[Older Saiga .223 Rifles]

Barrel diameter is thicker on older imports so cutting and threading the barrel is not standard. A couple of members have doen them and you look up info on it on threading posts. Other than the barrel there are no major differences that I know about.

So how should I know if I have the thicker barrel? I don't have a gauge to measure. Mine does not have the importer markings marked out. I just now ordered the die to thread it also, what if it doesn't fit. damn.

[Gallil Mag's in .223 Saiga?]

A bullet guide is required. As for Gallil mags they do work, without modifying, but for me not 100%. It might be because the mags I have are well used. I did change out the followers with Magpul Anti Tilt Followers and get better results with most of them now (with some modification).

[Opinion on conversion]

Keep the BHO, just notch it a tad, with a file, so the spring will stay in place.

[Mag followers?]

To get them in past the tabs on the bottom in the front and to slide a little easier.

[Galil Steel Magazines]

FYI you can use Wolff extra-power AR mag springs, or any 40-round AR mag spring, in Galil mags. AR followers also work. I have one with a Wolff XP spring and Magpul anti-tilt follower in it, just to see if they were compatible - they are 100%. The Magpul follower eliminates the tendency of the Galil follower to tilt in the last few rounds, which may be your problem. Unfortunately it cuts the capacity to 34 rounds, and at about $10-15/ea, you can buy a lot of them.

 

Mags still sit too low in my rifle to be reliable - the bolt sometimes rides over the next round. If I built up the locking tabs on each mag with a bit of weld, they would probably sit high enough to work.

 

As it stands, my Saiga works better with Beryl mags, as well as US-made commercial mags such as Tapco Galil and Pro-Mag AK223 - both decent "range mags" even though they lack steel inserts.

 

Tapco's plastic mags are better made. I really wish they would clone the Bulgarian or Polish/Russian .233 design, because the Galils are hideous.

This seems to be what's happening with my Saiga. I have the flat bottom, with the CSS BG, it has dimples. I got some used Galils from Apex. I cleaned them and oiled them. I noticed the followers do tilt if you try. I tried out three of the mags today they all failed some of the time. Maybe the bolt is riding over the top because it is slamming into the side of the round as it is feeding. There is some forward and back movement in the Galils. Maybe if there was a little weld added to the rear locking lug on the bottom it would hold in tighter. The Circle 10s fit tight no issues after fitting it, the Promag with the tab broken off, tight with no issues either. I just hope I can get these Galils to work for me too.

[Another Hunting buddy's last sunrise]

I am sorry for your loss, I too am going through the same thing with my boy Mason. Picture to the left. He can hardly walk. I just don't have the heart to put him down. My wife will have a hard time.

[Bought New Gun, failed backround check?!]

Your SSN does not amount to much these days. It's out there every where in places you don't think it is. Not putting it down on a 4473 protects you from nothing.

Not putting it protects you from someone who works there copying it down and selling it. I never use my SSN.