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Surefire forearm for Saiga rifles


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So I've been trying to find a forearm with rails that just drops on and wasn't too bulky. Couple of months ago noticed a new one at Gilbert's that wasn't yet available but they were taking pre-orders. Finally showed up today and I must say that it was worth the wait (as Jason promised). Anyway, fit is perfect with the one screw Saiga mount. Plastic is very hard, almost feels like a metal casting but pretty light. Three rails for hanging stuff . . . and they are actually shipping (I got one anyway).

 

Kind of crummy pics but enough to get the idea:

 

PB260004.jpg

PB260007.jpg

PB260005.jpg

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Man, I really like the way this thing looks, dunno if I'm gonna shell out 80$ plus shipping on one though...

Could you guys post some more pictures of your entire rifles from different angles? Id really like to get a better idea of what it looks like mounted on the rifle.

Thanks!

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Be nice if it was cheaper, I can get a chunk of rail for ~$6, throw in some nuts and bolt from the "whatever" bin in the shed and I'm all done.

 

When I ordered it I had that same thought . . . "damn, seems kind of expensive for a chunk of plastic". After getting it and seeing how it's made, which, for me, as someone who has been involved in manufacturing all my life I was forced to reconsider my initial complaint. The tooling to make this thing is pretty involved particularly when you realize the part has a fairly hefty steel stamping imbedded into it. So they've obviously dropped quite a chunk of change into a mold and stamping dies for an item that they might sell what . . . a few thousand pieces if they are lucky?

 

I'm OK with the price, I think its a good value and it provides a solution. It looks better on the rifle than it does in the photos too if that's any consolation for someone thinking about it.

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So I've been trying to find a forearm with rails that just drops on and wasn't too bulky. Couple of months ago noticed a new one at Gilbert's that wasn't yet available but they were taking pre-orders. Finally showed up today and I must say that it was worth the wait (as Jason promised). Anyway, fit is perfect with the one screw Saiga mount. Plastic is very hard, almost feels like a metal casting but pretty light. Three rails for hanging stuff . . . and they are actually shipping (I got one anyway).

 

Kind of crummy pics but enough to get the idea:

 

PB260004.jpg

PB260007.jpg

PB260005.jpg

 

Hey,

It looks pretty sweet. I am interested in doing a few things to my 308 and am unsure which direction I want to go and may be interested in this option but first I do have a couple of questions though. First, is there any wobble or anything in the grip and forearm or is it solid? And lastly, I see that you have your grip slid all they way back on the forearm rail. Is that a comfortable position or do you think that it should be further back?

 

Thanks

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Hey,

It looks pretty sweet. I am interested in doing a few things to my 308 and am unsure which direction I want to go and may be interested in this option but first I do have a couple of questions though. First, is there any wobble or anything in the grip and forearm or is it solid? And lastly, I see that you have your grip slid all they way back on the forearm rail. Is that a comfortable position or do you think that it should be further back?

 

Thanks

 

There is a slight amount of vertical movement out on the forward end of this piece that I'm going to investigate, like maybe 1/16 of an inch of up/down wiggle if you squeeze it towards the barrel. I'll post up what I find. Otherwise the unit is very solid. When you slide it into position it seems to lock-in tight and the keeper screw hardly even seems necessary.

 

I'll figure out my preferred spot for the vertical grip when I get to the range, I just stuck it on randomly for the pic though it doesn't feel too bad in that spot. Welcome to the forum!

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Ok, referencing my last post where I indicated there was a small amount of up & down movement (slop) in the SGM Tri-Rail forearm at its forward end once it was installed . . .

 

The nose of the forearm has two small metal inserts molded into the part that are intended to capture on the gas block retaining pin in a manner similar to other Saiga forearms. On my rifle (and I would assume others as well) the metal inserts did not wedge tight against the GB pin thus allowing the slight up & down slop. The metal inserts are barely visible inside the forearm in the below pic. Also notice the retaining pin (at this point) is straight.

 

post-11521-1228163668_thumb.jpg

 

I determined that the forearm would likely tighten up if the GB retaining pin was bent up on it's ends so that the metal inserts in the forearm would engage against the pin tightly. I put the rifle in my vise and applied some persuasion to the ends of the pin with a big punch

 

post-11521-1228164056_thumb.jpg

 

After several trial fits as I bent the ends of the pin, this is the point at which the forearm fit solid & snug when installed. I wanted to get it to where I had to tap the forearm into position with my soft rubber mallet.

 

post-11521-1228164220_thumb.jpg

 

A quick pic of the entire rifle with the forearm installed.

 

post-11521-1228164323_thumb.jpg

 

So in the final analysis, even though I had to tweak something on the gun to get a satisfactory install it wasn't anything major and I still think it was a good purchase and a welcome addition to the rifle.

 

And a fix to something I said in a prior post, I thought there was a large stamping inserted in this part because initially I saw metal inserts at both ends so I assumed it was one large piece but in actuality there are three small inserts instead of one large one. Not that it makes any difference in the part, I just want to correct an earlier statement.

Edited by Chaps
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Ok, referencing my last post where I indicated there was a small amount of up & down movement (slop) in the SGM Tri-Rail forearm at its forward end once it was installed . . .

 

The nose of the forearm has two small metal inserts molded into the part that are intended to capture on the gas block retaining pin in a manner similar to other Saiga forearms. On my rifle (and I would assume others as well) the metal inserts did not wedge tight against the GB pin thus allowing the slight up & down slop. The metal inserts are barely visible inside the forearm in the below pic. Also notice the retaining pin (at this point) is straight.

 

post-11521-1228163668_thumb.jpg

 

I determined that the forearm would likely tighten up if the GB retaining pin was bent up on it's ends so that the metal inserts in the forearm would engage against the pin tightly. I put the rifle in my vise and applied some persuasion to the ends of the pin with a big punch

 

post-11521-1228164056_thumb.jpg

 

After several trial fits as I bent the ends of the pin, this is the point at which the forearm fit solid & snug when installed. I wanted to get it to where I had to tap the forearm into position with my soft rubber mallet.

 

post-11521-1228164220_thumb.jpg

 

A quick pic of the entire rifle with the forearm installed.

 

post-11521-1228164323_thumb.jpg

 

So in the final analysis, even though I had to tweak something on the gun to get a satisfactory install it wasn't anything major and I still think it was a good purchase and a welcome addition to the rifle.

 

And a fix to something I said in a prior post, I thought there was a large stamping inserted in this part because initially I saw metal inserts at both ends so I assumed it was one large piece but in actuality there are three small inserts instead of one large one. Not that it makes any difference in the part, I just want to correct an earlier statement.

 

Hey Chaps,

Thank you for the information. This piece will suit my needs perfectly.

 

[i]"The truth,.... who the hell knows......The truth is in us, not them. They are masters of illusion and producers of propaganda. Don't be fooled. Open your eyes and stop up your ears"

-CRD508[/i]

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Thanks for the good info!

 

One question I have is that it looks like the upper part has molded vents. Is this correct? Does it look like a standard (maybe a Choate upper black plastic hand guard) upper hand guard would fit? I don't know about the steel front retainer. If so, consider this for $75 at Gilberts compaired to the price of the Tapco or modded adapter from Dinzag (not to knock Brian, he rocks!) Just compairing price and it would be all 922 compliant. Be pretty unique in looks as well.

 

Frosty

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One question I have is that it looks like the upper part has molded vents. Is this correct? Does it look like a standard (maybe a Choate upper black plastic hand guard) upper hand guard would fit? I don't know about the steel front retainer. If so, consider this for $75 at Gilberts compaired to the price of the Tapco or modded adapter from Dinzag (not to knock Brian, he rocks!) Just compairing price and it would be all 922 compliant. Be pretty unique in looks as well.

 

Frosty

 

I don't know, I don't have any other parts I could try that with. I suppose if you installed a gas tube with the retainer and did some plastic trimming an upper could be made to work? This lower has a deeper slot than an AK type lower so the top of it might have to be trimmed off . . . or the upper trimmed . . .

 

Someone will try it I'm sure

Edited by Chaps
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Looks great!!! I've never got anything from Gilberts, I guess now it's time too.

 

Gilberts is also shipping the 12ga version too. I'm good on shotgun hanguards but I'd be willing to get one for the 308 to provide a good bipod mount. I don't care for the weird Russian thread that the sling mounts too.

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These are incredible forearms. We will have them available for purchase on Monday. Even a better item at $74.95

http://store.carolinashooterssupply.com/servlet/StoreFront

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Looks great!!! I've never got anything from Gilberts, I guess now it's time too.

 

Gilberts is also shipping the 12ga version too. I'm good on shotgun hanguards but I'd be willing to get one for the 308 to provide a good bipod mount. I don't care for the weird Russian thread that the sling mounts too.

 

Not picking on you KySoldier, and not trying to make a public spectacle here but, we have Paying Vendors here who are carrying these same products as Gilbert's, and it is unfair to them if you or anyone else is here advertising for them, especially with clickable links to their site. Like I was telling you in a PM the other day, we are interested in bringing Gilbert's Guns on board with us here. I am in the process of speaking with them about this now. Until they decide that they would like to come on board though, I must ask you to kindly remove their link from your profile and sig line til we do start negotiations. It is unfair to our other Business Members if they are getting that kind of free advertising. This kind of thing has recently been a big problem with more than a few Vendors and potential ones.

 

I am only posting this here in public so that everyone who has been voicing their concerns about the issue, will know for sure that something is in the works, and hopefully can relax before another shitstorm brews up about it.

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I just installed my handguard not more than 10 minutes ago and I am impressed with the fit. No wobble at all on mine.

 

Interesting that yours fit tight with no mod needed to the gas block retaining pin. Looks like there must be some variation in either rifles or forearms.

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I just installed my handguard not more than 10 minutes ago and I am impressed with the fit. No wobble at all on mine.

 

Interesting that yours fit tight with no mod needed to the gas block retaining pin. Looks like there must be some variation in either rifles or forearms.

The variation is in the firearms. When Surefire is making thier mags and forearms, they use measurements from 6 to 10 rifles or shotguns and use the middle specs. They are not far apart, but enough that one may be a few thousandth's smaller and another few thousandth's larger.

Greg

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It seems to me that if there is slight movement at the front, an easy fix would be to stick (glue, etc.) thin shims to the undersides of the the molded tabs. Once the handguard is put on snugly, they will certainly stay put. I doubt that this would usually be necessary though. Also, while I got mine in the pre-order with Gilbert's, I now refer all interested parties to CSS. I think we should support the forum business members when we can.

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