Want to Convert Saiga

[PaiMei]

So I've lately had an itch to get an AK. I've heard the Saigas converted are the way to go. I wouldn't want to do it on my own though. Does any one know who does conversions around here. Or, is there a good place to send it to get converted? Your thoughts would be most welcome.

[Guest jimdigriz]

So I've lately had an itch to get an AK. I've heard the Saigas converted are the way to go. I wouldn't want to do it on my own though. Does any one know who does conversions around here. Or, is there a good place to send it to get converted? Your thoughts would be most welcome.

Go over to the Saiga forum, hang out and read there for 2-3 weeks, read the various instructions on how to convert, ask a few questions, and then do it yourself. I'm not at all mechanically inclined, but I've managed to do three by now. The first was admittedly a real pain, but it taught me a lot about my gun that I was not likely to learn by being handed a complete and fully functioning AK to begin with. A very useful experience. And the guns turned out well.

[setsdw]

What kind of conversion does the Saiga need? Never had my hands on one.

[Superman]

The trigger comes out where the pistol grip is supposed to be, so the conversion is to move the trigger forward and add a pistol grip. Alo they don't have a bullet feed guide in the rifle, it is made into the magazines, so to use standard AK mags a bullet guide needs to be added. You use US made parts to get the foreign parts count down to 10 or less.

[Smith]

The only thing you really need a smith for is the front end work, unless you have a lot of tools and a steady hand. The rest is pretty easy. You don't have to do the front end but it looks better IMO.

As far s smith's, there is a guy over towards Knoxville that advertises on the AK forum that is supposed to be pretty good. Red Jacket has done the last two of mine Welcome to Red Stick Firearms, Home of Red Jacket Firearms. Tromix, but he isn't taking work for a year TROMIX Lead Delivery Systems. Rifle Dynamics does good work RIFLE DYNAMICS - Tools and Training for the Professional Warrior. and there are a few others. Turn around time is an iffy thing ATM.

[setsdw]

Is all that really worth it? Are these rifles that good?

(ps if I'm thread crapping I'm sorry. Trying to make sure I don't start doing that.)

[Smith]

Is all that really worth it? Are these rifles that good?

(ps if I'm thread crapping I'm sorry. Trying to make sure I don't start doing that.)

Depends. When AK's were jumping in price you could get a standard Saiga for $330 and convert it for $120ish or less giving you a true Russian AK (best receiver, barrel, parts, etc) for under $550 compared to inferior WASR's going for roughly the same. These are new and not used kits and they are Russian. It is by far the cheapest way to get a top of the line AK for less. If you don't care about a "nice" AK and just want an AK the WASR's and similar for under $450 are hard to beat.

Thing about AK's though, is they all work and if anything isn't straight a good blow with the hammer will fix most anything.

[Guest Tusculum]

Here is my Saiga 12 I converted a few weeks ago. Traded a Mini 14 for this and it was bone stock when I got it. You have to get into the 922 compliant stuff when you start converting a Saiga. On your Saiga you would need a US mag-3 parts and a US trigger ass. 3 more parts. I think 6 will cover the conversion. They are somewhat easy to convert. The only big advantage is your trigger pull is much better after converting and of course the way it looks. Thanks, Jack

[Guest bkelm18]

The conversion is ridiculously easy. I promise you. Here's a couple tutorials:

Saiga Conversion

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

[Guest rabidrhino]

I agree with Bkelm8, one of the easiest conversions you can do.

Although, when the Arsenals were around $500, that was probably the way to go.

[Kevo]

Personally I've shot a Yugo AMD underfolder, a MAK-90, WASR-10, and a couple of Saiga 223's that we're converted by individuals. They all went bang every time. And were fun to shoot. I have yet to convert one myself but plan on doing a 308 Saiga in the not so distant future. Worth converting? Definitely. Bargain? No. But you get what you pay for. IMO I'd rather have a brand new stock Saiga with a 10 round magazine than a WASR with a 30.

[sigmtnman]

Personally I've shot a Yugo AMD underfolder, a MAK-90, WASR-10, and a couple of Saiga 223's that we're converted by individuals. They all went bang every time. And were fun to shoot. I have yet to convert one myself but plan on doing a 308 Saiga in the not so distant future. Worth converting? Definitely. Bargain? No. But you get what you pay for. IMO I'd rather have a brand new stock Saiga with a 10 round magazine than a WASR with a 30.

I like my WASRs, but not as much as my Saigas.

If you are wanting it to end up looking like an AK, it will take some money and effort. The pistol grip, FCG part is not bad. If you want the bayonet lug, muzzle break and ak for guards it will take more work.

[Auburn]

+1 on doing the conversion yourself. Installing the feed ramp was the only tricky part for me...just because I was afraid that I would ruin the rifle if I screwed up. If you want to skip that step, now you can buy dedicated Saiga 30 round mags that will feed fine. But, they are expensive compared to the millions of available cheap AK mags.