Mini-SVD .223 Saiga? Anyone converted to pseudo-Dragunov?

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MatthewVanitas

MatthewVanitas

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I've been digging around AK47.net and Saiga-12 trying to find if anyone has any good pics of a "close as possible" pseudo-Dragunov built onto a Saiga. Ideally, a .223 would be cool, but I suppose they all work pretty similar on the engineering side.

Does the current "Dragunov-style" stock they ship with approximate the proper SVD, or do you need to convert the grip and go to a thumbhole Romanian stock?

Any long SVD-style flashhiders on the market?

Or is this project just too dang silly?


(Yes, I know the SVD is not an AK-47 system, so technically this would be more like a pseudo-PSL)

-MV
 
Actually, wouldn't it be more like a Tabuk sniper from Iraq? Isn't the it the name of the Iraqi AK-based DMR that fires the 7.62x39? I know Iraq also produced a true SVD copy as well, which could be the Tabuk. If so, the name of said rifle escapes me.

Ash
 
You can get "thumbhole" stock, but none would look Dragunov like. I've figured that in a lot of cases, if you truly want SVD, you just have to get one, or at least get PSL. THe cheap way out is never as satisfying and you'll just wnat to keep looking for the true one.
 
I'm not so much looking for "a cheap alternative to getting a real Dragunov" as much as a "fun project to make a .223 Saiga look cool"

I have a vague wish to own some sort of AK, but want to stick to the .223 ammo I have stockpiled. A Saiga should be a better bang-for-the-buck than a SAR-3 would be. Getting a 21" model and tarting it up to make it "vaguely Drag-esque" would make it just a little bit more interesting.

I someone made a 3/4 scale mini-SVD, I'd consider it. But there isn't, thus my vague interest in hammering together this project.

This one takes a definite backseat to the integrally-suppressed MkII (hopefully before Feb), but might come in ahead of the Dixie Inc. bullpup .22 project. Just have to sell off a few dozen firearms, make sure I can clear property taxes, and then see what I have left.

-MV

(PS: hmmm, Ironwood Designs has Tabuk-style AK stocks now...)
(PPS: Somebody on Gunsnet.net has a .223 Saiga/Tabuk thread going, but I can't read it w/o signing up. I'm on too many tang forums already...)
 
In case you're wondering...it's a 22" barreled Saiga 7.62x39. The butt stock is now available on new Saiga's but only on the 16" barreled models. RAA told me they will soon be available as a replacement part. In the mean time I found someone selling a used one and it mounted right up on my longer barreled Saiga. Belarus-made scope mount works great. A member named Danzig on the Saiga forum made the muzzle brake and also makes bullet guides to use standard AK mags (and makes guides for .223's too...for whatever mags).
Cheap project, the stock is surprisingly comfortable and the longer barrel makes recoil barely noticable. Overall, a fun cheap gun.
 
That's pretty cool, kinda what I had in mind!

Definitely less effort than converting it to a Romanian or MAK-90 thumbhole stock.

Any other good flash-hider options out there, instead of the muzzle-brake?

-MV
 
Outstanding Number 6, very cool find.

Kymasabe: was the Byelorussian scope settup inadequate, or decent for plinking and such? If you don't mind my asking, what did the Byel. scope settup run? What brands, where bought?


Let's see: $280 for Saiga .223, maybe $40 for the Drag-style stock, $40 for the FS, $?? for the scope settup...


-MV
 
I paid around $45 for the mount, locally could only find Millett-brand, steel, windage adjustable scope rings, were another $30, and the scope is a Leapers 6x32 with red/green illuminated reticle, paid around 45 for that. With tax and all was around $125 for the setup. Good for plinking, setup worked great but my other rifle has a 3-12x40AO scope so I bought another similar scope so they both work the same. Otherwise, works great!
 
Poked around on that FS: turns out that Blackjack and some others carry a clone that's $10 less, and US-made (for parts count). Also 14x1 threaded, which apparently is more common outside of Bulgaria.

-MV
 
http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?showtopic=13153

Wood looks closer.
Click to expand...

Ja, but those folks had to move the trigger assembly forward, whereas the stock Kymasabe has fits on with no mods.

Just depends how much tinkering you want to do, and how much money.

I'm thinking I could make one like Kymasabe's for around $375, since I have a spare 1" Tasco scope laying around anyway.

If I shoot it and don't like it, I'd imagine I could get my money back out of it. Plenty of gamer-kids would like a pseudo-Drag, and aren't that picky about looks (for the price) so long as the general silhouette is close.

The PSOP-type sidemounts with built-in 1" rings run around $45, are those decent mounts, or am I really better off going mount-weaverbase-weaverrings-scope?

-MV
 
The PSOP-type sidemounts with built-in 1" rings run around $45, are those decent mounts, or am I really better off going mount-weaverbase-weaverrings-scope?
Click to expand...

For me the weaverbase AK mount is much better:

1) more adjustment range to get the eye relief right.

2) what if you want a 30mm tube or an EOTECH holosight?

--wally.
 
I know it's not a .223, but neither is the true Dragunov.

Here is my 21" 308 Saiganov PSL clone

attachment.php


Stock is a cheap standard AK $10 from Centerfiresystems
FCG is an adjustable RSA, set at about 2 lbs and a bit too light, I need to adjust it up some.
Upper hanguard and tube is off a garden variety Romy
Lower handgaurd is off a PSL, from K-var. I had to shorten it about an inch, leaving a shelf for the rear Saiga retainer nut. The front is heavily cut and relieved, to allow the stock Saiga front retainer and sling swivel to work.
The front retainer is a stock AK part opened up to clear the larger 308 barrel, and epoxied to the stock.
Scope is a 6X POSP that came with the gun.
Bipod is a Wallyworld Rockmount Harris clone that was modified to open enough to go over the fat Saiga swivel.
Front FH I found on an airsoft site, is an SVD type and welded on.
I added a gas piston and homemade floorplate to make sure I stayed legal.

I see no reason why you couldn't do this to a .223; if anything the barrel would clear the handguard a lot easier. Only issue would be whether you can find a gas piston or US mag parts to keep it legal.
Or get Ironwoods or BattlerifleG3 to make a US lower, that would bolt up.
 
Does the pseudo-Drag stock from RAA (Saiga) raise cheek wield above the normal sporter stock level?

I'm either going to return a Kobra red dot I bought, or I need a new stock, because I just can't shoot it with my cheek 1-2" above the stock.
 
Grizz, that stock has a flip over cheek piece. It can be off to the side for iron sights, or up for scope. It just clicks into place as you twist it.
 
Correia: Thanks. So, I guess I might keep my Kobra. Any word on when RAA will start selling the pseudo-Drag stock as an aftermarket part? Price?
 
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