with one.

Therefore the Tapco stock and grip combo only count as one U.S. part.


M
 
If you do a full conversion on your 5.45 Saiga (cost about $140 for parts/drill bit) with Tapco G2 FCG, U.S. made stock and pistol grip, you might as well use original (metal reinforced) Bulgarian AK-74 mags rather than the cheap crapco (non-metal reinforced) mags.

M
 
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How hard is the actual conversion?
Click to expand...
It's really easy. I thought it would be hard and was nervous, but I just dove in anyway and with all the info online it is super easy. The first one took me about 6 hours because I took my time checking and rechecking everything and ran into an unforseen issue with the spot welds (only the 308 has those as far as I know). The second one I knocked out in 2 hours with hand tools.

When you get the trigger plate off the bottom (the Clinton plate) you'll see what Izhmash sold you is a genuine AK-74 with a "sporter" plate covering up the original trigger hole and pistol grip nut hole. So you are just restoring it to it's original configuration (well, without the 3rd hole of course since we can't have new full autos).
 
from what I see its just drilling a few rivets and repainting bottom and then adding the stock and grip right?(and of course the trigger)
 
Yep, drill out a few rivets pull off the plate and it'll reveal the true bottom of the receiver with the holes for the true trigger position and pistol grip nut already there. Spray paint the bottom of the receiver (black stove paint matches well), throw the stock and pistol grip on, pop the new "guts" in (trigger assembly, disconnector, hammer) and you're done.
 
Can't wait :D
5.45 dont even need magazine conversions and my 5.45 works with the 10rd tapco mags so I don't think I'll need a bullet guide
 
I went the fairly cheap route with mine.

Dinzag bullet guide kit
Tapco grip
KaVar stock
Tapco G2 trigger

I think all told, everything came to $120.
 
chris in va said:
I went the fairly cheap route with mine.

Dinzag bullet guide kit
Tapco grip
KaVar stock
Tapco G2 trigger

I think all told, everything came to $120.
Click to expand...

I went the cheap route as well. Instead of the Tapco grip I went with an Ergo, total was around $140 from CSS (with saiga-12 forum discount). Have just over $500 into the "converted" rifle.
 
I am confused about the tapco g2 trigger.

Does the single hook trigger need any modification before it drops into saiga 5.45?
 
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