ducktapehero 0 Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 I have searched but to no avail. Is there a way to "open up" the Saiga 10 round magazines to 15 rounds. The magazine seems awfully long for only 10 rounds so it would seem possible. 30 round mags are too long for my taste so if I got it converted I'd only use 20 rounders anyway. If I could convert the Saiga mags to 15 rounds that would be ok too. Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IndyArms 10,186 Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Rumor has it that with SLIGHT modification, a saiga can take AK magazines, and similar.... perhpas you could find some AK 20 rounders, and modify them to work in your Saiga?? That and a feed ramp... you will be GOOD TO GO! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KySoldier 2 Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 I don't think the guys here have been able to squeeze in that many rounds by thinning out the follower. I would convert to AK mags, very cheap and plentiful. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lollygagger 1 Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 (edited) I have searched but to no avail. Is there a way to "open up" the Saiga 10 round magazines to 15 rounds. The magazine seems awfully long for only 10 rounds so it would seem possible. 30 round mags are too long for my taste so if I got it converted I'd only use 20 rounders anyway. If I could convert the Saiga mags to 15 rounds that would be ok too. Thanks. Errr... As I've SAID BEFORE: (1) Trim off the bottom of the follower -leaving just a little if the molded in "nib" that severs to stop the follower at the tiop of the mag... (2) Trim a bit off the overly stout spring, and... (3) Loose the plastic floor plate lock (too thick) or replace it with a metal standard AK one (you can put the plastic locking plate in the 30 round AK mag and it'll work just fine). It will feed 15 rounds reliably. Lollygagger Edited January 31, 2005 by lollygagger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doerdie 0 Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Get a new USA made follower from Tapco (Ithink). It will bump capacity to 15. Takes a little bit of finageling. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lollygagger 1 Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Well, errr... IT WAS A LONG WORKING WEEK END! The pic shown IS a .308 Saiga mag (adapted to 10 rounds from 8 -as much as it'll do). The directions & procedure for the 7.62x39mm Saiga mag is as indicated. And, yes, there is a follower that can replace to original to increase mag cap...it seems just as about easy (and CHEAP!!) to just wack off some of the follower, to me. I think the original Saiga mag modified to 15 rounds makes a particularly nice "user" mag. Lollygagger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zipgun 0 Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Yes, you can trim the follower on a stock Saiga mag for more capacity. Before I trimmed the follower on my stock Saiga mag, I took a follower out of a 5 round AK mag that had been trimmed to accept 10 rounds. Putting it in I was able to get 14 rounds in the Saiga mag. I then went back and trimmed 1" off the Saiga's follower and cut down the two floor plate spikes just a bit. Could get 14 rounds in it again. The stock Saiga spring in its full compression stage only allows 14 rounds as far as I can tell. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lollygagger 1 Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 The stock Saiga spring in its full compression stage only allows 14 rounds as far as I can tell. The spring is overly stiff -and needs to be trimmed some. But, the thing that prohibits the 15th round (once the follower is cut) is the FLOOR PLATE LOCK/SPRING GUIDE (the pc. on top of the florr plate) -it's just TOO THICK. Loose that, and you'll get 15 rounds in with no problem. Lollygagger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tokageko 8 Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Lollygagger, one day, you're going to be shooting and out of nowhere the bottom of one of your mags is going to come off and spill every round left in the magazine onto the ground.... All because you insist on doing away with the locking plate. Actually, I've had that same thing happen with a poorly made CZ 52 pistol magazine (unmodified). Gigantic PITA. Seriously though, once you remove the locking plate, does the bottom stay in place by itself? or did you have to improvise some other kind of (thinner) locking device? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lollygagger 1 Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Lollygagger, one day, you're going to be shooting and out of nowhere the bottom of one of your mags is going to come off and spill every round left in the magazine onto the ground.... All because you insist on doing away with the locking plate. Actually, I've had that same thing happen with a poorly made CZ 52 pistol magazine (unmodified). Gigantic PITA. Seriously though, once you remove the locking plate, does the bottom stay in place by itself? or did you have to improvise some other kind of (thinner) locking device? With the 7.62x39mm Saiga mag... I REPLACE the plastic Saiga locking plate with a STANDARD METAL AK locking plate. No fall-ie off-ie! Lollygagger (and they WILL recoil off if nothing is done) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tokageko 8 Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Ah... I see. Yeah, I would figure that was the case. I just didn't remember seeing you post anything except: "get rid of the locking plate". Of course, that could easily be my memory. Anway, thanks for the reply. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lollygagger 1 Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Ah... I see. Yeah, I would figure that was the case. I just didn't remember seeing you post anything except: "get rid of the locking plate". Of course, that could easily be my memory. Anway, thanks for the reply. You've GOT to loose the locking plate with the .308 Saiga mag 8 to 10 round mod. It's just TOO THICK and I don't see a ready metal replacement. I just put a screw thru floor plate that extends into the mag body and prevents it recoiling off. Lollygagger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tokageko 8 Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 See, that's the thing though. I did a ten round mod on my 308 magazine without having to remove the locking plate. I think trimming the spring back is probably what allowed me to keep it. Either way, it works fine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zipgun 0 Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 As I said, I did my stock Saiga mag but I also put a bullet guide in it to take AK mags. Don't have much use for a 14/15 round mag when I have loads of 30 rounders available. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lollygagger 1 Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 As I said, I did my stock Saiga mag but I also put a bullet guide in it to take AK mags. Don't have much use for a 14/15 round mag when I have loads of 30 rounders available. Try shooting with those 30's off a sand bagged bench... and your opinion may change. Lollygagger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doerdie 0 Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Thats why i like the 10 round size. And as a lazy American, I will pay for a new part rather than work on an existing part if it saves me the hassle of working. So a new follower it is, and I keep my floorplate. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ducktapehero 0 Posted February 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 I should have known not to mess around with this myself because I've ruined my magazine now. I think I took too much out from the follower. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to stick with 10 rounds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pistonring8 1 Posted February 8, 2005 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 E-mail me your address, I will send you one of my Saiga mag followers. I switched to the Tapco followers and dont need ALL of my Saiga ones. You may be happier with the Tapco follower, it is indestructable, US made and adds 5 rounds to your capacity. They sell for $3.00. I am sorry to hear that you messed it up. I did the same to my foregrip in a mill machine and had to buy a new one. in a flash of brilliance I mounted a shotgun buttstock to my rifle...... It wiggles. So I now have to also replace that. I know exactly how you feel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ducktapehero 0 Posted February 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 I think I'm gonna try the Tapco follower too. I was hoping I could do it free but if I have to spend a couple bucks then so be it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lollygagger 1 Posted February 8, 2005 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 E-mail me your address, I will send you one of my Saiga mag followers. I switched to the Tapco followers and dont need ALL of my Saiga ones. My hats off to ya'... You guys have the RIGHT spirit! Lollygagger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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