The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Tactical Rifle & Carbine => Topic started by: fightingquaker13 on March 10, 2009, 05:45:37 AM
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From what I've seen and heard the saigas are pretty a good little AK clone. The question I have is can they be cheaply/reliably modified to take AK mags (surplus not boutique)? Are they as tough as standard AKs? The reason I ask is that I sold my mini-14 when it became inpossible to get high cap Ruger mags. I always cussed ruger for not desighning it to take AR mags in the first place. I don't want to get burned again. I was going to get a new mini but $900??????!!!!. I wish I had they were smoking up there in Hartford. Great gun for $600, but at $900, NO! The Saiga, at $400-$500 used seems like the same kind of knock around carbine. I'd like to hear your thoughts.
fightingquaker13
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Yes they can, all it requires is to expand the mag-well. You will need to add US parts to make it 922r compliant. It is an excellent AK (RPK actually) and if you convert it properly it is one of the best AK's you can own.
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Yes they can, all it requires is to expand the mag-well. You will need to add US parts to make it 922r compliant. It is an excellent AK (RPK actually) and if you convert it properly it is one of the best AK's you can own.
Thanks. Can you explain the 922r thing. I thought your average AK Glock etc was all importd.
fightingquaker13
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22r only applies to rifles and shotguns.
Section 922 Paragraph R:
"It shall be unlawful for any person to assemble from imported parts any semiautomatic rifle or any shotgun which is identical to any rifle or shotgun prohibited from importation under section 925(d)(3) of this chapter as not being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes ..."
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22r only applies to rifles and shotguns.
Section 922 Paragraph R:
"It shall be unlawful for any person to assemble from imported parts any semiautomatic rifle or any shotgun which is identical to any rifle or shotgun prohibited from importation under section 925(d)(3) of this chapter as not being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes ..."
Thanks, but HUH? What does this mean? I'm not trying to be difficult here, I'm just not seeing where altering the reciever to accept a larger mag fits. If it does, let me know and what I need to do to get around it. I'm not asking for you to make sense of it for me, because when it comes to sense and federal firearms regs, the cat is not only out of the bag, but taking a dump on my pillow. I just want to stay legal.
thanks
fightingquaker13
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The 922r thing is confusing at best, but to paraphrase...you can only import "sporter" rifles from other countries. One of the things that defines a "sporter" rifle is that it can't accept magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. Once you modify it to accept standard mags...then it must not contain more than 10 imported parts. This is where the "compliance" parts come into play. If I remember correctly...AK-style rifles consist of 15 parts.
So...once you open up the mag well to accept standard mags, you will need to replace the appropriate number of parts to bring it back into compliance.
There is a site that explains this really well (better than I can). Once I find it again...I'll post the link.
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Adding an American made stock kit will take care of at least 2
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Found it! http://home.comcast.net/~navy87guy/home/922r.html (http://home.comcast.net/~navy87guy/home/922r.html)
The up side...if you buy us made mags, that counts as 3 compliance parts (mag body, follower, and floorplate).
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Low capacity Saigas are imported as-is THEY HAVE NO U.S. PARTS, as long as they have the "Sporter" stocks and low-cap mags they are legal under 922r. IF you modify the weapon to accept normal-cap mags then you MUST replace 7 parts to remain legal. The Stock, pistol grip, handguard, hammer, trigger, sear (get the Red-Star trigger group, it's more $ but well worth it, near match trigger) and gas piston need to be replaced to make it legal.
One Source Tactical is the only place I know where you can get all of it.
http://www.onesourcetactical.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=284 (http://www.onesourcetactical.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=284)
It is pricey to do, but well worth it.
P.S. if you rely on US mags to make content you cannot use OR OWN imported mags. If you have the imported mags in your house you can be charged! You don't need to put one in the weapon, likely to happen? Maybe not, but I won't risk the fines and jail time myself.
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Tapco has stuff for them as well
http://www.tapco.com/catalog.aspx?id=312
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P.S. if you rely on US mags to make content you cannot use OR OWN imported mags. If you have the imported mags in your house you can be charged! You don't need to put one in the weapon, likely to happen? Maybe not, but I won't risk the fines and jail time myself.
Good point, Warhawke. Better to replace the other parts and not rely on US made mags.
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Low capacity Saigas are imported as-is THEY HAVE NO U.S. PARTS, as long as they have the "Sporter" stocks and low-cap mags they are legal under 922r. IF you modify the weapon to accept normal-cap mags then you MUST replace 7 parts to remain legal. The Stock, pistol grip, handguard, hammer, trigger, sear (get the Red-Star trigger group, it's more $ but well worth it, near match trigger) and gas piston need to be replaced to make it legal.
One Source Tactical is the only place I know where you can get all of it.
http://www.onesourcetactical.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=284 (http://www.onesourcetactical.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=284)
It is pricey to do, but well worth it.
P.S. if you rely on US mags to make content you cannot use OR OWN imported mags. If you have the imported mags in your house you can be charged! You don't need to put one in the weapon, likely to happen? Maybe not, but I won't risk the fines and jail time myself.
Thanks for the info, although it both scares and frustrates the hell out me. Does this mean I'm in trouble with the thirty round saiga mags (no mods) that are out there? I've seen a couple of dealers offering them,but as you say, I don't want to borrow trouble. Honestly, the thing will be a plinker, with MAYBE a home defense (if I don't just grab my Glock), or post-hurricane, application. I prefer the "sporter" look as it doesn't scare the neighbors, and works just as well as the tricked out taciticool versions (they call it concealed carry for a reason). Honestly, my next question was going to be if it came with a 4 round mag, since that would make it legal for hog huninting in Fl. I don't plan on defending the Alamo, I just like the idea of having options if TSHTF. Any thoughts on the dedicated saiga high caps would be welcomed.
Thanks,
fightingquaker13
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Does any know if this applies to all imported "assault style weapons" or is their a date that if it was imported befodre that date 922r does not apply?
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I have the 308 Siaga sporter and it shoots great but most people dont know that most Siagas require at least a 200rd break in before there reliable. I wouldn't modify my gun because I do live in the Peoples Republic of California and we have a lot of touchy range operators. Secondly the mag wells on the 223 and 7.62x39 guns are lengthened and will weaken the frame work.
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Mauserman
Thanks for your advice on my saiga problem. I was wondering if you could help me out a bit more?
I frankly really don't want to make the thing look like an AK. Why scare the neighbors and piss off the cops when a harmless looking sporter will do the same job? (reason 1,236 as to why the awb is stupid). I didn't realize that there were factory 30rd mags available. Why bother dropping $300 dollars on cool suff I don't want when I can just buy a couple of these?
What I wanted to know was had you used them, and if so, what were your thoughts? Likewise how is the beast accuracy wise, and does it have a favorite flavor of ammo? Answer either here or the board, I'll post to both.
Thanks
fightingquaker13
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Quaker13 i will say that you shouldnt modify the mag well because of the mag well is longer and ak mag wells are shorter and fatter. The siaga wells are narrow and cutting them will ruin the gun. As for after market mag they suck ass, believe me i used them amd they dont feed well at all. The 8rd mags work best, and ammo 150/147grn americaneagle,wolf,pmc and winchester work great. Yes the siaga is an AK clone not an M1 accuracy is what i expected just over 1 1/2 inches at 100yds.
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Are we talking about a 7.62X39 Saiga? If so, the modification involved has nothing to do with the magwell itself--the factory latch is just about 1/16" or so too long. I've modified two rifles to accept standard magazines, and have encountered no problems relating to the magazine well. You will also need to install a feed ramp in the rifle, as the Saiga magazines have a higher front and cartridges tend to miss the chamber low when feeding from a standard AK mag. 922r is ridiculously complicated, but a cursory internet search should turn up the list of parts covered by the law, along with how many of them must be replaced with US made parts before the rifle can be "de-sporterized." There's been some suggestion that the addition of a standard 30rd mag may not per se make the rifle "non-sporting," but the subject is foggy enough that a full conversion would be advisable.