My Ultimate California legal "Featureless" Saiga Project

[imarangemaster]

Had to have an AK that had no pistol grip, flash hider, or collapsable stock, so I could use my "legally possessed by me in California prior to 1-1-2000 high capacity magazines." It shoots about 2 to 2.5 MOA with irons.

Started with a Saiga IZ-132
Barrel shroud cut and threaded .
Tactical Tri-Delta comp and crush washer (same brake was awesome on my 300 BLK!)
Tapco gas piston
Tapco G2 double hook FCG modified for stock Saiga
Tapco Intrafuse handguard with fabricated aluminum heat shield
K-Var Nato length AKM stock modified for stock Saiga with 1" pad extender
Chinese Type 56 vented gas tube and polymer top handguard
Pre-2000 possessed comblock steel, some with beat up bodies replaced with Tapco smoothside burnt orange bodies (original com-block innards)
Bulgarian RPK sling (grey cotton web)

Pictures!

Information

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[imarangemaster]

I also added a Russian AK103 1000 meter rear sight.

[imarangemaster]

Arghhh! Finally got a chance to try the build with the K-Var stock. I thought it would be alright from first feel just trying it dry firing- BUTTTTTTT...

(Let me preface this by saying I am 62 years old and have had three surgeries (2 complete rebuilds) of the right shoulder) After a few shots, my right arm started to cramp because of the unnatural angle. Dang! After all that effort, I just had to go back to the factory Saiga buttstock. I know it works well, as I have had fired hundreds of rounds with the factory stock. I still don't want to restore this one with a pistol grip like prior saiga I have had, as I am not a fan of kydex paddles. VERY hard to do a secure one-handed grip while changing mags.

[imarangemaster]

I have RH Solar Tactical paddles for my PTR91 (HK clone), my AR15 retro build, and have had them on prior AK builds and a VZ58 I had. On the AR, if it is a build with a carbine stock, I prefer the Hammerhead (which I also have) as it allows a one hand, secure grip, that feels sorta like an FN P90 PDW grip. On my retro rifle, I use the paddle.

Anyway, since the Saiga comes featureless, it seems silly to me to restore it, only to have to install a paddle to use my pre 1-1-2000 high-caps.. Sort of like taking a perfectly good M1 Carbine, M1A, or Ruger Mini, and putting a pistol grip on it, only to have to use a paddle.

Besides, my favorite long gun IS the USGI M1 carbine. Light, handy, and very deadly at PDW ranges (150ish or less). I took 200 pound deer at 100 yards with one 110 grain JSP Carbine round (1970 FPS @950 lbs ME). Carried it for years as my LEO trunk weapon, and my dad carried one on Iwo Jima and it served him VERY well.

[browningautorifle]

That looks like it might be a bit more passable...

[WarPig1976]

Have to point out the obvious, reminds me of a high cap SKS, kind of ironic.

[imarangemaster]

Haha, yes it does (or a Ruger Mini-30 with a high-cap). Funny thing is, SKS rifles with removable magazines of ANY size are considered Assault weapons and are a felony. How stupid is that! Also Yugo SKS rifles are a felony because they hve an integral grenade launcher. Have to watch the proliferation of those ubiquitous rifle grenades being used by the gangs....

[browningautorifle]

No one claimed firearms laws made sense...