Saiga(74) Front Conversion Worth It?

[LeadFarmer74]

Hey guys. Used the search tool and there wasn't much info on exactly what I was looking for. How many here think the that time, cost, and work are worth the front end conversion? I have two saiga 5.45's and neither have the front end converted. I do like the look of a converted one but I am not sure I can justify the cost and time to convert it. Is it worth it to you guys and what benefits have been an outcome of the conversion?

[Chewbaca]

it takes me all of about 45 mins to convert the front end so yes its deff worth it !

[kalieracer]

Shouldn't take too long. Figure about 125-250 in parts depending on how you go about it and what parts you use.

Hey guys. Used the search tool and there wasn't much info on exactly what I was looking for. How many here think the that time, cost, and work are worth the front end conversion? I have two saiga 5.45's and neither have the front end converted. I do like the look of a converted one but I am not sure I can justify the cost and time to convert it. Is it worth it to you guys and what benefits have been an outcome of the conversion?

[gun toting monkeyboy]

I am about as mechanically inclined as a water buffalo with 3 broken legs. So me trying to do a conversion without wrecking the gun is somewhat doubtful. I have looked at having a conversion done by several different companies that are out there, and between their cost, and the cost of the parts and shipping, it just wasn't worth it to me. I ended up just putting a MI front rail system on and calling it good. I can live with the front sight and lack of a muzzle brake. I couldn't use a flash hider anyway, as the rifle is a featureless.

-Mb

[LeadFarmer74]

Shouldn't take too long. Figure about 125-250 in parts depending on how you go about it and what parts you use.

Any recommendations on parts? From your post it seems there would be multiple ways to go about it? Can you elaborate please.

[SFCRangerDoc]

I did mine and its totally worth it. You can do it several ways. Easiest is to get a bolt on hand guard retainer and be done with it. Would take you 10 mins to go from boring to AK and require almost no gunsmithing. Just bolt on, add gas tube with hand guard retainer and done. A guy over on AK files sells some he makes see here:

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210087

Dinzag also makes/sells some bolt on ones too. There are options out there.

Second way would be to do it properly and press on/off the gas block, and front sight, grind the retainer notch and then put the proper handguard retainer on. If you go this route might want to look into getting the proper 74 style gas block and front sight base too.

There was a guide online to do it a 3rd way (cut up a standard HG retainer to make it fit over the barrel w/out pressing off stuff) but it appears to be taken down. i did mine this way and it actually came out really nice. You can see from the picture below the retainer how I cut out the middle of it and then notched it. if you're careful you can spread the ears and slip it over the barrel and not have to press things on and off. Just cut the notch and you're done.

[PSLguy]

I just did the muzzle of my Saiga. I simply cut off about 3/4" of an inch off the muzzle shroud, threaded the exposed barrel, then screwed on a muzzle brake. Came out great.

[kalieracer]

Correct way with factory correct parts

Russian 100 series / AK74m FSB - $90
Russian 100 series / AK74m GB - $70
Russian 100 series / AK74m HGR - 30
AK74 Gas tube - $40
Us made long collar brake - 45 (Used or take off)

Alternate - OK - Most people buy a AK74 kit and sell off the rest of the parts to lower cost.

Bulgarian AK74 FSB - $50
Bulgarian AK74 GB - $30
Bulgarian AK74 HGR -$25
AK74 Gas tube - $40
AK74 brake - 35 (Used or take off)

Meh -
Bolt on HG
AK74 Gas tube - $40
Cut stock FSB
Thread barrel
thread on brake/ FH

Then add matching furniture.

Any recommendations on parts? From your post it seems there would be multiple ways to go about it? Can you elaborate please.

[Mossy Man]

I have a CSS bolt on hg retainer, Chinese AK vented tube, foreign 74 style black handguard and upper handguard I'd let go for $75 shipped

[Lightstrider]

Well I've been thinking about converting a Saiga for awhile now. First I wanted to just convert the front end only and leave the stock so I don't need a grip or bullet button, but I'm not sure about the ergonomics of that factory stock plus with a modern AK front end like I would want would look strange to me with just a standard rifle stock. I think with the plain black AK handguards or Tapco's low profiled rail ones would be nice, then a standard AK gas block (45 degree and vented tube for 7.62 90 degree for 5.45), front sight, an muzzle brake (slant or 74 style for 7.62 or 74 style for 5.45). I would add the Ruski bullet guide too and get some real mags.

Since I do want both a 7.62 and a 5.45 I figured I'd do more of a traditional 47 look for the 47, and a traditional 74 look for the 74. But now I'm thinking I might do the 7.62 like a AK103 and the 5.45 like a AK105. The 5.45 Saiga I would chop the barrel use a combo front sight gas block and then use the extended muzzle booster. Not sure about stocks, maybe a AK103 pinned folder and a pinned skeleton/triangle folder. Then the choice will be either a bullet button or grip wrap.

Really interested in these brakes too: https://www.legionusa.com/muzzle-bra...-red-heat.html

[FNH5-7]

Or, you can get a krebs Custom full length rail and not need the converted AK "look".

[Bigtwin]

Mine sports the back end conversion only. I just wanted the function..... Could give a hoot about the front end look

[dtrump]

I think it depends what you wanna do. If you want to have a correct looking poly or wood front end yes. But if you just wanna change it up you have a few options. You can go with a magpul zhukov as it cant have a handguard retwiner anyway and add an ultimak or get a new gas tube and use the magpul upper handguard. Or you can get a TWS kalashnikov rail as it replaces the gas tube with its own and doesnt need the handguard retainer or anything. The zhukov is pretty popular with saiga owners because of this. I have a TWS and i love it, it is a suoer nice addition if your not sticking to the factory ak look. It is just pricy and somewhat hard to find in stock. I went through like 19 pages of google searching before i found a place that had 2 in stock.
but if you want that factory look and its something you think you'll dig when done i would jump in. My 47 is "tactifooled" as some put it but the SGL31 im gonna get will be in standard configuration, plus an ultimak most likely.

[Mossy Man]

Also have a used ultimak + pa microdot for $125 if anyone interested

[LeadFarmer74]

UPDATE: I should have been more specific. I was mostly talking about either the FSB with 24x1.5 or just cutting the shroud and doing another thread pattern? I do shoot 7N6 so I don't want to have to worry about anything rusting (after a ritualistic cleaning) on the barrel threads mainly since it might be more exposed. Is the 74 style comp brake worth it? I do appreciate the input on the hand guard though because that was going to need a change. I currently have a Zhukov hand guard and I like it a lot. It gets a little warm though. I have one back end converted and an unconverted. It will get converted though.

Correct way with factory correct parts
Russian 100 series / AK74m FSB - $90
Russian 100 series / AK74m GB - $70
Russian 100 series / AK74m HGR - 30
AK74 Gas tube - $40
Us made long collar brake - 45 (Used or take off)
Then add matching furniture.

Thanks that is exactly what I was looking for.

I have a CSS bolt on hg retainer, Chinese AK vented tube, foreign 74 style black handguard and upper handguard I'd let go for $75 shipped. Also have a used ultimak + pa microdot for $125 if anyone interested

Thanks I will keep your items in mind.

I think it depends what you wanna do. You can go with a magpul zhukov as it cant have a handguard retainer anyway and add an ultimak or get a new gas tube and use the magpul upper handguard.

As stated above I have the Zhukov already, one step ahead haha. So I didn't want any optics near the front since its already front heavy somewhat. I went with MI quick detach side mount. If optics go down its a quick change and back to irons. It balances out the rifle somewhat as well.