Bossman 1 Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 I bought one of the bulgarian ak-74 parts kits from apex for $245, primarily to rob the muzzle brake, FSB, gas block, handguard retainer, gas tube and trigger guard from the kit to use on my saiga ak103 clone. Will these parts fit? I was guessing they would when I whipped the plastic but just in case I bought a NDS2EZ receiver just in case. If they do fit I still have most of a rifle to build into a 5.45x39 utility rifle, which would be kinda neat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nailbomb 10,221 Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 Everything should fit with some work. I'm more interested in the utility rifle your talking about... Will it have tweezers and a toothpick? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bossman 1 Posted December 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 Tweezers and toothpick are a must, I also thought a corkscrew might come in handy. Seriously though after I strip the kit of all the parts look at what I`ll have left over: Barrel F&R trunions matching bolt and carrier the saiga top cover an optics rail the saiga mag latch recoil spring assy. The saiga sporting type furniture and a nodak receiver..... I will probably destroy the saiga gas block and front sight getting them off because they are the dimpled kind rather than the pinned on type so I may have to hunt down a 90 degree gas block. I have a romy take off front sight from an AKM,Add US hammer and disconnector, gas piston and mag floor plate and I will essentially have a US made 5.45x39 saiga clone in politically correct sporting stock configuration that doesnt scare the soccer moms.(A saiga type rifle needs 4 compliance parts if it does not have a pistol grip correct?). Heck I forgot the receiver and barrel will be US made so maybe thats just a hammer and disco left for 922 compliance. What would you guys do, I`m starting to think I`ll just build the Bulgy ak-74 and leave the saiga alone. I think what I`ll do is this: if the bulgy kit is nice and all matching it gets built as is, if it`s a hodge podge, it gets cannibalized for it`s parts and I get a saiga AK103 clone. By the way my saiga has a dimpled receiver,and the izhmash arrow in triangle arsenal stamp in the trunion. Any opinions or ideas accepted. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saigafreake 27 Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 convert the saiga and sell the unused parts and buy a 5.45 saiga. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bossman 1 Posted December 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 Thats not financially feasable, I want to keep this as cheap as possible besides, the rifle I could make with the spare parts would be just as nice if not better than a saiga 5.45 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saigafreake 27 Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 your gonna have to have it refinished how much extra is that gonna be. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bossman 1 Posted December 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2009 I do my own refinishing, I have compressor, sandblaster and airbrush. Satin black gunkote would look nice. Some earlier builds: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saigafreake 27 Posted December 10, 2009 Report Share Posted December 10, 2009 very nice job on the refinishing i would just build the 74. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
akastormi 617 Posted December 10, 2009 Report Share Posted December 10, 2009 I'd build the kit also. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frank Rizzo 8 Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Bossman, that wood looks familiar! I'm certain that I have a set of your wood on one of my Romys Hey if you look down a few threads I have a "conversion in process" thread where I used an AK74 kit to restore my Saiga x39 rifle. It worked out really well, and I think I eneded up being 30 bucks into the kit after selling off all the unused parts. Definitely cheaper than buying them piece by piece. If I can help feel free to hit me up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bossman 1 Posted December 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Thanks Frank, I`ll do that if I can make up my mind. Lets see that stock set, I have put quite a few out there this year. So it seems like Frank and I see the value in getting all our parts for a saiga ak103 conversion from a Bulgy `74 kit and either sell off the rest or use it for a franken AK of some sort, everyone else likes the idea of building the kit. Well lets see what condition the kit is in before I decide, my major problem is I have been coveting one of the arsenal SGL rifles since they first hit the shops but the dealers/distributors were VERY proud of them as in $$$, I really really wanted one. So I find this saiga 7.62x39 in a shop with a dimpled receiver and the izshmash arsenal stamp on the trunion, Bulgy `74 kits come on the market for $250 or so and I start thinking to myself....ah, this is meant to be...now you guys are turning on me...I thought this was a saiga site? I guess I`ll go post the same question at the bulgarian forums at other sites and they`ll tell me to build the saiga.LOL Thanks for all the wisdom and I do respect everyones opinion, I`ll just have to wait until I get all the goodies in front of me and do an eenie meenie miney moe. Scott Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shaneman153a 39 Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Did you buy this kit recently at that price? If so where? PM me if it's not (it's not) a vendor. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frank Rizzo 8 Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 (edited) Thanks Frank, I`ll do that if I can make up my mind. Lets see that stock set, I have put quite a few out there this year. So it seems like Frank and I see the value in getting all our parts for a saiga ak103 conversion from a Bulgy `74 kit and either sell off the rest or use it for a franken AK of some sort, everyone else likes the idea of building the kit. Well lets see what condition the kit is in before I decide, my major problem is I have been coveting one of the arsenal SGL rifles since they first hit the shops but the dealers/distributors were VERY proud of them as in $$$, I really really wanted one. So I find this saiga 7.62x39 in a shop with a dimpled receiver and the izshmash arsenal stamp on the trunion, Bulgy `74 kits come on the market for $250 or so and I start thinking to myself....ah, this is meant to be...now you guys are turning on me...I thought this was a saiga site? I guess I`ll go post the same question at the bulgarian forums at other sites and they`ll tell me to build the saiga.LOL Thanks for all the wisdom and I do respect everyones opinion, I`ll just have to wait until I get all the goodies in front of me and do an eenie meenie miney moe. Scott Build the Saiga with the Bulgy parts, it's almost a no brainer. Let someone else enjoy the scraps lol. Here she is with the Russian Red wood: ( The Romy, not the Saiga ) Did you buy this kit recently at that price? If so where? PM me if it's not (it's not) a vendor. They sold out long ago. I think they only had enough for like 2 days. Edited December 11, 2009 by Frank Rizzo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bossman 1 Posted December 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 That sure looks like one of my furniture sets, damn fine work if you ask me. I got the Bulgy kits, the damn things are new and all matching from what I`ve de cosmoed so far, definitely matching on trunion, bolt, carrier and top cover. Shame they didnt include the optics rail. Now I`m starting to lean toward building he kit and custom converting the saiga...I might go for a Russian AKM look if I can use a 45 degree gas block in place of the 90 degree thats on it now, anyone know if I can do that? I could make up a laminate stock set like above but tone down the red a bit and make it look more realistic. Did the Soviets ever put optics rails on AKM`S? Still sitting here deciding, nice to have a stack of ak parts and options on what to do with them. More good news for me, I just got called into the assistant wardens office and was told I have been selected to teach inmates a transition course that prepares them for life in a civilized world, basic life skills type of thing you know, like balancing a check book,getting your GED, applying for credit and thinking more for your children and wife than yourself.....So I now have a week of 12 hour days working in a prison,4 hours teaching inmates to be citizens, 8 hours being a housing unit sergeant in addition to teaching at the criminal justice academy. God has blessed me, I asked him to use me after a particular service in which the Pastor told everyone that they had something to give back and I decided to be a role model. He took me up on my offer. Got no free time but I gots some spendin dollars now, feels kinda good. Might just be getting a Hungarian and an Egyptian now, maybe a Chinese as well. Someday a PLO kit............... Bossman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saigafreake 27 Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 the 45 degree gas port is in a different location you will have to weld and redrill a new hole. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
danny boy 0 Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 thats the kit I used for mine. FSB doesnt fit but luckily its because its too small. machine it out for a press fit and youre good to go. been a few years since I did mine so I dont remember what I did as far as the gas block goes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bossman 1 Posted December 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 (edited) Well, I give in. I have looked at the Bulgy kit long enough and decided to build it, I mean the thing is brand spanking new and ALL matching(except for the US made barrel of course) I`m going to put K-Var black poly furniture on it instead of the wood that came with it, I`ll save the wood in it`s original unfinished state for future prosperity.The AK`s in my safe are all representations of their military counterparts,I have a PSL which is unmodified, a Romy G that I built to look like a romy G, I have an East German MPi-KM that I am building that will be hot blued and will be an attempt to make it as authentic as possible, the bulgy AK-74 fits more into my collection of military clones, the AK103 had the polymer side folder didnt it? did the Russians ever make an AK-103 with a fixed stock? I cant find a picture of one so it would really not be very accurate as a military clone.I`m thinking I will make the Saiga take HC mags but remain in it`s sporting configuration while being 922 compliant. I`m no expert on these thing but I do believe there are 4 parts to replace on a standard stocked saiga rather than the 5 needed for a pistol grip conversion since the pistol grip doesnt exist in the first place.If I used a tapco saiga front handguard and tapco mags (4 parts right there) wouldnt that make the rifle 922 compliant? LMK, Scott Speaking of Bulgarian wood, they sure didnt care much about matching their stock sets up did they? I have a very dark walnut looking lower handguard with nice grain pattern and a laminate upper HG, the butt is very light blonde maybe beech? Edited December 22, 2009 by Bossman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saigafreake 27 Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 yes u will be good to go with the us handguard and mags. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulry 50 Posted December 23, 2009 Report Share Posted December 23, 2009 Boss, Yes they did make the AK74 with plum poly furniture for a short time. For referance check into the two attached links. World of guns, fourth photo down. http://world.guns.ru/assault/as02-e.htm I can't fully vouch for this one. The site is awesome for detailed AK data (especially the AK74) http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/pro11.html I missed something, did the kit include a barrel? If so is it a US barrel or mil surp? Is it 5.45x39? Is it chrome lined? Good work by the way! Frosty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saigafreake 27 Posted December 23, 2009 Report Share Posted December 23, 2009 the apex kits come with a us made barrel dnt believe they are chrome lined. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulry 50 Posted December 23, 2009 Report Share Posted December 23, 2009 I meant to say, the Russians made AK74 with a FIXED stock with poly stocks. Check out this site: http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/variants.html Look at the "Late AK74 1985 to 1990" It clearly shows the fixed non folding option. Thanks, Frosty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.