minter66
-
Content Count
24 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Blogs
Calendar
Store
Posts posted by minter66
-
-
Thanks for all the good input. I decided to order an ACE, but I'm going to get a longer one than I have on my S12 currently. The one on the S12 is too short for the recoil vs. proximity of my face to the back of the receiver. So once I get the longer one I'll put it on the S12 and use the one that's currently on my S12 on my 7.62. That should solve everything.
Gunna go shoot the 7.62 for the first time later today. I never noticed how crappy the factory TG feels until now when I can compare side by side with my Tapco Tromix modified TG in my S12. Can't wait to do this conversion, my first!
Im not going to bash my Tapco side folder. It was inexpensive and it gets the job done. Some of you are making it sound like its a piece of paper and not strong, but it is definately rigid. No I cannot slam it into a wall and not expect it to take damager, but who is going to slam it into a wall? I am definately going to change stocks out at a later date, but for not having to wait on shipping and actually getting to inspect in store and walking out with it in my hand, I was happy. Plus I didn't have to modify it to fit, it just slid right in and screwed it in and done.
-
Okay, had a couple of PM's asking about what I bought and such, so here is a list:
Here are the following parts that I used. I bought all my parts from Cheaper Than Dirt because it is located in Ft. Worth, TX and I live close by (Dont have to wait for shipping or anything)
First, the easy stuff:
Magazine clamps (check the legality if you can own them)
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AKS008-36.html
Master molder magazines:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/MAG035-36.html
Collapsible folding stock
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AKS025-1.html
SAW pistol grip (feels great)
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AKS031-1.html
Side mount (for scope or optics)
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AKS006-1.html
Picatinny rails for front hand guard (2 of them, I only needed 1)
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ARR054-7.html
More complex parts:
Tapco G2 Double hook trigger
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AKS024-1.html
With a little cutting, I cut off that second hook and trimmed a little on the forward part of the trigger and now it feels like butter.
AK-47 / Saiga Pistol Grip bolt and nut:
http://www.copesdistributing.net/product_i...products_id=522
This is the only part I had to order online, and I hate to order parts online, I just don't trust online merchants. But it got here within 3 days and it worked great. If you get the SAW grip, it comes with a short bolt and all you will need is the special nut that comes from Copes to put in the receiver.
-
Thermolds (the US made mags, not the Canadian ones) go pretty cheap, if you want polymer mags. The steel mags will probably run cheaper, though.
Master Molder at CTD are 11.97 ea. The reason I love them so much is because they are a short drive for me, but the shipping may get you.
-
VERY COOL SAIGA! is it in 5.56 or 7.62.39?
7.62x39
I am looking for a .223 or 5.56 for my next conversion...maybe a .308???!!!
-
Awesome, and congratulations! Looks like a job well done. I actually just finished my conversion today (just waiting for Brownell's to get me a stock with all the parts!) Definitely looks good though? What do you plan on for the next conversion?
Thank you very much. Post up your conversion I am curious to see what it looks like!
My next conversion (if I can find it) will be a 16" .223 AKS-101 (I think that is what it is called) look-alike.
But I am going to hold off. This thing was a pain to do, and while I am glad I did it, I need to acquire the correct tools before I do another one.
-
Looks good!
How ya likes the new trigger? Feels a LOT better than factory junk, eh?
It feels like butter!
-
My first conversion:
From this:
to this!!
-
Whew, wow what a weekend. Hurricane IKE decided to greet us here in the Dallas Ft. Worth metroplex softly, but it was still enough to put the Classic Car Swap Meet at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington out of business (and I was making a killing!)
So after driving by Cheaper Than Dirt in Ft. Worth and getting everything I need for my conversion I head up to my dad's place to put up the Mustang and use his bench top drill and his bench top grinder. By the way, the bench top grinder made mince-meat of those rivets. If you know someone with a giant spinning wheel that grinds, that is the way to take out the old sporter plate (or whatever it's called)
Boy did I had problems from the get-go. Thanks to vjor for letting me know about the gastube thing, most people have screws, I have to remove the gas tube and then the handguard...I must have looked at it for an hour before begging for help. From there disassembly went great. It was all the freaking cutting that had me more nervous than on my wedding night! All I had was a dremel at my house, and I used it to cut the new PG hole, cut the second hook off my Tapco trigger and then I had to dremel holes into my new stock to get it to fit...plus my picatinny rail on the front HG...
One big shout out of thanks to quikz, this guy was awesome. Very patient in answering all my noob questions about where he got all his parts and such, thanks quikz!
Anyways enough blabbering, without further delay:
My saiga when I bought it:
My Saiga now:
-
THANK YOU!!
Wow, this thing has never been field stripped. Had to hit it with the palm of my hand a couple of million times to loosen the gas tube up, but once it was out the hand guard slid right off.
Additionally, I was careful when removing the FHG, but no spring could be found. What is it used for?
Again, THANK YOU, I can now proceed with my conversion...though I think I am doomed with the old age of my weapon.
If is and Old saiga imported by EAA, you take the gas tube offand the hand guard comes out as you slide it to the front of the gun.
To take the gas tube off, push the lever thats is on the side of the
rear iron sight block, push it up, after that you take the gas tube
off, the back of the gas tube comes out first
as you pull it up. Remember to take the
bolt carrier out before you take the gas tube off.
By the way as you take the front hand guard off
you will see a small spring on the end of the front hand guard
don't loose it as you take the hand guard off.
-
On the rifle you just need to take the screw out at the back end of the forearm and slide it forward,theres clips inside that ride up on pins in the bottom/side of the gas block.
That's the problem, there is no screw on the back end of the forearm. There is no screw ANYWHERE I have looked on the sides, top and underneath. Not even under the iron sights. It simply doesn't exist (check first photo in my post and enlarge, I know it's crappy but there is no screw there)
I guess I need to get my dremel out and see whats under that plastic.
-
hrm, so your saying there is a round plastic notch instead of a screw at the bottom? thats really odd, what year was your gun made? EAA or RAA gun?
Correct, it's sunken like there was supposed to be a screw there, but its just plastic, like the hand guard slides under the receiver and thats it.
Here is a photo of the gun, nothing unusual...
EAA Corp is stamped on the side. 01 on the side and its dented where the 01 is. 2001?
need to bust my drill out?
-
Okay, started on my conversion today and I got the buttstock, dust cover, spring, bolt and carrier...all out no problems.
Forearm, there is just a plastic circle there, no screw to get it out. I have attached a photo, don't know whats going on, mine isn't any different other than its a 21" barrel instead of a 16...that a problem?
Additionally, anyone else have problems with the KVAR buttstock, forearm and pistol grip combo from Cheaper than Dirt? I put it on and there was a huge 1 inch gap between the receiver and where the buttstock should line up...not screw holes either.
Well the forearms is the big issue here. HELP!
-
I have the 20" model too. It seems that they are the fat chick of saigas. Most don't prefer the look, and try to avoid them, but theyre better than your hand.
I used to get bent out of shape worrying that I had more "barrel whip" or wasnt as accurate as a 16" But the way I see it, and I'm no expert, most SKS's are the same length and no one complains about them. That being said, I would get the short one if I could do it over, but I was ignorant about Saigas when I got it. I cant afford to go back. Mine is my SHTF piece. I've toyed with cutting it down, but can't seem to take that plunge.
Sorry for the verbal diarreha, just enjoy your rifle and don't second guess it. I'd do the conversion, pretty simple and lots of help here.
No no no, it wasn't verbal diarrhea, you helped me out a lot. Glad to know I am not the only one with a long barrel.
Any pictures of yours?
Thanks for the support, I too am no expert and thought the barrel looked just fine, until I saw others on this board. Just think though, we can go around telling others "mine is bigger than yours!!!"
-
Additionally, now that I really look at it, why is my barrel so freaking long? Compared to other Saiga's, its huge!
You have the 20 inch barrel. Alot of us have the 16 inch barrel, mine is 16"...
I'd REALLY-REALLY like a 16" barrelled .308!
Is there anything I can do to get it down? Is cutting the barrel down a legal/practical alternative. Quad rail is gonna look stupid on that if i have a huge barrel sticking out.
-
Ah so they "generally" do not happen, but every once in a blue moon they do...
I just wish I had known when I was 18 that I was going to buy my rifle (lol 6 years ago) and then snapped up cheap ammo. Stupid me!!!
I think the group buys on ammo don't work because of the sheer weight of bulk ammo, the cost to ship to individuals kills the savings. I've seen people planning for a build party will also order ammo, and have it delivered to the build site, that way everyone can then drive home with what they ordered from that central location. if you order from century and reach the 500$ mark the shipping is free, so it kinda pays to get a couple people together locally and do a big ammo buy that way. -
I used a simple file and took off tiny bits at a time on the MM mags. DONT OVER DO IT! There is no going back when filing.
You can try coupling the mags staggard, that way you should clear to optics. The mags don't have to be mounted even-steven. Or remove it and put the optic on the fwd rail.
I think I am going to try and move the optic rail back a little, just enough to clear. If not I will just remove it.
Additionally, now that I really look at it, why is my barrel so freaking long? Compared to other Saiga's, its huge!
-
btt
Are non-contributors allowed to respond to this?
I live in Texas...I don't need my stinking 10 rnd mag
*loads 75rnd drum*
-
Well after going to CTD today, an spending about $23 on only 80 rnds of ammunition, I started to search the interwebz and tried to track down bulk 7.62x39 ammo.
I would love to buy bulk 1000 cases, but that is kind of hard for a newly wed with a new mortgage while I just spent about $200 for my saiga conversion.
Do you guys ever do bulk buys?
Additionally does anyone ever go twosies on a 1000 rnd case?
I mean at http://www.ammoman.com I can buy 1000 rnds for $199 shipped, but man I can't afford that. But if someone in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex would split it with me, I would be more than happy with 500 rnds for $99.50, shoot you get to keep the tin can it comes in...yet if I buy 500 rnds just by myself, it goes up to 117.xx...
But does this kind of thing ever happen, or do I just save up for myself?
-
Oh and did you have to trim the catch's on your MM's? I had to dremel off part of the catch's because they wouldn't lock into my Saiga
-
You'll be fine with the Tapco FCG. Just have to monkey w/ it a tiny bit vs. Dinzag's. But it's all compliant and reduces trigger pull considerably.
Great, the savings was worth picking it up today.
If you get an AK drum, you'd need Dinzag's bullet guide and such. I prefer just the dual mag w/ clamp setup. Takes forever to load a drum.Well I bought dual mags and have a clamp, only problem is I have a side rail and the dual mag gets in the way, if I mount it too high then I can't charge the gun...how do you get around dual mag clamps with a side rail?
Best to do all and get all, before the pres. election. I'm eyeing a .308 Saiga w/ 16" barrel as a hedge.Yeah, tell me about it. If NoBama gets in the white house, were all going to be posting "Well I finally got my stick and rock combo set in, now I need to customize it!!"
-
Ahh this is why I tell my yank friends:
Fortunate to be an American, Blessed to be a Texan.
Alright quick questions:
How on earth does ONE magazine count as three parts? Do they make drums for Saiga's? (muhahhahahah)
I went today at lunch and picked up my UTG Quad rail, 3 MM mags, my front vertical grip, 80 rnds of 7.62x39 ammo, 4 mag clamps, and this:
Know I know I told you that I wanted to you Dinzag's FCG and you told me to do it, but this looks exactly the same but without the disconnect spring, and I saved $30.00
Bad Idea? If so I have my receipt and can make the drive back to them and return it.
All in all, I blew $195.00 of my hard American dollars. Also, do pistol grips come with the pistol grip bolt or do I have to get that somewhere else? The guy at the counter told me to re-use my ak47 bolt but I told him its a saiga.
Help?
Oh and I plan on turning my gun into this:
NOT
Your MM mag for ex, is counted as THREE US parts. YOU are in TEXAS (you lucky bastard!
) Hell, go with 40-50 rd US mags!Your Dinzag FCG is counted as 3 US parts.
Your US made pistol grip is ONE part.
Your US made buttstock is ONE part.
Total US compliant parts should be EIGHT.
The UTG quad rail model (#478), is economical and does NOT require any expensive retaining ring, but a Dinzag retainer completes it very nicely. For mine I just wanted to be able to slap a FEW stuff on (light, grip). There is nothing wrong with adding accessories or being capable thereof, as long as you don't turn it into a freakin Christmas tree!!!
(Especially when I can REVERT back to the original sporter Saiga, by simply swapping out the front handguard!)
If you want to stay somewhat more 'pure to 100 series form', I'm considering this myself:
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Synthet...ting_Rails.html
Remeber to SAVE all you paperwork to help prove/validate your 922r compliance. Enjoy your conversion!!!
-
What state are you located???
The reason I ask is, that will have alot of bearing on what you do/can/cannot do....
The Great State of TEXAS !!
YEEHAW *Draws revolvers and shoots wildly into the air*
I do plan on going to the range and shooting very liberally (any good advice on where to get some 7.62 ammo?)
But I sure would like to have 30 round magazines when the zombos attack. 10 rounders would get annoying to change.
And I would have to disagree on the quad rail, yes I know I bought an AK, but it doesn't mean it cant have tactical (Im not putting every frickin tacticool part I can find on it) parts.
I was hoping someone wouldn't point out that the 7.62 rnd isnt a sniper round, but now my dirty laundry is in the wind so sniper rifle is out!
As far as getting it 922r compliant I want to replace the HG and Buttstock with american made ones, go with american made 30 rounders...but if I can count correctly that still leaves me with 1 part over 10 (HG+Buttstock+Mag = 3, I have 14 imported parts = 11 left)
What's the easiest thing to replace to get it into 922r compliance?
Thanks!
-
After looking around and turning over rocks, I found a seller who tried to barter off his 7.62 on a handgun on GlockTalk. I PM'd him and wadda ya know 3 days later I was the proud owner of a very lightly used Saiga 7.62x39.
The only problem is I am completely torn on what to do with it. I have trolled the site and found gorgeous examples of what a Saiga can look like as a sniper rifle:
AND
But then one user on here posted up their converted Saiga and I absolutely love the double mag clamps, skeleton stock, and front HG and since mine already has a side/top rail I could do optics on it
So I leave the choice up to you guys. I am definitely getting a quad rail, but aside from that I don't know where to go. I shouldn't have to worry about 922r compliance if I go the sniper route as I will be using 10 round mags and I will use all USA parts so I can + up in case I change my mind.
Feedback and voting is appreciated. I just can't decide!
NYS Saiga Conversion
in Saiga Rifle Conversions
Posted · Edited by minter66
Sorry to hear about your LEO's giving you such a hard time. Here in Texas LEO's and Civies support each other and even check each others guns out.
I have two LEO's as neighbors in my neighborhood ( 1 even parks his PC in our street = good for us) and I have shown my 9mm S&W, 40 Taurus and my newly converted Saiga and he was impressed that a computer nerd could hack a gun up so well.
Long Live The Republic Of Tejas (pulls revolvers and shoots into air) YEEHAWWWW