imarangemaster

I thought about using some of that crack sealing foam in the stock, like you suggest. It is a shame that the K-Var stock did not work out for me. I like the look, but the ergonomics felt all wrong. I need to do a little more filing for final fitting on the stock handguard.. I thought of drilling some vent holes like I did on a Siaga I had 7 or 8 years ago, but I took the aluminum heat shield from the Tapco, and cut it down to fit the stock one.

You should see the mod I did tonight. I still need to do some finish, though, then I'll post pictures. I modified the factory handguard to fit with the Chicom Type 56 vented gas tube and top handguard. I'm putting the aluminum liner in the factory handguard, too. I really love the feel of the factory handguard, and it looks bad-ass with the Chicom tube and red dot! I have enough 922R parts without furniture: followers, gas piston, muzzle break, hammer, disconnector, and sear( which is separate on a Saiga from the trigger.

Thanks. I have "legally possessed by me in California prior to ban of 1-1-2000" 30 rounders for it, since I had a Registered Assault weapon AK in 1990. I usually don't use them as range mags, though. I use a 10 round Saiga or Tapco, and have a 6 pack shoulder of 30 rounders handy. 10s are handier for home defense, also.

Took my IZ132 7.62x39 Saiga out in the woods to dial in the red dot. I got a new, old stock vintage Tasco "Accudot" 1X redot. shotgun scope. These were popular in the midwest with slug hunters, as they are impervious to the recoil of 3" and 3 1/2" mag slug loads. The scope mount is a close copy of a Midwest Industries low rise mount. The Saiga has a Tapco handguard, gas piston, followers, and disconnector and hammer (and modified trigger block) are for 922R compliance so I can use my pre-ban 30s. The added benefit, however, is that it has the sweetest trigger pull of about 2.5 pounds,

Do those have steel reinforcement around the bottom of the magazine? I have some that only have reinforcement up top, lips and lugs, that I bought from a member on here. I snapped the bottom of one off at the range when I was using the mag as a rest. Shot the floor plate retainer down range and dumped out the remaining rounds. Only things salvageable were floor plate, spring and follower. I've switched to ((10))'s and steel only. The Polish I had were military issue and only had steel for lugs and re-enforced lips. They were awesome mags...

Thanks, I thought so. Had an opportunity for cheap set on EBAY, but 308. Maybe just get a set of the IZHMASH $150 wood from CSS. I like wood....

Anyone know if Saiga 308 furniture interchanges with 7.62x39 stuff? I know the stocks do, but how about handguards????

FACTORY!!!!

I guess it is just personal preference. Originally I did it for parts count back in the day. But now I use them because Polymer followers work well in dry, non-lubed steel mags.

We always talk about Soviet era Com-bloc steel magazines as being indestructible and maintenance free, so I thought I would share some observations from using them for the last 30 years or so... First, they do rust inside. I have had them where the spring actually rusted through. The rust can also cause the steel followers to bind, especially with the spring degraded. Granted, in all those years, I have only seen a few where they rusted that bad, that the spring snapped, and those were part of a large case lot I bought (for resale at gunshows and Shotgun news back in the day) stored in

When you consider the strength of the Kalashnikov weapon system is its absolute reliability and indestructibility, using a magazine of less than the same standard is ridiculous. My "Real World" SHTF and EOTWAWKI magazines are mo com=block steel with Tapco followers. My Tapco rebuilt ones are merely standby mags, since they were used to rebuild some really beat to shit com-blocs I would not trust. If I had the money, I would love some Izhmash or Tula orange bakelites, but at $35 a pop on my retirement income, that's not happening. I use the Tapco smooth side orange to fill that visual ne

I run Magpul followers in my USGI mags. ZERO malfunctions....but am not a fan of their AR magazines. (cracks, splits, don't fit some lowers, etc.. From what I see, the Tapco smoothside AK mags are at least as good as the Magpuls and cheaper, but oh, wait... Tapco is not KEEEWWEEELLLLLL (COOL).

The best mags I ever had were Polish military polymers with the metal re-enforcement in them. Aim surplus had them about 6 or 7 years ago, but you never see them anymore. There re Polish commercial out there with no steel, and they are no better than Promags.. Circle 10s are great, but stupid expensive. Years ago they would come on sale for $24ish (once saw them $19). $45 is just insane.... I'll stick with my Com-Bloc steel and Tapco slab sides.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18JtG4alPT4#t=11 Magpuls did OK, except they sheared the front and rear lugs off, whacking the magazine in a durability test a couple minutes in.

I finally used the Tapco orange smooth side bodies to rebuild some of my trashed com-bloc steel. Worked great, and look good!

Fortunately, whacking them with a center punch shatters them. Easy to remove a broken on (I know because I have broken two taps - cheap ones from kits). I bought one from the hardware store, and it worked great. Remember to turn 1/8 to 1/4 turn, then back off until you feel the "snick" of the cut metal popping free.

I actually prefer the feel of the Saiga factory handguard over everything. The Tapco handguard with an aluminum channel in it, does stay much cooler. If I could get to my drill press, I may try drilling a Saiga handguard and putting the aluminum channel in it. I would have to relieve the top of the Saiga HG, though, so I could use the Chinese tube and top handguard..

I drilled 3/8" holes in one: Also the Tapco Saiga works well:

Nice job!

Here is with the shroud cut back half way. I used a dremel, but it would be about the same with a pipe cutter:

The russian slabside polymer are great, but at about $13 each, you can get about 8 Tapco slabside polymers for the price of one. The new Tapcos pass the old K-Var polymer mag drop test as well as the circle 10s with steel re-enforcement . You can do Spetnez pushups on the rifle with the new Tapcos, also. It comes in black, orange, plum, and FDE (Dark Earth). Tapco has a lifetime warranty on them, also, IIRC. I used Tapco bodies to rebuild some of my "Legally possessed by me in California prior to 1-1-2000" metal that were banged up and/or rusty.

VGNOPE, No problem from me, even though I am a retired California LEO. Just trying to keep a fellow forum member out of a bind. Oftentimes new members are unaware of the law. As I posted before, Here is my Kaliforncation legal Saiga Here is my "Saganovstock" stock for when I am in Nevada or Oregon. I actually like it as much as a standard "pistol grip where it should be" AK.

Krylon has a line of camouflage paints that are tough as nails. People use them to paint boats, 4 wheelers, etc. I had switched to a KVar Nato length stock, but switched back to the factory stock. It handles well, even with my 30s. 10 rounders are not bad, though. I always use 10 rounders plinking and range. The 30s I save for blasting!

Cool. I checked and couldn't find it. Must have given it away already.

STOP! The tap is easy to get out. Take a hardened punch slightly smaller than the hole, center on tap, and whack it with a hammer. The tap will shatter. Taps can be got at any hardware store. When using a tap, just go 1/8 turn at a time and back off untill you hear a snick, then advance it again.. Use plenty of oil.