Saiga 12 and &.7.62

[GodfatherJ 7]

I see all the videos and how to's on youtube and such. I have read all the info and it says its an easy conversion (this is normally coming from someone that has done hundreds of them). My problem is gunsmiths in my area have never done them, are in the process of doing their 1st conversion, or we have done a "few" and its $200 labor and an addition $100 to refinish it.

My question is should I pay the 300 or should I try it myself and use it for an excuse to buy a better work bench, vise and to add some more tools.

I have 2 Saiga 12's and a 7.62 so $900 bucks is a lot of change.

 

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or input.

[cvhanh20 1,052]

If you have mechanical skills, "you can do it".

[lunker 7]

My mechanical skills are very moderate, and I had it done in two hours (maybe even less).

I used this video and ordered the conversion kit from Carolina Shooters Supply.

[GodfatherJ 7]

Just ordered some conversion kits from CSS myself. I guess I call my self mechanically inclined. I will wait for the parts to get here and see what all it entails. Lunker thanks for the link it is bookmarked along with a few others.

[Parkerson 9]

Do it yourself!!! You'll learn a lot about the gun and have the satisfaction of doing it yourself. I did my 7.62 and 12 at the same time and had never done one before.

 

Just read up here, watch the videos on the vendors sites and search youtube for others. There is a wealth of information at your fingertips. Any questions you have were likely asked and answered here before, so you should be able to skate through the process. If you get hung-up or aren't sure of something...ask away.

 

Have fun!!

 

 

http://store.carolinashooterssupply.com/servlet/-strse-template/Videos-and-Links/Page

Edited March 10, 2011 by Parkerson

[lunker 7]

The hardest part (and mostly psychological) is taking a Dremel to your working rifle. After that, it's cake. You'll see!

Edited March 10, 2011 by lunker

[TheDriver 23]

Just ordered some conversion kits from CSS myself. I guess I call my self mechanically inclined. I will wait for the parts to get here and see what all it entails. Lunker thanks for the link it is bookmarked along with a few others.

 

You'll be fine. It does feel a little odd to drill rivets out of a firearm at first, but you get used to it. The trigger on your 762 will be worlds better after the conversion. Like others have said, CSS vids are good, and there is a good thread here with lots of pics. Just take your time.

[tbizzle 18]

sub'd cause I plan on doing my S12 on Sunday

[Torqued 8]

I had never done one either before a few months ago, and did both mine and my buddy's gun. Both conversions came out great. its really not a difficult process at all. Just take your time while drilling/grinding to not damage your reciever by scratching it etc. You will need to repaint the receiver anyway, so even if you do, it will be masked. Like mentioned above, you will know that gun inside and out by the time your done. its worth it just for that alone.

[jmzzl 146]

The only "scary" part is drilling out the 3 rivets in the bottom of the receiver. Then you drop $8 on some flat black engine paint, and give the bottom of the receiver, or whole gun 3 or 4 light coats of paint. Let it cure a week, and then all your parts will drop into place easy peasy. I'd recommend lightly polishing the hammer with some sandpaper too. Just follow all the steps in the CSS videos, and it's a piece of cake. Trust me, if I can do it, then you can do it.

[DrGonZo 157]

 

[butch1911 12]

Once you get in there and "do it" you will be amazed how easy it is. You will wonder why you even considered having someone else do it for you. Besides it forces you to learn more about your guns. Just remember if you think you need to get a bigger hammer, STOP and rethink the situation or ask someone for clarification(personal experience). But if you do use the bigger hammer rest assured it is an AK and fixing the screw-up is pretty easy. These guns are quite forgiving.

[702Saiga12 6]

watch the videos on the CSS website...they are an excellent wallkthrough

[beerasaurus 9]

Ditto what everyone else has said. It's not hard and it doesn't take much know-how.

 

The hardest part for me was getting the new FCG in place...but that's because I've got huge fingers. Beyond that, it's a cakewalk.

[vulcan16 971]

The only "scary" part is drilling out the 3 rivets in the bottom of the receiver. Then you drop $8 on some flat black engine paint, and give the bottom of the receiver, or whole gun 3 or 4 light coats of paint. Let it cure a week, and then all your parts will drop into place easy peasy. I'd recommend lightly polishing the hammer with some sandpaper too. Just follow all the steps in the CSS videos, and it's a piece of cake. Trust me, if I can do it, then you can do it.

 

Dremmel the front and rear rivet smooth with a rotary carbide bit, instead of drilling. Leaves no unsightly holes and looks really clean.

Takes a little more time but well worth the effort.

[kingjamez 8]

I really like the iraqvetran8888 video series on youtube. He does it the way that I did it, and the methods are great for saving some money. It's a long set of videos but it goes along with him doing the conversion in real time.

 

-Jim

[GodfatherJ 7]

Thanks for all the support. No better way to spend a nice Saturday afternoon. Thanks to Greg Queen at CSS for the great customer service, parts and videos.

Just need to figure out what I want for forearm/hand guards. Oh and to shoot them.

 

[GodfatherJ 7]

thanks!

[TheDarkHorse 216]

I'm about to partially redo my 2-year-old conversion. New, more innovative parts have come out since I did mine, and I want to upgrade! That's part of the beauty of the Saiga platform!

[nra4ever 0]

do yourself a favor and forget about drilling the rivets. take hand grinder and put a cutting wheel on. only do this if you have a steady hand.

 

put the gun in a vise.

start by cutting the first rivet near the but end.

once you cut off that rivet take the trigger guard and bend it back and it will snap right off.

then cut off rivets from but to barrel.

take a punch and knock the rivets out and you are done.

 

you can do!

[TR Young 175]

They look good, godfatherJ! You had a great feeling of accomplishment when you got done too, didn't ya?!? That is the BEST part of the conversion for me.

[oliver28732 2]

Nice job. They look great!

[GodfatherJ 7]

They look good, godfatherJ! You had a great feeling of accomplishment when you got done too, didn't ya?!? That is the BEST part of the conversion for me.

 

 

Yes that and the 600 dollars I used to buy a work bench and the correct tools to do the conversion instead of giving it to the gunsmiths in my area.

I have 1 more saiga 12 I will convert and send it out to be cut down to a shorty.

[evlblkwpnz 3,418]

Before January of 2010, I had never even held a Saiga 12 in my hands and this is my second conversion.

 

 

 

If you are even poor/fair with your hands and barely resourceful, you can do as good a job converting as a professionally done Saiga 12 conversion that I saw recently. I will not name the company, so please DO NOT ask (not even via PM). "Lazy hack job" was an appropriate phrase and "poorly executed" is an understatement. Do it yourself. It is just stupid-easy, especially if you use a DIY trigger guard.

 

.... and post some pics

 

ETA: TAC47 pressed the folder trunnion rivets. I would have done it myslef if I had the tools, but I wanted to be a tight ass. They did good pressing the rivets.

Edited March 27, 2011 by evlblkwpnz