Saiga Confusion

[peterabbits]

This is what I thought, I have read through the posts, and the flow chart and I assumed that they were legal. What pisses me off more then anything was the flat ou way he told me. I understand thet he likes to press his AR's but a flat out lie, I have spent 1000's of dollars there, and I used to respect his shop and staff, now I don't know.

So I guess Im going to ask another question: I live in Modesto, I would love to find a shop that can sell me one of these guns at a reasonable price, and a smith that can help me convert it.

Thanks

not sure about someplace IN modesto or close to it, there's a thread on here somewhere about locating a OLL FFL near you (uses google maps, pretty slick), but i can tell you PRK arms in Fresno or possibly JK supply in the Sacramento/Roseville area will help you out if they have them in stock - i bought mine from PRK about a month ago, and am gearing up to doing the conversion myself soon.

good luck!

[Mac]

OK - I have had enough of this Saiga Talk.
So I am going to take my Registered Evil Twin to the RAA and EAA the Kalashnikov U.S.A Saiga out Friday and give her a good feeding. Man I can not believe I had to register that.

You know what? After 10 years and many rounds that sucker still is in beautiful condition. Yes OP just get one. I put a Wood Monte Carlo on Mine. Best $279.95 I ever spent.

[santamonica9]

saiga .308

AK was designed with the pistol grip and Saiga sporter has the Monte Carlo stock. That stock mod put the rifle out of balance.

If you shoot bench rest, you might not feel the difference. The conversion will bring back the balance and reduce the AOL of the rifle by a few inches, if that's important to you.

That's just the grip/stock conversion. If you do the mag conversion, you can use surplus mags at way less cost comparing to factory Izzy mags.

The full conversion would give you a clone that is as close as possible to the Russian Mil issues.

A couple points: my baby in the 10 day wait/babysitting @ aamo bros

I. so if i'm mainly shooting steel & paper targets standing up the monte carlo stock will be off balance??

II. according to "Mac" he loves his wood monte carlo stock would that help balance?

III. I already know that some shooters are freaked out by the Saiga's. I guess they have been listening to the gun stores that claim its illegal to have in Cali; eventhough you can drive an hour or less to another area and wow AK47's & AR15's with lowers and uppers and all the parts you can want (Yes Ammo Bro cerritos and OLL) If I do the conversion would I need the bullet button type mag release for RAA Saiga .308 20" barrel?

if I do the drop in pistol grip by Tapco do I need the mag. lock (no need to move trigger), since it will have a pistol grip & retractable stock?? What are all those parts in the videos out their like the one on this thread? 1) new fire control group to move trigger forward by Tapco made in USA 2) surefire 10 round USA made mag. 3) Tapco USA made gas piston 4) Tapco USA non-folding stock - IS THAT IT?

the video makes it look so easy so I am an eager beaver, I got a dremel, drill and a good vice, so main main issues are co$t and legality - any advice?

thank you all for your great help - CalGunners are better Californians: we are prepared to defend our communities in case of disaster or emergency, not all cali people are spineless - think about it, if your neighbor had a house fire and you saw it starting up, would you not grab that big shiny red thing in the kitchen and run out to help out??? I know ALL Decent Americans would think about it.

[icefire]

not quite right

Unfortunately there is a named Saiga that is banned, but none of the current Saiga configurations are the banned model. A lot of "old school" gun stores (Retting's anyone?) refuse to touch the new Saiga models out of ignorance. The older models were imported by Kalashnikov USA the new ones are imported by EAA (European American Armory).
Check out Appendix C - AK Series
Kalashnikov USA: Hunter Rifle / Saiga

wrong. the new ones are imported by Russian American Arms Company, (RAAC) and have been for years. EAA imported them for about 4 years after Kalishnakov USA stopped. The new RAAC saigas are perfectly legal in Cal, I DROS'ed one in january. A lot of gun shops in cali have them. but you can buy them cheaper online from out of state, and have them sent to a cali FFL for DROS. here is a pic of my perfectly legal in Cali, modified Saiga 7.62x39. Note it has a AK Mag Lock from PRK arms, and a 10/30 mag o it that only holds 10 rounds. it also has a dinzag bullet guide in it and a filed latch so i can use the regular AK mags. That took about 20 minutes to do....

[BroncoBob]

This is what I thought, I have read through the posts, and the flow chart and I assumed that they were legal. What pisses me off more then anything was the flat ou way he told me. I understand thet he likes to press his AR's but a flat out lie, I have spent 1000's of dollars there, and I used to respect his shop and staff, now I don't know.

So I guess Im going to ask another question: I live in Modesto, I would love to find a shop that can sell me one of these guns at a reasonable price, and a smith that can help me convert it.

Thanks

Stop on by Tracy Rifle and Pistol and see if Mike can get you one in 7.62x39, we have one in currently in 308.

[Mac]

santa9monica:

The reason I put on some Wood furniture is only because.
1. The factory stock plain sucks(hollow buttstock).
2. I did not want to convert it. Works for me.

I was a little off topic, I admit. Sometimes Satire does not work in print. Now that you mention the Balance thing. I checked mine just now (roughly) and it is approx 6-7" forward of the trigger(Empty and close enough for me. Not a skeet gun). In the zone for a balnced rifle at 4 3/4 to 6. (with My wood furniture).
Easy enough to get right at what balance feels good to you by adding weight in the buttstock

It feels solid now when shooting as opposed to the wobble you get with the hollow Factory
stock. so it works for me.

Not to mention it shoulders better and points better now. YMMV.

[jaustin612]

They are definitely legal.

Heres my advice to making it a very practical rifle while still utilizing the magazine release.

-dremel/grind down the mag release to take regular ak mags, (10/30 of course!)
-buy a bullet guide, its necesary for the saiga to take ak mags

-rock the hell out!

You'll have a perfectly legal ak platform rifle that takes ak mags and still is practical.

[santamonica9]

santa9monica:

The reason I put on some Wood furniture is only because.
1. The factory stock plain sucks(hollow buttstock).
2. I did not want to convert it. Works for me.

I was a little off topic, I admit. Sometimes Satire does not work in print. Now that you mention the Balance thing. I checked mine just now (roughly) and it is approx 6-7" forward of the trigger(Empty and close enough for me. Not a skeet gun). In the zone for a balnced rifle at 4 3/4 to 6. (with My wood furniture).
Easy enough to get right at what balance feels good to you by adding weight in the buttstock

It feels solid now when shooting as opposed to the wobble you get with the hollow Factory
stock. so it works for me.

Not to mention it shoulders better and points better now. YMMV.

thanx mac. i think i'm going to shoot it first with the factory black plastic stock then figure on that wood