I struggled with choosing an AK-based rifle. The Century WASR-10 can be had ready to go, with threaded barrel, high-capacity magazine well and Century installed compliance parts, but the fit and finish is disappointing. The Saiga appeared to have better quality than the WASR, but required movement of the trigger to add a pistol grip and the front sight needed to be removed to cut off the sleeve that blocks barrel threading. It would have been a good choice, since the receiver and front trunnion needed little or no work, but I really wanted the Yugo. The Zastava has that good Yugo quality, fit and finish, plus I just like the look of the Yugos, but it is without a doubt, the most challenging to convert. Seeing how others converted theirs with Dremel tools, I was disappointed in the finished result and I couldn't bring myself to just start hacking away, so I started looking for a better way.
I took my new purchase to Steve at Two Rivers Arms for conversion and have been blown away at the quality of their work. They completely disassembled the rifle and drilled out the front trunnion for machining of the magazine well and removal of the extra material on the feed ramp and removed the front sight for threading the barrel on the lathe. I wanted as many US parts as possible inside the rifle, so I could remain in compliance regardless of what magazine I wanted to run and allow the future installation of any furniture I wanted regardless of origin. Two Rivers Arms installed a US-made Tapco trigger, disconnector, hammer, piston and brake. Zastava had basically destroyed the bolt by grinding the stripping lug shorter and narrower and shortening the length of the bolt, requiring replacement of the bolt with a standard unit to ensure proper feeding.
I can't wait to get it back and try it out. All the work, including parts is about $250. Steve said he would entertain future conversions in their manufacturing facility, so I'm getting my buddy to take his Siaga in for the treatment.
Before:
Notice the ledge on the feed ramp that is only suitable for the PAP single-stack magazine.
The receiver opening is too small, the lower bolt guide rails have big pads hanging over the dimples to secure the much narrower PAP 10 round, single stack magazine.
After:
Notice the quality of the enlargement of the receiver and the superb machine work Two Rivers Arms performed on the forward trunnion. Finish work like this is made possible only by removing the trunnion from the firearm and working it over on the mill. Also note the quality of work where they removed the added hangings on the lower bolt guide rails.
I took my new purchase to Steve at Two Rivers Arms for conversion and have been blown away at the quality of their work. They completely disassembled the rifle and drilled out the front trunnion for machining of the magazine well and removal of the extra material on the feed ramp and removed the front sight for threading the barrel on the lathe. I wanted as many US parts as possible inside the rifle, so I could remain in compliance regardless of what magazine I wanted to run and allow the future installation of any furniture I wanted regardless of origin. Two Rivers Arms installed a US-made Tapco trigger, disconnector, hammer, piston and brake. Zastava had basically destroyed the bolt by grinding the stripping lug shorter and narrower and shortening the length of the bolt, requiring replacement of the bolt with a standard unit to ensure proper feeding.
I can't wait to get it back and try it out. All the work, including parts is about $250. Steve said he would entertain future conversions in their manufacturing facility, so I'm getting my buddy to take his Siaga in for the treatment.
Before:
Notice the ledge on the feed ramp that is only suitable for the PAP single-stack magazine.
The receiver opening is too small, the lower bolt guide rails have big pads hanging over the dimples to secure the much narrower PAP 10 round, single stack magazine.
After:
Notice the quality of the enlargement of the receiver and the superb machine work Two Rivers Arms performed on the forward trunnion. Finish work like this is made possible only by removing the trunnion from the firearm and working it over on the mill. Also note the quality of work where they removed the added hangings on the lower bolt guide rails.
