Happy New Gun Day - I got my Saiga Rifle!

[smc331]

С Новым Днем Ган - Я получил мою Сайга стрелковая
Happy New Gun Day - I got my Saiga Rifle!
(Any translation errors are Google's)

I figure everyone needs at least one rifle or carbine capable of shooting MOBD* - here's mine. She's utilitarian and kinda u-gly. (Don't tell her I said that...) 7.62 x 39 and of course "rock stock" at the moment - plastic furniture and all.



She's anything but svelte at the moment, but there are some upgrades and updates planned. A nice Russian girl - I think her name should be Svetlana. Rather appropriate since Sveltlana means "light" and the muzzle flash of a Saiga carbine can be rather impressive!



I've been surfing all of the usual Saiga web hangouts for customizing ideas. Most folks seem to go tacticool with their updates - I'm planning to go kinda retrocool - I found this over at SaigaStock.com:



Being a woodworker, I'm inclined to have a go at making my own from scratch, but that sure is purty. I really like that modified Monte Carlo pattern...

A question for any Saiga/AK-pattern owners out there - is the scar/scratch arc that the safety puts on the receiver just a fact of life on any of Mikhail's marvels - or is there something to prevent it? I'll probably do a finish job on it, but the scratch (and the likelihood of repeating it bugs me).

Looking forward to some range time very soon...


*Moment of Barn Door
**Crossposted on my blog - just sayin'

[Palladin]

... eat up with it, I say, He 's plumb gone!...

naming a gun, indeed - next thing you know he'll be sleeping with it.

Congratulations and welcome to the club, bro!

[allingeneral]

"Svetlana" is very sexy!

[gunderwood]

I've been surfing all of the usual Saiga web hangouts for customizing ideas. Most folks seem to go tacticool with their updates - I'm planning to go kinda retrocool - I found this over at SaigaStock.com:

That would be sweet...returning her to her original blonde Russian roots!

[Jakeiscrazy]

I'm inclined to have a go at making my own from scratch, but that sure is purty.

You think you can make it? It would make "her" unique. Not to mention a great learning experience(for me to). That stock set does look nice though

[Hiwaytahell]

is the scar/scratch arc that the safety puts on the receiver just a fact of life on any of Mikhail's marvels

Yes it is. Consider it a beauty mark on your new girl

[smc331]

"Can" is not a problem - time is the biggest issue right now. My work keeps me away from home and my workshop - and when I am home all I want to do is relax (I know, I'm a slacker ).

Here's a custom lefty guitar body I did for a guy:





...and here's what he made out of that body:



I need to get back in the shop...

[Jakeiscrazy]

Wow, nice work, you could surely do a stock.

[zephyp]

Man thats a nice guitar...all I got is a Mexican Stratocaster...its nice but not as nice as that one...

[smc331]

All I did was make the body - though I did resaw it from 9/4 rough red ash stock. It was finish ready when I handed it over to Cole - he did the finish and relic work. I can't remember where he got the neck - I'm not set up to make them yet. It's a sweet sounding ax.

[zephyp]

I've been surfing all of the usual Saiga web hangouts for customizing ideas. Most folks seem to go tacticool with their updates - I'm planning to go kinda retrocool - I found this over at SaigaStock.com:

That would be sweet...returning her to her original blonde Russian roots!

I agree. A synthetic AK-like rifle doesnt get it for me either...

[smc331]

I'm just old fashioned enough that wooden furniture on guns just looks "right" to me. Don't get me wrong, I won't turn down polymer goodness either - especially in a pistol.

Here's a couple of guns like what I want to do - the first is the same set that I pictured before with a before and after:



The second is one a guy does that he calls a QPG - Quasi Pistol Grip. I kinda like both, so I may just hafta combine the best of both when I do this...



The QPg with a Monte Carlo cheek riser would be bada$$.

ETA: Plus, with wooden furniture, it's no no longer one of those "Evil-I-Tell-You-Black-Rifles™."