Saiga 223 magazine confusion

[BSA1]

I ask the more knowledgeable members tolerance with this question as I am sure it has been asked but I can’t the specific information I am looking for.

I own a factory stock Izhmash Sporter in .223. which I have magazine questions about;

1. I know I have to add a bullet guide to use AK magazines. Can I modify the magazines which came with the gun to work after I add a bullet guide?

2. What are the best brand/type magazines to use with the bullet guide? I see lot of questions about use with 7.62 x 39 but not for the .223. I prefer 20round mags.

 

[baz]

You might get more response asking here.

 

[WardenWolf]

The answer is yes. You can modify your original magazine in a few minutes with a file. My friend did this with his Saiga 7.62x39. You'll probably want to use Bulgarian 5.56 magazines after you do it. Tapco Galil mags should also work.

 

[wally]

IMHO easiest is to install the bullet guide and use Galil mags, which are not totally easy to find, but I've had good results with the Tapco Galil mags -- much better than with Tapco 7.62x39 AK mags.


The Bulgarian "circle 10" mags will work but you need to either modify the gun or remove a fair amount of material from each mag to get them to seat, but these are even harder to find than Galil mags.

The other option is to not install the bullet guide and buy the 30 round Surefire mags.

If you don't "convert it" you'll need to stick to US made mags to avoid 922R issues.

Once you install the bullet guide you have to file off the bullet guide that is built into the front of the stock mag (the Surefires are built the same way).

 

[Rob G]

If you don't "convert it" you'll need to stick to US made mags to avoid 922R issues.

Even with US made mags he'll still have 922r issues. But there are ways to make a Saiga 922r compliant without converting it.

OP if you're not sure what we're talking about with 922r please run a search on the forum for it...it's been discussed ad nauseum here many times.

 

[BSA1]

Thanks for the replies. My concern was I do not want invest in Saiga mags that I won't be able to use if I convert the gun to AK configuration.

 

[Girodin]

If you don't "convert it" you'll need to stick to US made mags to avoid 922R issues.

Well that simply is not really technically correct. "Convert" refers to a pistol grip conversion. There are ways you could be 922R compliant with out a pistol grip conversion. I'd recommend the pistol grip conversion for its functional benefits, but that is a different thread.

 

[BSA1]

I created a little confusion...my bad. With the gun in it's current factory condition I will restrict it to using either 10 round Izhmash magazines or USA made magazines if I add a bullet guide.

I understand that if I convert to AK, which I will not until the Dems gun control proposals have been resolved, than the ugly 922r raises it's head. Actually I am inclined at this point with leaving it as a factory sporter to avoid all of this pistol grip, blah, blah nonsense if the Dems manage to get something passed.

As I said I just don't want to invest in too many sporter mags if I can't modify them to work with a bullet guide. Actualy since the bullet guide doesn't add any points is there any reason why I can't go ahead add the bullet guide and modify the Izhmash Saiga 10 round mags?

 

[d2wing]

I have a Saiga that I installed a bullet guide in. It takes both style mags without modifying the mag feed lips. I may have filed the mags and the latch. I don't recall.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

On my 7.62x39 after I did the full conversion, I simply dimpled my factory SAIGA mags with a Dremel sanding drum. just a second or two, and they fit right in, and don't get in the way for any feeding issues.

This also worked on my TAPCO SAIGA mags. So, it takes mags made for SAIGA and AK just fine now.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

I may have filed the mags and the latch. I don't recal

One or the other. hehe. If ya did both, everything would be sloppy. You have to file the mag latch to fit AK mags in it. The SAIGA mag catch is a bit thinner than regular AK style mags. I replaced my mag catch with a quick release from Dinzag, and ground it down to fit both style with next to no wobble, only wobble is when using SAIGA 30 rounders, and its not enough to cause any issues.

 

[Girodin]

I created a little confusion...my bad. With the gun in it's current factory condition I will restrict it to using either 10 round Izhmash magazines or USA made magazines if I add a bullet guide.

This is not correct, at least not the way I am reading it. With the gun in its factory configuration with no other changes, you are legally limited to using 10 round magazines irrespective of the country of origin of the magazines. 922r rears its ugly head, as you put it, when you assemble from parts a gun that is not importable, i.e. a non sporting semi auto gun. There are a few gravemen of "sporting" and thus 922r is not limited to magazine capacity but it is the one that is the most clear and definite. More than 10 rounds equals non-sporting and thus you must account for 922r and the the associated FCR sections. You could add other non sporting features that would also move the rifle into the non sporting category and make 922r, etc, an issue.

 

[Fishbed77]

I understand that if I convert to AK, which I will not until the Dems gun control proposals have been resolved, than the ugly 922r raises it's head.

Personally, I would convert it as soon as possible before any new legislation passes (God willing, it won't).

I just did a basic 922r-complaint conversion on a 7.39x39mm Saiga I had, just in case.