It has been suggested that in order to get a high quality AK for a good price, one should convert a Saiga 7.62X39 to AK. If you have done so, please explain what I need to do. What Saiga rifle should I start with (Saiga Sporter 16"?) and what parts do I need? I checked out Dinzag arms and they converted a Saiga to look like an AK-103. That is what I am looking to do. Dinzag has the parts for conversion, but I just don't know what I need or how to install them. Please take me through a step by step process of how to achieve my goal. Thanks.
Saiga Conversion
- Thread starter marineman
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Gord
Member
1. Hardest step: work up the gumption to start grinding on your receiver.
2. Take Dremel, pop off trigger plate.
3. Take drill, drill out FCG pins.
4. Replace everything with 922r parts.
5. Curse the deity of your choice while trying to install the pin retainer(s) of your choice at awkward angles in cramped quarters.
6. Ta-da!
Seriously, the standard "read this" site is http://www.cross-conn.com/Saiga_Conversion/index.htm. Don't pay any attention to all the talk of mini-mills, center punches and other "um, maybe I shouldn't do this" stuff - having all that may make the process a bit easier, faster or more convenient but it's easy as heck to do with just a dremel, a file and a drill. I did, and plenty of others here have too.
Replacement parts are basically the FCG, buttstock, pistol grip and nut and a bullet guide. You can replace the handguard if you really want to, to get that "real AK" look, but it adds cost and complexity and is purely cosmetic. The FCG group is the trigger, hammer, etc. and is American-made to comply with 922r parts count requirements. Ditto for the buttstock, pistol grip and pistol grip nut (which holds the pistol grip on). The bullet guide is a glorified piece of cut-in-half pipe and bolted into your receiver just behind the barrel to add the 1/8" of height needed for rounds to feed from standard AK magazines. That's about it.
My parts list was as follows:
AKPGNS | AK pistol grip nut w/ screw - $9.00
FCGG2SH | Tapco G2 FCG single hook - $32.00
AKNYHP | Hole plugs - $1.00
X39RTK | Round trunnion bullet guide kit - $25.00
AKBSNB | AK NATO length stock, black - $49.00
AKHITCH | Hitch pin clips - $0.50
TGHWARE1 | Trigger guard hardware - $1.00
Total of $124 shipped, which ended up being cheaper than ordering parts from several different sites - slightly lower prices, but the shipping would have been more. Dinzag threw in some extra hitch pins, a package of E-clips and a couple extra screws for free - nice guy
I believe I got the pistol grip from Midway or somesuch, for around $25 shipped.
Final result (the Saiga's on the right):
2. Take Dremel, pop off trigger plate.
3. Take drill, drill out FCG pins.
4. Replace everything with 922r parts.
5. Curse the deity of your choice while trying to install the pin retainer(s) of your choice at awkward angles in cramped quarters.
6. Ta-da!
Seriously, the standard "read this" site is http://www.cross-conn.com/Saiga_Conversion/index.htm. Don't pay any attention to all the talk of mini-mills, center punches and other "um, maybe I shouldn't do this" stuff - having all that may make the process a bit easier, faster or more convenient but it's easy as heck to do with just a dremel, a file and a drill. I did, and plenty of others here have too.
Replacement parts are basically the FCG, buttstock, pistol grip and nut and a bullet guide. You can replace the handguard if you really want to, to get that "real AK" look, but it adds cost and complexity and is purely cosmetic. The FCG group is the trigger, hammer, etc. and is American-made to comply with 922r parts count requirements. Ditto for the buttstock, pistol grip and pistol grip nut (which holds the pistol grip on). The bullet guide is a glorified piece of cut-in-half pipe and bolted into your receiver just behind the barrel to add the 1/8" of height needed for rounds to feed from standard AK magazines. That's about it.
My parts list was as follows:
AKPGNS | AK pistol grip nut w/ screw - $9.00
FCGG2SH | Tapco G2 FCG single hook - $32.00
AKNYHP | Hole plugs - $1.00
X39RTK | Round trunnion bullet guide kit - $25.00
AKBSNB | AK NATO length stock, black - $49.00
AKHITCH | Hitch pin clips - $0.50
TGHWARE1 | Trigger guard hardware - $1.00
Total of $124 shipped, which ended up being cheaper than ordering parts from several different sites - slightly lower prices, but the shipping would have been more. Dinzag threw in some extra hitch pins, a package of E-clips and a couple extra screws for free - nice guy
I believe I got the pistol grip from Midway or somesuch, for around $25 shipped.Final result (the Saiga's on the right):
Last edited:
wally
Member
Follow the instructions on Dinzag's site. Good step by step instructions with photos.
http://www.dinzagarms.com/downloads/downloads.html
He really should change the left side link from "Downloads" to Download Instructions" or some such. Its what I used. Did a pair of .223s, a 7.62x39, and a Saiga 12.
--wally.
nalioth
Member
Again, more info then you'll know what to do with regarding Saigas: Saiga-12 Forum
http://www.cross-conn.com/Saiga_Conversion/index.htm is a good site to get the general idea, but it is over 10 years old and a lot has changed.
http://www.cross-conn.com/Saiga_Conversion/index.htm is a good site to get the general idea, but it is over 10 years old and a lot has changed.
Gord
Member
I pretty much just used the cross-conn site to get the general gist of what I needed to remove. After that, it was a simple matter of dremeling the heads off two rivets and drilling through the other to get the trigger plate off, and filing flats onto and drilling out the shoulders on the FCG pins. Took maybe 45 minutes, and that was with a lot of pausing to check my work, keep my fortitude up and replace busted grinding wheels on the Dremel (note to self: stop buying Walmart Dremel attachments).
jpwilly
Member
^^ Ohh I see a 308 Saiga...Wonder why they don't make a 7.62x54R Long action?
Ohio Gun Guy
Member
I like the look of those. Did you drill the fore-grip?
Geneseo1911
Member
I wast just gonna ask if anything could be done with the foregrip to make them look more authentic. I like what you've done there xj. Could you give us a little detail?
Is there any way to replace them with wood furniture?
Is there any way to replace them with wood furniture?
Paladin_Hammer
Member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2008
- Messages
- 137
Just buy a Pistol-Grip stock from Tapco or ACE. Do the same thing, only now you can always re-install that monte-carlo stock for the "carbine" feel whenever you like!
Yeah I did the handguards on both of those. All I did was give it an angle cut in the front and added 3 venting slots in it. The angle cut exposes the gas block and gives it more of a traditional AK appearance. On the .308 I bolted on a cheap rail I had laying around. It takes a bit of time with a dremel and some hand files but I think it makes the stock handguard look killer IMO.
Here is a better picture of the .308 taken on a sunny day:
Here is a better picture of the .308 taken on a sunny day:
Last edited:
Gord
Member
Paladin_Hammer said:
And the trigger still sucks, and you can't use high-cap mags without being in violation of 922r (not that they'd feed anyway)! What a bargain.
If you're going to keep it stock, you may as well just buy a pawnshop .30-30 and get better accuracy and a better trigger for your money.
The best resource I found was the following series off of youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU96VbnSoTc&feature=PlayList&p=42C900DBD12C7C61&index=0&playnext=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU96VbnSoTc&feature=PlayList&p=42C900DBD12C7C61&index=0&playnext=1
Starship1st
Member
I bought my Saiga back in March. I still need to do my conversion. There are a lot of information on how to do that. I have all the parts just need the time from current projects. Good luck on your conversion.
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