SICARIO 26 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 (edited) Anyone interested in an AR type safety selector on your saiga? It would be a retrofit and would utilize the existing safety selector, you just have to punch one hole in your receiver. I have a rough CAD model that works, and I could fabricate one relatively easily. I'd love one for myself, just wondering if there's an interest out there...... Edited November 12, 2011 by SICARIO- Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zenman223 460 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Id be interested, While I appreciate the AK for what it is I just cant warm up to the safety selector. I hate it and to me is the biggest drawback of an AK platform. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zambidis 90 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 If it worked well I'd be very interested. I've long eyed the R&R AR safety but I'm not sure what it really consists of and thus haven't ordered one because I'm not sure if I can install it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shadoh 16 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 (edited) Its doable. Mine still works great ). So much nicer than the stock unit. Edited November 12, 2011 by Shadoh Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 or Galil style? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SICARIO 26 Posted November 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 (edited) or Galil style? The general design is similar to the Galil design. I looked into buying the galil parts, but they're near impossible to find, or really expensive if you could find them. Basically you'd punch a hole in the side of the receiver for the selector lever instead of grinding a slot in the bottom. Then there's a little linkage that attaches to the AK safety selector. I want to utilize the safety selector so you still have the dust cover functionality. I got all of the kinematics worked out on my CAD program, now I'll do some real modeling with real dimensions and see what I can fabricate up. Thinking of a Battle Arms Development selector switch (I have a few levers left over from some kits I have). Edited November 12, 2011 by SICARIO- Quote Link to post Share on other sites
garnaz 215 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 I'd like to see a pic of it installed and see what it would like. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yooper14.5 84 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Sounds like a awesome idea. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lbsrdi 1,078 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Would the selector be tough to move, being attached to the original safety lever? Or would it be more similar to an AR? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rctreadaway 4 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 I'm down! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hasdrubal 3 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 If the effort at the lever could be made anything close to a standard AR, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
2ndAmendican 23 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 The biggest issue to me is the effort, like others have already mentioned. The Galil style takes too much effort to move without moving the gun to gain better leverage. If it could be made to move as easily as an AR selector, then I'd be interested. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wade Pruetz 103 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Anyone interested in an AR type safety selector on your saiga? It would be a retrofit and would utilize the existing safety selector, you just have to punch one hole in your receiver. I have a rough CAD model that works, and I could fabricate one relatively easily. I'd love one for myself, just wondering if there's an interest out there...... R&R Targets have been selling them and putting them on their race guns for years. http://randrtargets.com/site/saiga-shotguns/saiga-parts/ 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TapeWorm3 104 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 The First question is why? The Safety of the AK was designed to act as a dust cover and a safety. These are Kalishnikov firearms not Stoner. I do understand converting the Saigas and have done a standard conversion to all of mine but trying to make a fantastic weapon more like a AR dumbfounds me. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zambidis 90 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 The First question is why? Ummmm...because it is a superior design and much easier to use. When one uses their gun in a way that involves putting the safety on and off an AR safety is without question easier to manipulate. Not having to break a firing grip to engage the safety. Because if you shoot ARs (and a number of other guns) a lot it makes for a more consistentency between platforms. I get what you are saying about the dust cover. However, I do not believe it would be major concern. I've seen guns with slots cut down the other side for LH charging handles still run like a top. These are Kalishnikov (sic) firearms not Stoner. Keen observation (save they are actually Kalashnikov firearms). However, it is also not 1947 and perhaps there have been some good ideas for improvement in the last 70+ years. Kalashnikov didn't think to put a gas tube rail on his guns, let me tell you it is a serious improvement for a fighting gun and allows an aimpoint micro which is a serious improvement its self to the AK. I can appreciate an AK for what it is, but to act as if the design cannot benefit from any changes is to be willfully naive. I'm open to arguments for or against given modification on the AK but to simply assert that Mikhail didn't design it that way or that it is more like an AR are not per se persuasive arguments IMHO. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sergii 142 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Can make a button under your index finger. Reliable and simple construction. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Etek 32 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Here is one that's very popular--------> http://www.sniperhandle.com/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doug Hartley 526 Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 Anyone interested in an AR type safety selector on your saiga? It would be a retrofit and would utilize the existing safety selector, you just have to punch one hole in your receiver. I have a rough CAD model that works, and I could fabricate one relatively easily. I'd love one for myself, just wondering if there's an interest out there...... R&R Targets have been selling them and putting them on their race guns for years. http://randrtargets....ns/saiga-parts/ And the R&R Safety is Patent Pending. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SICARIO 26 Posted November 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 Anyone interested in an AR type safety selector on your saiga? It would be a retrofit and would utilize the existing safety selector, you just have to punch one hole in your receiver. I have a rough CAD model that works, and I could fabricate one relatively easily. I'd love one for myself, just wondering if there's an interest out there...... R&R Targets have been selling them and putting them on their race guns for years. http://randrtargets....ns/saiga-parts/ And the R&R Safety is Patent Pending. not to worry. If I wanted one like yours, i would have bought one... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MT Predator 2,294 Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 The extra linkage between the AR safety and the AK safety leads me think it would add more resistance and require more effort to engage/disengage. I'm not at all concerned if the dust cover moves with it, just if it engages/disengages the safety reliably. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snafu360 21 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 I'm Interested for sure.The closer i can get my saiga felling like my AR, the better.Sorry all you AK etiquette nuts,guess i'm just proud to be american. Price has to be right aswell! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MT Predator 2,294 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 I'm Interested for sure.The closer i can get my saiga felling like my AR, the better.Sorry all you AK etiquette nuts,guess i'm just proud to be american. Price has to be right aswell! It's not that, an easier to manipulate safety on any AK where you do not have to break your firing grip is good to go in my book. I think the dust cover is a minute thing to worry about. If this AR safety could be separate and just block the trigger from activating, I'd be game. If it still allowed the factory safety to function that would be cool too. (I like to use my notched safeties to hold the bolt back when I need to). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zambidis 90 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 My order of concerns would be: 1. safe and reliable 2. Effort required to mover the safety. If it requires too great an effort then much of the value is negated for me. 3. movement of the original safety lever If this AR safety could be separate and just block the trigger from activating I'm not sure, because I've never seen good pics of one installed or what exactly it consists of, but my sense of things is that this is how the R&R safety works. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SICARIO 26 Posted November 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 My order of concerns would be: 1. safe and reliable 2. Effort required to mover the safety. If it requires too great an effort then much of the value is negated for me. 3. movement of the original safety lever If this AR safety could be separate and just block the trigger from activating I'm not sure, because I've never seen good pics of one installed or what exactly it consists of, but my sense of things is that this is how the R&R safety works. Right, the R&R safety works just like an AR safety, and you remove the AK selector all together. I just don't like the big gap in the dust cover that it leaves. Plus it seems like there's a bit of drilling and welding up old holes for it to look right. Functionally, it probably works great, which would be perfect for a race gun. I'm trying to come from the angle of a DIY'er, who would prefer keeping the original safety but has a nice ergonomic option on the left side. As far as the effort goes, it will all depend on the lengths of the levers to get an easy manipulation. You might have to remove some of the detent on the AK selector so there's not as much resistance. What I think will be most challenging is that most people who convert their guns use an ACE receiver block which takes up a bit of room on the inside. So there might have to be a little modification on the block. Too much modification, though, and it wouldn't be worth the effort. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yooper14.5 84 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Rather than grinding the detent on the lever to reduce effort, why not just bend the safety out a little bit? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SICARIO 26 Posted November 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 (edited) Rather than grinding the detent on the lever to reduce effort, why not just bend the safety out a little bit? Yeah, that would work too Edited November 14, 2011 by SICARIO- 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
evergreenkid29 14 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 I just bought a couple of these, to try and they are really good but now I am trying to figure out a way to remove or shrink down the factory factory handle. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SICARIO 26 Posted November 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 I just bought a couple of these, to try and they are really good but now I am trying to figure out a way to remove or shrink down the factory factory handle. I was looking at those too. The only thing I don't like about them is actuated in the opposite direction compared to an AR. I like the "push forward to disengage safety" vs. having to pull back. Other than that it's a great simple design. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snafu360 21 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Have you actually made/tried anything? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SICARIO 26 Posted November 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 (edited) Have you actually made/tried anything? As far as a safety selector, I haven't made anything yet. Still working on a CAD model, playing around with the linkage lengths. I was just throwing the idea around last Friday, so I haven't given it a ton of thought. I've made and tried many other things though.... Edited November 14, 2011 by SICARIO- Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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