Fishbed77

Gross. Why would you ever want to do that? The polymer side-folder is far and away superior to that ATI stock.

AimSurplus.com had some, but they went pretty quick. Get on their in-stock notification mailing list. Personally, I'm not going to fool with the Magpul AK mags until they come out with the steel-reinforced versions, and then only if they cost the same or less than surplus steel mags.

Be sure to file the latch to fit Comblock Surplus Mags, not polymer mags. Just take your time, and continually insert a mag until it locks up. If you have polymer mags you want to use, you can always modify the mags to fit better.

This! ^^^ Politicians should focus on banning "Assault Dremels" rather than "Assault Weapons". You know, since Assault Weapons don't actually exist.

My 2012 IZ-132 needed quite a bit of filing to fit standard AK steel mags.

CAI converted Saigas do not typically have issues with the magwell (since Saigas have double-stack magwells that don't have to be machined out), and canted sights are not common (since Izhmash is a quality manufacturer). You are probably thinking about the Romanian WASRs.

You're joking, right? I have never seen the need to use anything other than Comblock surplus steel mags. They are reasonably priced and the most durable and reliable of all AK mags. Sure they are heavy, but Saigas are light, so it all evens out.

My 2012 manufacture IZ-132 had the "09" mark on it as was, even though the paperwork confirmed it was manufactured and tested in 2012. I hope you're right! $375-400 is about the sweet spot for the build I have in mind if I ever find another Iz-132 locally.

Maybe I'm behind the curve here, but is that a Magpul 870 or 590 forend, or something new for AKs? Regardless, it looks very nice. Can you show us a straight-on side view?

Funny thing is that I would have been happy with any gas tube, but when I was looking, the only one I could find anywhere was the Izhmash one from MidwayUSA.

Bert, I thought I might give you a general idea of what your Saiga will look like when you're done with it. This is my 7.62x39mm IZ-132 that I converted. I used a CSS kit with the KVar Warsaw length stock. It's an excellent stock that you'll like a lot. I also went with the KVar US handguards (so I could use a foreign muzzle brake) and used the CSS screw-on handguard retainer. I drilled a small dimple in the barrel for the retainer's set screw - it's not going anywhere. The gas tube is Izhmash - the color matches perfectly and no fitting was necessary. I left the pin for the Saiga handg

Got the Magpul grip installed on my Saiga, and I feel it is an improvement over the US Palm grip I had installed previously. I never really warmed up to the US Palm grip, as it tended to drive my thumb uncomfortably into the underside of the receiver. The Magpul MOE AK allows a high grip, but is more comfortable to me.

Here's my IZ-132 conversion. I decided to do a KISS build. US KVar polymer furniture and US Palm grip. Eventually I'll thread the barrel, attach a brake, and call it done.

They are out of stock right now, but Centerfire Systems recently had Polish steel mags for $12.99. I picked up a few. Most look almost new, though one had some finish wear. http://centerfiresystems.com/magaka-polish.aspx

Mine (IZ-132) was made in 2012 and DOES NOT have the stepped chamber.