TX-Zen

Back from the depths, the new class is on for January 28-29 2012 Z

You're doing it again Z

They are (or were, I sold mine to NinerRider when I consolidated to 5.45 only. Everyone is much happier now) Z

Dinzag older weld-on rear sight/gasblock mod with Izzy S12 front sight tower. I believe Dinzag does a bolt on RSB/GB now and if I needed another I'd definitely get it, the one I have has been the best thing I've done to my S12. Welcome to the forum Z

Other options for railed HG's are the LHV47 polymer lower though I can't remember for sure if this works with Dinzags HG retainer. While it doesn't have a heatshield I and others have found to be pretty resilient to heat. I also don't recommend dumping a drum on any HG but I've run 4-5 mags through the LHV in quick succession and it seemed to hold up ok. The Russian company STK tactical makes a nice railed lower HG that does have a heat shield but it's also the heaviest one I've seen and one of the most expensive. Not sure it's worth the weight but the polymer seems to be really high qual

None on mine, never cared for BHO on AK's. Makes a little more sense on the S12 because it can be hard to insert a mag on a closed bolt, but on AK's I don't see the point. It's not doing anything that a spent shell casing can't do. Z

My comments about grades of steel or more precise barrel forming methods have to do with reasoning about the whether the Legion barrels will last longer or shoot more precisely than sporter barrels. If mil spec only matters in barrel dimensions including proper notching grooves and markings, then the difference is insignificant as far as overall durability or precision. I'm not saying there is no difference, but just that to matter in the areas that result in durability and precision this involves more than authentic Russian arsenal markings or proper retainer notches. Markings and notches do

Probably for the same reason that a lot of strange things happen. It is Izhmash....if they are running short on sporter barrels but have a surplus of military barrels to me it makes sense they would use what they had. I'm not saying that there is an entirely different barrel manufacturing plant for each type of Saiga, SGL or AK manufactured at Izhmash (and if it sounds that way I apologize), what I'm saying is that when they make barrels, FSB's, top covers etc they are probably doing it in batches intended for one type of rifle or the other. After the parts are built they are sent to wher

18.5" just to be on the safe side Z

The way it was explained to me by people who have been to Izhmash and seen first hand is that Legion uses parts built on the military assembly line including barrels. Saiga sporters are built in a different part of Izhmash on the civilian assembly line. At Izhmash nothing is milspec until the rifle has been accepted for service in a military order, when it is random testing has to prove it's built to specs and is GTG. In order to be able to pass random testing all the parts naturally have to be what we would consider milspec. Sporters OTOH do not get the same QC applied to them because th

Well that's mighty kind of you JP, thanks! :beer: Z

I haven't found anyone to translate the manual yet but the range finder is based on the width of the target not the height like PSO type optics. 1P78 Kashtan uses the width also but it's definitely a rarity in combloc optics, at least the ones I've seen that have range finders. Here's a better pic I stole off the net: It's very light even though it looks huge, it's also well balanced and doesn't adversely affect the rifle when mounted. I need to get out to the range and get it zeroed but I have used a friend's and had a great time at 300 yards with his.

Just to clarify AK74M = 5.45x39 AK100 series = AK74M in other calibers AK101 = 5.56 AK103 = 7.62 So the 7.62 Saiga isn't a 100 series that happens to be 7.62x39, it IS a 100 series because's it a 74M pattern in 7.62 You're correct, you just need to tidy it up a bit. Z

The SLR107 series is GTG, just try and inspect it if you can. During the 2007-2009 era the SLR107's got hit by a bunch of QC issues at Arsenal and damaged what had been a really fantastic reputation before that. There were very common problems with canted sights and other minor (and occasionally major) factory defects. Arsenal's now legendary reputation for being a-holes about customer service reared it's ugly head in this period also. That being said most of the complaints were based on owners expecting a flawless rifle due to the high price tag and being shocked that a company as f

I'm not saying you're wrong either because you're not. Like I said value is a relative thing. Only thing I'm saying is that the 030 really isn't an S12 simply because it looks similar...there are significant design differences and most of the parts are not interchangeable. For example you can easily say that an AKSU, a Draco and an M92 are Krink's and it's more or less a correct term for them all, at least in common usage. They are all short barrelled AK's and function nearly identically...to many people that's the end of that, a Krink is a Krink. But if you know the details you know

Not sure what to say here to be honest. It hasn't been 3 years, it's been one. If you aren't familiar with how the Russian market works then you're not familiar with how the Russian market works...short explanation is things take time. It took about a year to get the SV98's here also. Same guy, same deal and same dealing with Izhmash. SV98's are in the country. Highly likely the 030's will be too. Yes there is always some level of risk because you're dealing with Russia. But this isn't the grey market either where you're dealing with some guy who shuffles through warehouses and sneak

You can swap the base on the POSP optics yes and you are right there are 4 screws that need to be removed. Often there are two pins and some loc-tite like substance or glue that seals the base to the optic but some gentle tapping with a mallet to break the seal is all that's needed. Kalinka typically carries the BelOMO/Zenit/LEMT manufactured MTK83 AK style mount. It's probably going to be black and may not match your 8x42 but it should work. Here's an LPS/TIP2 that has the romanian SVD mount removed and replaced with the MTK83 Kalinka AK mount: And an example of the A

+1 Cobra I have a regular ol IZ109 and have over 2K in parts in it right now. Love mine but even with all the Russian parts it doesn't have an auto adjusting gas system or hinged top cover not to mention under gasblock rail or HG's as you said. Basically I spent more than an entire version 030 just to get close to what a version 030 has from the get-go...actually the version 030 was the role model for my conversion and I'm still not there. I think debating whether it's worth the money is probably silly though. Collectors know what it is and why it's such an interesting investment.

Thanks from me also, I appreciate you taking the time to post. Even better that Brian contacted you so quickly. Since theakforum.net has locked his subforum I posted your comments over there so people would have an idea of what's going on. Z

Personally I love the PK-AS and have used it for a long time on several 74's. I used it for a while on my S12 too but unfortunately the S12 beat it up pretty good. Kalinka's description is excellent and in practice the optic works pretty darn well. Actually up until last year the PK-AS was my favorite combloc red dot by far. But these days the 1P76 Rakurs does everything the PK-AS does and more...think of it as an improved version that has eliminated the few disadvantages of the PK-AS. For example Rakurs is centered over the bore and relatively low...easier for Western shooters to

I apologize for not being able to zero you in exactly what you should do, I'm just not comfortable telling people what optic they should use for a real SHTF situation. I know what I'd do but I have a really different persepective on SHTF than many people. I'm also ex military with a corresponding healthy appreciation for sh*t breaks all the time, I don't believe in chasing endless what-if's or running down every detail to account for all scenarios. And I don't believe in the often narrow view that the best gear is going to make the difference, I believe it's the training first and foremost.

Basically it's two things, the Bulgarian TG is squared off under the PG while the Izzy is rounded. Additionally the Izzy has a clover edge with a square plate underneath (circled in red). The Bulgarian is normally square and has no clover but someone has apparently dremelled the TG into a clover...along with the square plate underneath. It looks like this is done after the TG is riveted in place. There was a discussion on this over at theakforum.net, it seems the Russians for sure have a clover on the TG but not the plate underneath. The Bulgarians don't use a clover at all....so if

+1 and well said Despite theakforum.net locking his subforum and pretending to be shocked they didn't know he was selling 030's (after they gave him vendor status to do just that), I still have faith this will get done. I get worried now and then because no one likes the thought of losing money, but I've said before this isn't the first time I've had to wait this long on stuff that was more expensive than a paid in full 030. Occasional nerves and inevitable delays pretty much characterize these kinds of deals with rare Russian gear. Ivan running around with your money is unfortunately

I agree with this. In effect the gun store is offering you about $225 for your rifle. Screw em and sell it on the EE you'll get much closer to Ice's estimate.