Build an AK 47??

[secretasianman]

Hi all, new member here. Been shooting my M44 Carbine quite a bit and enjoying it and I'm thinking of building an AK.

Like anything else in life that could kill me if it malfunctioned, I'd like to build my first AK under the guidance of someone who knows what they're doing, while using the proper tools.

Is anyone running a build party in the Houston area any time soon? I'm reasonably handy with tools and would be glad to provide assistance, both mechanical and bottled.

[nalioth]

I regularly have small build parties. I help with Saiga conversions, too.

[secretasianman]

If it's OK with you, I'd love to come to one.

What do people normally bring? A parts kit with receiver stubs and a flat only, or everything?

Also, do you know of places that would heat treat/powder coat/etc the metal parts? Is it recommended? I've never built a gun before.

[nalioth]

Originally Posted by secretasianman

If it's OK with you, I'd love to come to one.

What do people normally bring? A parts kit with receiver stubs and a flat only, or everything?

Also, do you know of places that would heat treat/powder coat/etc the metal parts? Is it recommended? I've never built a gun before.

You'll need to bring your parts kit, your 922r parts and some drill bits.

I don't have a jig to bend flats. Flats are far more trouble than they're worth, in my opinion. Nodak Spud will fix you up with an excellent product.

"Powder coating" is not a finish you see on guns for a reason.

There are many places you can send it afterwards to have it blasted and parkerized, or [special-weshul sooper]coated (Molycoat, duracote, cerakote, etc, ad nauseum) or you could even apply a coating to it yourself.

[secretasianman]

It appears that in spite of my poking around on the internets I am still not well-informed as to what I should be buying.

Would you have any advice as to what I should get for a beginner AK, etc?

[nalioth]

Originally Posted by secretasianman

It appears that in spite of my poking around on the internets I am still not well-informed as to what I should be buying.

Would you have any advice as to what I should get for a beginner AK, etc?

Well, the days of building a cheap AK from a kit are over.

These days, I've been recommending folks buy a new Saiga and convert it.

If you just want to spend the money, you'll probably want to find a Romanian G kit. They'll be the least expensive.

After that, you'll need to look at the 922r options and figure out which parts you'll want to be US made.

[akarfal]

SARGE;

You can pick up a like new Tantel WZ-88 kit from Modle 1 Sales for $395.00 out the door. I got two kits from them when they were $300.00 and they are like new kits. I know for sure that they will be at MKT Hall 25-26 April. There is also a guy there that has tons of AK 922R and other parts. He has the Museum of the Pacific Banner.


There are alot of people that can help you with a build in the DFW area.

[M. Sage]

I just found out Centerfire Systems has a bunch of Mak-90 kits for around $300.

You'll need a parts kit, the tools and skills to finish disassembling it (remove barrel pin, remove barrel, remove rivets from trunnion, trigger guard and rear support). You'll need a receiver or flat that's compatible with the kit you get. You'll need a good rivet kit (get AKbuilder.com, the one I've been recommended most). You'll need 922(r) compliance parts, most likely a US-made trigger group and muzzle brake. Then you'll need the skills and tools to put that pile of parts together correctly. You'll have to have a way to cold-rivet the trunnion and rear support into the receiver. Putting the barrel back in is fairly easy, and the rest is just reassembling the gun after a detail strip.

Building an AK is much more involved than assembling an AR.

[nalioth]

Originally Posted by M. Sage

You'll have to have a way to cold-rivet the trunnion and rear support into the receiver.

What is "cold-rivet"?

Originally Posted by M. Sage

Building an AK is much more involved than assembling an AR.

Very true.

[M. Sage]

Riveting without heating the rivet, of course: Cold Rivets - Types and Uses

Hot, cold and pop. Those are the three rivets I know of. Pop riveting isn't terribly high strength, especially when it comes to shearing, so it's not going to be useful for an AK. Putting red hot rivets in the AK and mashing them seems like overkill; they're not big enough to be hard to deform.

You can always do a screw build, but IMO factory AKs are riveted for a reason.