Saiga Sporters?

[jawn]

Anyone have any thoughts on getting a Saiga sporter and converting it to the way God intended it to be?

Worth the effort? I realize I'd probably only save 100-200 dollars over buying an actual AK, but given the state that I live in, it may be easier for me to find a Sporter.

I know I have to keep the BATFE regulations in mind when I do the conversion, but I was intending on adding a pistol grip (which means a new trigger group), buttstock, and bullet guide (for mag compatibility), at the very least. Conservative estimates puts these parts at or around 150 dollars.

I can probably get a Saiga sporter in the neighborhood of 400-450 dollars (unfortunately). This places my build close to 600 dollars. A new Arsenal AK47 runs around 800-900 dollars (in-store) in my area, unfortunately. Any thoughts?

 

[rocinante]

Anyone have any thoughts on getting a Saiga sporter and converting it to the way God intended it to be?

Yep I have and probably a few other thousand guys have. Done it (2 rifles, 1 shotgun) not just think about it.

http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?

for all the answers to all you saiga thoughts.

 

[nalioth]

Depending on the "actual AK" that you'd buy *cough*WASR*cough, the Saiga is bargain. All new Russian made hardware, much of it right off the military production line.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with converting a Saiga. You'll lose nothing and save some bucks.

P.S. You might want to search for "convert saiga" next time. I think we've talked about it here a couple of times. . .

 

[jawn]

Apologies. Just didn't want to necropost. Figured it with the changing costs in this economy discussing a 250$ Saiga sporter conversion is a tad different than discussing a Saiga sporter that costs as much as a WASR10.

Again, apologies! Full steam ahead it is for me.

 

[rocinante]

Jawn dependent on your sense of aesthetics you may do a basic conversion a lot less than 250. At min you would need new u.s. trigger group (30) and a pistol grip (20), grip nut and screw (10-15?) and a handful of screws. Few tools of course. Later add a decent looking stock and hand guards.

 

[Storm]

Yup, the Saiga is the way to go. I'm probably one of the few who has an unconverted Saiga as I stumbled into an ACE set-up with a folding stock. I have other AK's so I don't mind having this one a bit different. Besides, my fellow Alpharettan rocinante has us covered with his

I think that one of the best advantages of going with the conversion is the improved trigger. That said, I do just fine with my .223 and haven't felt the need. With converted East German Weiger mags I'm good to go. If it was my only AK I would definitely convert it. Kinda hard to beat a real Russian AK.

 

[WardenWolf]

I converted my Saiga .223 in 5 hours in my garage. There's enough parts in it to allow me to use foreign furniture, and I put good Romanian wood on it. If you buy a Saiga, get it in 16". They're more accurate and handy.

 

[LKB3rd]

I have one that I converted (mine is .308) and it was worth it. It works great.

 

[Xinowulf]

I'm wanting a .223 sporter then adding a skeletonized stock, 30 round mag, and quad-rail. What's some parts I could change to make it 922r legeal?

 

[Cryogaijin]

You need to change 4 parts total, so trigger group+magazine is more than enough.

 

[Xinowulf]

Wow just that easy? How much is a trigger group? Where could I find one? So the surefire mags is American made?

 

[nalioth]

Wow just that easy? How much is a trigger group? Where could I find one? So the surefire mags is American made?

Whoa, there, partner.

It's a little more complicated than Cryogaijin puts it.

The law says you have to have 10 or less foreign parts if you're assembling a gun that would otherwise be unimportable.

1) see if your planned boomstick would be unimportable.
a) importable?
b) unimportable?

if a: don't worry about it
if b: figure out how many total parts from the list you'll be using, and make sure you have 10 or less parts of foreign origin.

Cryogaijin isn't telling you that you'll need five US parts to a basic conversion.


Why 5?

Because you'll be adding a NEW PART to the total parts count - the pistol grip.


Best you read the law for yourself instead of just taking folks' word for it on the internet.

 

[chris in va]

PM sent to Jawn.

 

[clueless]

I really like this site for compliance checking:

http://gunwiki.net/Gunwiki/BuildAkVerifyCompliance

Have to show mine off too:

 

[Xinowulf]

Good sites to look for parts and mags? Been to Buds and Cheaper than Dirt, they didn't have much.

 

[bri]

Good sites to look for parts and mags? Been to Buds and Cheaper than Dirt, they didn't have much.

Head on over to http://forum.saiga-12.com/ - Everything you'll need to know, and more.

For parts, check out:

http://CarolinaShootersSupply.com
http://DinzagArms.com

 

[nalioth]

Good sites to look for parts and mags? Been to Buds and Cheaper than Dirt, they didn't have much.

I (and others) will recommend you stay away from CTD.

Their very name is a lesson in propaganda.

They do not have inexpensive stuff (but they do have lots of cheap crap).

They also were among the first to quadruple their already exorbitant prices when Obama was elected and everyone thought a new magazine / gun ban was coming.

 

[camoman33935]

Actually, this is the link for the correct compliance worksheet. The other was for an AK, not Saiga specific. All you have to really switch out is the trigger, hammer, disconector, pistol gip, and the buttstock with U.S. made parts such as K-Var or Tapco (there are others) and you will be fine using non-US AK magazines assuming you install a bullet guide for the use of standard AK magazines (don't quote me on this or use me as a legal referance because I am not one).

http://thegunwiki.com/Gunwiki/BuildSaigaVerifyCompliance

 

[JustinJ]

"Worth the effort? I realize I'd probably only save 100-200 dollars over buying an actual AK, but given the state that I live in, it may be easier for me to find a Sporter."

If your state allows them then why can't you just buy whatever you want from an online source and receive from a locat FFL for a nominal charge?