[imarangemaster]

All is in motion to retro back with my Saiga. I have a nice used set of Bulgarian 4 piece AK74 wood coming from APEX ($25+$8 shipping) and the new US brown pistol grip. All 10 of my Mil-surp combloc mags have new KVar US followers installed, so with this grip, my 922 is in order.

When it all gets here, I'll make someone a hell of a deal on a 4 piece K-Var black polymer stock set!

I'll also post pictures. I think I will strip the wood with Formsbys and do a good old US GI Boiled Linseed Oil finish. Blond wood can be pretty cool on weapons: Here's my WW2 Underwood GI M1 Carbine with a Springfield Armory Korean war vintage birch stock.



The Saiga furniture should be pretty close in color.

This post has been edited by imarangemaster: 06 November 2009 - 08:21 PM

[Frank Rizzo]

imarangemaster, on 06 November 2009 - 08:19 PM, said:

All is in motion to retro back with my Saiga. I have a nice used set of Bulgarian 4 piece AK74 wood coming from APEX ($25+$8 shipping) and the new US brown pistol grip. All 10 of my Mil-surp combloc mags have new KVar US followers installed, so with this grip, my 922 is in order.

When it all gets here, I'll make someone a hell of a deal on a 4 piece K-Var black polymer stock set!

I'll also post pictures. I think I will strip the wood with Formsbys and do a good old US GI Boiled Linseed Oil finish. Blond wood can be pretty cool on weapons: Here's my WW2 Underwood GI M1 Carbine with a Springfield Armory Korean war vintage birch stock.



The Saiga furniture should be pretty close in color.

That M1 is the sexy.

[imarangemaster]

Thank you! I like it. It actually shoots as well as my Saiga 100 yards and less.

[DaveM]

I've always loved the M1 Carbine.
That's a beautiful example

[Fluid Power]

Is the K-Var stock set Warsaw Length or Nato? If Warsaw I would be interested in your old stock! Do you have photos? How much are you thinking? Please let me know.

Thanks,
Frosty

[Moe Zambeak]

If it's NATO, I would be interested!

[imarangemaster]

Fluid Power, on 06 November 2009 - 09:43 PM, said:

Is the K-Var stock set Warsaw Length or Nato? If Warsaw I would be interested in your old stock! Do you have photos? How much are you thinking? Please let me know.

Thanks,
Frosty

It's Warsaw. PM sent

[post-apocalyptic]

I think this change will be cool, rangemaster. For Saiga rifles, (best semi-auto AK available), I choose the easy way out; I buy Arsenal SGL rifles.

But of course, I restored my S-12 myself. She's a little rough around the edges, but I am far more proud of the S-12 I worked on myself than of my SGL series rifles that I just bought and swapped out some furniture/sights on.

I can't wait to see pics of your restored rifle wearing some wood! Wood furniture is of course more attractive than poly, but imo a good set of poly handguards, (with a steel heat shield), is usually cheaper, more uniform, and arguably more effective.

This post has been edited by post-apocalyptic: 08 November 2009 - 02:10 AM

[imarangemaster]

Maybe it is because I grew up in the era of the M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, M14, Bolt actions and lever actions: all with wood stocks. I just prefer wood on firearms than plastic. Wood and metal are both "elemental" for lake of a better term. Walnut and birch are much tougher than plastic for stocks. In my mind, the quintessential AK is not tacticool with whistle bells, and plastics. It is metal and wood, lean and mean, and nearly indestructible. I really preferred the feel of the WASR with its wood to the Saiga with its polymer. The Saiga is far superior with hammer forged barrel and latest upgrades, and that is why I kept a Saiga instead of a wood stocked Romanian.

All the time, the answer was there, but I didn't see it. I was so indoctrinated to AK103ism with the Saiga, I didn't tink of a very simple solution until I was refinishing the Springfield Armory potbelly stock for my M1 Carbine. "Duh, just put wood on the Saiga!" The I found the Bulgarian wood with the grooved stock and palm swell handguard and I was hooked!

[Bizzarolibe]

Lol, I'm sure it will be beautiful, but...

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HEAVY THAT RIFLE WILL BE???!!!

I have to say that after owning an AR for a while, I've really noticed how retardedly heavy the AK is, even with my polymer furniture. Regardless, for the AK purist I guess wood is the way to go. I'm sure you'd make Mikhail proud!

[post-apocalyptic]

Bizzarolibe, on 08 November 2009 - 04:07 PM, said:

Lol, I'm sure it will be beautiful, but...

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HEAVY THAT RIFLE WILL BE???!!!

I have to say that after owning an AR for a while, I've really noticed how retardedly heavy the AK is, even with my polymer furniture. Regardless, for the AK purist I guess wood is the way to go. I'm sure you'd make Mikhail proud!

I disagree. An AK like the Saiga, with a 1mm thick receiver, a standard AK front trunnion and barrel is not that heavy, (~7.2 lbs). An AK like the Yugo, with a 1.6mm thick receiver, a RPK front trunnion, and a heavier barrel does indeed approach "retardedly heavy", (~9+ lbs).

The AK design in general is heavier than the AR, (a lot more steel rather than aluminum), but imo the greatly increased durability, reliability, and more powerful round more than make up for that.

If a Saiga with wooden furniture fatigues you quickly, perhaps it's time to hit the ol gym, Bizza.

[imarangemaster]

Got my $25 four piece Bulgarian AK74 wood from APEX (awesome) and brown US grip from a dude on another board. The wood really doesn't even need refinishing. It is excellent +. I want to stain it red oak, though, because the handguard pieces are a bit darker, and look almost like red oak, where the stock is blonds..

Anyone know where I can get a rear AK sling swivel or the "U" shaped spring that goes in the upper handgaurd? It would work without the spring as it is tight, but would like it anyway.

I'll strip and refinish everything this week and hopefully post pics this week end.

[post-apocalyptic]

imarangemaster, on 09 November 2009 - 07:41 PM, said:

Got my $25 four piece Bulgarian AK74 wood from APEX (awesome) and brown US grip from a dude on another board. The wood really doesn't even need refinishing. It is excellent +. I want to stain it red oak, though, because the handguard pieces are a bit darker, and look almost like red oak, where the stock is blonds..

Anyone know where I can get a rear AK sling swivel or the "U" shaped spring that goes in the upper handgaurd? It would work without the spring as it is tight, but would like it anyway.

I'll strip and refinish everything this week and hopefully post pics this week end.

That Bulgarian furniture sounds like it's a great value! Can't wait to see the rifle with her new Bulgarian "dress".

This post has been edited by post-apocalyptic: 09 November 2009 - 11:32 PM

[imarangemaster]

Here it is: I used red oak Minwax to darken the blonde Bulgarian wood a bit. The wood was so dense that I used semigloss Minwax verathane instead of BLO. Very sweet:

[post-apocalyptic]

The new furniture looks great, rangemaster!

I can't believe the set only cost $25. That's a steal!

That "brown" US pg almost looks like Arsenal plum.

This post has been edited by post-apocalyptic: 17 November 2009 - 07:31 PM

[into_the_knight]

So can you tell if the wooden furniture is heavier than polymer?

I put a romanian wire folder on mine and I'll be darned but I think it is lighter than the polymer buttstock.

[post-apocalyptic]

into_the_knight, on 17 November 2009 - 07:55 PM, said:

So can you tell if the wooden furniture is heavier than polymer?...

Of course it is. It's not much heavier, but it does weigh more. That's well-established.

[imarangemaster]

Thanks!

I would seriously doubt if it added more than 1/4 pound, but boy is it solid. The $25 included a mint butt plate asembly too. Just had to pick up and upper handguard spring and sling swivel. With shipping on all of it, I spent less than $50. It FEELS like a real weapon now. I really like wood on firearms (even though I love my Glock 19 I carried as a duty weapon for years, and still carry on occasion) I remember when I went into the Army in the early 70s. The Sgts. all called the M16 a "Mattie Mattel" toy gun.

I have my surgery to rebuild the right shoulder tomorrow morning, so it will be months until I can shoot it. Damn! I also have a CMP M1 carbine coming, due mid December, that I will have to wait to shoot, too. BTW, thanks BigSal, Thanks! The Scratch from you for the Bulgies circle 10s topped off the carbine fund and let me order!

[post-apocalyptic]

imarangemaster, on 17 November 2009 - 08:32 PM, said:

Thanks!

I would seriously doubt if it added more than 1/4 pound, but boy is it solid. The $25 included a mint butt plate asembly too. Just had to pick up and upper handguard spring and sling swivel. With shipping on all of it, I spent less than $50. It FEELS like a real weapon now. I really like wood on firearms (even though I love my Glock 19 I carried as a duty weapon for years, and still carry on occasion) I remember when I went into the Army in the early 70s. The Sgts. all called the M16 a "Mattie Mattel" toy gun.

I have my surgery to rebuild the right shoulder tomorrow morning, so it will be months until I can shoot it. Damn! I also have a CMP M1 carbine coming, due mid December, that I will have to wait to shoot, too. BTW, thanks BigSal, Thanks! The Scratch from you for the Bulgies circle 10s topped off the carbine fund and let me order!

Best of luck going under the knife tomorrow, rangemaster! I'm sure the procedure will go well, (since as of now, we still have good, private health care).

My poor, pathetic SGL21 somehow FEELS like a "real weapon", even with her polymer furniture. I do concede that the small addition of weight that wooden furniture represents probably reduces your rifle's felt recoil a little bit, though.

As for the ol M-16 "Mattie Mattel" feel, that's as much due to the aluminum receiver as it is due to the polymer furniture. Obviously, at this point, the M-16 is a proven rifle.. but it's never been nearly as solid or reliable as any AK design, (all steel parts, wood or poly furniture).

And in closing, damn Sal! I'd have bought those Bulgy mags of yours if I'd had the chance... but Sal beat me to it.

At least I got your 40-round Bulgy for a good price, (complete with US follower, which was an unexpected bonus).

So... you didn't get all of rangemaster's great deal, Sal!

This post has been edited by post-apocalyptic: 17 November 2009 - 08:56 PM

[mav]

Best of luck with the surgery Rangemaster, be sure to keep us updated on your condition.

[Fluid Power]

Good luck!

You deserve it!

Frosty

This post has been edited by Fluid Power: 17 November 2009 - 09:34 PM

[bigsal]

imarangemaster, on 17 November 2009 - 06:51 PM, said:

Here it is: I used red oak Minwax to darken the blonde Bulgarian wood a bit. The wood was so dense that I used semigloss Minwax verathane instead of BLO. Very sweet:

You need a cleaning rod to take away from the overly odd DPH brake. Only after the cleaning rod has been inserted will it gain the BigSal Thumbs up!


BTW, the apex stuff looks great for the cost. I have a set of their $35 Plum on one of my 7.62's and I was similarly impressed with the quality.

[into_the_knight]

post-apocalyptic, on 17 November 2009 - 08:07 PM, said:

into_the_knight, on 17 November 2009 - 07:55 PM, said:

So can you tell if the wooden furniture is heavier than polymer?...

Of course it is. It's not much heavier, but it does weigh more. That's well-established.

Um... that's why I ask if he can tell. Basically is the heft enough to be noticeable. Then I guess the astute observer would further answer that even though it is noticeable, it doesn't affect handling, etc.

[post-apocalyptic]

into_the_knight, on 18 November 2009 - 01:23 AM, said:

post-apocalyptic, on 17 November 2009 - 08:07 PM, said:

into_the_knight, on 17 November 2009 - 07:55 PM, said:

So can you tell if the wooden furniture is heavier than polymer?...

Of course it is. It's not much heavier, but it does weigh more. That's well-established.

Um... that's why I ask if he can tell. Basically is the heft enough to be noticeable. Then I guess the astute observer would further answer that even though it is noticeable, it doesn't affect handling, etc.

Ah, I see what you meant to ask here. Still, since it's heavier, it will affect handling. I don't think that it negatively affects how the rifle handles much, but weight is the enemy, (more especially when you have to carry your weapon for extended periods).

I think the improved looks might be worth it, though.

This post has been edited by post-apocalyptic: 18 November 2009 - 01:39 AM