Saiga / AK quad rail

[Roodles]

I bought one of these thinking my rifle was a saiga (picture in my signature)

Well it is half saiga because it doesn't run on standard AK mags...

The saiga quad rail doesn't fit my rifle because the hand-guard mounts are in the way. Has anyone else made a similar mistake and what did you do?

Returning the item is not really an option, because of shipping costs (it came from China ).

I guess I could file part of the rail so it fits over the hand-guard mount

Help! :banghead:

 

[WardenWolf]

Your rifle IS a Saiga. A Saiga, by default, cannot use standard AK mags because it does not have a bullet guide. The Saiga mags have the bulllet guide in the magazine itself. The standard AK magazines will fit, but will not feed. You can buy a bullet guide from a few sources (Dinzag Arms is the best choice) and install it yourself or have it installed. Then you can use standard AK mags.

Secondly, with regards to the Saiga handguard support pin on the gas block, you have a few options. You can have a gunsmith replace it with a standard-length pin or cut yours to fit and reinstall it, you can grind yours down, or you can modify the rail system. If you know you are never going to use the stock Saiga handguard again, I'd break out the Dremel and grind it down.

 

[Roodles]

Your rifle IS a Saiga. A Saiga, by default, cannot use standard AK mags because it does not have a bullet guide. The Saiga mags have the bulllet guide in the magazine itself. The standard AK magazines will fit, but will not feed. You can buy a bullet guide from a few sources (Dinzag Arms is the best choice) and install it yourself or have it installed. Then you can use standard AK mags.

Thanks - I currently have three 30 round steel mags (converted), but I might have a go with the bullet guide one day

Secondly, with regards to the Saiga handguard support pin on the gas block, you have a few options. You can have a gunsmith replace it with a standard-length pin or cut yours to fit and reinstall it, you can grind yours down, or you can modify the rail system. If you know you are never going to use the stock Saiga handguard again, I'd break out the Dremel and grind it down.

Hmm.. I'm a bit uneasy about not being able to return the rifle to its 'factory' configuration... Maybe the best bet would be to lock the front hand-guard support in place and then dremel the rail to fit around it

Thanks

Roodles

 

[seanie!]

Try to trade it for an AK quad rail on the Saiga forums?

 

[stonecutter2]

Get a Dremel and file down the rail. If you can't return it, have at it and see if you can make it work - go slowly and carefully.

 

[Roodles]

Get a Dremel and file down the rail. If you can't return it, have at it and see if you can make it work - go slowly and carefully.

I'll have a go

 

[Roodles]

It needed a lot of work with a hacksaw and a file, but I got it there. A few bits need further modification, but I like it

AK