saiga barrel conversion

[rogdigity]

i have a chance to get a saiga 7.62x39 for cheap right now. i would like to convert it to 5.45x39 though. does anyone know what i would need to do (in detail) to swap the barrel? and i am assuming that either saiga 223 mags or ak-72 mags will work for the 5.45 rounds in the saiga. is this correct?

id love an ak but dont want to build my own. also, im not serious enough to want a super-sporter-match-target rifle...im just looking for something that will be cheap and fun to shoot


also, if anyone has any pictures or links for an ak / saiga barrel conversion they would be much appriciated

[rogdigity]

also, i am under the impression that the saiga is just an AK with a different trigger guard on it... hence why i think it will be good to use as a base for an ak-74 knock off.

if this is wrong please let me know. thanks

[Q]

i have a chance to get a saiga 7.62x39 for cheap right now. i would like to convert it to 5.45x39 though. does anyone know what i would need to do (in detail) to swap the barrel? and i am assuming that either saiga 223 mags or ak-72 mags will work for the 5.45 rounds in the saiga. is this correct?

id love an ak but dont want to build my own. also, im not serious enough to want a super-sporter-match-target rifle...im just looking for something that will be cheap and fun to shoot


also, if anyone has any pictures or links for an ak / saiga barrel conversion they would be much appriciated

You would be better off buying a bulgarian kit and nodakspud receiver or one already built like a ORF, arsenal usa, or Malcomar.

I've looked into this already. Mainly for an authentic Russian ak74m replica build. The Russians might ship a 545 RAA saiga and they might not..

You can't make one from a 762. You have to start with the 223. I think the 762 lower rails are too wide. The 223 is the same.
The trunnions are akm, I read you might need to weld them thinner where the mag goes in but not sure of that..
For the 223 to 545, you'll need a 545 barrel, bolt, and 545 feed ramp.

[bigthaiboy]

Yes, the mag well on the 7.62 receiver is wider than that of the 5.45. The result would be very loose mags which would inevitably cause feed problems.

Cope's Distributing still has bulgarian AK-74 parts kits for $420 with barrels intact. You'd be better off building a real AK-74 on a NDS-2 receiver.

[bigbob76]

Yes, the mag well on the 7.62 receiver is wider than that of the 5.45. The result would be very loose mags which would inevitably cause feed problems.

Cope's Distributing still has bulgarian AK-74 parts kits for $420 with barrels intact. You'd be better off building a real AK-74 on a NDS-2 receiver.

+1, here's one I built. I love the cheap ammo and mild recoil while still shooting an AK.

[rogdigity]

im not familiar with ak terminology. i dont know what an nds receiver is. also, im guessing its one you need to make yourself, right?

[Q]

I read the saigas are 23mm and the 74s are 22mm could be wrong..

im not familiar with ak terminology. i dont know what an nds receiver is. also, im guessing its one you need to make yourself, right?

nds- nodakspud

You can look for a complete one that is already built..

[bigbob76]

im not familiar with ak terminology. i dont know what an nds receiver is. also, im guessing its one you need to make yourself, right?

NDS-2 is a model designation of a receiver sold by Nodak Spud. They sell a wide range of receivers for different AK parts kits. I'm fairly new to AK's compared to som calgunners but didn't waste any time getting in up to my eyeballs. Once you build one it's hard to stop.