imarangemaster

A piper cutter works, though cheap tubing cutters don't. I used a dremel with a cut off grinder and a hoe clamp as a guide. When using that meythod, you need to be careful not to cut too deep. Pipe cutter is the easiest method, though...

OP, I am hoping that you took those pictures in "Free America". As pictured, in California it is a Felony. The thumbhole stock makes it an unregistered Assault Weapon, Good for 5 years in the big house. I have that same stock, but only put it on when I am up in Oregon at my daughters or in Nevada at my best friend's place outside Elko. Here is California legal: The 30 rounders are legal for me, as I possessed them in California prior to the 1-1-2000 ban. Unless your are around 30ish, it would be hard to make someone believe you had the high caps before that date IN CALIFORNIA.

The nice thing about Saigas is that they are made in Russia at Izhmash Arsenal, who have been making AK platforms since 1946. They are based on the Current Russian Military AK74 and and Ak103 platform. They have hammer forged barrels with chrome linings. They are a REAL AK, not just a clone or copy. They also tend to be more accurate than all these cobbled together copies.

Looks great. Check my recent posts and ProtectandServe's. We have modified our Saigas to the limit allowed in Californication, and it will give you good ideas. The Druganov stock is a no-no and would give you a "felony stick" I like the Izhmash factory Druganov stock, though, and have one for mine when I am not in California.

I think I have one I will send you free. Let me check.

This!

NOPE! Won't hurt it at all! Its an AK, for Pete sake!

I would trim about 1/8" off of it with a dremel cut off wheel., then smooth it with a dremel grider

It is OK, but I actually switched back to the factory stock. I have had three shoulder surgeries, and the angle of the K-Var grip is wrong. It gave me cramps shooting it. I'll hang on to the K-Var in case I ever move the trigger group forward. I really like the handguard/gas tube set up better than a "standard" AK handguard. Way less finger sizzle!

The ar15 Mag adapters were just coming out in the 2007/2008 time period when I had my 223 Saiga. They were "iffy" and a bitch to install. I have been leery of them since...

Went up into the National Forest and found a nice little clearing against a hill where I could set up a 25 yard range. I finally got a chance to dial in the sights at 25, so my other setting would be good. With the rear on the 200 setting, I have it dialed in POA/POI at 25 yards. Should be good to 250 yards now. Also sighted in my Tasco red Dot, though the battery died before just as I was finishing. The modified Tapco G2 really cleaned up and lightened the trigger pull, even with the factory linkage intact. At 75 yards, shooting off hand, from a standing position, the red dot

Hmmmm... Beryl mags. Thats cool. When I had the 223 Saiga, I used Galil Orlite 35 round. I tried the steel ones, but due to the wide variety of manufacturers for the steel mags, I had problems. The Orlites just needed a 60 second modification and ran like a top! If I still had the Orlites, I would have bought another Saiga 223. Tapco makes a 223 AK mag now, I believe.

Here are some of the Saiga builds I have done since 2007, starting with most recent first, going backwards in time: Most are ones I did for me, and two were for others. Download warning lots of pics! First is my current saiga, my "featureless" Kalifornication version, and the second is the same 7.62 as my free America version. Plum Crazy 7.62x39. My favorite. These two are the same. Later version first. 7.62x39 Saiga My second Saiga, a 7.62x39. I sold it to get a dimpled one (above) My first Saiga, a 223. Later version first, the

Here are some of the Saiga builds I have done since 2007, starting with most recent first, going backwards in time: SOme are ones I did for me, and some were for others. Download warning lots of pics! Fist two are the same weapon. Top is my Kalifornication version, and the second is my free America version. Here are some of the Saiga builds I have done since 2007, starting with most recent first, going backwards in time: Most are ones I did for me, and two were for others. Download warning lots of pics! Top is my Kalifornication version, and the seco

The factory "Saiganov" stocks give the illusion of being bent upward, also.

Nice weapons! Thanks..

A few years back (2008 to 2012), the one true Kalashnikov path of the Saiga was hopping on this board. We would have dozens of posts a day, probably 1/3 of them new posts. Where the hell are all the Saiga owners? Have all the questions about our venerable Automat been asked? Are there no more saigas? Are ther no new Saiga owners? Post a picture of your favorite Saiga build (any caliber). I'll start it with a favorite restoration of mine that I did just before I moved back to Kalifornication.... Sold it when I moved back, as I could not bear to put a Kydex paddle on it.

I have had questions about why I don't do a full "restoration" and use a Solar tactical paddle. I have RH Solar Tactical paddles for my PTR91 (HK clone), my AR15 retro build, and have had them on prior AK builds and a VZ58 I had. On the AR, if it is a build with a carbine stock, I prefer the Hammerhead (which I also have) as it allows a one hand, secure grip, that feels sorta like an FN P90 PDW grip. On my retro rifle, I use the paddle. Anyway, since the Saiga comes featureless, it seems silly to me to restore it, only to have to install a paddle to use my pre 1-1-2000 high-caps.. Sort of l

Arghhh! Finally got a chance to try the build with the K-Var stock. I thought it would be alright from first feel just trying it dry firing- BUTTTTTTT... (Let me preface this by saying I am 62 years old and have had three surgeries (2 complete rebuilds) of the right shoulder) After a few shots, my right arm started to cramp because of the unnatural angle. Dang! After all that effort, I just had to go back to the factory Saiga buttstock. I know it works well, as I have had fired hundreds of rounds with the factory rounds. I still don't want to restore this one with a pistol grip like p

I have to throw a plug in here. I like some Tapco stuff Intrafuse Saiga handguard, gas pistons, G2 fire control groups (BEST AK trigger pull), etc. Some stuff is awful :T-6 stack grip, standard AK handguards, standard AK buttstocks. Now here is the plug. about 6 years ago, I got some Tapco 30s with the grippy ribs. They were very tough, reliable mags, and were way lighter than the dozen steel Mil-Surps I have. I sold the Tapcos when I moved back to Californistan in 2011, as they were not pre1-1-2000 California legal mags like the dozen steel Mil-Surps I have. I still use some Tapco 10s a

I also added a Russian AK103 1000 meter rear sight.

It's like shooting an old straight stock 03 Springfield or Mauser. Not bad. Not quite as good as the factory stock, but it looks better!

The tactical Tri-Delta brake installed with crush washer:

Pictures!

Hurray! It's done!!!!! Everything is great. The only hitch I had was the vented Chinese gas tube (NOS) had very sharp edges areound the hole on the face of the tube toweards the BCG. It was scrapuing and binding a little. I relieved the top edge where the lock engages it, and beveled the inside of the mouth of the tube with a dremel. Slick as snot. I even put a recoil buffer on it. My .308 PTR-91 (HK91 Clone) has a built in rubber reecoil buffer (all HKs and CETMEs do), and the AR15 has a rubber recoil buffer on the end of the buffer. AKs beat the hell out of the end on the reciever