Saiga conversion bullet guide problem

[DavidRSA]

My saiga 5.45 conversion which is outfitted with a Carolina Shooters Supply flat trunnion bullet guide has a problem which happens only on the last round of a magazine. Today I shot perhaps 20 mags worth of ammo and it happened perhaps 10 times. The last round gets stuck as seen below...the tip of the bullet is pressing up against the lower half of the barrel, in other words the bullet guide didn't lift it enough. It happened on both the Tapco 10 rounds magazines I used today.





Any ideas? Do I need a new bullet guide or another brand? Dinzag? It the guide sitting too low?

Thanks for any help you may have to offer.

[SJgunguy24]

Does the guide actually extend towards the mag, or does it sit back? Take a pic without the mag in place, action open from the top.
What you have is what happens when using 74 mags in a standard saiga with no bullet guide.

[Indiscriminate Killer]

I would recomend Dinzag for sure. Their bullet guide works great on my saiga conversion although mine has a round trunion but they offer flat aswell. this would be my best bet and worth a try. Good luck.

[DavidRSA]

Does the guide actually extend towards the mag, or does it sit back? Take a pic without the mag in place, action open from the top.
What you have is what happens when using 74 mags in a standard saiga with no bullet guide.

The guide has a slight overhang, as can be seen from the photos below. The guide is very secure even though you see two holes for the screw...I drilled in the wrong place - but the guide is exactly where it should be. I think.

[Domingo]

could it be the Tapco mags
try some original surplas mags

[SVT-40]

I used a Bulgarian bullet guide on My SAIGA. It has the proper cuts and geometry to center the round as they are pushed from the magazine. The US made ones are simple wedges which lack the "feeding grooves" that the factory piece has. I've had zero issues with both original and Tapco mags.

The originals are available from Kvar for around $20.00

[SJgunguy24]

I used a Bulgarian bullet guide on My SAIGA. It has the proper cuts and geometry to center the round as they are pushed from the magazine. The US made ones are simple wedges which lack the "feeding grooves" that the factory piece has. I've had zero issues with both original and Tapco mags.

The originals are available from Kvar for around 20.00

I only use military guides in my personal guns.

[DavidRSA]

I used a Bulgarian bullet guide on My SAIGA. It has the proper cuts and geometry to center the round as they are pushed from the magazine. The US made ones are simple wedges which lack the "feeding grooves" that the factory piece has. I've had zero issues with both original and Tapco mags.

The originals are available from Kvar for around $20.00

Does your Saiga have a flat trunnion?

[SVT-40]

Does your Saiga have a flat trunnion?

Yes it does.

As far as I know all "military" type trunnions are flat bottom. Only the SAIGA sporting rifles may have a round bottom. Kind of like the receiver dimples and chamber rings.

[DavidRSA]

@svt-40: The Bulgarian and Russian Bullet guides from Kvar have a large wall going up the left side. See image below. Did yours come like this and you cut it down? Any idea what it is for?

[SVT-40]

Yup it came that way I just ground the angled portion down so it would fit under the third rivet. The reason for the angle is to help the bolt to turn when locking. In the SAIGA it's not necessary as the third rivet on the left side of the trunnion acts as the "bump" rivet which helps the bolt turn into battery.

[DavidRSA]

I emailed CSS and he said that it could be that my rifle is out of spec and putting a washer under the bullet guide should fix it. You guys agree?

[Dr Rockso]

That's exactly what I had to do with mine, I think the washer was a #6, about .020 thick. Mine was using the dinzag guide, shimming it fixed the problem. I made a thread about it here somewhere.

[DavidRSA]

That's exactly what I had to do with mine, I think the washer was a #6, about .020 thick. Mine was using the dinzag guide, shimming it fixed the problem. I made a thread about it here somewhere.

Found your thread on the issue here. I think your thread should be a sticky. The issue comes up a lot.

[DavidRSA]

Added a #8 washer under the bullet guide. Took the rifle to the range today. Works flawlessly now. Thanks Dr Rockso!