Finally joined the saiga family

[Damndirtyape 0]

Just got back from the range after testing out my new saiga build. I'm fairly handy with firearms to tackled the conversion myself with a bunch of parts from CSS. Picked up a bone stock IZ109 sunday afternoon and converted it that night! checked out the port situation, found 4 unobstructed ports so figured I was good to go.

 

Specs on the build are

Tapco black poly fixed stock, G2 trigger, etc (not a fan of collapsable stocks on these)

Ergo AK grip (hate SAW grips)

Modified BHO, Axis pin retaining plate

JT engineering mainspring

MD arms 6 position plug

CSS puck

Chaos titan quad rail w/ HK sights

magpul AFG v1

10 slot flash hider w/ nut

 

She runs like a champ. first round failed to extract at all so turned up the gas a click and ran 50 shells of federal bulk target loads without any failure whatsoever. 100% reliable on low brass. I'm thrilled. Ran great on stock mag and a 10rd promag i had to fit to it. My MD arms 20rd drum should be here later in the week.

 

One thing however, the BHO did not function. It works if I do it manually but it did not hold the bolt open after the last round. Didn't think to try turning up the gas a little to see if the carrier wasn't travelling far enough back. thoughts?

 

Of course... PICS

[Squishy 1,149]

Great job on the conversion. You say "Modified BHO, Axis pin retaining plate". Does this mean all you did was install the plate? From the factory the BHO is not a LRBHO...unless I'm missing something.

Edited October 23, 2012 by Squishy

[Damndirtyape 0]

Thanks squishy, I just did some reading and found the same thing. Guess it's only usefulness is to show open and clear to a RO. Oh well!

 

I've read through your thread on making slugs on the cheap and I'm definitely going to get the casting set up and roll my own. This site is a great resource, thank you all, couldn't have done my conversion without the hours of reading before hand!

[bitters 6]

Yeah the Saiga's don't come with a LRBHO in the states. The modified BHO from CSS is just for ease of installation, it doesn't do anything different than the standard one.

 

Your build looks awesome, glad you got a Saiga without obstructed ports (lucky). The MD-20 drum is what really makes the Saiga 12 shine. So much fun.

 

As I usually ask, how much did the whole setup cost?

[Squishy 1,149]

Well to be honest I removed my BHO altogether. All it took was one instance of the infamous disappearing BHO tab and I'd had enough. I think the notched safety lever is better but that's just me. There may be a way to make the factory BHO never malfunction but again, given the PITA it is I just removed it.

 

And I just got your nickname, POTA right?

[Damndirtyape 0]

Thanks for kind words. I try to do things right the first time and life's too short to shoot ugly guns. I've got right at $1300 into it. I looked at getting one already converted but then I'd be tearing into it to replace springs and polish stuff anyway so made more sense just do it all myself. Naturally all the parts and peices cost more than the gun itself. This way too, I understand the gun and how it works so if something ever breaks or fails, I have a better picture on how to fix it.

 

Nickname is definitely POTA. Just kinda stuck years ago and been using it ever since.

 

As for the BHO being easier to install, I can't imagine what would be considered difficult! I had a heck of a time. My safety lever didn't want to go all the way in for the life of me but I think it was just the tolerances on the axis pin retaining plate being a little tight and nothing to do with the BHO. I had a similar issue on the hammer pin and the BHO lever being tight. After my hunting trip next month, I'm going to tear it all apart again and have the receiver and barrel either cerakoted or hydro dipped so I'll probably just yank the BHO out at that point if it's going to cause me greif down the road.

[Squishy 1,149]

There have been a couple of threads about BHO problems and I think there are ways to make it so it doesn't act up. But being left handed with a notched safety lever I can pull the bolt back and engage the notch with one hand, it's easy. I can see that for a right hander it wouldn't work this way.