Floating a 308 Saiga Barrel

[gopher hunter]

Due to the cost of the Dinzag front handguard retainer. I'm looking for a thrifty (means "cheap" but sounds better) way to do it. I'm thinking of floating the barrel on my Saiga 308. I'm using the FAB Defense furniture (Isreali) so I need a way to hang the front of the lower handguard. I have an SAR-1 gas tube and I was thinking of cutting a lower handguard retainer into a U shape and using connector pieces to connect it to the upper retainer. I have some grade 5 4-40 allen head machine screws to use so I take it apart for maintenance. Has anyone tried this? It's the only way I can figure how to do it. Would this method screw up the gas tube or anything?

Thanks,
George

[cruddymutt]

I too am not a fan of Dinzags price on that clamp on retainer. He has real nice stuff though and both my Saigas were converted with his triggers. I bought Bulgy lower laminated wood for my 308 and plan on cutting a lower retainer to fit onto the barrel and use a clamp on bipod rail to hold it in place. Let me know how yours works.

[cruddymutt]

Just found out these bad boys should work for the 308. I havent ordered one yet but I am told they work.

http://www.cookssaw.com/shop/index.php?target=products&product_id=30696

and another one here

http://www.nutsandbolts.com/20-mm-double-split-steel-shaft-collar-black-oxide-qty-1-p-4834.html

[1988]

... I'm thinking of floating the barrel on my Saiga 308....

What's the benefit to float the barrel on an AK variant ?

[Group B]

What's the benefit to float the barrel on an AK variant ?

This

[brian01tj]

This

???

[ar15barrels]

How are you going to get rid of the gas piston and still have it function?
Will this be a bolt action conversion to get rid of all the piston force on the barrel?

If not, what do you expect to gain by free-floating the barrel?

[ElvenSoul]

This almost looks like it would free float a Saiga. Oh not avail for the .308

http://store.carolinashooterssupply.com/servlet/-strse-223/UTG-Saiga-quad-rail/Detail

Well at least it gives us ideas.

[ElvenSoul]

hmmm perhaps there is a way to re rig the gas tube so that is is not clamped to the barrel? Thus leaving the barrel to float free only locked in by the trunnion?

[ar15barrels]

hmmm perhaps there is a way to re rig the gas tube so that is is not clamped to the barrel? Thus leaving the barrel to float free only locked in by the trunnion?

How do you seal up the gas from leaking through the floated area?
What does the piston end up pushing against?

[ElvenSoul]

Thinking instead of a little piece of sheetmetal that clamps it down to the barrel, why not the handguard?

[ElvenSoul]

Hmmm well maybe a true free float would be too much stress on the trunion. I think a sorta of semi free float where at least the hand guard is not pushing the barrel around is about the best that can be done on the design. For safety sake.

[ar15barrels]

Thinking instead of a little piece of sheetmetal that clamps it down to the barrel, why not the handguard?

The handguard seats against the barrel.
Something has to hold it.
It can't just float out there on it's own.

[ElvenSoul]

The handguard seats against the barrel.
Something has to hold it.
It can't just float out there on it's own.

Oh no there are rails kits out there that let the barrel hang free. They lock on the side of the receiver and onto the gas tube only. Thus the barrel is only connected to the gas tube and trunion.

[ar15barrels]

Oh no there are rails kits out there that let the barrel hang free. They lock on the side of the receiver and onto the gas tube only. Thus the barrel is only connected to the gas tube and trunion.

But the gas tube mounts to the barrel so the barrel is still not free floating.
The handguard is just not bearing on the barrel directly.