for the houston area homies, with saigas, and want someone else to convert!

[rangerruck]

Just spoke with Gary Lucario today. he is on the north side, off of Gulfbank,
about 2 miles down on the right. As long as you have all the parts needed, he will do your conversion in 1 day; if you bring it in in the morning, he will have it ready for you later that day.
Your cost? try 100 bucks; this is the cheapest you will find anyone to do the conversion. And he is about the best gunsmith, with the most complete shop, you will ever find. he does work for the hpd, the marshalls, the local fbi offices, most of the big gunstores and shops around the city, etc.
Also , you do not need to bring in a minimum; just one is fine, it will still be the same cost!!!!
Look up Lucario Gun Works, for his exact location. and have
fun letting someone else do it, who will do a fantastic job, if you don't have the time or tools... just tell him Phil sent you, I can allways use the props!!!

 

[rangerruck]

make sure you do call him first though, he is usually not there on mondays; he goes around to the big stores and picks up repair jobs-sometimes on Tuesdays as well.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Great info. But also be aware that someone in the Houston area who wants to DIY but is unsure of their abilities could probably find experienced help - there are several major Saiga fans in that area.

 

[rangerruck]

True, true; but a 100 buck conversion, in one day, from a top notch gunsmith, is still a win/win in my opinion!!!!

 

[Girodin]

What exactly does his conversion consist of? BTW I am very familiar with what a conversion is etc. I wondering what he is doing precisely. Is he welding up the holes? Is he painting the bare metal on the bottom? If so with what? etc.

Basic saiga conversion is a very easy job.

 

[gunnutery]

Sorry for a dumb question but what exactly needs to be converted? I don't own a Saiga (yet).

 

[nalioth]

But also be aware that someone in the Houston area who wants to DIY but is unsure of their abilities could probably find experienced help - there are several major Saiga fans in that area.

I resemble that remark (click the "Home" link in my sig for more info)

Of course, I don't charge anything, nor do I actually do anything but everyone that's come by has left with their Saiga converted . . .

 

[CZ223]

It is apparent

That Rangerruck has found a gunsmith that he believes in and is merely passing along the info for the non-do-it-youselfers in the crowd. Remember that you guys are paying $75/hr for a mechanic to work on your car and probably more for an electrician or plumber. A good gunsmith is worth every penny. If you can convert your own Saiga's, fine but not every one can or wants to. I, for one, do not want to send $350 on a Saiga, and another $150 or so in parts, only to mess it up then pay someone else to fix my mistakes.

 

[rangerruck]

He will do EXACTLY , what you want him to do; I brought him some extra parts for a diff type of front handguard, also brought him some hole filler plugs, and he re-used the origional trigger guard on one, and two new trigger guards on two other ones, with new drilled holes, on two others. You tell him what you want, he will do it.
surely, if you have the bench and tools to do it yourself, I say a basic conversion is easy to do; Which I say you need a good dremel with some good cutting and grinding wheels, a stable bench, a good mounted vice or two, would be good, and a drill press would be very good, if you have trouble drilling very straight free hand.
If you don't have the tools or the inclination for the work, and you are near houston, then this guy is very, very good, and the absolute cheapest I have found anywhere. Not only that, but very quick turn around time.

 

[rangerruck]

That being said, Nalioth's conversions are ' hands on' and quite cheap as
well...

 

[rangerruck]

... to gunnutery; there is no conversion that is necessary. However, if you want to use a ak that looks more like a conventional type ak, and use hi cap ak type euro/russian/asian mags, you need to convert a certain amount of parts to be american made, so that the atf doesn't wet their bed, bite their pillow, cry, and get their panties in a wad, that you have an ' imported' big bad evil ak, from another country.

I have had 3 saigas in the past, that I never converted to the 'ak' look. Allthough I did change parts on them, to give them a more hunting rifle look, and improve the sights, etc.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I resemble that remark

Indeed. I just thought it would be presumptuous to name you specifically. And I think there are a couple other Saiga fans around Houston, so my comment didn't have to mean you.

 

[mystery]

does anyone have their number or website?

 

[Girodin]

He will do EXACTLY , what you want him to do;

So for $75 he'll weld up all the holes, weld on HK sights, refinish it, thread the barrel, re-crown it, modify the trigger for short reset, weld on galil charging handle (or a LH charging handle), mount my press on hand guard retainer ? How about shorten the gas system? or is it rifles only?

 

[Girodin]

Which I say you need a good dremel with some good cutting and grinding wheels, a stable bench, a good mounted vice or two, would be good, and a drill press would be very good, if you have trouble drilling very straight free hand.

Some of those things are nice to have, and will make quicker work of it bu you honestly do not NEED any of them to do it.

 

[rangerruck]

So for $75 he'll weld up all the holes, weld on HK sights, refinish it, thread the barrel, re-crown it, modify the trigger for short reset, weld on galil charging handle (or a LH charging handle), mount my press on hand guard retainer ? How about shorten the gas system? or is it rifles only?
__________________


...uh, okay... I am sure he will do all that, but above the stuff I mentioned, I am sure he could do it, but he may have to add a few bucks to the cost...

 

[nathan]

Thanks for letting us know (Houstonians here) of GI Gun Works. HE is close to me and i may need his service one of these days.

So let say, one has a Saiga in 5.45 (about $ 400 incldg shipping and FFL fees). What are the parts to buy to make it like an Arsenal SGL 31 configuration ? And cost ? WHich would be cost effective, go with Arsenal or buy the gun , covertion parts and gunsmith fee?

 

[rangerruck]

depending on the parts you get, you should proly spend between 75 and 150 bucks. My parts kit cost me 90 each. that included a 6 position collapsible, folding stock, with adjustable cheekpiece, forearm with rails, a trigger group, and a very nice a2 type pistol grip. and the bullet guide kit, with tools from Dinzag of course. Oh yeah, I also sprung for a solid steel replacement for the origional trigger guard, very big and nice and square, and a couple of nice solid steel, not rolled , pins, for the new guard and trigger group, and to fill a couple of holes, but you don't need this; you can re-use the origional. then you add in his cost of 100 bucks. so lets say your rifle, plus 200 more bucks, total, max, or less. You will be into a supernice rifle, with a fabulous trigger, for 600 bucks or less. and if you do the conversion, 500 bucks, plus your time.

 

[rangerruck]

... to Nathan, actually, that is GL gunworks, off of gulfbank, on Lucario Drive.
He is normally more of a specialty rifle builder/ gunsmith type of guy, but heck
, the dude can 'smith just about anything you bring to him, and whatever you need done.
But he has some fabulous built, custom rifles out there, and adds custom bits to your rifles,
does great brake work, etc.

 

[gunnutery]

Thanks for the clairification Rangerruck.

 

[nathan]

rangerruck

From Classicarms

I m thinking of converting one into like this Arsenal SGL 31 . NOw selling like $ 800 at KVAR.

Photo borrowed from ARF.com

 

[Girodin]

...uh, okay... I am sure he will do all that, but above the stuff I mentioned, I am sure he could do it, but he may have to add a few bucks to the cost...

So I am back to asking what is included for $100. I'm not trying to be a jerk it is just that conversion is a vague term so I'm curious as to exactly what $100 is getting.