ICarryIWB 2 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 (edited) I sent this message to Gemtech (they offer high quality barrel threading services -- supposedly): I have a Saiga .223 (AK variant). Do you guys have any experience in threading Saiga barrels? This is what was sent to me in response: We do not. The AK type rifles are notorioiusly difficult to thread. Regards, Gemtech Techstaff I never flat out asked them whether or not they would thread my rifle, but based off of their response, I'd say that's a negative. I was surprised. I was under the impression that I'd get a response along the lines of, "We more commonly thread pistol barrels and AR barrels, but we'd be happy to put some threads on your Saiga." I just thought some of y'all would find that interesting. Take it easy. -ICarryIWB Edited July 13, 2011 by ICarryIWB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deussne 38 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 That's crazy, I myself threaded many saiga barrels and they are no different then any other barrels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ruffian72 548 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Most likely don't want to mess with front sight removal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bohound 281 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Probably they haven't figured out to do it without removing the bbl, and one would think that those threads had better be straight, what with using a can... My gunsmith has a jig for his lathe- the barrel stays on. My threads are straight, and I run a Gemtech can occasionally. They're just covering their asses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jbrubaker 13 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 A couple of my local 'smiths will refuse any Saiga thread jobs. They all seem to think that the FSB is impossible to remove and doing so will damage the barrel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ICarryIWB 2 Posted July 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Some good responses. I've considered threading it myself, but I'd rather have a professional company do it by way of a lathe. I would like to be able to use a can if I wanted to without any risk of damaging the device -- I want the threads to be perfect; and I don't feel 100% in my ability to guarantee that. I've thought about replacing that front sight block with one that has built in threads, as an alternative, but haven't researched that too much. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BobAsh 582 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 They don't want to work on them. It's harder to do than an AR and there's way fewer of them. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
termite 463 Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 (edited) An AK/Saiga can be threaded on a lathe, without removing the FSB, the receiver, and all the internals. I know, I've done 3 of mine on my lathe at the shop. It looks like a Rube Goldberg set up, but if you take you time and indicate a lot of points, it'll turn out just fine. Last one I did was my AK74, and the can works just fine on it. On the AK74, from one end of the barrel to the other, I finally got it to within .005, the face was machined square with the threads, so no problems, and it's a joy to shoot with the can. I'm not a smith, so I can't thread yours, I can only do my stuff, but it can be done. Edited July 14, 2011 by termite 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
clifton 354 Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 LOL>>> ..You would think Gemtech threads alot of shit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ICarryIWB 2 Posted July 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 My thoughts exactly, TAC 47. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott Kenny 144 Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Lots easier to thread an AR barrel, and they probably don't think they can do the job at a pricepoint most people are willing to pay. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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