Saiga .223 Conversion....

[JayBell]

I picked this up from Aubie515...and I pretty much finished the conversion this morning.
The Saiga is a russian made AK in 'sporting' configuration, when done the conversion, you have a russian AK, albeit in 223.
I still have to paint the lower receiver where parts are removed/moved, and thats all

this is the gun as purchased:


to convert the gun back to "standard ak" you have to do the following..
1. install the bullet guide (done by Aubie515 already)
2. remove rear firing components (they have a goofy setup for use with the 'hunting" style stock)
3. remove trigger guard plate, remove trigger guard, trim, drill front triggerguard hole under mag catch, and move trigger guard forward
NOTE: to do the conversion, you have to add X amount of US parts, to use a foreign mag with no muzzle brake, you need 5 US parts, I obviously have more, with the US mag)
4. install US made hammer/trigger/disconnector
5. I changed out to US made gas piston
6. put US made buttstock and US made pistolgrip on
7. I used the Promag US made 223 mags, no modifications needed to the mags, and they work, even if they wobble a bit, already tested them.

done.

I like the look of the slotted handguard at the link below, I may yet do that.

i used a dremel, a drill press and hand tools...its harder than it looks, and also easier in places.. read about the conversion here :

http://www.cross-conn.com/Saiga_Conversion/


my "finished" product:






I will be doing the same thing to a Saiga 12ga shotgun after i pick it up on tuesday....the 223 was a test run to see how difficult it was.

[aubie515]

Looks awesome Jay. I cannot wait to see your Saiga 12 once it's converted. Perhaps you might even allow me to fire it.

[scoutjoe]

Nice job there JayBell, I'm sure if you run into a snag with the S-12 you can look over on the Saiga-12 Forum and search for the problem.

[Whiterook]

I want to buy one and convert it. If I did, could you do that for mine?

I have neither the time nor the skill.

[JayBell]

sorry, i'm not a gunsmith, and find it best not to work on other folks guns....for various reasons.
however, any gunsmith could do it in in a MUCH shorter time than I.

[DrakinClaw]

damn, nice work man. Really nice work. gotta love that front end and how it looks.
Drakin

[Arcana71]

my "finished" product:

That's SHINY!