Most of you are very adept at firearms and how to do the simple things in converting/adding parts. For those that aren't...
My Saiga RAA Skeleton stock just arrived for my .308, so I thought I'd just switch them out. There's more to it than I imagined. For those nimrods like myself, here's how to do it.
Remove the two obvious screws: one on top where the stock and receiver meet. The second where the trigger guard and stock meet on the bottom. Now the fun part, there's a third that must be removed. I found this one after 45 minutes of tugging, prying and such.
Remove the dust cover (if you don't know what this thing is, it't the metal thing on top of the receiver that you remove by pushing the button). Then you have to take out the big 'ol spring with the metal rod in the center. After that's gone, you'll see a screw head that is obviously doing something. That something is keeping you from removing the stock. So remove it.
Now pull the stock off- much easier after removing that third screw. Put the new stock on. Take a rubber mallet and encourage it to go further onto the receiver. Now you'll have to drill two holes. I measured the depth to drill, not sure if that's required, but pretty easy to do. Now install the screws- there will only be two to put back in. One inside the reciever (the hidden one) and the second on the top. The screw where the trigger guard is is not visible or accessible, so you just saved a step. You are now done.
Several observations for those considering an RAA stock:
1. It is shorter than the stock that comes OEM.
2. The cheek piece will lock in the straight up position and at about a 30 degree postion for right handed shooters and in the 90 degree positon on the left. You will not be able to view the iron sights with the cheek piece in any position other than the 90 degree configuration.
3. For lefties, you will have to place the cheek piece in "unlocked" positions to shoot the rifle. I've done it, no problems. You may be able to "alter" the cheek piece for lefties, but that's beyond my skill/patience levels.
4. Trigger situation? Still odd, but that's all. You'll get used to it. Let's be honest here. Will your life ever depend on a shot beyond 400 yards? Will a 2 MOA rifle deliver that shot? Will a converted trigger allow you to make that shot on a 2 MOA rifle? Be honest with yourself and make the correct decision.
For the money, time, frustration, skill required, resale, etc... it's not worth it for me.
So, bottom line, I went with the RAA Skeleton stock, a POSP 6x24 scope, two 15 round Surefire mags and a 3 round Surefire (hunting) and I'm done. Total cost $910.00. What do I have? A hyper-reliable, hi-cap, .308 semi-auto rifle capable of hitting 8" tins at 400 yards all day long. Could I sell it for that? Doubt it, but that's not the point today, here and now. Am I happy? Without a doubt.
My Saiga RAA Skeleton stock just arrived for my .308, so I thought I'd just switch them out. There's more to it than I imagined. For those nimrods like myself, here's how to do it.
Remove the two obvious screws: one on top where the stock and receiver meet. The second where the trigger guard and stock meet on the bottom. Now the fun part, there's a third that must be removed. I found this one after 45 minutes of tugging, prying and such.
Remove the dust cover (if you don't know what this thing is, it't the metal thing on top of the receiver that you remove by pushing the button). Then you have to take out the big 'ol spring with the metal rod in the center. After that's gone, you'll see a screw head that is obviously doing something. That something is keeping you from removing the stock. So remove it.
Now pull the stock off- much easier after removing that third screw. Put the new stock on. Take a rubber mallet and encourage it to go further onto the receiver. Now you'll have to drill two holes. I measured the depth to drill, not sure if that's required, but pretty easy to do. Now install the screws- there will only be two to put back in. One inside the reciever (the hidden one) and the second on the top. The screw where the trigger guard is is not visible or accessible, so you just saved a step. You are now done.
Several observations for those considering an RAA stock:
1. It is shorter than the stock that comes OEM.
2. The cheek piece will lock in the straight up position and at about a 30 degree postion for right handed shooters and in the 90 degree positon on the left. You will not be able to view the iron sights with the cheek piece in any position other than the 90 degree configuration.
3. For lefties, you will have to place the cheek piece in "unlocked" positions to shoot the rifle. I've done it, no problems. You may be able to "alter" the cheek piece for lefties, but that's beyond my skill/patience levels.
4. Trigger situation? Still odd, but that's all. You'll get used to it. Let's be honest here. Will your life ever depend on a shot beyond 400 yards? Will a 2 MOA rifle deliver that shot? Will a converted trigger allow you to make that shot on a 2 MOA rifle? Be honest with yourself and make the correct decision.
For the money, time, frustration, skill required, resale, etc... it's not worth it for me.
So, bottom line, I went with the RAA Skeleton stock, a POSP 6x24 scope, two 15 round Surefire mags and a 3 round Surefire (hunting) and I'm done. Total cost $910.00. What do I have? A hyper-reliable, hi-cap, .308 semi-auto rifle capable of hitting 8" tins at 400 yards all day long. Could I sell it for that? Doubt it, but that's not the point today, here and now. Am I happy? Without a doubt.
