Saiga Conversion Ideas Needed

[jmul1212]

I have recently purchased a Saiga 308-1 and a Saiga 762x39 w/ a nice Russian side folder. Both have 21 inch barrels that appear to be much thicker than other AKMs. The diameter of the barrels is a bit smaller than most RPKs and Russian RPK parts are insanely high priced wherever I look.

My plan for the 308 was to chop it down to either 20 or 18 and turn it into a RPK and turn the 762x39 into a standard AKM but until I received it and saw the barrel I realized I was going to have to swap out the barrel for another which is expensive and I might as well just try to RPK it out along with the 308. Nothing wrong with RPKs and I already have a bunch of AK Variants laying around and no RPKs.

Anyone have any ideas on what I can do to the front ends? Anyone done anything with these before? I have my notepad file of barrel dimensions below. If you have some other info to throw on there let me know.

BARREL OVERALL LENGTH

SAIGA .223………………………………………………………………………………………........16
SAIGA .308……………………………………………………………………………………….........16 ?
BULGARIAN 5.45 AK-74………………………………………………………………………......16 ?
MAADI 7.62X39…………………………………………………………………………………......16 1/2
HUNGARIAN SA2000M 7.62X39………………………………………………………………...16 1/4
HUNGARIAN AMD 65 ………………………………………………………………………….........12 ?
HUNGARIAN AMD 63…………………………………………………………………………..........16 ?
ROMANIAN G …………………………………………………………………………………........... 16 ?
YUGOSLAVIAN AB2…………………………………………………………………………….......16 ?
YUGOSLAVIAN VIRGIN KRINK………………………………………………………………..........10
YUGOSLAVIAN M72 RPK……………………………………………………………………….......21 ?
RUSSIAN MILLED AK-47……………………………………………………………………….......16 ?
ROB. ARMS VEPR 7.62X39……………………………………………………………………....16 5/8
POLISH U/F 7.62X39…………………………………………………………………………….....16 ?
POLISH TANTAL 5.45X39……………………………………………………………………....16 5/8
MAK 90 7.62X39 U/F……………………………………………………………………………......16 ?
MILLED TYPE 56 7.62X39………………………………………………………………………....16 ?


CHAMBER OUTSIDE DIAMETER

SAIGA .223……………………………………………………………… ………………………..........N/A
SAIGA .308……………………………………………………………………………………......... .. 986
BULGARIAN 5.45 AK-74………………………………………………………………………........ N/A
MAADI 7.62X39…………………………………………………………………………………......... N/A
HUNGARIAN SA2000M 7.62X39………………………………………………………………...... N/A
HUNGARIAN AMD 65 ………………………………………………………………………......... .908
HUNGARIAN AMD 63…………………………………………………………………………......... .908
ROMANIAN G …………………………………………………………………………………........... .908
YUGOSLAVIAN AB2……………………………………………………………………….......... .908
YUGOSLAVIAN VIRGIN KRINK……………………………………………………………........ .908
YUGOSLAVIAN M72 RPK……………………………………………………………………........ .908
RUSSIAN MILLED AK-47………………………………………………………………………........ N/A
ROB. ARMS VEPR 7.62X39……………………………………………………………………...... .908
POLISH U/F 7.62X39…………………………………………………………………………...... .908
POLISH TANTAL 5.45X39…………………………………………………………………...... .908
MAK 90 7.62X39 U/F…………………………………………………………………………....... .762
MILLED TYPE 56 7.62X39……………………………………..……………………………...... N/A



MUZZLE THREAD / THREAD LENGTH



SAIGA .223………………........................................ .....................N/A
SAIGA .308…………………………………………………………………………………............... .N/A
BULGARIAN 5.45 AK-74……M24 X 1.5 RH…………………………………………....... .780
MAADI 7.62X39…………………………………………………………………………….............. N/A
HUNGARIAN SA2000M 7.62X39………………………………… ………………………......... N/A
HUNGARIAN AMD 65 …………M14 X 1 LH………………………………………….......... .610
HUNGARIAN AMD 63…………M14 X 1 LH………………………………………….......... .570
ROMANIAN G …………………M14 X 1 LH…………………………………………............. .560
YUGOSLAVIAN AB2…………M14 X 1 LH………………………………………….......... .560
YUGOSLAVIAN M-92....………M26 X 1.5 LH……………………………… .............. .700
YUGOSLAVIAN M72 RPK……………M14 X 1 LH…………………………. ………......... .580
RUSSIAN MILLED AK-47…………M14 X 1 LH…………………………………….......... .560
ROB. ARMS VEPR 7.62X39… NO THREADS .614 DIA…………………………... .500
POLISH U/F 7.62X39……………M14 X 1 LH………………………………………........ .590
POLISH TANTAL 5.45X39……M14 X 1 LH…………………………………………...... 1.500
MAK 90 7.62X39 U/F………THREADS TURNED OFF .530 DIA……………….... .640
MILLED TYPE 56 7.62X39……M14 X 1 LH………………………………………….. ......570


BARREL DIA. FOR GAS BLOCK / G.B. OVERALL LENGTH


SAIGA .223……….................... 631 ……………..................................1.410
SAIGA .308…………….............. .712 ………………………………………………...... 1.400
BULGARIAN 5.45 AK-74…….......592 . ……………………………………………...... 1.425
MAADI 7.62X39……………......... .592 ……………………………………………...... 1.060
HUNGARIAN SA2000M 7.62X39 ..591 ……………………………………………...... 1.050
HUNGARIAN AMD 65 ………….......592 …………………………………………… ......1.060
HUNGARIAN AMD 63……………......592 ……………………………………………. ......1.060
ROMANIAN G …………………..........592 ……………………………………………... .....1.065
YUGOSLAVIAN AB2……………......631 ……………………………………………. ....1.540
YUGOSLAVIAN VIRGIN KRINK......591 ……………………………………………...... 1.665
YUGOSLAVIAN M72 RPK………. .808 ……………………………………………...... 1.440
RUSSIAN MILLED AK-47……….. .631 ……………………………………………..... 1.450
ROB. ARMS VEPR 7.62X39……… .790 …………………………………………….... .. 1.060
POLISH U/F 7.62X39……………. .592 …………………………………………….. ... 1.060
POLISH TANTAL 5.45X39……… .580 ……………………………… ……………...... 2.070
MAK 90 7.62X39 U/F…………….. .631 ……………………………………………... . ..1.350
MILLED TYPE 56 7.62X39……… .631 ………………………………. …………….. .. 1.450


GAS BLOCK DIMENSIONS

DISTANCE TO CENTER OF GAS HOLE FROM :
FR. OF GAS BLOCK / HOLE DIA. / R. OF GAS BLOCK



SAIGA .223……………… .990 …………………… .180 …………………………….. .418
SAIGA .308……………… 975 ……………………… .I80 ………………………….... .415
BULGARIAN 5.45 AK-74…………………………………………................................ .....
MAADI 7.62X39……………………………………………………....................... ................
HUNGARIAN SA2000M 7.62X39 ………….............................................. ........
HUNGARIAN AMD 65 ………………………………… .....133 .....................................
HUNGARIAN AMD 63………………………………… ......149………….............................
ROMANIAN G ……………………………………………..... 149………...............................
YUGOSLAVIAN AB2… .438 ………………….......149 ……….....................1.100
YUGOSLAVIAN VIRGIN KRINK………………………………................................. ........
YUGOSLAVIAN M72 RPK……………………………… ..122 ………...............................
RUSSIAN MILLED AK-47……………………………… .175………................................
ROB. ARMS VEPR 7.62X39………………………………………............................ ..........
POLISH U/F 7.62X39…………………………………....149 …………...........................
POLISH TANTAL 5.45X39………………………………………............................ .........
MAK 90 7.62X39 U/F…………………………………… 175………................................
MILLED TYPE 56 7.62X39…………………………….. 172……………………………………….....


BARREL DIA. @ HANDGUARD RETAINER

SAIGA .223……………………………………………………………… ………………………....... N/A
SAIGA .308………………………………………………………………………………………........ N/A
BULGARIAN 5.45 AK-74………………………………………………………………………..... .667
MAADI 7.62X39…………………………………………………………………………………..... .670
HUNGARIAN SA2000M 7.62X39………………………………………………………………... .668
HUNGARIAN AMD 65 …………………………………………………………………………...... .670
HUNGARIAN AMD 63…………………………………………………………………………...... .669
ROMANIAN G ……………………………………………………………………………………........ .668
YUGOSLAVIAN AB2…………………………………………………………………………....... .688
YUGOSLAVIAN VIRGIN KRINK……….......................................... .......... .689
YUGOSLAVIAN M72 RPK………………………………………………………………………..... .944
RUSSIAN MILLED AK-47………………………………………. ……………………………….... .686
ROB. ARMS VEPR 7.62.............................................. ....................... N/A
POLISH U/F 7.62X39........................................... ........................... .668
POLISH TANTAL 5.45X39…………………………………………………………………….... .657
MAK 90 7.62X39 U/F…………………………………………………………………………….... .688
MILLED TYPE 56 7.62X39…………………………………………………………………….... .688


BARREL DIA. @ FSB / OVERALL LENGTH OF FSB

SAIGA .223………………………… .... .594 ………………………………….................2.330
SAIGA .308…………………………. .....671 ………………………………………............1.625
BULGARIAN 5.45 AK-74………... .572 …………………………………………………… 1.300
MAADI 7.62X39…………………..... .572…………………………………………………….... .865
HUNGARIAN SA2000M 7.62X39 ….572……………………………………………………..... .850
HUNGARIAN AMD 65 …………….... .572…………………………………………………… .....850
HUNGARIAN AMD 63……………..... .572 ……………………………………………………. 1.050
ROMANIAN G ……………………....... .592 ……………………………….................... .865
YUGOSLAVIAN AB2…………… ......592 ……………………………………............. 1.235
YUGOSLAVIAN VIRGIN KRINK.......592 ………………………………....................1.665
YUGOSLAVIAN M72 RPK………… ... N/A……………………………………………........ 1.130
RUSSIAN MILLED AK-47………..... .591 ………………………………………………..... 1.170
ROB. ARMS VEPR 7.62X39………… N/A…………………………………………………… 1.050
POLISH U/F 7.62X39……………… .572……………………………………………………… .850
POLISH TANTAL 5.45X39……… .562…………………………………......................850
MAK 90 7.62X39 U/F……………... .592 …………………………........................1.165
MILLED TYPE 56 7.62X39………. .592…………………………….......................1.450


GAS TUBE LENGTH

SAIGA .223……………………………………………………………………………………… 6.970
SAIGA .308……………………………………………………………………………………….. 6.950
BULGARIAN 5.45 AK-74………………………………………………………………………. 6.970
MAADI 7.62X39………………………………………………………………………………… 6.970
HUNGARIAN SA2000M 7.62X39……………………………………………………………… 5.740
HUNGARIAN AMD 65 …………………………………………………………………………. 5.770
HUNGARIAN AMD 63…………………………………………………………………………... 6.940
ROMANIAN G …………………………………………………………………………………... 6.970
YUGOSLAVIAN AB2………………………………………………………………………….. 7.540
YUGOSLAVIAN VIRGIN KRINK……………………………………………………………... 6.060
YUGOSLAVIAN M72 RPK…………………………………………………………………….. 7.530
RUSSIAN MILLED AK-47……………………………………………………………………… 6.970
ROB. ARMS VEPR 7.62X39…………………………………………………………………….. 6.970
POLISH U/F 7.62X39…………………………………………………………………………... 6.970
POLISH TANTAL 5.45X39……………………………………………………………………. 6.980
MAK 90 7.62X39 U/F…………………………………………………………………………... 6.980
MILLED TYPE 56 7.62X39…………………………………………………………………….. 6.980

 

[Mini14]

What do the barrels measure at? I thought they took standard fsb and Gb.
If those bad boys were mine I wouldn’t chop them. The long ones are nice guns. You can’t beat an original Russian rpk. Put a standard gb and fsb on them be get the shooting. Chopping them down will ruin any collector value they have. If ya ever wanna part with them bad boys I’d be interested.

 

[Suck My Glock]

To me, it depends on what you can sell them for vs. how much you have in them vs. how much the conversion would cost.

If I was in the market for a .308 AK with real utility, I'd just shop for a Galil Ace. I like that profile and features, especially the self-closing charging handle slot cover and that it uses AR10 mags.

 

[mtptwo]

Someone used to sell a clamp one front handguard retainer, assuming that you don't want to go down the path of modification.

Personally, I would just leave them as is and go buy a cheap AK. No need to cut up something that isn't replaceable.

 

[hairygreek]

Make a Tabuk sniper... thats what im hankering for.

Is this what yourre looking for? https://www.carolinashooterssupply.com/SGM_Vepr_Rifle_AK47_Handguard_Retaining_Bracket_p/sgm-bracket-vepr.htm

I used one from these guys on my 5.45 Vepr rpk abomination and it works ok. I did have to stuff shims inside since it was bigger than laminate rpk furniture. http://dinzagarms.com/