possenti 0 Posted December 26, 2004 Report Share Posted December 26, 2004 Trying out my new digital camera. I've had the Saiga for about 3 months. It was bone stock when I bought it, and I decided to make a few upgrades. I installed a Red Star Arms trigger. The Panther Arms pistol grip is intended for an AR-15, but with a little "persuasion", I got a nice snug fit on the Saiga. The scope mount is a K-Var with a Bushnell Banner Dusk&Dawn scope. Harris bipod on the front. The stock and forend are completely hand made by me. It took a little more work than I expected. I'll explain more about that if anyone's interested... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
possenti 0 Posted December 26, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2004 Let me try the picture again... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smithy5160 0 Posted December 26, 2004 Report Share Posted December 26, 2004 damn nice job man thats awesome Quote Link to post Share on other sites
possenti 0 Posted December 26, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2004 Here's another: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
possenti 0 Posted December 26, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2004 I also have to thank many of the members on this forum for some great tips, tricks and ideas. I'm still a "newbie" here, but I've lurked quite a while to get all of the info I needed. I bought the Saiga with these mods in mind. I had most of the ideas in my head before I even got it. My buddy has one, and I was able to look his over and plan what I would do if I owned it. I eventually couldn't stand being Saiga-less, and took the plunge. I fired about 100 rounds through it to make sure it was sound, and then the disassembly began. It's been a fun project. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doerdie 0 Posted December 26, 2004 Report Share Posted December 26, 2004 I love the stocks, what are they constructed with? Metal, fiberglass? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
possenti 0 Posted December 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2004 The piece that attaches the stock to the reciever is a scrap of thin-wall inch and a quarter square tube. I welded the framework of round tube (made from junk metal folding chairs) into the square. Then it was covered with fiberglass sheets and resin. There's about three coats of Bondo over that to smooth things out. Finshed with truck bed liner and Aluma-hyde. The recoil pad is a cut-down Pachmyr slip-on, Gorilla-glued to a shaped 11 gauge plate, spaced out for my correct length-of-pull. The cheek piece is 16 ga. aluminum plate "expertly" formed in a vise around a pipe. Some of the excess rubber trimmed from the Pachmyr pad is mounted to the top curve. (Bedliner is tough on the cheek.) The two knobs were just junk lying around. About all I paid for was the 'glass, Bondo, and Allen screws to attach it. The handguard was fairly simple. I took a piece of inch and a half PVC and slit it length-wise. I slipped it over a pipe and slowly heated it with a torch into a "U" shape, then cut and finished it. It's attached on the bottom to a metal strip that screws into the hole on the reciever from the original handguard. For extra support, there's two diagonal "struts" that extend from each side of the rear sight gas block to the front of the forend. Nothing but the gas tube touches the barrel, but it's not too wide and it's strong enough to support the front weight of the rifle on the bipod. The only real disappointment so far is the weight. It feels a little heftier than I had planned, but I don't plan on packing it any farther than from my truck to the shooting bench anytime soon. It was a fun project. I just wish I had time to do more stuff like this... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chris410 0 Posted December 27, 2004 Report Share Posted December 27, 2004 That thing looks great, nice job. Makes me want to get a 308 now!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IndyArms 10,186 Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 WAY COOL!!! That is one of the BEST jobs I have seen yet!! Proof that a little ingenuity can go a DAMN long way!!! Just tinkering around with "SCRAPS" and you built *THAT*!!!! Extremely nice construction!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smithy5160 0 Posted December 30, 2004 Report Share Posted December 30, 2004 Doerdie what kind is yours? i like that Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pointer 21 Posted December 30, 2004 Report Share Posted December 30, 2004 Can you post a close up pic of the buttstock extention,i want to do this to my 308 but havent come up with anything,you could e-mail it to me if you like. zzme12@hotmail.com Thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gummerfan 0 Posted December 30, 2004 Report Share Posted December 30, 2004 Possenti??? Pull off a few more "miracles" like that and you'll really be on your way to sainthood! Gummerfan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlenderWizard 12 Posted January 1, 2005 Report Share Posted January 1, 2005 The Panther Arms pistol grip is intended for an AR-15, but with a little "persuasion", I got a nice snug fit on the Saiga. How much "persuasion" did it take? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doerdie 0 Posted January 1, 2005 Report Share Posted January 1, 2005 My avatar is a borrowed pic, not my gun. I liked the paint job. I am thinkin about doing my Saiga similar. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
possenti 0 Posted January 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2005 How much "persuasion" did it take? I had to trim off the contour at the top of the backstrap so it fit level with the bottom of the reciever. I then steel epoxied a 5/16"stud into it. A lock nut on top holds it in place. Also, I had to Dremel out the front so the trigger guard would sit into the grip a little more. This gives me a comfortable "trigger reach" and keeps the grip from turning should the lock nut come loose (but it won't). It was really pretty easy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlenderWizard 12 Posted January 2, 2005 Report Share Posted January 2, 2005 Possenti, Tell us more about that scope rail. Where did you get it? How much was it? How do you like it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
possenti 0 Posted January 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2005 All I know is it's a K-Var. Not sure about the model #. I bought it at Knob Creek for $40 or $50. It centers perfectly over the bore and so low the dust cover barely comes off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
verdejt 0 Posted January 2, 2005 Report Share Posted January 2, 2005 You can get a similar mount from akoptics. The model is a BP02. Here is the web link: http://www.akoptics.com/index.asp I'm more interested in the scope. Can you tell me more about it? Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlenderWizard 12 Posted January 2, 2005 Report Share Posted January 2, 2005 Hate to sound like an idiot, but I could not find anything for knob creek except for Bourbon and a full auto shoot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
verdejt 0 Posted January 2, 2005 Report Share Posted January 2, 2005 Blenderwizard: Sounds like a good time to me . Read my reply about the mount, if you need more links drop me a line and I will send them to you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlenderWizard 12 Posted January 2, 2005 Report Share Posted January 2, 2005 Blenderwizard: Sounds like a good time to me . Read my reply about the mount, if you need more links drop me a line and I will send them to you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pointer 21 Posted January 2, 2005 Report Share Posted January 2, 2005 Hate to sound like an idiot, but I could not find anything for knob creek except for Bourbon and a full auto shoot. Knob Creek is a machine gun shoot held twice a year in KY.Lots of vendors...and machine guns Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KySoldier 2 Posted January 2, 2005 Report Share Posted January 2, 2005 Yes, if you are close to KY, you need to go! I go twice a year and love it. www.machinegunshoot.com Quote Link to post Share on other sites
possenti 0 Posted January 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2005 I'm more interested in the scope. Can you tell me more about it? Thanks It's a Bushnell "Dusk & Dawn". I got it at WallyWorld for about $130. It has a big-ass 50mm objective lens - adjustable for paralax. Works great for low light. Variable zoom from 6-18X. I only wish it had target knobs. They're pretty handy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vulcan762 0 Posted January 3, 2005 Report Share Posted January 3, 2005 Nice work. Love the custom stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunslinger308 0 Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 What is the hook(pointing forward) on the bottom of the butt stock? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Harpoon 0 Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 I though I'd add to the chorus. Nice job, it appears to be very well executed. Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nx468 0 Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 (edited) Yes, if you are close to KY, you need to go! I go twice a year and love it. www.machinegunshoot.com Hey KySoldier, Western KY here. I was wondering if that Avatar is the Galili Stock and regular AK PG? Just curious I want to go for a similar look for my 308. Ive never been to the shoot yall are talking about but sounds awesome might have to check it out next time around. Edited January 25, 2005 by nx468 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
possenti 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2005 What is the hook(pointing forward) on the bottom of the butt stock? It's there so I can hang it up anywhere without a gun rack! (This actually works, but not the reason) Seriously - it's an "offhand grip". I saw this feature on an aftermarket AR-15 stock. When bench shooting, I pull the stock into my shoulder with my left hand on the grip. Works pretty well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevsky 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Report Share Posted January 28, 2005 I love it, I dare say American ingenuity at its finest. What do ya' call it - FrankenSaiga? Great job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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