jergoff 1 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 I was looking at the kit #1 and #2 from CSS. The only difference appears to be the trigger guard and 20 bucks. How important is it to have the $90 kit over the $70 one? What is the benefit? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BigChongus 765 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Only benefit to kit #1 is if the PG hole wasn't cut in your receiver. Chances of that are very slim, and you can check to see if that's the case for yourself. If it's already cut, just go with kit #2. Btw, you can just re-use your factory trigger guard for free. If you go that route all you need to buy is the FCG, PG grip/nut/screw and the plugs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jergoff 1 Posted December 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 (edited) Thanks for the info. Is there a kit that excludes the trigger guard? Would you recommend buying the FCG, grip parts and plugs somewhere else? I have a "fake-converted" gun with a PG/retractable stock already on it. Like this one: Do I even need stuff for the PG if mine is like this? Or just the FCG and plugs? Edited December 29, 2014 by jergoff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BigChongus 765 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 You can still get all the parts from CSS if you want. Just buy them separately. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
canoecanoe 63 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Determine which parts you need and shop around. I always reuse the factory trigger guard. All I buy is the G2 fcg for a Saiga, PG and PG nut and screw, and a buttstock. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Inebriated 31 Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 The kits come with a modified G2 to work with the bolt hold-open, so if you plan on using that, then the kits make sense. If not, then save a few bucks and buy it all separately to save the few $$ on the unmodified G2. As for kit 1 vs 2, kit 1 has a milled trigger guard with integral grip nut, which is $40 on the site. Kit 2 has the stamped trigger guard, which is $17 and you need a $3 grip nut. Doesn't matter which one you use. I think having an integral grip nut is convenient, but not $20 convenient. Plus, it's a different look that I don't care for. I have a stamped one from them that is just fine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
imarangemaster 315 Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 Thanks for the info. Is there a kit that excludes the trigger guard? Would you recommend buying the FCG, grip parts and plugs somewhere else? I have a "fake-converted" gun with a PG/retractable stock already on it. Like this one: Do I even need stuff for the PG if mine is like this? Or just the FCG and plugs? All you need is a modified Tapco G2 set (trigger ground off) to improve trigger pull. While a full restoration (moving the FCG forward and adding a pistol grip) is nice, Tapco T6 sets or Saiga factory Druganov stocks work just as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philrab 57 Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 I spent the money for CSS's kit and dropped it in yesterday. Easy job, had a second set of hands/someone to keep me company, probably could've handled it solo just would've been a little more fiddly at times. The Carolina trigger guard is a damned nice part, beefy and good looking. I'd happily pay some bucks to have one and not reuse the factory trigger guard. Also got CSS's bullet guide, likewise dropped right in just be damned careful with the tap (it's a little bitty thing, ham fisted can break it if you're not careful.) Whole heartedly recommend. This was my first Kalashnikov, first PG conversion, and the kit and CSS's Youtube vids made it very easy. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jergoff 1 Posted February 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Looks nice, philrab! Just now getting around to this...do I need to by the shepherd's crook thing too? I watched a conversion video and never saw this part used. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mullet Man 2,114 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Go for the retainer plate. The wire crooks are a pain in the ass. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spacehog 2,218 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Congratulations., and nice job. Wait 'til you get to spend some range time with it. It's is going to shoot and feel like an entirely different rifle! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philrab 57 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Looks nice, philrab! Just now getting around to this...do I need to by the shepherd's crook thing too? I watched a conversion video and never saw this part used. The CSS kit, at least the one I got, included a retainer plate that works just fine. The wire crooks are a carryover from the full auto guns as in that case the retainer plate interferes with some internal part (the disconnector and it's pin I believe). The retainer plate works great. Also, the CSS Billet trigger guard like theone I got in my kit was well worth a few extra bucks, very beefy and nicely finished. As I mentioned, be very careful when tapping for the bullet guide, I went in about a quarter turn at a time then backed out and blew out with shop air to get chips out. Could probably go a little faster, but I'm exceedingly careful about detail work. Also, if you opt to file down the mag catch to use AK mags, go a little at a time till the mags lock in and release without too much force. Too tight and you'll have Hell getting the mags back out after shooting, magazine changes should be an easy one handed affair. Mine was a little too tight at first, and I almost had to whack the mag catch with a hammer to get it to release after a little recoil wedged it in place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mullet Man 2,114 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 I wouldn't even use the tap that comes in the bullet guide (kits). I'd find a TiN coated tap for a few dollars at the hardware store. Lots of guys have had good luck with the kit taps and lots of them have had nightmare installs with them breaking. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philrab 57 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 I wouldn't even use the tap that comes in the bullet guide (kits). I'd find a TiN coated tap for a few dollars at the hardware store. Lots of guys have had good luck with the kit taps and lots of them have had nightmare installs with them breaking. I hate to cast blame towards the user/installer, but I worked as a mechanic for quite a number of years and there's a little bit of art and science to using taps. They are VERY easy to break or screw up if you don't have a gentle touch. Even while my friend that was lending me a hand kept telling me I didn't have to go as slow as I did, I just kept a slow methodical pace and didn't have any issues. In either case, highly recommend a bullet guide and opening up the mag catch. The ability to use AK mags rather than the proprietary Saiga mags (typically for 3X the price per mag) is a big money saver if you keep a proper number of mags on hand (in my case, five 30 round mags plus a 75 round drum, and I could stand a few more.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jergoff 1 Posted March 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Got it about 90% finished. The plastic plugs don't fit with my stock inserted. Will have to remove some material on the plugs or find something else. Same thing with my pistol grip -- fitting issues. It was kind of a pain in the butt putting everything back together -- the safety spring was the worst. I did it with no assistant, so maybe that's part of it. The trigger guard was kind of a pain too. I almost wish I'd put it on before assembling the internals. The video I watched did the trigger guard last so that's what I did. Next time I would put the trigger guard on before putting in the trigger/safety/hammer/etc. So, pistol grip/plugs remain unfinished, but I've had enough for today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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