Saiga to AK Help Please

[Stryprod]

Somehow one of these followed me home the other day:



I will admit I know very little about AKs, and despite my attempts to get acquainted quickly online, I’m still quite confused and would appreciate insight to the following questions:

Can someone succinctly tell me the difference (what is or is not changed) during a basic conversion and that of a full conversion?

Can someone tell me if the following is all that I will need (beside the knowhow and tools) to do a basic conversion? What else do I need to do a full, and do you recommend any? Black only please.

http://www.carolinashooterssupply.com/product_p/css-rifle-4-moe-6pc.htm

I hear that the Saigas sometimes have rust or when drilled out, exposed metal parts. Is there anyone that will ceratoke or duracoat AKs in the OC area?

Lastly, is there anyone in the OC area that does great conversions and will help me?

Thank you!

[Plisk]

I'm local and can do full conversion.

[MrPlink]

Basic and full conversion mean different things to different people.
at the very least a basic conversion involves reconfiguration of the rear end of the gun which equates to using a standard ak buttstock, adding a pistol grip and relocating the fire control group to their correct position. This also triggers 922r and Ca AWB laws for compliance.

For most models you also need to install a bullet guide in order to use standard AK mags.

The front end conversion involves installing standard hardware and furniture for the hand guards.

More thoroughly the front sight is placed with a threaded front sight block but in some cases you may get lucky and have a threaded barrel already.
There will also be some holes towards the rear of the receiver that will need to be covered to complete the correct look (and imo true full conversion) which involves welding.

[dyson]

I'm trying to learn too.

From what I've seen it looks like you'll need a new gas tube piece to mount an upper handguard piece, and a new screw on mount (that requires filing a slot on the barrel) to hold the lower handguard piece. Is this right? If we want to add Arsenal furniture, would this be the hardware we need?

Seems to be a few ways to add a muzzle break. Not sure which one is the easiest vs cleanest.

[f308gt4]

I've done a couple conversions (a 7.62x39 and a .308).

You didn't state which caliber, so I'll assume 7.62x39.

The kit you linked should work fine. The kit comes with a tapco (US) trigger and pistol grip for 922 compliance, and even includes plugs for the holes. You will also need a bullet guide if you want to use traditional AK magazines.

If you want to do the front end, you will need to switch out the gas block, and get a lower hand guard retainer. I haven't done that yet, but am considering it for mine. I believe it can be a bit more work than the back end conversion.

The back end conversion (+bullet guide) is all you really need for it to be a functioning AK.

Here is a link to my conversion:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=817256&highlight=Saiga

There are a bunch of videos on the net that show how to do it, and it is pretty easy to do with just a drill, a dremel, and some punches.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

[FX-05 Xiuhcoatl]

If you don't have a conversion kit and bullet button I have on sale in the market place $145 will ship on your dime.

[Stryprod]

Thank you everyone! This is certainly helping.

And yes, it is a 7.62

[R-H]

Congratulations

I brought it's twin sister home Tuesday, plan to keep mine stock, if you don't convert your right away Apex gun parts has new 10 round factory Saiga mags. for $16.00 ordered mine on the 3rd they showed up today. Also Walmart has been getting in the 7.62x39 TulAmmo $5.17 a box,
By the way in the factory cert. book what was the 4 shoot spread at 100m on your rifle, mine was 120 mm, this is my first Saiga and interested if this is good, bad or ugly.

Have fun with the gun
RH

[rambis]

just got mine home on thurs, the kit from css is gtg. my weekend project- I'll post up when done.

[peppermintman]

http://www.carolinashooterssupply.com/product_p/css-rifle-4-moe-6pc.htm

I hear that the Saigas sometimes have rust or when drilled out, exposed metal parts. Is there anyone that will ceratoke or duracoat AKs in the OC area?

Lastly, is there anyone in the OC area that does great conversions and will help me?

Thank you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkNro1MUP7w&feature=youtube_gdata_player

This guy explains it in a very easy way. Not hard to do at all........have fun

[f308gt4]

By the way in the factory cert. book what was the 4 shoot spread at 100m on your rifle, mine was 120 mm, this is my first Saiga and interested if this is good, bad or ugly.

Have fun with the gun
RH

Mine is 128mm. That's about a 5 inch spread at 100 meters, which isn't bad, I think. I also checked my Saiga 308, and that one is 103mm.

[R-H]

Mine is 128mm. That's about a 5 inch spread at 100 meters, which isn't bad, I think. I also checked my Saiga 308, and that one is 103mm.

I wonder if it has more to do with how much vodka the tester had that day rather than how the gun was built.

[f308gt4]

I wonder if it has more to do with how much vodka the tester had that day rather than how the gun was built.

LOL, you're probably right about that.

So I did some reading, and it appears that 4-6" groups at 100 yards are pretty normal for an AK style rifle. An AR would expect about 2-3 inch groups. With an AK, though, you know it will work every time

[shooting4life]

Keep it in sporter configuration so you can drop mags without a bullet button.

[jasonnorcal]

Convert the back, leave the front. I wish I would have left the front alone on mine. Just drill some holes in the handguard is all. Much nicer to have the longer handguard