My Saiga takes AR-mags: MSA Adapter and Tac47 gunsmith review

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Deer Hunter

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This is a double review. I picked up my rifle yesterday. It's a saiga 16" barrel in .223. Since I want all my rifles for a certain caliber to use the same mags, I decided to go ahead and throw down the money for a Magnolia State Armory AR-15 mag adapter. Once I got it, I was given instructions about milling a bit out of the AKs receiver to fir the adapter. While my dremel-foo is strong, I know I needed a drill press or something.

So I contacted Nathan at MSA. He hooked me up with a fellow named Keith over at Tac47 industries in Houston, Texas. I ran my gun down to him and I gotta say he's got a very impressive shop and does wonderful work. He's going to be my go-to gunsmith from now on. He got my saiga outfitted with the adapter AND I can still use AK mags if I take it out and stick the bullet guide back in.

The adapter allows you to operate mag-changes just like an AR. Mags drop free and it takes all mags, including P-mags.

Pictures are grainy, deal with it. I now own an XCR, but without the depleted bank account and the feeling of supremacy.

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I can't wait to test fire the gun.

Tac47's website
http://www.tac47industries.com/content-categories/cat-308/tactical_saiga_accesories.html

MSA's website
http://magnoliastatearmory.com/


Video:

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So I went home to East Texas with a buddy of mine. He took his mossberg Maverick 88 and I took my Saiga and Daisy BB gun. :) Sunday we took them out to shoot.

It was a total irrational expense of ammunition. :evil: And it was awesome.

We were at our old deer lease, and out of season it gets rundown. Hence the table.
That pill bottle is what I keep earplugs in.


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Looks neat with a P-mag.

I was up first. I shot 5 rounds at some cans and plastic bottles set up on a log. I shot slow, fast, turned the gun sideways, etc. No problems with jamming and it fed beautifully.

I decided to show off and bumpfire the last bit of rounds out of the magazine. Not a problem!

My friend really liked the gun. He was thinking about getting one, but he prefers his M44 when it comes to cheap blasting fun.
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The gun had no problems with either my P-mag or Colt USGI I had. It fed and ejected without a hitch.
 
Back to OP. Nice setup, I was wondering if those things worked.
 
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The Saiga looks great! I like the adapter that fits AR Mags, nice touch! Hows the trigger! I assume you replaced FCG that came with the Saiga with a Tapco trigger?
 
Trigger is long but extremely light. Best AK Trigger I've ever felt.

I think I'll send it back to Keith and have it refinished and maybe a folding stock put on it.
 
I think the saiga looks great. I heard of these adapters and thought they might be a little hit and miss with reliability, but now looking and hearing about it, I think that i might have to find myself a .223 saiga! :D
 
I was thinking, does the mag adapter only work with saigas, or can it work with other .223 ak rifles, like the slr-106, without modification to the rifle?
Thanks for any info!
 
It'll work on any .223 rifle. Over on Saiga-12.net there are people who have done it for veprs and galils.
 
What's with the grainy pictures? ;)

Seriously, a very cool conversion. I believe some folks have been using MSA (or similar) AR mag adapters on their Valmets as well. Sure beats buying (or just trying to find) Valmet mags.
 
Yes, they have been known tow ork in Valmets.

However all AK rifles require a bit of milling to get the adapter to fit correctly.
 
This is quite an interesting development; looks great!

While my dremel-foo is strong,
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Hee hee. :)

I now own an XCR, but without the depleted bank account and the feeling of supremacy.
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Well since I possess that feeling of supremacy (and drained bank account), I feel compelled to point out that the ergos of the XCR are still much better, in terms of the safety and trigger - mainly the safety. Oh, and then there's the modularity, adjustable gas system, non-recip yet 2-way charging handle, scope rail, SP sling attachment ring, and charging handle on the correct side, too. Probably a few things I'm forgetting too. :p :p
 
As do I, but I also have a shortcoming that I must work hard to work around: little to no funds for all my toys.

I have two rather expensive hobbies: mountain biking and guns. Between the two, I occasionally eat beans some nights. :(

Also, I enjoy having all my rifles of like-calibers use the same magazines. I have an AR (which needs a LaRue QD for my NVD) that can now share mags with my AK. Also I'm in the works going about turning a Stevens 200 .308 into a rifle that accepts FN FAL mags.
 
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