Saiga 7.62x39 Conversion

[birdmanflocka]

Hi Everyone,

I just picked up a Saiga IZ-132 in 7.62x39 last month and am still waiting for my wood furniture from Ironwood Designs before I order my trigger conversion kit. I picked up some Tapco and Magpul standard AK mags and filed down the magazine release to accept these mags. I haven't ordered the bullet guide yet but when I loaded a magazine up chambered a couple rounds, the ammo fed and ejected without any issues.

My question is: do I need to add the bullet guide if the bullets are chambering properly? I haven't shot it yet with my Tapco or Magpul mags yet, just wanted to see if anyone out there has done the magazine conversion without adding a bullet guide. Its not that expensive or hard to do, but if its not necessary, why go through the trouble right? I'm having trouble finding others online who have skipped this step without issues so maybe it is absolutely necessary? What do you guys think? Thanks!

 

[akv3g4n]

Like you said, the guide is inexpensive and fairly easy to install, so why not just do it right and not worry about it. Or go without and install it when you have feeding issues. I'd rather just do it right to begin with.

As a side note, be careful about using the tapco mags before the rifle is completely converted as you're technically breaking the law. You can not use those mags until the rifle is fully converted with the correct amount of domestic parts (922r compliance).

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I would install the guide.

Also, should count as a compliance part I think.

 

[Fishbed77]

I picked up some Tapco and Magpul standard AK mags and filed down the magazine release to accept these mags.

I would recommend filing the mag release so that steel Comblock surplus mags lock up tightly and reliably. If you need aftermarket polymer mags to lockup better, the mags themselves can be easily filed. Filing to the aftermarket mags (especially the Tapcos, which can be all over the place in terms of fit) can mean that you end up with wobbly steel mag fit.

My question is: do I need to add the bullet guide if the bullets are chambering properly?

Yes.

They may chamber properly under the controlled condition of gently feeding a specific profile bullet from a clean new mag into a clean new rifle. This does not mean they will feed properly during the somewhat violent operation of the AK action, or with the ingress of a bit of dirt and powder residue into the operation.

I would install the guide.

Also, should count as a compliance part I think.

The bullet guide DOES NOT count as a compliance part.