Kilryth 0 Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 I know a lot of -74 and -47 parts are interchangeable, such as the FCG and furniture. However, I'd like to buy some spare internal Bulgarian parts in case parts become harder to find. We all know the AK market has fluxuated greatly over the years. Anyhow, the part that's most confusing to me is the Bolt Carrier Group, Gas Piston, and Bolt. I know the SAIGA uses a -74 gas piston; does it use a -74 bolt carrier too? I assume it uses a -47 bolt for the 7.62x39mm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KC913 324 Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 Unfortunately, this is about the only downside of a Saiga. It uses a non-standard bolt and carrier. Izhmash doesn't ship any replacement parts to RAA for these weapons, so these type of replacement parts are impossible to find, unless you find someone who is selling a gun for parts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kilryth 0 Posted May 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 Wow. I knew it was non-standard by the looks of it, but I figured SOME combination of carrier/bolt/piston would work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paprotective 362 Posted May 27, 2010 Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 There is a report that the AK74 firing pin will work in the 7.62x39. A few people are running them on here. It has a smaller 'head' but will still break the primer and make it go bang. I'd buy at least a firing pin. Check local shows or just google it. For $340 you can also just buy a spare rifle.. I agree that spare parts would be great. There were other parts mentioned in a post on here with a list last year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted May 27, 2010 Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 The best way is grab another one cheap as you can for parts or replacement. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nalioth 405 Posted May 27, 2010 Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 It uses a non-standard bolt and carrier. It's the standard of today. Progress, and all that. Yep, buy two or three, and keep one back for spares. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kilryth 0 Posted May 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 Well stated. Let's just hope the standard of today catches on to become more readily available! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
russiangunrunner 10 Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 most 74 parts can be swapped into your saiga. and about the bolts. well, akm bolts and the newer style bolts have the same bolt face, so dropping in the whole assy with carrier should work as long as you swap the pistons. akm/47 pistons are a tad diff... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kilryth 0 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Ahhh, now that sounds like a solution! If I find a cheap used one, I'll be sure to test this out! Thanks vladimir! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ae13291 3 Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 most 74 parts can be swapped into your saiga. and about the bolts. well, akm bolts and the newer style bolts have the same bolt face, so dropping in the whole assy with carrier should work as long as you swap the pistons. akm/47 pistons are a tad diff... AKM bolt will not work! the shaft of the bolt is much thicker then a standard Saiga 7.62 bolt. so forget using a AKM bolt and carrier in a saiga Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my762buzz 141 Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 (edited) most 74 parts can be swapped into your saiga. and about the bolts. well, akm bolts and the newer style bolts have the same bolt face, so dropping in the whole assy with carrier should work as long as you swap the pistons. akm/47 pistons are a tad diff... An AKM carrier is higher than a 74 type or a 100 series like the saiga. It will not fit. I tried it with a few different AKM variants. I posted a few pictures of this in the past. The carrier arm will not slip into the 74 style rear sight block opening. Edited May 29, 2010 by my762buzz Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ae13291 3 Posted May 30, 2010 Report Share Posted May 30, 2010 most 74 parts can be swapped into your saiga. and about the bolts. well, akm bolts and the newer style bolts have the same bolt face, so dropping in the whole assy with carrier should work as long as you swap the pistons. akm/47 pistons are a tad diff... An AKM carrier is higher than a 74 type or a 100 series like the saiga. It will not fit. I tried it with a few different AKM variants. I posted a few pictures of this in the past. The carrier arm will not slip into the 74 style rear sight block opening. i got a romanian akm carrier to fit in my saiga, it slid back and forth but the bolt will not go in, only the carrier. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my762buzz 141 Posted May 30, 2010 Report Share Posted May 30, 2010 most 74 parts can be swapped into your saiga. and about the bolts. well, akm bolts and the newer style bolts have the same bolt face, so dropping in the whole assy with carrier should work as long as you swap the pistons. akm/47 pistons are a tad diff... An AKM carrier is higher than a 74 type or a 100 series like the saiga. It will not fit. I tried it with a few different AKM variants. I posted a few pictures of this in the past. The carrier arm will not slip into the 74 style rear sight block opening. i got a romanian akm carrier to fit in my saiga, it slid back and forth but the bolt will not go in, only the carrier. The AKM carriers that I tried out fit into the track and moved forward but stopped when the top of the arm brushed the top of the inner gas block. The AKM bolts have a shorter head which also will not work with the new style trunnions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kilryth 0 Posted June 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 Thank you for the updates and pictures everyone! I was reading that a -74 carrier will work with a saiga bolt, but that is the only combination without heavy modification. I wonder how much it would cost to have a spare bolt machined by a shop.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ae13291 3 Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 thanks for the pics. i sure can see the differances in the bolts. i wonder if a 5.45 ak bolt can be machined open to accept a 7.62 round Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my762buzz 141 Posted June 2, 2010 Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 i wonder if a 5.45 ak bolt can be machined open to accept a 7.62 round Probably not. Too much material to remove. 5.45 bolt next to a 7.62x39 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kilryth 0 Posted June 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 Not to mention that DIY is pretty risky when it comes to the bolt face and chamber. I can't lie though; this sounds tempting to try on an old, cheap bolt. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ae13291 3 Posted June 3, 2010 Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 does not look to bad at all, would the ejector be the same? if i had an extra bolt i would do it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my762buzz 141 Posted June 4, 2010 Report Share Posted June 4, 2010 would the ejector be the same? if i had an extra bolt i would do it. The extractor blade tip would need some material removed to adjust for the wider radius otherwise only the ends would make contact. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ae13291 3 Posted June 6, 2010 Report Share Posted June 6, 2010 well i will think about it if i have any major problems Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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