Converting a Saiga

Because it is cheap, light to carry, and easy to clean and repair in the field, the AK series has become the most popular firearm in the world.  In addition to being the standard issue arm of the USSR, and the eastern European countries behind the Iron Curtain, many other countries manufactured the AK or derivatives of it, including Red China, Finland, Yugoslavia, North Korea, and Israel.   AKs are so easy to manufacture that during the Russo-Afghan War, Pathan tribesmen actually turned out great numbers by hand without the benefit of electricity.

Re-installing the trigger guard using the bolt-up method

The military AK trigger guard is integral with the magazine release.  Unfortunately, because of the trigger position of the sporter trigger, on the Saiga, this is not the case.  On this budget conversion, we are going to reuse the sporter trigger guard.

If you would like to have a military trigger guard on your conversion, you may purchase one at K-VAR.  You will need to purchase rivets, and possibly a new magazine catch axle as well.  In this example, I will not be explaining how to replace the trigger guard/magazine catch assembly. I may do it at a future point in time.

There are a couple of ways to reuse the Saiga trigger guard: one involves welding and one doesn't.  For our budget conversion, we will focus on the method that does not involve welding, but we will also cover the method that involves welding, too. You can read about it on this page.

For now, we will attach the Saiga trigger guard with screws (rivets may be substituted if you are comfortable working with them).

You will need two short pan head screws and nuts.  The screws need to be just long enough to pass through the sheet metal of the receiver and fully engage the threads on the nut.  The sizes 6-32 x 1/4 or 8-32 x 1/4 should be OK.

1. The pistol grip should be off of the receiver.  First, make sure that there is a hole in the receiver for the attachment point at the rear of the trigger guard.  If you have any doubts, consult the receiver bottom drawing.  Once you have confirmed the hole is in the right place, go to the next step. On this conversion, the hole was already in the receiver, just in front of the pistol grip nut hole.

In order to get the trigger guard to fit, you will probably have to bend it a little.  Also, we will need to trim a little off the front of the guard (the part that slips under the magazine release).  In the picture below, the red line is drawn where you need to cut.

3. You need a hole for the front of the trigger guard as well.  This hole will be located under the magazine catch assembly.  Use the hole in the front of the trigger guard as a guide. The location would be on the receiver centerline about 5.25 inches from the rear edge of the receiver, or 2.75 inches from the center of the rear trigger guard hole.  Once you determine the position for this hole, very carefully drill it with a 1/8 bit.

Tip:  I positioned the trigger guard in place with the front under the magazine release and hand tightened the rear screw.  Then I used the hole in the front of the trigger guard as a template to drill the front hole in the receiver.

4. Now, with the receiver upside down, place the trigger guard in the position you would like it, and put the pistol grip in its final position.  Take a look at the trigger guard.  If you would like to re-shape the trigger guard, do so now.

5. Next, position the trigger guard in place, and attach the trigger guard at the rear attachment point using one of the screws.  You will need to shorten the screw so it is flush with the nut.

6. At this point, the front of the trigger guard is between the magazine catch and the receiver.  Use your C-clamp to hold the trigger guard in place if you need to. Do not over tighten the C-clamp, or you will distort the trigger guard.  Now, with your hand drill, use the 1/8 inch drill bit to carefully drill the front mounting hole in the trigger guard through the hole that you drilled in step 3.

7. Mount the front of the trigger guard using the remaining screw.  You will need to determine how much to cut off prior to attaching it.

We will talk about the welding method of attaching the trigger guard here.