AK Fan 0 Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 I posted this in another thread but no response yet, so I'm starting a new one. I know there is much information about this subject in this and other forums, but bear with me. I'm aware that some Saigas have threaded barrels, and from looking at crown area of mine (7.62x39, 3/09 manufacture) it appears to be threaded, so after reading extensively about the subject I proceeded to cut the shroud with a pipe cutter . I used a Ridgid cutter, cost was $25, went slow and oiled well during the cut. It did accomplish a clean cut somewhat less than 5/8" distance from crown and I stopped at about a depth I considered right, just a hair less than 1/8". The shroud did move just a tiny bit forward and I can peek into the cut and see what appears to be the threaded barrel, so I'm pretty sure I've cut off the shroud and down to the barrel, but the shroud is not moving. I tried hitting it with a wide flat screwdriver and mallet at about 45 deg. angle but no joy. Also tried twisting it out with pliers, no luck either. Unless I haven't cut deep enough (which I don't think is the case, but not absolutely positive) I'm not sure what's going on, I've read that once the shroud is cut off it moves or pops out freely, mine has not. And at this point I don't dare cut any deeper. Thanks, any suggestions or ideas will be appreciated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
im_n2_vws 28 Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 I got mine close like you talking and I put a pair of channel locks on the shroud and tried turning it like a nut. It will break loose of you are deep enough. If it won't break loose by trying to turn it, cut a little deeper. It isn't threaded on there, but the action of turning it will break what material is left. That's how I did mine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AK Fan 0 Posted January 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 Thank you im_n2_vws - I did try cutting a little deeper, I'm at just about 1/8" deep but still no movement. Hmmmm .... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ptthere 5 Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 First, not all Saiga's have threaded barrels. Mine "appeared" threaded to me until I got my front sight post off, and then I was disappointed to find out otherwise. Second, good job so far using the pipe-cutter. I would suggest, if you have a very steady hand, to use a dremel or similar high-speed mini-cutter with a wheel to cut longitudally down the side of what you have left. You do not need to cut all the way through (and I advise that you do not). Just get close, and keep trying to work it back and forth with pliers or other said tool. Take a little more off when needed. If you do have threads, a flat front sight post will not damage the threads when you work it. If you cut too far through it however, you obviously could damage them instantly. The idea is to relieve the steel enough on the post to split or give enough to come off without trouble. Just speaking from experience. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lone Eagle 839 Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 I helped a couple of friends cut theirs, and we found a little Loc-tite on the threads under the shroud. Try heating the shroud with a propane/MAPP torch and twist it off. Those boogers are on there tight. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spacehog 2,219 Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 Mine had the threaded barrel under the FSB as well, and I had the same issue. There is threading mastic or some type of loctite between them, and with the threads present, it can seize them up pretty good. The torch trick and a set of channel locks took care of the problem for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AK Fan 0 Posted January 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 Thank you guys, I will try all of the above in a couple of days and post results. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AK Fan 0 Posted January 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 (edited) OK, I was able to heat up the shroud and with channel locks and some coaxing it came off. As Lone Eagle and Spacehog mentioned, there was some goop in there keeping things tight. But, no threads; I will have to do them. However, the barrel was scored while cutting the shroud; I estimate the depth is about 1/16", maybe a tad more than depth of threads (sorry picture is blurry, taken with BB) Am I SOL and buying a new barrel? or will this be negligible after threads are done and flash hider locked in place? Comments? Thanks Edited January 20, 2014 by AK Fan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 7,074 Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Negligible, not a problem. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thebuns1 4,323 Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Yep. Shoot it and enjoy it. After you thread it, you wont even know its there. It wont affect performance either. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bert7.62x39 10 Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 To Lone Eagle and Spacehog's points, my one and only Saiga didn't have threads under the shroud when I cut it, but I bet... if someone has this problem and doesn't have a torch... that you could spray some PB Penetrating Catalyst between the shroud and the threads, let it sit for a few minutes, then go at it with channel locks. I have had good luck with PB Penetrating Catalyst breaking Loctite. Also, I had to use that stuff to break the original Saiga Monte Carlo buttstock screws. Those were on there really tight too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lone Eagle 839 Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 AKFan, thread it and forget it. The threads are close to 1/16' deep anyways. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spacehog 2,219 Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Cut into my S223 barrel removing the FSB about the same depth. As everyone else has said, no issues. (Same thing they told me when I posted the same question a couple of years ago) Thread it, shoot it, and enjoy it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AK Fan 0 Posted January 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Thank you gentlemen, will thread and post pics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ptthere 5 Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 AKFan, thread it and forget it. The threads are close to 1/16' deep anyways. This. Just make sure you use the die alignment tool if you can. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
semper299 284 Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Cut into my S223 barrel removing the FSB about the same depth. As everyone else has said, no issues. (Same thing they told me when I posted the same question a couple of years ago) Thread it, shoot it, and enjoy it. HA, I did the same thing. Had a perfect straight line down both sides of the barrel where I cut the FSB off. Not even fingernail wide or deep. Pressed on a 74 FSB and it covered it nicely. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SaigaFL 4 Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 (edited) On one of mine the cap popped of litarly, the other one just stayed there when the cut went thru. Neither 09 series barrel was threaded. Edited February 9, 2014 by SaigaFL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
im_n2_vws 28 Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 (edited) My 09 762 had threads. I ended up putting a Bulgy fsb on it anyway. It doesn't have a stepped chamber either. Edited February 9, 2014 by im_n2_vws Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SaigaFL 4 Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Thickness of barrel cap was .070 on mine, barrel OD on the 5.45 checked .565 at muzzle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sim_Player 1,939 Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 When I picked up my 09, I could see threads under the shroud. Replaced the Saiga FSB with a AMD-65 FSB and installed a slant break. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SlickMick 3 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 I'll be taking a close look at mine soon. Any videos for cutting the shroud off? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SaigaFL 4 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 (edited) I have some photos using a tubing cutter that I can't find. Get a small meatal framed one if you go that route. The plastic ones will fail, as I found out. Holding rifle during threading without damaging it is not easy. Edited February 28, 2014 by SaigaFL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
semper299 284 Posted March 2, 2014 Report Share Posted March 2, 2014 That's a nice jig. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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