Tell me about the Saiga.

[ohgrady]

Thanks for posting the picture!

Are #1 and #3 Saiga trigger group parts? From a compliance 922 standpoint, could a guy easily swap the hammer and disconnector out?

 

[Maverick223]

Are #1 and #3 Saiga trigger group parts? From a compliance 922 standpoint, could a guy easily swap the hammer and disconnector out?

Yes, but they are the same (or very similar) for the Tapco kit as well. You should be able to replace those (and only those) with Tapco parts but it may require a little fitting (as is sometimes the case when you convert); though I have to urge you to convert...even if you go with a thumbhole stock (rather than traditional AK furniture) i will balance, point, and make the trigger much better. An easy way to decide what you want to do is to go ahead and purchase the Saiga and shoot it for a while, then once acclimated to the platform and handling characteristics shoot (or even just handle) an AK (or converted Saiga)...the difference is night and day.

 

[ohgrady]

Thanks for the insight Maverick!

I was just on Century's website. They list 10 round double stack WASR-2 magazines. Do you know if those would fit the Saiga 5.45? (I assume a bullet guide would need to be added)

 

[Maverick223]

No problem, Grady; I really don't know, but I don't see why it wouldn't. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in. I am pretty sure that you would have to add the bullet guide (if it will work), I know you must WRT the 7.62x39 Saiga.

 

[ohgrady]

I'm not up enough on abbreviations to know what WRT means. For the moment, I'm satisfied with the number of rifles I have that shoot 7.62x39. My plan is to pick up a Saiga in 223 or 5.45 by the end of the month.

I'm leaning toward leaving it stock-so it would be sort of a poor man's Mini/Ruger Ranch rifle. But I've read several places about how off balance the Saigas - I was wondering if the Saiga 308 with the wood stock was off balance as much as the 7.62x39 Saiga I saw/held at a gun shop? I'd also like to keep one of my semi-auto rifles free of a pistol grip/thumbhole stock in case I visit one of my friends that lives in a restricted state(not that I live in gun friendly state either) I've taken some lady friends to the range and they didn't like the kick on the 7.62x39-I should have started them with my 22LR. I figure next time(once I have one the Saigas)I'll start with the 22, move up to the 223 or 5.45, then end with the 7.62x39 if they're handling the others well. And if the gals can handle that and are shootin' like Milla Jovovich/Resident Evil or Angelina Jolie/Tomb Raider, I'll let them try the Mosin.

 

[nalioth]

Are #1 and #3 Saiga trigger group parts? From a compliance 922 standpoint, could a guy easily swap the hammer and disconnector out?

Those are standard AK parts.

You will probably NOT want to mix-n-match the fire control group components, as there have been reports of Saigas with this setup "doubling" and exhibiting further exciting malfunctions. . .

They list 10 round double stack WASR-2 magazines. Do you know if those would fit the Saiga 5.45?

The 5.45x39 Kalashnikov is the subject of a Soviet Union standardization agreement. Unlike the .223 AKs, all 5.45x39 magazines are interchangeable across rifles from different countries.

 

[Maverick223]

I'm not up enough on abbreviations to know what WRT means. For the moment, I'm satisfied with the number of rifles I have that shoot 7.62x39. My plan is to pick up a Saiga in 223 or 5.45 by the end of the month.

"With respect to"...not trying to talk you or the OP into a 7.62x39.

I believe that the wood stocked .308 model balances better due to the additional weight in the aft end, but neither handle particularly well for me. If what you really want is a Mini-14 (the 30 is much harder to find...at least around here) then you should have little trouble finding one used for about what you will end up spending on the converted Saiga, and IMO it is a slightly better gun.

 

[eric.cartman]

Here you go: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=476072

 

[PT1911]

so, if you swap out the butt stock (1), forearm(2) and mag (3,4,5) you are than within the boundaries of the law or is more necessary?

 

[nalioth]

so, if you swap out the butt stock (1), forearm(2) and mag (3,4,5) you are than within the boundaries of the law or is more necessary?

All parts of the forearm must be US made to count as "one US part", but yeah, your list looks good.

 

[PT1911]

they are/would be... I appreciate that nalioth... dont want to deal with being a criminal out of ignorance.

 

[Maverick223]

so, if you swap out the butt stock (1), forearm(2) and mag (3,4,5) you are than within the boundaries of the law or is more necessary?

Replace the trigger group (assuming that you want to convert) and you can use surplus magazines.

 

[arizona98tj]

There are some comments in this thread that, IMHO, can land you in felony jail.

Check out this thread on 922 parts compliance. It should clear a few things up for those that have questions. If it doesn't, maybe you should keep the Saiga stock.

If you are curious as to what is involved in a typical rifle conversion, I wrote-up the details of what I did on my Saiga .223 conversion. FWIW, my Saiga .223 uses AR-15 magazines. Makes it really easy when switching back and forth between the Saiga and my AR.

 

[PT1911]

So.. using a tapco buttstock, tapco forearm, and a promag magazine (all parts american) would make it 922 compliant. that is all that is necessary... a tapco trigger just sweetens it further.

 

[Maverick223]

There are some comments in this thread that, IMHO, can land you in felony jail.

Nope, that'd be covered under the 1st Amendment.

 

[PT1911]

well.. two down and one to go.. got the tapco buttstock, and the tapco forend.. now for the promag magazine(s)... I must say I am pretty impressed with the overall transformation of the gun... and just swapping parts.. I have no intention or desire to get out the dremel and start cutting rivots. I like the way it turned out.

 

[MD_Willington]

I like mine...

 

[PT1911]

pretty sweet MD Will... I see you had some dremel fun with yours... I am not going to go that far with it, but I do like the look of yours... I just went with the tapco pistol grip 6 position stock, and a tapco galil style handguard... along with promag mags... I am pleased with the finished product. The overall feel is much improved.

 

[nalioth]

pretty sweet MD Will... I see you had some dremel fun with yours... I am not going to go that far with it, but I do like the look of yours... I just went with the tapco pistol grip 6 position stock, and a tapco galil style handguard... along with promag mags... I am pleased with the finished product. The overall feel is much improved.

You really don't need a dremel (on the rifles) or any other power tools.

It's easy enough without them, and it's almost like cheating to use them (just my opinion).

As far as "the overall feel is much improved", do yourself a favor and NEVER pick up a military aspect AK - you'll immediately see the $$$ you wasted on your "i don't want to convert, but want a pistol grip" butt stock (don't worry, there's a big club of those folks over at the Saiga forum).

Your rifle (with the no-mods bolt-on stock) is out of balance and the control surfaces are spaced out too far for good functionality.

A small irony is that the cost of the all-in-one no-mods butt stock is almost the same price as you'd pay for all the parts to do a basic conversion.

 

[PT1911]

I have picked up and often used the mil-spec AK's and hated every second of it... I prefer the feel of my saiga as it sits now to any of the several ak's i have handled.

Perhaps it is out of balance for YOU.. and perhapse the control surfaces are too spaced out for YOU.. to me they feel just fine and the finished product shoots better than any AK I have shot or seen shot.


and then lets see.. even after the money I spent on the no-mods bolt on stock and forearm I have less in a NEW gun than I would in a MUCH USED AK..

sorry bud.. I dont need to move the trigger assembly and pistol grip forward AN INCH to feel more comfortable and capable with MY gun...

 

[stuckinsocal]

The Saiga .308 is hands down THE best deal for a semi auto .308 in the current marked right now. At my local gun store a 16 in. .308 is going for $500...less than half of what the next cheapest .308 is. Personally, I like the unconverted rifles better. But that probably because I live in California and have had to use the regular traditional style stock ever since I started shooting. I use an SKS with the original stock too, so that's what I'm accostomed to. And as another plus, the Saiga (in any caliber) is about the only way to legally have a comfortable and usable self defense Ak rifle in CA...you don't need the mag locks or monsterman grips or any of that crap.

 

[nalioth]

and then lets see.. even after the money I spent on the no-mods bolt on stock and forearm I have less in a NEW gun than I would in a MUCH USED AK..

Who said anything about "MUCH USED AK"s?

This thread is about "SAIGA RIFLES".

This Saiga .223 is configured in a military aspect:


This Saiga 7.62x39 is configured almost exactly like it's military brethren:


Again, who said anything about "MUCH USED AK"s?

 

[PT1911]

do yourself a favor and NEVER pick up a military aspect AK

"mil spec AK"

didn't say milspec Saiga... I added the much used to illustrate the difference in price.

Sweet guns.. they look great and I am sure function well----flawlessly, but to each his own and that inch----inch and a half forward just isnt that important to me.