bizyb94

I'm looking to buy an original Saiga 7.62x39 rifle handguard.

Great--thanks!

Question: Are the stock/OEM .223 and 7.62x39 handguards the same/interchangeable?

Yes, the receivers are strong. However, the original design of the rifle called for that internal receiver step to make contact with the stock. So, I'm going to go with the K-var stock. Nothing against Tapco but I think their model is better suited for AKMs which have shallower trunnion steps.

Yes, it does fit. The three walls of the receiver fit flush up against the Tapco stock where they are supposed to--I agree with you there. But is it doing what it is supposed to do in terms of making contact with the rear trunnion step to absorb recoil? It's clear that the Tapco model does not have the same specs as the original Saiga stock when compared side by side--so it's not making contact with the trunnion as the original does. So, even though it may feel like it fits, could it be lacking in a key area that could be detrimental to the rifle over the long term?

I ran across a posting on another forum that is interesting and wanted to get some opinions on it here. See link below: http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1179794#post14683909 It seems the Tapco stock is not built with the Saiga's ak-74 style butt stock trunnion in mind--it does not fit flush up against the trunnion. Therefore, the sides of the receiver bear the brunt of recoil against the stock. I compared a Tapco Warsaw length stock with a K-var and the OEM Saiga stock and it's true--the Tapco is slightly shorter where it is supposed to make contact with the receiver trunni