Upgrading my Saiga?

[chris in va]

After shooting a full weekend with it, I've decided it needs help.

My friend has an Arsenal AK with a very nice trigger. Taking his and mine apart, I noticed that hook-shaped lever doesn't make contact with the hammer on his AK, but does on mine, which makes for a rough pull. Without 'converting' the Saiga to an AK, is a better trigger group made for the Saiga in stock form? Will that push me into 922 territory?

Eventually I'm getting a mount and putting a red dot on it, but funds are low at the moment.

 

[Deer Hunter]

You can simply get another trigger group. My trigger group from Kvar has made my saiga's trigger smooth as butter with a nice crisp break.

 

[SSN Vet]

If your going to fool around with replacing the trigger group....might as well pick up a G2 and do the AK conversion.

By the time you drill and push the pins, and swap out a trigger group you've done the majority of the work.

I say this, because most of the newer Saigas already have the PG nut hole and the AK trigger hole cut into the receiver, under the Sproter trigger plate.

Just grind the two rivots and drill the spot weld to remove the Sproter trigger plate and your golden.

PG and stock just screw into place.

Though the ergonomics of the sporter are good, I found the rifle to be front heavy.....and the PG helps this by moving your right hand forward by 3" to 4"....closer to the C.O.G., which is just forward of the mag. opening.

Do the conversion and set your Saiga's "inner AK" free.

and by the way....the G2 trigger is very smoothe and has a crisp release.

 

[femoralis]

I thought the trigger group on the stock saiga was different (at least some parts of it) than a normal AK. Anyone know for sure?

 

[nalioth]

I thought the trigger group on the stock saiga was different (at least some parts of it) than a normal AK. Anyone know for sure?

The trigger uses some Rube Goldberg connecting system (this is why the pull sucks worse than a Hoover factory). All you're gonna be able to replace is the hammer and disconnector from the aftermarket AK trigger group (so you'll still have the crap trigger pull), unless you do a full conversion.

I 2nd the motion, go whole hog and do a full conversion. The trigger pull will go from cold molasses with pebbles to crisp and clean.

 

[Navy87Guy]

My friend has an Arsenal AK with a very nice trigger. Taking his and mine apart, I noticed that hook-shaped lever doesn't make contact with the hammer on his AK, but does on mine, which makes for a rough pull. Without 'converting' the Saiga to an AK, is a better trigger group made for the Saiga in stock form? Will that push me into 922 territory?

You've already gotten the answer on the actual FCG itself. You can use parts of a standard G2, but until you go to a normal trigger configuration and eliminate the transfer bar, you really can't do much to improve the trigger pull. It will be sluggish. Period.

As far as 922R, you have nothing to worry about if you do replace parts. It never hurts when you're replacing foreign parts with US-made ones. Now, if you start adding parts (like a pistol grip), then you have to pay attention.

Go for the conversion -- it's easy, fun and you'll end up with a great weapon when you're done!

Jim

 

[SSN Vet]

I thought the trigger group on the stock saiga was different

Saiga uses a transfer bar so they can shift the trigger back to where it can be reached with the sporter stock