jimmy21 18 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 Ive just been wondering, why do poeple go through the effort of converting a saiga to look exactly like an ak when they could just buy an ak to begin with. Im not talking about the basic pistol grip conversion. Im talking about the total transormation. I've just been questioning my reasoning. When i get my saiga, im going to do a complete conversion to make it look exactly like a yugo underfolder. By the time im done i could have bought a yugo underfolder for right around the same price, and i wouldn't have to do all the work to it? Is the saiga a better rifle? I havn't paid for or picked up my saiga yet and i could still back out, thats why im questioning it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fallschirmjager667 729 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 Is the saiga a better rifle? yes, much better 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caned45 4 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 Why Saiga. Because it is Russian. Not a clone. But the real Deal. Saiga's come from the First AK Plant in the world. Izhmash JSC. Most Important. Saiga 's are factory New. Not a part kit with a full auto blasted worn out barrel from a soviet satellite like Romania or Poland or East Germany. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BpS12 512 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 NIB is a big reason. Chrome barel is another. The experiance. And for me, easy to bullpup. Still working out how I'm going to bullpup my RPK. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimmy21 18 Posted March 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 i think i'll be in to my gun about 700-750 by the time i get done with most of my conversion. That includes pistol grip, underfolder, ak mags, and wood hand guards. Then i'll still have to do the front site, gas block, bayo, cleaning rod and sling. Project is getting too expensive and it hasn't even started yet Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TEPPICHFRESSER 15 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 i think i'll be in to my gun about 700-750 by the time i get done with most of my conversion. That includes pistol grip, underfolder, ak mags, and wood hand guards. Then i'll still have to do the front site, gas block, bayo, cleaning rod and sling. Project is getting too expensive and it hasn't even started yet Have you considered the EAA Zastava PAP for your Yugo under folder project? There are a few guys around that can do the mag well conversion to accept double stack mags for a small fee. The zastava factory is thee original factory in Yugoslavia/ Serbia that makes the original "Yugo under folder AK's" for the Yugoslavian military. Factory built AK's are definitely worth the extra noise. Unlike USA builds they have things like cold hammer forged barrels and they are correctly assembled. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dayofruin 425 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 I really like working on them. Almost as fun as shooting them! Lol! Every time I get the chance to build one and finish it, I can't wait to do another. Another reason is because you can make it into whatever you want during the process. You aren't buying a complete rifle and then replacing parts, which just adds to cost. Same deal with building AR's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimmy21 18 Posted March 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 i think i'll be in to my gun about 700-750 by the time i get done with most of my conversion. That includes pistol grip, underfolder, ak mags, and wood hand guards. Then i'll still have to do the front site, gas block, bayo, cleaning rod and sling. Project is getting too expensive and it hasn't even started yet Have you considered the EAA Zastava PAP for your Yugo under folder project? There are a few guys around that can do the mag well conversion to accept double stack mags for a small fee. The zastava factory is thee original factory in Yugoslavia/ Serbia that makes the original "Yugo under folder AK's" for the Yugoslavian military. Factory built AK's are definitely worth the extra noise. Unlike USA builds they have things like cold hammer forged barrels and they are correctly assembled. looking info up on them, the saiga seems like a better rifle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TEPPICHFRESSER 15 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 i think i'll be in to my gun about 700-750 by the time i get done with most of my conversion. That includes pistol grip, underfolder, ak mags, and wood hand guards. Then i'll still have to do the front site, gas block, bayo, cleaning rod and sling. Project is getting too expensive and it hasn't even started yet Have you considered the EAA Zastava PAP for your Yugo under folder project? There are a few guys around that can do the mag well conversion to accept double stack mags for a small fee. The zastava factory is thee original factory in Yugoslavia/ Serbia that makes the original "Yugo under folder AK's" for the Yugoslavian military. Factory built AK's are definitely worth the extra noise. Unlike USA builds they have things like cold hammer forged barrels and they are correctly assembled. looking info up on them, the saiga seems like a better rifle. Izhmash Saiga and Zastava PAP are top of the line AKs. Zastava goes the extra mile during manufacture utilizing a 1.6mm thick RPK heavy receiver and milled front sight base and milled gas block. Saiga has a cast FSB and GB, 1.0mm thick AKM receiver. If you plan to go the Yugo route then I definitely recommend the PAP. picture of a converted Zastava PAP vvv 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
armory 142 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 Go with the Zastava PAP and keep her real as possible if you are doing a Yugo......just my 2 cents.....I am partial though...I LOVE my Yugo..... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jr612 0 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 Why a saiga, because mine cost less than a worn out clone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
armory 142 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 (edited) Why a saiga, because mine cost less than a worn out clone. The Zastava's are only $350 brand new........sure you will have money in the conversion, BUT...You will have a New Genuine Yugo.... Edited March 7, 2012 by armory Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimmy21 18 Posted March 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 i can't find any any info on converting them. Looks like you don't have to move the trigger, so that would save money. Although not really because to stay 922r compliant, id still have to change the trigger group. They look like the the front hand guards could easily be changed without the gas tube, so that would save money, but i don't see anything about the mag conversions. What im thinking right now, is that id probably have around the same amount into either one, getting it to look how i want, but there is a heck of a lot more info out there on converting the saiga. I don't really care about it being a genuine yugo for my yugo conversion. I simply like the looks of the yugos. Ill be perfectly happy with a saiga with an underfolder, etc. Anyone have any info on converting one of those zastavas? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kresk 10,063 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 The Zastava's are only $350 brand new........sure you will have money in the conversion, BUT...You will have a New Genuine Yugo.... Used Zavastas seem to be going for about $450 and new ones are $599. J&G in Arizona just sent out an email ad with them in it last week. Besides, Saigas are the real thing and are as close as you're ever going to get to owning a Russian military AK. Git one! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
armory 142 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 i can't find any any info on converting them. Looks like you don't have to move the trigger, so that would save money. Although not really because to stay 922r compliant, id still have to change the trigger group. They look like the the front hand guards could easily be changed without the gas tube, so that would save money, but i don't see anything about the mag conversions. What im thinking right now, is that id probably have around the same amount into either one, getting it to look how i want, but there is a heck of a lot more info out there on converting the saiga. I don't really care about it being a genuine yugo for my yugo conversion. I simply like the looks of the yugos. Ill be perfectly happy with a saiga with an underfolder, etc. Anyone have any info on converting one of those zastavas? The are threads on ak47 net about the Zatsava conversion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
toadold 0 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 One advantage to converting a Saiga is that you can do it in stages. You don't have to commit a lot of money up front. Also there is a large base of information on converting Saiga's. especially on this web site. You don't need to go to a machinist for any mill work. Anything you need to do can be done by hand or with reasonably priced tools from vendors listed on this website and a lot of them offer a discount. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JBubbs 17 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 I did it because I wanted a new Russian "AK" and that I could make it how I wanted it. I've told many a person that want Arsenals to buy them if that's exactly how they want it. I would tell you to buy the one already set up the way you want it, unless you really want a project Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fallschirmjager667 729 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 The Zastava's are only $350 brand new........sure you will have money in the conversion, BUT...You will have a New Genuine Yugo.... Used Zavastas seem to be going for about $450 and new ones are $599. J&G in Arizona just sent out an email ad with them in it last week. Besides, Saigas are the real thing and are as close as you're ever going to get to owning a Russian military AK. Git one! he's talking about the single stack zastava pap 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rocketfoot 29 Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 (edited) I was originally going to get a WASR or Polish UF but when I researched Saiga's, I didn't want anything else except for Russian hardware! (In my price range, anyway!) Edited March 7, 2012 by rocketfoot Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 7,071 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Ive just been wondering, why do poeple go through the effort of converting a saiga to look exactly like an ak when they could just buy an ak to begin with. Im not talking about the basic pistol grip conversion. Im talking about the total transormation. I've just been questioning my reasoning. When i get my saiga, im going to do a complete conversion to make it look exactly like a yugo underfolder. By the time im done i could have bought a yugo underfolder for right around the same price, and i wouldn't have to do all the work to it? Is the saiga a better rifle? I havn't paid for or picked up my saiga yet and i could still back out, thats why im questioning it The Saiga in its Sporting Import configuration is an original Russian AK made to look like a Fudd Friendly hunting rifle... It is an AK.We simply restore them to either our personal idea of what our customized AK should look like, to what it would have looked like coming off the Izmash military line or simply in the image of the traditional AK. Wouldn't have to do all the work? Man that is part of the fun for a lot of us. Is it better? In many cases, hell yes. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anthony1 5 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 (edited) Edited March 8, 2012 by anthony1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 If I wanted a new factory AK it would be a Saiga. The only reason I have not bought one is that I built my self a Romy G kit. The Saiga is the best 'bang for the buck' you can get without building your own! And with the price of kits today it is probably cheaper to buy a Saiga than to do a build. AND - The Saiga is NEW! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
armory 142 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 (edited) No offense to anybody, but taking a QUALITY Russian Saiga and making a look a like Yugo underfolder out of it is like putting a Ford Mustang engine in your Chevy Camaro. Both quality, just don't belong together. If you really want a Yugo underfolder, start with a Yugo. Edited March 8, 2012 by armory 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rocketfoot 29 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 No offense to anybody, but taking a QUALITY Russian Saiga and making a look a like Yugo underfolder out of it is like putting a Ford Mustang engine in your Chevy Camaro. Both quality, just don't belong together. If you really want a Yugo underfolder, start with a Yugo. Agree...I have a Yugo M70B1 and the entire thing is heavy duty! I noticed that the barrel is even thicker than my Saiga 7.62. Both are good bu not interchangeable! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mogunner 240 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 I added up my total for everything so far and I'm just under $700, but I bought a bunch of stuff, lol...need to spend another $25 and I'll be done other than adding more mags. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dirtyjoe 0 Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 (edited) Why I did it? I like working on things, and the Saiga I've converted and the AR I built from parts are my two favorite weapons aside from my pistols I've taken apart and done cheap polish trigger jobs on. The tinkering is 90% of what makes them special for me. Plus, I now know what parts do what in the gun and feel like I could fix almost any problem I come across. There's just something satisfying about taking a power tool to a brand new rifle, haha. After all conversion parts and the rifle, I'm in for right at $640, and it just feels better than the WASRs I've messed with at gun shows. Edited March 9, 2012 by Dirtyjoe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cfr 4 Posted March 19, 2012 Report Share Posted March 19, 2012 (edited) Deleted. Edited March 19, 2012 by cfr Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sirex 34 Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 Gun guys are like car guys. There is a certain self satisfaction in building and crafting something yourself. As well as in many states, the Saiga is the alternative to the "evil assault" rifle that is out to get us. The Saiga is a brand new AK that gets in on a technicality. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lone Eagle 839 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Why a Saiga? Because you can't string them like this with a WASR. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pjj342 632 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 I could have bought a hell of an AR or a couple cheap ass wasr's with the money Ive spent making my saiga rifle, my personal saiga rifle. It was mostly trial and error, not knowing exactly what I would like and what I wanted to do with it. But after a while it all comes together. You sell the parts that you dont like(I hated the magpul afg for example), take a small loss, and get parts you do like. Ive said 'IM DONE" a couple times, and I was lying, because there were still more things I could do. Now Ive done most of them, there isnt much left, but enough to keep me going. I have the ace stock, chaos rail w/ magpulxtm covers, PWSFSC, ak gas tube, and coming soon.... uspalm battlegrip Its an awesome hobby. Im proud of my rifle because I built it. Well, the russians built the frame, im just painting the picture. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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