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Saiga AK Questions
Juggernaut
Member Posts: 719 ✭✭✭✭
The Russian Saiga AKM rifles, once converted to the AKM configuration are these actually AKM rifles consisting of the same internal and external parts and which could interchange with another AKM?
Do they have a 1.5mm thick stamped receiver and heavy profile barrel?
From all the info that I can find on them they appear to be a quality, durable and accurate AKM...
Thanks and regards.
Do they have a 1.5mm thick stamped receiver and heavy profile barrel?
From all the info that I can find on them they appear to be a quality, durable and accurate AKM...
Thanks and regards.
Comments
There are kits and parts to alter the Saiga to exact AK configuration
but then you throw a few hundred more into it.
I have a 223, now apart, to have the bbl threaded. That's all the money that's going into it.
The gas block is a little cocked but otherwise quality is very good.
An interesting discovery was that 7.62x39 AK mags will fit but 223 AK mags wont.
From what I understand about the Saiga rifles is that they are both made in the same Russia Izmash Arsenal where the Russian military AKM's are manufactured and once converted are virtually the same without the full auto though of course...
'exact AK configuration' is what I am looking for, so then I would presume that parts will interchange with an AKM then without any problems?
From all of the info that I have found including from some major sellers, the Saiga converted to AKM is supposed to take all spec AK-47/AKM mags and drums...
The older Kalashnikov USA AKs (back when Kalashnikov USA was in Florida) were a completely different gun and MUCH better than the Saiga Sporters that are being sold today. I don't own one so I can't give you the receiver thickness, but just for not being able to use my original AK clips in them, I'll pass. I'd rather try and find a Maadi or Mak-90 for a decent price.
So sad that there's such a shortage of good quality AKs at a good price. Good luck in your search.
Hmm, almost would make a person wonder if they just took an AKM receiver stamped Saiga on the side and sent it over looking like an unconverted Saiga rifle fitted with the Saiga furniture, wouldn't put it past anyone for having to deal with the nonsense laws. I have never heard about any narrowing of the trunnion for widening of the magwell professionally though and sounds like a bubba garage franken special or something and definitely not a professional conversion like an Arsenal.
There is a mag adaptor that will allow use of AR15 mags but requires some milling of the existing mag well.
The thinking behind the Saiga was to work around AK and AK mag bans because they were supplied with odd ball sized 10 round mags. Since then extended mags became available.
There is talk afoot of banning import of shotguns taking magazines. That will kill the Saiga shotgun.
Check this out: http://www.ak47world.com/rifles.html
A great site for the worst information and half-assed opinion regarding AKs on the Internet...bar none.
Saigas, are extremely modified. Most are NOT single stackers. They do have different triggers and everything's been moved rearward. There are extra holes on the sides for swaged in pins which serve to provide fulcrum points for these aberrational triggers. Early ones (triggers) were milled, later ones are sheetmetal. The receivers are 1mm. The only really thick ones were VEPRs, which were built on RPK thickness recievers back when Alex Robinson of Robarms was importing them.
The reason that converted to PG Saigas are expensive is that to reconfigure them properly a lot of welding has to be done, typically (if done right) with a copper plate clamped in place to minimize bleed through. Then those welds are polished out and the whole gun is refinished.
I charge 475 including Tapco parts for a complete conversion of any of the rifles or shotguns. Extra for reconfiguring the mag release to take standard AK type magazines. A bullet guide must be welded in place, and a different trigger guard/mag release assy must be rivetted on.
Barrel pulling and threading ranges from "cake" to "impossible" as per usual with the impeccable level of Quality Control that Russians are known for (that was a joke) and I've had the barrel pins press out easily or require kroil and heat...or front sight bases push right off with 3 tons of pressure or had barrels which would NOT come out no matter what...there's always more than one way to skin the proverbial cat and we end up winning eventually, even if we have to take the rifle to someone with a large 4-jaw lathe and turn the entire barreled action. Whatever it takes.
But please, in Timofeyevich's name, stay away from ak47world.poop.
Only thing is that they seem to have a threaded muzzle that's 24mm and uses a AK74 muzzle brake, is there an adapter to change to the 14mm AK47 slant brake?