lentuk 6 Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 My wife loves her AR but she has been watching my recent fascination with converting Saiga rifles to the AK format. She has shot other AKs but they are too heavy for her. I recently bought another used Saiga so I decided to build her a lightweight AK. I wanted to lighten the front so I welded the front sight on the gas block. We decided she does not need a flash hider so no muzzle device of any kind was installed. She likes aperture sights, I had a TechSight from another build that got swapped for a TWS gen II top cover. I like the TWS top cover and do not like the rattle of the TechSight cover so I fabricated a dog leg style cover of my own. I bought an AMD 65 handguard and retainer and a RPB Industries non folding stock for looks and a little possible weight savings. I also removed the scope mount just for those extra few ounces. I call her Sacha, she came out at 6.3 pounds. I took the wife and the new Saiga out shooting this weekend, the wife has forgotten about her AR. 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PRISONSHANK 70 Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Gnarly! sum fine work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fallschirmjager667 729 Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 damn nice gun, probably one of the nicest looking builds i have seen in a while. put a real triangle folder on it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedmanRC 2 Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 I really love that look, very nice job. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulry 50 Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 I like how you re-used the Saiga block parts and gas tube. Really came out well and the gas tube gives it a unique look! Great piece of work! How do you like the stock? Frosty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lentuk 6 Posted June 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 damn nice gun, probably one of the nicest looking builds i have seen in a while. put a real triangle folder on it I will put a folder on it when I move to a free state. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BpS12 512 Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Very nice Does your wife have sisters? My last rifle buy may be the next to last "straw" before I'm single again Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rx slim 6 Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Dude. . .that is awesome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stnls1911 55 Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Those welds on the GB looked awesome, they also smoothed out perfectly!!!!!!!!!!! That is one hell of a build Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shades_of_grey 1,092 Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Just plain bad-ass!! Great job, man! The work you did is extremely clean; looks factory. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
beefcakeb99 572 Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 So, you did re-rivet the trunnion right? I am loving what you did with the sight and gas system look. Very valmet looking! It looks awesome and can't wait to see it with a legit folder on it and getting rid of that yucky mag lock! What pistol grip did you use? A Ronin grip a MD arms grip or an Izh grip? I can't tell for sure, or maybe a yugo grip? Also would like more details about the dustcover and rear sight mod. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lentuk 6 Posted June 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 So, you did re-rivet the trunnion right? I am loving what you did with the sight and gas system look. Very valmet looking! It looks awesome and can't wait to see it with a legit folder on it and getting rid of that yucky mag lock! What pistol grip did you use? A Ronin grip a MD arms grip or an Izh grip? I can't tell for sure, or maybe a yugo grip? Also would like more details about the dustcover and rear sight mod. Yes re-rivet the rear trunnion were I removed the scope mount. The grip is a US Palm. http://www.us-palm.com/index.php?option=com_products&view=product&id=2 The dust cover was an attempt at getting the TechSight cover from rattling and not being such a pain to get off the rifle. Its a great sight but the cover needs work. I had just bought a TWS top cover and loved the way it works so I milled a piece of cold rolled steel to fit the factory sight slot and welded it to the front of the cover after i shortened the cover to hinge out. The rear of the cover had to be shaved to slide by the rear sight and hinge up. allot of work but it turned out pretty good, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dust feeder 2 Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 I like that front sight gas block. I bet a few people on here might even buy a few if you put a few up for sale Quote Link to post Share on other sites
geofri 4 Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Awesome work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chupa 34 Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 nice work, especially like the front sight mod. Looks extremely clean. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
St.Zu 2 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 That is a great job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ivan1 0 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Looks very good. I would be proud of myself if I could accomplish something like that. What did you use to refinish it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Las_Vegas_HK 0 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Replacing the Saiga gas tube with an standard AK one could also save you another ounce or two. Nice gun. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lentuk 6 Posted June 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Looks very good. I would be proud of myself if I could accomplish something like that. What did you use to refinish it? Duracoat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmzzl 146 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Holy crap! I'd love to see what she looks like with a high cap mag and Tapco SAW grip on it. Nice job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cj5mrt 0 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Very nice work. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HarvKY 72 Posted June 26, 2011 Report Share Posted June 26, 2011 Just wanted to add my Bravo on your FS/GB unit - wish I had welding skills like that. You created almost a duplicate of the Bolton block that Rifle Dynamics uses as wll as the Krebs combo unit. (prob an $80-$100 item) Cheers, Harv Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lentuk 6 Posted June 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2011 (edited) I was going to buy a Krebs but they were sold out, I called Lenny Bolton, his GBS only comes with a 45 degree gas port, Saigas have a 90. I have been welding for over 30 years so I figured it why not give it a try. The welding was the easy part, grinding and sanding it smooth was the real challenge. Edited June 26, 2011 by lentuk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
baraban7.62 20 Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 how was the recoil of 7.62 for your wife? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lentuk 6 Posted June 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 Her AR has a brake, practaclly zero recoil. She still prefers the feel of the lttle Saiga, she says she likes it, feels like shes shooting a powerfull rifle not a toy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VaiFanatic90 360 Posted June 28, 2011 Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 Looks great!!! Love the homemade FSB/GB combo!! I love seeing people take pride in what they own, making it unique to them and how they like it. Glad your wife is enjoying it!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmac27 17 Posted June 28, 2011 Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 Lentuk I have a question about welding the left over holes. Do you put something inside the receiver or just puddle the bead around the hole until it fills up? I would love to do that on my 5.45 build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fredom4all333 0 Posted June 29, 2011 Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 Lentuk, were you at in Kali? If your in norcal can I pay you to weld in my bullet guide?(PM me if you'd prefer) You have quite the build there man! Its a bummer we have to put the anti-freedom devices over the mag release. =( Maybe some day this state will be free. Though moving to a free state seems to be the way to go. =/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lentuk 6 Posted June 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Lentuk I have a question about welding the left over holes. Do you put something inside the receiver or just puddle the bead around the hole until it fills up? I would love to do that on my 5.45 build. Old welders trick, get a piece of flat copper at least 1/8 thick, thicker works best. Clamp the copper on the inside of the hole and the welding rod or wire does not stick to it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmac27 17 Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Lentuk I have a question about welding the left over holes. Do you put something inside the receiver or just puddle the bead around the hole until it fills up? I would love to do that on my 5.45 build. Old welders trick, get a piece of flat copper at least 1/8 thick, thicker works best. Clamp the copper on the inside of the hole and the welding rod or wire does not stick to it. Thank you for the response...can I ask one more question? It looks like you only drilled out the dimples on the gas block for removal. Can you describe the method you used? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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