I.O. inc AK's?

[Big_E]

I looked on my Big 5 email flyer today and noticed that have an I.O. Inc AK (CA legal model no pistol grip) for sale.

Now I know all about the great Saigas and just haven't had the resources to buy one yet. However, I am wondering if these are any good? They say they are US made so I am guessing its just parts kits assembled by them. Also the CASAR model (w/o PG), I am wondering if you can buy a PG and install it on there. Going this route will save me the trouble of converting a Saiga since I just moved and don't have the necessary tools.

If anyone has an IO inc I just want to know if it is a decent AK and how it compares to WASR's

 

[Big_E]

After doing some googling I have received little info on them and most forum posts are from several months ago. They seem to be hit or miss. But then again that was from awhile ago.

So far I will keep the good ol' Izzy Saiga at the top of my list. But if anyone can sway me that these are good AK's then I will go handle one.

 

[Girodin]

My experiences with IO inc as a company was very negative and I would not do business with them again.

Perhaps you found this thread from another forum in your searching

http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?showtopic=52448

There is exactly zero chance I would buy an IO inc AK over a saiga. Even if the IO turns out to be one of the better ones the saiga + conversion is a better buy and you are rolling the dice on whether you'll get a good one or a POS with problems when it comes to IO inc. I'd gladly take a WASR-10 over an IO inc gun, and the Wasr is much less money.

 

[Rodman30]

I have a I.O. INC AK-47c I like it they are based off of polish blueprints. I've had no problems out of mine and it shoots point of aim with any ammo i've used

 

[Quentin]

I've also heard they're hit or miss. But then the same can be said for WASR-10s too. Might be worth taking a look at what they have on display. I'll have to as well, I've never seen any AK at the Boise Big Five, closest thing was the SKS.

If they'd let you open the box and inspect the one you buy that would help but as I remember they don't do that.

 

[Big_E]

Yeah I would definitely have to inspect one before purchasing since I do that with any firearm I am unfamiliar with. I may just try and find a local gunsmith that will do a Saiga conversion. Of course I am a now poor college student so it will have to wait a little while.

Big 5 also has 91/30's for $99 so if it is in good condition I may just pick that up instead.

 

[Mooseman]

I wouldn't be scared to do a Saiga conversion yourself. I did it for one of the 308 models and it was very easy and quick. I think you have to put a bullet guide in for the other models but it's still easy from what I've heard/read.

BTW, I didn't need any special tools, just a drill, a center punch, some files and i was good to go.

 

[nalioth]

I may just try and find a local gunsmith that will do a Saiga conversion.

Why would you want to waste your money in that fashion?

If you know which end of a screwdriver is the business end, you can easily convert it yourself.

You'll also find (amazingly enough) that many "local gunsmiths" don't know beans about the Kalashnikov.

 

[Big_E]

Its just that I am not to confident in my drilling abilities and since I moved into a small apartment I don't have the workspace to do this kind of thing.

Plus people talk about counter sinking the tap and other terms that I have no idea what that means. My only real knowledge with tools are, "Hammer this into that, drill in a few inches, level this, etc...". Of course, maybe its just all these tool time guys using terms that could be simplified a little better. Believe me, I want to do a Saiga conversion myself its just lack of tools, space and confusing terms are keeping me down.

 

[porterdog]

RE: The IO AK47-C...

A friend of mine has one that was purchased recently. We tried to zero it a couple weeks ago using a 25 yard target I got off TheAKForum.

After running out of windage adjustment his was still hitting ~8" right (again, at 25 yards). The FSB isn't visibly canted, but that's probably how he'll try to address the issue- removing the FSB pins, rotating the FSB, and reinstalling the pins.

$0.02,
Robert

 

[Girodin]

I want to do a Saiga conversion myself its just lack of tools, space and confusing terms are keeping me down.

The only tools you really need are minimal. If you can get your hands on a dremel it makes life a little easier.

There are some good videos out there that make it pretty clear on what to do. It really is a very good DIY project for someone who has never worked on their gun or done too much mechanical stuff.

 

[Carter]

Mine was a total miss.

Save your money and buy something else.
If you want an ak there are plenty of better options out there.

 

[Big_E]

Lol, I like how this has turned into another Saiga conversion thread.

I was watching the Saiga Conversion videos on Youtube again and it doesn't seem to be too difficult. I am still unsure about installing the bullet guide. But I am reading the cross-conn site so hopefully I can figure everything out.

Right now I would actually feel better stuggling with a conversion than taking a gamble on the IO inc AK. At this point in my life I can't roll the dice for a mystery $500 AK. Either way its pretty much back to eating Ramen again...

 

[nalioth]

But I am reading the cross-conn site so hopefully I can figure everything out.

Stick with the youtube vidz and other more modern sources of info.

The Cross-Conn site was written more than a decade ago, and just about everything it discusses has changed.