SAIGA 5,45X39 Conversion (work in progress)

Sprout47 · 10-19-2009, 06:36 PM

Here are some pics of what I have done so far. My video camera crapped the bed so this is the best I can do

Threaded the barrel tonight and got the Kreb's 24mm Russian remake 74 brake installed. I will be dropping it off at the gun smith tomorrow to have them weld it on (NY regs).

I also got my bullet guide and pistol grip kit today as well and have those installed.

Still to come is the plum KVAR furniture and will be dropping in an Arsenal Inc. fire control group. I will be ordering those tomorrow night and should have them within a week.

Feel free to hit me up with any questions.

PSLMAN · 10-19-2009, 06:47 PM

Did you replace the trigger guard?

Sprout47 · 10-19-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSLMAN

Did you replace the trigger guard?

Yup, the new one is in the photos. It has 2 45* bends in it, you can see the screws in the top down look inside the receiver shot there.

Diatribes · 10-19-2009, 07:36 PM

What kind of shoes are those? A little blurry in pics I cant make them out.

Seriously though, arent Saigas fun to convert?

Sprout47 · 10-19-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diatribes

What kind of shoes are those? A little blurry in pics I cant make them out.

Seriously though, arent Saigas fun to convert?

Merrell's of course!

Ya I love working on rifles and Saiga's are pretty idiot proof. I really can't wait to check out the effectiveness of the Kreb's brake. It is a 2-piece construction and is an exact replica of the original Russian brakes (the half-moon cuts for the forward gas blah). It is about 1/2" longer than the Tapco '74 brake.

Adds a bit of weight though and is a bit front heavy at the moment but I am sure when it is back together and has a stock and other stuff on it it should even out.

Sprout47 · 10-19-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diatribes

What kind of shoes are those? A little blurry in pics I cant make them out.

Seriously though, arent Saigas fun to convert?

Which btw since you picked yourself up another one. It took me only about 2-3 weeks to get all my parts from Dinzag, seems the rush on parts has died down a little or he has more on hand.

cr107 · 10-20-2009, 12:42 AM

that's cool. i wish i had the $$ for one. would make a nice Russian replica that's for sure. cant wait to see what you do with it sprout!!

ttwinsupra · 10-20-2009, 12:49 AM

WTH?! why does this saiga have a dimple recever? is this for the 5.45 only?

thrillbilly · 10-20-2009, 02:47 AM

How hard is it to put in the feed ramp in the saiga reciever so it takes AK mags? I understand you have to file the mag latch also. Is that a DIY drop-in mod or does it entail in-depth reconfiguring? I am considering buying a 7.62x39 saiga...and was just wondering how hard those mods are. I will leave all the rest stock probably...just interested in using hi-cap AK mags.

"Still to come is the plum KVAR furniture"
That looks like a nice project....when you say "plum" stock...does that mean they are plum colored or just a style/brand name? sorry if I hijacked your post with my questions about the feed ramp.

Sprout47 · 10-20-2009, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttwinsupra

WTH?! why does this saiga have a dimple recever? is this for the 5.45 only?

They started using the dimpled receiver in late 07 I believe, my 7.62x39 Saiga has dimples as well; it is an '08.

Sprout47 · 10-20-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrillbilly

How hard is it to put in the feed ramp in the saiga reciever so it takes AK mags? I understand you have to file the mag latch also. Is that a DIY drop-in mod or does it entail in-depth reconfiguring? I am considering buying a 7.62x39 saiga...and was just wondering how hard those mods are. I will leave all the rest stock probably...just interested in using hi-cap AK mags.
"Still to come is the plum KVAR furniture"
That looks like a nice project....when you say "plum" stock...does that mean they are plum colored or just a style/brand name? sorry if I hijacked your post with my questions about the feed ramp.

The feed ramp is not hard to install, though I muck it up every time

You place the feed ramp in place and mark the center of the hole, punch it to make an impression and then drill through. THen you use a thread tap, a little loctite and screw it in place, or if you are like me take it to get it welded in place.

THe mag catch needs to be filed down on all Saiga's except for the 5.45x39, they come already able to accept standard AK magazines. You just have to make a little more room for the rear lug to snap in as the AK mag's rear lug is a little bit thicker than the Saiga magazines, but like I said the 5.45 doesn't require this (I am not sure but I think this is a mistake from the factory and is probably because they just started to release them in this caliber).

Just so you know, when you convert a Saiga to accept standard AK magazines you have to do a 922(r) compliance part swap because it is no longer considered a "sporting rifle".

By "plum" furniture I am talking about the color, I have this on the way to me;

K-VAR Corporation :: Stock Sets :: AKPSL

thrillbilly · 10-20-2009, 02:32 PM

Thanks sprout...my wife would wig out over a purple AK LOL, purple is her favorite color...her 30.06 has a purple (dark plum) stock...but it came from Krylon LOL.

Sprout47 · 10-20-2009, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrillbilly

Thanks sprout...my wife would wig out over a purple AK LOL, purple is her favorite color...her 30.06 has a purple (dark plum) stock...but it came from Krylon LOL.

Ya... I already told my woman that we are not to call the AK "purple", it is "plum" lol. I haven't reconciled with me wanting a "purple" AK yet

She already named it, "Jimmy Jones and the Purple Kool-Aid".

Whootsinator · 10-20-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprout47

Just so you know, when you convert a Saiga to accept standard AK magazines you have to do a 922(r) compliance part swap because it is no longer considered a "sporting rifle".

It's my understanding that filing the mag latch doesn't make it non-922 compliant, but USING standard AK mags does. Put a Euro mag into a fresh-from-the-box filed-maglatch Saiga, ILLEGAL NON-922-COMPLIANT RIFLE. Take it off, it's magically legal again... Retarded... Though, if the authorities really want to be d***heads, they'll just pull the old 'Intent to Construct' BS....

Sprout47 · 10-20-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whootsinator

It's my understanding that filing the mag latch doesn't make it non-922 compliant, but USING standard AK mags does. Put a Euro mag into a fresh-from-the-box filed-maglatch Saiga, ILLEGAL NON-922-COMPLIANT RIFLE. Take it off, it's magically legal again... Retarded... Though, if the authorities really want to be d***heads, they'll just pull the old 'Intent to Construct' BS....

It's the ability to accept that makes it non-compliant. That is why the Saiga magazines are designed the way they are. The example you bring would be if you replaced the magazine follower and floor plate and used those 2 parts towards your 922(r) compliance then it would matter what type of magazine you were sticking in your modified rifle.

As soon as you modify your rifle to accept those standard AK magazines you run into 922(r) land. From the factory they are set to use non-military magazines so by making yours accept one you are changing the rifles category. It is imported as a sporting rifle and therefore not subject to 922(r) regs. Making it have the capability to accept military magazines makes it no longer a sporting rifle and requires you to swap 5 parts with US parts.

Whootsinator · 10-20-2009, 09:38 PM

Ah. Well, I've heard both arguments, and I will say 'My Understanding'. I would personally rather be safe than sorry, and just go ahead and make it 922 compliant before filing.

Sprout47 · 10-20-2009, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whootsinator

Ah. Well, I've heard both arguments, and I will say 'My Understanding'. I would personally rather be safe than sorry, and just go ahead and make it 922 compliant before filing.

That is the safe bet

Although as I pointed out before, the 5.45 Saigas come without the need to file down the mag catch. My East German Bakelite mag snapped right in right out of the box.

Diatribes · 10-21-2009, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whootsinator

Ah. Well, I've heard both arguments, and I will say 'My Understanding'. I would personally rather be safe than sorry, and just go ahead and make it 922 compliant before filing.

If you put a magazine on it that holds over 10 rounds you must make it 922r compliant. The simple act of filing the latch isnt enough if youre still only using 10 rounders or less.

Diatribes · 10-21-2009, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprout47

Which btw since you picked yourself up another one. It took me only about 2-3 weeks to get all my parts from Dinzag, seems the rush on parts has died down a little or he has more on hand.

I buy all my conversion parts from Cope's Distributing They have alot of stuff at good prices and flat rate ship everything for $7.95. Ive never waited longer than a week to get anything from them typically 4 business days. Working on my 4th order from them for my 223

squirrelblaster · 10-21-2009, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diatribes

i buy all my conversion parts from cope's distributing they have alot of stuff at good prices and flat rate ship everything for $7.95. Ive never waited longer than a week to get anything from them typically 4 business days. Working on my 4th order from them for my 223

+1

10-19-2009, 06:36 PM	#1
Sprout47 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Upstate New Yok Posts: 1,693	SAIGA 5,45X39 Conversion (work in progress) Here are some pics of what I have done so far. My video camera crapped the bed so this is the best I can do Threaded the barrel tonight and got the Kreb's 24mm Russian remake 74 brake installed. I will be dropping it off at the gun smith tomorrow to have them weld it on (NY regs). I also got my bullet guide and pistol grip kit today as well and have those installed. Still to come is the plum KVAR furniture and will be dropping in an Arsenal Inc. fire control group. I will be ordering those tomorrow night and should have them within a week. Feel free to hit me up with any questions. __________________ "Nothing is impossible with an AK "

10-19-2009, 06:47 PM	#2
PSLMAN Square peg in round hole. Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rheas Mill, Arkansas. Posts: 2,899 Blog Entries: 2	Did you replace the trigger guard? __________________ A normal man finds ways to avoid zombie situations. PSLMAN finds ways to get into zombie situations.

10-19-2009, 07:36 PM	#4
Diatribes Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 469	What kind of shoes are those? A little blurry in pics I cant make them out. Seriously though, arent Saigas fun to convert? __________________ Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day.

10-20-2009, 12:42 AM	#7
cr107 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Loganville, Ga Posts: 968	that's cool. i wish i had the $$ for one. would make a nice Russian replica that's for sure. cant wait to see what you do with it sprout!! __________________ 'Justice is a short rope with a long fall" Future Solider

10-20-2009, 02:47 AM	#9
thrillbilly Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ozark Hill Country Posts: 3,182	How hard is it to put in the feed ramp in the saiga reciever so it takes AK mags? I understand you have to file the mag latch also. Is that a DIY drop-in mod or does it entail in-depth reconfiguring? I am considering buying a 7.62x39 saiga...and was just wondering how hard those mods are. I will leave all the rest stock probably...just interested in using hi-cap AK mags. "Still to come is the plum KVAR furniture" That looks like a nice project....when you say "plum" stock...does that mean they are plum colored or just a style/brand name? sorry if I hijacked your post with my questions about the feed ramp. __________________ *" I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on."* John Wayne

10-20-2009, 12:49 AM	#8
ttwinsupra Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 366	WTH?! why does this saiga have a dimple recever? is this for the 5.45 only?

10-20-2009, 02:32 PM	#12
thrillbilly Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ozark Hill Country Posts: 3,182	Thanks sprout...my wife would wig out over a purple AK LOL, purple is her favorite color...her 30.06 has a purple (dark plum) stock...but it came from Krylon LOL. __________________ *" I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on."* John Wayne

10-20-2009, 09:38 PM	#16
Whootsinator Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,040	Ah. Well, I've heard both arguments, and I will say 'My Understanding'. I would personally rather be safe than sorry, and just go ahead and make it 922 compliant before filing.