BuffetDestroyer 969 Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 Here are some pics of my newest Saiga! I used Dinzag's Bullet Guide and filed down the magazine release with a Dremel & file to accommodate regular AK magazines (it's a Circle 10 in the pic). It feeds great and works with all the mags I own (misc. steel surplus and Circle 10's). Something I did different than most was with the shepherd's crook or retaining spring. I went to Lowes and go these hitch pin retaining clips to hold the pins in(used them on my Saiga 12 conversion and they have held up well over last 4 years)! They are about $.80 for 6 or 8 of them. They actually are much easier to get in and out than the spring on my AK if you have to work on the trigger. So here is the cost of the rifle and conversion parts: Used 7.62 Saiga rifle (deal from a good buddy) $200 Tapco Trigger (Ambient Outdoors with shipping) $24 Tapco FDE Stock (Ambient Outdoors with shipping) $25 Hole Plugs (Home Depot) $.86 Retaining Clips (Lowe's) $.86 All the rest from Carolina Shooters Supply Tapco FDE Pistol Grip Tapco Grip Nut & Screw Dinzag Bullet Guide with bit and tap Tapco AK Screw Kit for trigger guard and extras (I splurged) Shipped Total: $46.70 Paint was leftover Duracoat from my previous S12 conversion Handguard was just painted FDE with minimal Duracoat hardener Trigger Guard was cut and reused. JB Weld was used to plug the hole in front of the trigger. I discovered and used the technique of using zip-ties to hold on the hammer spring legs on the hammer while putting it in the gun and that it saves considerable bruising and cutting of my hand. Very nice. My first Saiga 12 conversion hurt a lot! I sold the two Saiga mags that came with the rifle for $25 shipped here, so after shipping I will get $20 out of it. My replacement mags run about the same for steel European magazines online, so I felt like passing them on for a good deal. So, my total converted Saiga cost is $277.42 and I have a very good looking rifle! Function with 3 boxes of ammo through 3 different mags was flawless yesterday! I will likely put a KNS Precision .37" front sight post and I will now need more magazines to accommodate two Saiga 7.62 rifles (the other is an Arsenal SGL20) so the cost goes up a little, but I think I am going to keep it the same otherwise. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theboz 6 Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 i like! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigsal 757 Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 nice score for under 300! Good job man. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MN.9130 44 Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 (edited) Total converted cost... $277.... Man, I'm jealous as all hell, but you should be proud. You have an outstanding looking rifle at a value that's in a league of it's own. Well done! Edited September 2, 2010 by MN.9130 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BuffetDestroyer 969 Posted September 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 Total converted cost... $277.... Man, I'm jealous as all hell, but you should be proud. You have an outstanding looking rifle at a value that's in a league of it's own. Well done! Hopefully this will help a few folks out there on the fence about doing it themselves see that for less than $100 you can get it done nicely yourself. I had been antsy as hell this week waiting for the parts from Ambient Outdoors to get to me since the conversion was done on Sunday morning after picking up the rifle and I was just waiting on the trigger and stock! Greg at Carolina Shooter's Supplies had my order to my door in less then 3 days from the time I ordered. It took an extra 5 days from the other guys but I think it saved about $10 after shipping (stock was $20 and trigger was $20 with $8 something in shipping). I just wanted to pinch every penny on this to see how low I could go! Next time I will use solely CSS because Greg does it right and contributes to our forum and has been super helpful when contacting him in the past! While I was waiting for the parts, I took the trigger from my Arsenal SGL20 and installed it in the Saiga. It didn't like the Bolt Hold Open and would't reset because I didn't grind the hammer. So while it was out, I polished the hammer down to take the 2nd stage off and shortened the single hook an eighth of an inch and it is now comparable to the pull of the Tapcos that I have. Additionally I bent out the legs of the hammer spring and trigger reset is stronger than ever now that it is reinstalled in the Arsenal! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulry 50 Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 Good common sense layout, I like it! Good Job! Frosty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shades_of_grey 1,092 Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 Total cost for your well-done conversion restoration = ~$75 less than a WASR 10/63. Great job, BuffetDestroyer! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
XXasdf 29 Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 Most impressive on keeping cost low, thats a damn fine rifle for less than $300. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VladTepes 160 Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 great job.. don't know if you ever used an AK retaining plate for the pins.. but for the 10 bucks they are I would give one a try.. pretty easy to get in and out and no small pins to misplace or keep track of.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
imarangemaster 315 Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 WHen I get another Saiga, it will be similar to yours. Don't think I will bother with AK gas tube, retainer, handguards, 24 mm FSB, AK103 brake, etc. Adds a lot to the cost (about double). GOOD JOB. You can use a drill press and a jig to drill 6 or 7 3/8" holes on each side of the handguard, and put an easy heatshield made from aluminum duct work in it. Works great. Just make a U shaped trough of aluminum under the barrel inside the front handguad (about 1 1/2" from front, and about the same from the rear. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
freddy g 11 Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Outstanding! and it looks like it was a lot easyer and cheaper then the route that i took, well done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paprotective 362 Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Very nice.. keeping it simple yet functional. just checked the KNS site (page 6).. they have .034 (and 2 other sizes) not a .37.. but for $10.. you can't really go wrong.. thanks for the tip on those also.. Al Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BuffetDestroyer 969 Posted October 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Very nice.. keeping it simple yet functional. just checked the KNS site (page 6).. they have .034 (and 2 other sizes) not a .37.. but for $10.. you can't really go wrong.. thanks for the tip on those also.. Al Yeah, that is the one (.34") I have on my Arsenal SGL-20. It's a great little sight! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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