Saiga fore grip conversion help

[CaveMike]

I'm hoping to convert a Saiga 7.62x39 into an AK style rifle. My goal is just a clean stock looking AK47. I'm all sorted on the trigger and magazine areas, and with the gas tube, so my other questions lie more with furniture and sights. I am a little unclear as to whether I can just use a regular wooden russian AK stock and foregrip set, or whether I need a specific Saiga conversion set. I'm also unclear on what kind of clips and retainers I need for the new foregrip. There is also I guess the matter of whether to swap out the front sight to the proper AK style one that holds the cleaning rod. How hard is this to do and where would I find the right one? Thanks in advance,
Mike

[ar15barrels]

In order to retain an AK style handguard, you will need a handguard retainer.
You can remove the Saiga gas block and put a standard AKM type retainer on the barrel after you cut a handguard retainer notch in the barrel.
That's the more "professional" way to do it.
There are also "drop in" conversion parts that do not require the barrel to be notched and the gas block to be pressed off and back on.
Those "drop-in" parts usually clamp to the barrel with screws so they are not as structurally sound as the original AK design, but they work if you want to do it all yourself...

[3RDGEARGRNDRR]

http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?/topic/70322-saiga-545-x39-conversion-tutorial-with-full-photos-and-walkthrough/

[josh250]

Here is a nice video on how to notch the barrel, install grips and retainers without removing the front sight.

[SJgunguy24]

I'm hoping to convert a Saiga 7.62x39 into an AK style rifle. My goal is just a clean stock looking AK47. I'm all sorted on the trigger and magazine areas, and with the gas tube, so my other questions lie more with furniture and sights. I am a little unclear as to whether I can just use a regular wooden russian AK stock and foregrip set, or whether I need a specific Saiga conversion set. I'm also unclear on what kind of clips and retainers I need for the new foregrip. There is also I guess the matter of whether to swap out the front sight to the proper AK style one that holds the cleaning rod. How hard is this to do and where would I find the right one? Thanks in advance,
Mike

Any AKM/74 stamped furniture set will fit on your Saiga. If you want the cleaning rod guide and bayo lug you'll need a 74 style gas block. Figure out what muzzle device you want because there are 2 types of front front sight bases. The 74 (24mm) type has the muzzle device attached to the base itself. The AKM sits just behind the muzzle and the barrel itself is threaded at 14X1LH.
The retainer goes on behind those parts. The aftermarket retainers that bolt on tend to be more expensive then the standard types. If your replacing the GB and FSB anyway, use a standard retainer.
The work is easy if your tooled up, you'll need a press, some way to isolate the FSB and GB from the barrel. Brass rod or other metal softer then the barrel material to press on the muzzle. It also must be slightly smaller then the muzzle O.D. A couple of punches, drill, a hammer, #33 drill bit, 3mm reamer, 3X14mm pins. If you have dimpled parts you'll need a 1/4" drill for the dimples. A small round file for the handguard retainer or what I use is a dremel and a 3/16" carbide tip.
Anything else PM me, if your in the bay area I can do the work for you or teach you if your not tooled up.