Saiga AK47 and AK74 magazine compatibility

[leadcounsel]

Seems my non-converted Saiga AK47 will not accept normal AK47 mags.

However, my non-converted Saiga AK74 will accept and feed surplus AK74 mags.

Is that by accident or purposeful or an oddity?

 

[mshootnit]

I think it has to do with the fact that the 5.45 is the current military configuration and production efficiency. In other words I think the russians are meeting export requirements in the most cost effective way possible. Its not a coincidence that the 74 mags fit the 5.45 Saiga and AK mags don't fit the 7.62 Saiga. If you were making a run of 7.62 receivers just for the sporting market you could make them up special. If you were doing a run of 5.45 Saiga rifles and already had 5.45 receivers sitting there you would leave them alone to the extent possible.

 

[Carolina Kalash]

yeah, cause they couldn't just export AKs in an AK format, oh hell no, they gotta go and take away the pistol grip and the 30 rd mag, basically take what makes an AK an AK and take all that away and replace it with that sporterized bull<deleted> called a "saiga"... functionally, it's a decent rifle, its just an insult to Mikhail Kalashnikov imo...

 

[Telekinesis]

If you were making a run of 7.62 receivers just for the sporting market you could make them up special. If you were doing a run of 5.45 Saiga rifles and already had 5.45 receivers sitting there you would leave them alone to the extent possible.

They have to make new civilian receivers no matter what. All those extra current military receivers that are sitting around are all full auto receivers which have been banned from importation since 1968. "Once a MG, always a MG" and all that

I'm not sure why the OP's unconverted Saiga accepts standard AK74 mags. I was under the impression that they were required to fit only the proprietary 10 round single stack mags to be importable.

 

[Rob G]

I'm not sure why the OP's unconverted Saiga accepts standard AK74 mags. I was under the impression that they were required to fit only the proprietary 10 round single stack mags to be importable.

They can be physically capable of accepting a double stack 30 and still be imported as long as they don't actually come with a mag over 10 rounds and are in a "sporting" configuration. My Arsenal SGL 31 came with the original Russian mag still in it and although only a 10 rounder it is double stack.

As for the OP's question, if you mean you can't phsyically get the 47 mag in to the gun then I'm not sure, although I do wonder how old that Saiga is since once upon a time there was a time when they were only made for single stack mags. If you mean it'll fit in but won't feed, then my guess would be that maybe the ammo has something to do with it? The 5.45 is a severly tapered cartridge with a skinny bullet and a fat (relative to the actual bullet) case. The 7.62 is just fat all the way around. Might affect the feeding. I do know that 7.62 Saigas need a bullet guide added in order to use standard AK mags. I've also heard that the 5.45 ones don't need the bullet guide.

 

[leadcounsel]

The question was quite clear. When I say "take" I mean accept and feed...

I have a Saiga AK47. It only takes proprietary Saiga mags (unless I convert it to take normal surplus AK47 mags).

I have a Saiga AK74. It seems to take my surplus AK74 mags just fine without any conversion.

 

[Rail Driver]

The mag release needs to be filed on the 7.62x39 version to take surplus mags. You'll also need a bullet guide to be installed for proper feeding (either drilled, tapped, screwed and loctited in, or welded in).

 

[M1key]

its just an insult to Mikhail Kalashnikov imo...

I understand Mikhail oversees production at the Izhmash plant.

M

 

[GWARGHOUL]

Convert it. Alll you have to do to is put a bullet guide in it and use the sanding drum or metal surplus mags a bit. There are the pro-mag and SGM surefire that fit with no modifications.

 

[BellyUpFish]

yeah, cause they couldn't just export AKs in an AK format, oh hell no, they gotta go and take away the pistol grip and the 30 rd mag, basically take what makes an AK an AK and take all that away and replace it with that sporterized bull<deleted> called a "saiga"... functionally, it's a decent rifle, its just an insult to Mikhail Kalashnikov imo...

You should let Mr. Kalashnikov know of your displeasure. He still works at the Izhmash (Saiga) factory.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

Whoever designed the Saiga sat down with every Goldilocks American gun regulation and designed a rifle/shotgun that avoided all the naughty features, but allowed you to add them back without too much effort: No pistol grip, no muzzle treatment, no high-cap mags.

I'm guessing that the 7.62 was imported first and they added the proprietary mag to avoid the high-cap mag issue. Once the channel was opened, and there were no problems, they didn't worry too much about the 5.45.

 

[BellyUpFish]

It's an AK without the grip and a moved FCG.

Kalashnikov designed it.

 

[Carolina Kalash]

im sure he would rather have that rifle manufactured in it's original format than as a "sporter"

 

[BellyUpFish]

im sure he would rather have that rifle manufactured in it's original format than as a "sporter"

I'd be willing to bet as long as they're selling, he doesn't care too much.