Galil safety mod for an AK?

[Roadwild17]

Does anyone know of a mod that gives an AK the safety of an GALIL?

The Galil safety is a standard AK safety but with a "lever" attaching the reg. safety to a pistol grip safety at the thumb of a right hand shooter.

 

[briansmithwins]

Yes. You need a Galil left side safety, a roll pin, and a gunsmith. BSW

 

[Geronimo45]

briansmithwins: why is there a roll of string in the receiver?

 

[dstorm1911]

that "roll of string" is the double wound hammer/trigger spring standard in every AK the twin wires allow the spring to still work even if one wire breaks........ which is very rare, ya only have 3 springs in a Semi auto AK only two are in the reciever that hammer spring and a small coil spring under the disconector the 3rd is the spring under the muzzle device locking pin...... part of WHY an AK beats out an AR15 for reliability....... utter simplicisty the semi AK has 8 parts to its FCG 2 are axis pins, 1 trigger, 1 disconector, 1 hammer, 1 disconector spring, 1 hammer/trigger spring, 1 safty lever

the bolt group is even simpler


edit; oops forgot....... 4 springs, ya got the extractor spring too

 

[nalioth]

why is there a roll of string in the receiver?

The hammer spring?

 

[Roadwild17]

I've never seen a left side Galil side safety, anyone know where to get one?

 

[Tokugawa]

Briansmith- Does the left side galil style safety push forward to fire or does it require the thumb to pull it back to take it off safe?

 

[briansmithwins]

The left side safety gets pulled back to go off safe, just like the pistol grip is marked.

Unfortunately, the 30 marking doesn't actually do anything. BSW

 

[mattsqz]

thread resurrection

bringing back an old thread, but it appears the selector lever pictured here is different from mine - no roll pin, but slotted to fit the normal selector lever. will post a pic of the lever and how it attaches later, as i am awaiting a couple more selector levers that should arrive today - will be easier than removing the one on my amd.

(btw the hogue monogrip was really easy to modify for this, still would like to clean it up a bit however the hard plastic inner portion is at just the right depth - had to cut out part of the back also for the folding stock button)

 

[mattsqz]

took awhile but here's mine

took awhile but here's mine, just had to cut a slot in the lower left of the receiver and grind down the large circular area on the lever that would normally stick out of the rifle, you could also just drill the selector hole out larger - also, i tried using the right hand side lever that came with the rifle and modifying it, this did not work well. in fact, i tried the original hungarian, and also romanian and chinese selectors - once i accquired the correct right side lever from a galil that had the same style thumb selector, everything fit together perfectly. also that tapco retaining plate was a crucial bit a wire shepards crook just doesnt fit, in fact everything fits -very- tightly together and it takes a small bit of effort to get it all into place in an akm receiver without bending anything...well effort, and swearing. you have to have 3 hands basically, and insert everything at just the right angles then rotate and lock into place.

note also that there is yet another type of galil thumb selector lever other than the style i have and briansmithwins above, which uses a linkage and a specialised grip nut with a pivot point on it so that throwing the thumb selector forward takes the safety off and pulling back puts it on.

with both mine and briansmithwins, forward is safe and rear is fire. some people complain that operating it with the thumb in this way is difficult, but if you do install it right its smooth. you can also drill out the small detent on the right side lever where it hits the indentations on the receiver, and place a small ball bearing there - this will smooth things out considerably and is planned for this particular rifle as well.

 

[briansmithwins]

Given what I know now, I wouldn't do the Galil mod.

I've been using a unmodified SLR107FR at our local rifle matches for about the last 2 years. By simply holding the rifle at the balance point with your thumb on the safety the safety comes off easily and quickly. The right hand then drops down to the grip and fires if necessary.

Not modifying the rifle has the advantage of being free and doesn't set you up for failure if you happen to pick up and of 50 million or so unmodified AKs.

BSW

 

[DMK]

I found that I can grab the mag like a foregrip and reach around it to operate the safety with my index finger (holding all my fingers together as if wearing a mitten). This can be done with the rifle shouldered and eyes/sights on target. You can certainly shoot comfortably and accurately in this position if you don't have time to move your hand to the fore end handguard.

I suppose you need long fingers to operate the safety this way though.

 

[mattsqz]

i like having the thumb selector, but on 'normal' ak's and even half the time on this one i will just loosen my grip and operate the safety with my trigger finger, keeping my thumb on the pistol grip.

but i do like it, the button for the folding stock is right behind it and im trying to work out a way to have BHO. i may just break down and make a saiga-style one

half the reason for this nonsense is the fun in figuring out how to make it work, not really a pressing need for the feature.

 

[nalioth]

Side track:

Have you guys seen the ambi safety introduced on the new Saigas at the SHOT show?

Clyde Woods of RAAC Firearms - 2010 SHOT show - Nutnfancy video

 

[mattsqz]

a rad biathlon, a saiga with a beryl-type rail..and a safety that can be operated by a lefty with the thumb! neat.

 

[Maverick223]

Have you guys seen the ambi safety introduced on the new Saigas at the SHOT show?

Sweetness!, looks like a new mod. for my 12Ga.

 

[HART1]

receiver cut for safety

I know this is an old thread, but I just ordered 3 sets of these galil safetys today (non inverted type) and wanted to know if anyone has any specific measurements for the receiver cut and pistol grip mods? I'm going to use the saw type grips from tapco. Thanks for any help with this install.

 

[HART1]

took awhile but here's mine, just had to cut a slot in the lower left of the receiver and grind down the large circular area on the lever that would normally stick out of the rifle, you could also just drill the selector hole out larger - also, i tried using the right hand side lever that came with the rifle and modifying it, this did not work well. in fact, i tried the original hungarian, and also romanian and chinese selectors - once i accquired the correct right side lever from a galil that had the same style thumb selector, everything fit together perfectly. also that tapco retaining plate was a crucial bit a wire shepards crook just doesnt fit, in fact everything fits -very- tightly together and it takes a small bit of effort to get it all into place in an akm receiver without bending anything...well effort, and swearing. you have to have 3 hands basically, and insert everything at just the right angles then rotate and lock into place.

note also that there is yet another type of galil thumb selector lever other than the style i have and briansmithwins above, which uses a linkage and a specialised grip nut with a pivot point on it so that throwing the thumb selector forward takes the safety off and pulling back puts it on.

with both mine and briansmithwins, forward is safe and rear is fire. some people complain that operating it with the thumb in this way is difficult, but if you do install it right its smooth. you can also drill out the small detent on the right side lever where it hits the indentations on the receiver, and place a small ball bearing there - this will smooth things out considerably and is planned for this particular rifle as well.

mattsqz,
Can't figure out why the Romy safety lever with the Galil left side selector wouldn't work for you? I bought all Galil parts to use, but the Romy safety lever seems to be on par with the Galil one. I'll cut the slot in the receiver and do the install as soon as I get the retainer plates.

 

[mark87]

now this thread isn't so old I plan on doing this mod where did you guys get your safety levers I see them https://www.apexgunparts.com/product_info.php/cPath/75/products_id/1108 here will this work?

 

[HART1]

Yes. All you need is the left side selector. I followed how mattsqz did his, but used my romy right side safety. I used my dremel on the right side safety lever and cut back the shoulder on the left side around 1/16 were the pin goes through the receiver to give it the needed room. I also just removed the extra coils off of the shepards crook instead of buying a new retaining plate. worked perfect. I modified my pistol grip for the left side safety, but I now see KVAR sells this grip at a decent price.

 

[mark87]

I plan on just getting both to be certain and I will be using the tapco retaining plate just for personal preference but I'll most likely have to dremel something I just wasn't sure if this was the exact thing everyone else mentioned in the thread. Their prices were much higher in the s-12 forum I believe for the inverted safety.

And where is this k-var grip?

 

[HART1]

KVAR http://www.k-var.com/shop/product.php?productid=16714&cat=301&page=1