SAIGA Dimples

[HKLovingIT]

I see some pictures with and some without. Is it luck of the draw or new ones don't? For example classic arms has the converted one on their page and it has dimples. They show some unconverted rifles lower down that do not. I've seen some youtube vids with and without. What's the story?

[CarlosC]

New ones do, older ones may or may not. Older ones with dimples are rare.

[my762buzz]

I see some pictures with and some without. Is it luck of the draw or new ones don't? For example classic arms has the converted one on their page and it has dimples. They show some unconverted rifles lower down that do not. I've seen some youtube vids with and without. What's the story?


The factory that makes them for the worldwide sporting market also produces mil spec select fire ak rifles on the same assembly lines.
Most of the same steel components they use to manufacture either type of 100 series or 200 series type rifles are produced in batches.
If one week they happen to be assembling a few thousand Saigas and they run out of non-dimpled receivers, they might use dimpled receivers laying ready for the other rifles. In some cases, non-stepped chamber barrels are also assembled onto saigas. Sometimes they might use threaded muzzle barrels and the threading is hidden under the front sight block.
A few years ago a huge mistake was made with the recievers used on saigas specifically for the US market. They didn't just use dimpled receivers but accidently used dimpled receivers with the controversial third hole.
These actually made it through customs which is suppose to catch issues like this. When someone finally caught on and reported it, these were recalled for being legally considered Class III machine guns.

http://i53.tinypic.com/2ag203n.jpg

[chuck pullen]

My .223 does not. However, I use Surefire mags and they fit with absolutely no wobble, so it's not an issue.

[g22od]

The factory that makes them for the worldwide sporting market also produces mil spec select fire ak rifles on the same assembly lines.
Most of the same steel components they use to manufacture either type of 100 series or 200 series type rifles are produced in batches.
If one week they happen to be assembling a few thousand Saigas and they run out of non-dimpled receivers, they might use dimpled receivers laying ready for the other rifles. In some cases, non-stepped chamber barrels are also assembled onto saigas. Sometimes they might use threaded muzzle barrels and the threading is hidden under the front sight block.
A few years ago a huge mistake was made with the recievers used on saigas specifically for the US market. They didn't just use dimpled receivers but accidently used dimpled receivers with the controversial third hole.
These actually made it through customs which is suppose to catch issues like this. When someone finally caught on and reported it, these were recalled for being legally considered Class III machine guns.

http://i53.tinypic.com/2ag203n.jpg
Very informative, thanks. Have to add a childish aside that there's something about "illegal third hole" that just cracks me up right now. But that's me and my sick sense of humor. Fortunately mine has the dimples but strange that the quality control of the mythic first class Izhmash AK will have that much variation. But I guess that's the beauty of the AK even with variation it's rock solid still.

[Angry Fist]

Show Me the dimples....

[GIockGuy24]

Some of the really early imports have dimples. Then for a long time dimples were pretty rare. A few would slip through every once in a while. Then some of the later importer requested the dimples, so many of the later imports have dimples but there are still quite a few imported without dimples. The early 223 models have barrels with journal diameters one millimeter larger than the 7.62x39 barrel so the gas blocks and sights don't interchange. most later 223 models have the same diameters as the 7.62x39 models. The dimpled receivers usually have the same bolt rails as the select fire military AK's. The slot for the auto sear is filled with weld. The dimpled receivers usually do not have the square hole for the pistol grip while some non-dimpled receivers do have the pistol hole. There are at least three versions of front trunnion used. The round bottom commercial. one, the flat bottom one similar to military ones but without the bullet guide hole and some with the flat bottom trunnion with the hole for the bullet guide rivet. The bullet guide rivet hole is larger than the screw normally used to add a bullet guide to a Saiga. Those require a larger diameter screw which also ends up having a larger screw head. The 7.62x39 Saiga's usually have the commercial or older style scope rail while the 223 Saiga's usually have the streamlined newer military style scope rail. of course these parts get mixed every which way in produvtion though.

[HKLovingIT]

Man, oh man. So trying to pick one out for a conversion can get might confusing. :shocked:

[Aurora]

There was a run that came with dimples and the Y stamp without the third hole being drilled. It would be the best choice if you're going for a high quality conversion.

V.

[mr.26]

I love dimples on my *****es

[Aurora]

There's a good pic of a dimpled Saiga receiver that also has the Y stamp on it here;...

http://www.northwestfirearms.com/general-firearm-discussion/53115-saiga-1500$-2.html

V.