Over the weekend I started my 5.45x39 Saiga conversion to "standard" AK configuration. This will be a brief overview of what I did, and where I'm at.
I didn't really document anything while in progress. I have a bad habit of once I get to moving I don't stop for pictures. The last picture in this post is of all the parts Ive removed from the rifle that will not be going back on. The only exception is the selector, and maybe the bolt hold open, maybe.
Step 1: Completely disassembled the rifle down to the bare bones. The only thing left in it is the trigger group.
Step 2: Trigger group removal. The first thing I did was take a 3/16" drill bit and on the right side of the receiver where the extra set of pins are flared (to hold them in), I drilled out the end just until they came out. Then I took a small punch and pushed them out of the receiver. This will release the trigger and extra "thingy" inside the receiver. Next I removed the 'sheapards hook', and pushed out the 2 normal trigger group pins. Remove all the "junk" from inside the rifle.
Step 3: My only screw up, but it really aggravated me.... a lot. I'm usually more careful on things like this. The next step for me was installation of the bullet guide. You can do this any time you want, first, last, middle, doesn't matter. The bullet guide is left out of the front trunion as the Saiga mags have a built in bullet guide. The bullet guide facilitates the use of standard 30 round magazines. A nice feature of the 5.45 Saiga is that it will fit standard 5.45 magazines right out of the box, and they will function fairly well with out the bullet guide. Mine would FTFeed about every 5th round or so. The bullet guide should make it 100%. Anyway, to install the bullet guide from Dinzag arms, you simply place the bullet guide in position, center punch the hole you need to drill, then drill the hole with the supplied (if you order the kit) drill bit. Well this is where I screwed up. I should have left the bullet guide in place to act as a drilling guide, but I didn't. Somehow the drill walked while drilling the hole (even with a GREAT center punch to start on). The hole was off far enough that the only way to fix it was to weld it up. I figured if I was going to weld, I might as well weld in the bullet guide. Its a quick fix for the problem, but not how I wanted it.
Step 4: Removal of trigger guard and mag release. The existing saiga trigger guard and mag release are separate pieces, unlike the "standard" ak format where they are one piece. Plus, the trigger guard is in the way of the pistol grip. SO, there are 3 rivets and 1 weld you need to drill out to get the trigger guard off. I simply center punched the 2 outside rivets, drilled them out, then center punched the weld, drilled it, then remove the trigger guard. Under the trigger guard is one more rivet, center punch, drill, then remove the entire trigger guard plate. The mag release is more of the same. Center punch 4 rivets, drill, remove. Might have to keep going to get the selector stop (under the mag release) off.
Step 5: Front Sight Base (FSB) and Gas Block (GB) removal. The newer Saiga rifles FSB and GB are not pinned, the barrel is dimpled, and then the FSB and GB are pinched at the dimples to lock them onto the barrel. The first thing you need to do is drill out the dimples. I used an 1/8" drill bit, and drilled slowly. When you get to the bottom of each dimple (4 per piece) you will usually hear a small pop, and fell the drill move a bit. You can even hear the RPMs change after you clear the dimple. That barrel is HARD but be careful. After that you need to get them off. The easiest way to get them off is with a press. My press is still in pieces in multiple boxes, so I did it a different way. You can look at the last picture and see the aftermath. I cut a slice along the length of the GB and FSB with a die grinder and cut off wheel. Just enough to weaken the parts. Then a good wack with a hammer and off they came. More words of caution: 1) DON'T cut through the FSB or GB at the ends, or slip with your cut off wheel onto the barrel. If nothing else it just looks bad. 2) Don't hit the FSB or GB with a hammer and hit the barrel. It will leave a small ding. Not going to hurt the barrel, it just looks bad
Step 6: Filling in the extra holes. Once you have all the parts removed from your Saiga, you will find that there are multiple extra holes from the things that are not used on an AK. There are 4 holes for the extra trigger group pins, 2 extra holes under the funky Saiga trigger guard and plate, and 1 extra hole at the front where the saiga hand guard was installed. This is an important cosmetic step that you can do multiple ways. There are plugs available out there that just pop into the holes. They do the job just fine, but I wanted a more authentic look, so I welded mine up. Weld each hole, cut down with a course hand file, then work to a fine file. Dress up with a 3m flap wheel or scotch brite wheel. It takes time, but I like the look better.
Next steps:
1) Install new FSB and GB.
2) rivet new trigger guard in place.
3) refinish
4) reassemble
5) enjoy!
Well, here are the pictures. I hope to follow this up with more as I get things completed.
I didn't really document anything while in progress. I have a bad habit of once I get to moving I don't stop for pictures. The last picture in this post is of all the parts Ive removed from the rifle that will not be going back on. The only exception is the selector, and maybe the bolt hold open, maybe.
Step 1: Completely disassembled the rifle down to the bare bones. The only thing left in it is the trigger group.
Step 2: Trigger group removal. The first thing I did was take a 3/16" drill bit and on the right side of the receiver where the extra set of pins are flared (to hold them in), I drilled out the end just until they came out. Then I took a small punch and pushed them out of the receiver. This will release the trigger and extra "thingy" inside the receiver. Next I removed the 'sheapards hook', and pushed out the 2 normal trigger group pins. Remove all the "junk" from inside the rifle.
Step 3: My only screw up, but it really aggravated me.... a lot. I'm usually more careful on things like this. The next step for me was installation of the bullet guide. You can do this any time you want, first, last, middle, doesn't matter. The bullet guide is left out of the front trunion as the Saiga mags have a built in bullet guide. The bullet guide facilitates the use of standard 30 round magazines. A nice feature of the 5.45 Saiga is that it will fit standard 5.45 magazines right out of the box, and they will function fairly well with out the bullet guide. Mine would FTFeed about every 5th round or so. The bullet guide should make it 100%. Anyway, to install the bullet guide from Dinzag arms, you simply place the bullet guide in position, center punch the hole you need to drill, then drill the hole with the supplied (if you order the kit) drill bit. Well this is where I screwed up. I should have left the bullet guide in place to act as a drilling guide, but I didn't. Somehow the drill walked while drilling the hole (even with a GREAT center punch to start on). The hole was off far enough that the only way to fix it was to weld it up. I figured if I was going to weld, I might as well weld in the bullet guide. Its a quick fix for the problem, but not how I wanted it.
Step 4: Removal of trigger guard and mag release. The existing saiga trigger guard and mag release are separate pieces, unlike the "standard" ak format where they are one piece. Plus, the trigger guard is in the way of the pistol grip. SO, there are 3 rivets and 1 weld you need to drill out to get the trigger guard off. I simply center punched the 2 outside rivets, drilled them out, then center punched the weld, drilled it, then remove the trigger guard. Under the trigger guard is one more rivet, center punch, drill, then remove the entire trigger guard plate. The mag release is more of the same. Center punch 4 rivets, drill, remove. Might have to keep going to get the selector stop (under the mag release) off.
Step 5: Front Sight Base (FSB) and Gas Block (GB) removal. The newer Saiga rifles FSB and GB are not pinned, the barrel is dimpled, and then the FSB and GB are pinched at the dimples to lock them onto the barrel. The first thing you need to do is drill out the dimples. I used an 1/8" drill bit, and drilled slowly. When you get to the bottom of each dimple (4 per piece) you will usually hear a small pop, and fell the drill move a bit. You can even hear the RPMs change after you clear the dimple. That barrel is HARD but be careful. After that you need to get them off. The easiest way to get them off is with a press. My press is still in pieces in multiple boxes, so I did it a different way. You can look at the last picture and see the aftermath. I cut a slice along the length of the GB and FSB with a die grinder and cut off wheel. Just enough to weaken the parts. Then a good wack with a hammer and off they came. More words of caution: 1) DON'T cut through the FSB or GB at the ends, or slip with your cut off wheel onto the barrel. If nothing else it just looks bad. 2) Don't hit the FSB or GB with a hammer and hit the barrel. It will leave a small ding. Not going to hurt the barrel, it just looks bad
Step 6: Filling in the extra holes. Once you have all the parts removed from your Saiga, you will find that there are multiple extra holes from the things that are not used on an AK. There are 4 holes for the extra trigger group pins, 2 extra holes under the funky Saiga trigger guard and plate, and 1 extra hole at the front where the saiga hand guard was installed. This is an important cosmetic step that you can do multiple ways. There are plugs available out there that just pop into the holes. They do the job just fine, but I wanted a more authentic look, so I welded mine up. Weld each hole, cut down with a course hand file, then work to a fine file. Dress up with a 3m flap wheel or scotch brite wheel. It takes time, but I like the look better.
Next steps:
1) Install new FSB and GB.
2) rivet new trigger guard in place.
3) refinish
4) reassemble
5) enjoy!
Well, here are the pictures. I hope to follow this up with more as I get things completed.
Last edited:
nice
