AMD65 Kit Price and a Question

[Geilt]

After much debate I've finally decided to jump on the AK build wagon. A co-worker has offered me an AMD-65 kit for $225. The barrel is nearly pristine and there's no rust. Maybe a little light surface oxidation but nothing that wouldn't come off with a bronze brush.

He's already mentioned the fact I'd need to get an extended brake for it to get the barrel over 16" and reminded me about the normal compliance part count.

I guess the question is if this is a good price and if a standard AK 80% receiver would work with the kit. The follow-up question would have to be if there is anything special I'd need to know related 922r for a kit like this or if standard US made AK components would work.

[nalioth]

After much debate I've finally decided to jump on the AK build wagon. A co-worker has offered me an AMD-65 kit for $225. The barrel is nearly pristine and there's no rust. Maybe a little light surface oxidation but nothing that wouldn't come off with a bronze brush.

He's already mentioned the fact I'd need to get an extended brake for it to get the barrel over 16" and reminded me about the normal compliance part count.

I guess the question is if this is a good price and if a standard AK 80% receiver would work with the kit. The follow-up question would have to be if there is anything special I'd need to know related 922r for a kit like this or if standard US made AK components would work. Any AK receiver will work.

The only specialized 922r part would be the extended brake (both for 922r and barrel length laws)

Aside from the extended brake, it's just like building any AK.

[LostInTexas]

You could always build a pistol and then wouldn't need to compliance parts. If you go the pistol route, make sure you remove the front pistol grip and weld the front PG hole up so there is no doubt on intent.

[k98k792]

Also you will have to do the cut out on the side for the folder,and drill the hole in the bottom for the release button.

[Geilt]

You could always build a pistol and then wouldn't need to compliance parts. If you go the pistol route, make sure you remove the front pistol grip and weld the front PG hole up so there is no doubt on intent.

Would I be allowed to build a pistol off an 80% receiver and not have it registered with the BATF? How about anything special I'd need to do with the rear trunion?


Also you will have to do the cut out on the side for the folder,and drill the hole in the bottom for the release button.

Would it be an option to replace the folding stock with something a bit more substantial? I've fired an AMD65 before and was rather unimpressed with the stock.

On second thought, would that constitute 'bubbafying' it?

[k98k792]

Well you could get a stamped rear trunnion and add a fixed or Romy or E. German folding stock,but why not just by a Romy kit for a lot less.
Buying a kit that has become a rather rare variant of the AK like a AMD65,and then getting rid of the features that make it rare,makes absolutely no sense to me.

[amd65]

I happen to like my AMD's stock. It is very compact and solid.
I don't like the amd65 pistol idea--it is a waste of potential, when you are only getting a couple inches shorter, but loosing the accuracy of a shoulder fired weapon. I also happer to like the forward grip.
If I were going to build another amd65, there is no doubt which receiver I would use---no dak spud makes an amd65 specific receiver. The yugo receiver I got from NDS convinced me that they are the best. You would have to fill out a 4473, but big deal.

[LostInTexas]

"Would I be allowed to build a pistol off an 80% receiver and not have it registered with the BATF? How about anything special I'd need to do with the rear trunion?"

AS far as the BATF and 80% receiver I do not know. For the rear trunion, you would need to make it where it could NOT accept a stock. Most either weld and refinish or replace the rear trunion with a pistol trunion. There was one on the for sale board recently, not sure if it's still there or not.

[okie shooter]

I would agree though, build the amd as it was ment, and get something more common for a pistol build, the amd is unique in some ways with the dual grips plus the side folder which is pretty unique to the rifle.

[walt-oxie1]

If you weld on the extended muzzle brake it becomes part of the barrel and is not counted as a US part, but it will bring the barrel to a legal length. This would bring the total countable parts down to 15. The 80% receiver can be registered but it will have to have the manufacturers (your) name, city and state on it as well as a serial number. Me personally, I would just buy a complete NDS receiver, extended muzzle brake,US FCG and gas piston and build it, or SBR the thing and not worry about compliance parts or the extended brake and having it welded on.

I am not sure but I think the front pistol grip is counted seperate so the count would be back up to 16. If anyone knows if it is or not please let me know.

[amd65]

I think I paid $89 bucks to centerfire systems for my kit, which looked like a brand new rifle had been cut up to make it. I wish I bought 5 or 10, seeing what they go for now!

[okie shooter]

I think I paid $89 bucks to centerfire systems for my kit, which looked like a brand new rifle had been cut up to make it. I wish I bought 5 or 10, seeing what they go for now!
I remember when they first hit, they almost couldnt give the things away, I think due to the fact they were very unknown and had to have a barrel extension on them to make them legal as rifles.

[nalioth]

If you weld on the extended muzzle brake it becomes part of the barrel and is not counted as a US part, but it will bring the barrel to a legal length. This would bring the total countable parts down to 15. The 80% receiver can be registered but it will have to have the manufacturers (your) name, city and state on it as well as a serial number. Me personally, I would just buy a complete NDS receiver, extended muzzle brake,US FCG and gas piston and build it, or SBR the thing and not worry about compliance parts or the extended brake and having it welded on.

I am not sure but I think the front pistol grip is counted seperate so the count would be back up to 16. If anyone knows if it is or not please let me know. The muzzle device counts, no matter if it's welded or not.

The forward pistol grip on an AMD65 is the same as a forward pistol grip on an M4gery or a Romy G. It's not countable for anything (unless it's on a pistol).

[walt-oxie1]

The muzzle device counts, no matter if it's welded or not.

If it still counts as a muzzle device then how does it make the barrel length legal if it is welded on? Wouln't that mean the barrel would still be too short and need to be either built into a pistol or SBR? According to the alphabet boys a welded or blind pinned extention (brakes and flashhiders included) is required to make the the barrel length legal.



The forward pistol grip on an AMD65 is the same as a forward pistol grip on an M4gery or a Romy G. It's not countable for anything (unless it's on a pistol).

The Romy G's front grip is made into the handguard while the AMD65 is removable which makes it another part. The M4 is US made so 922r doesn't mean squat for that comparison.

I did call the ATF earlier to get answers for my questions and I am going to follow up with a letter so I will get a written responce to have on hand.

[Grasshopper]

You have to pin the barrel extension ,then weld the pin entry area so it looks like a removeable brake. I could be wrong about this but i know the pin size has to be so big, a 1/32" pin aint gunna do it.
Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong on this, i'll be asking my buddy from Jrs Gunsmithing to check this out.

[nalioth]

The Romy G's front grip is made into the handguard while the AMD65 is removable which makes it another part. The M4 is US made so 922r doesn't mean squat for that comparison.

I did call the ATF earlier to get answers for my questions and I am going to follow up with a letter so I will get a written responce to have on hand.
Front grips on AKs are not countable items.

Front grips are considered part of the lower handguard.

If you use a US made handguard set, your front PG needs to be US made, too.

If you use the Hungarian stuff, make up your parts count elsewhere.

[Geilt]

All good suggestions, thanks everyone. I am going to stick with building this out as stock as possible. I didn't realize these were less commonly seen kits. As such, there's no need to alter it in any way other than whatever it takes to maintain compliance.

I'll post pics of the kit when I pick it up Monday.

[amd65]

You can also use high-temp solder.
In my case, I asked a welder at the buisness next door if he could "weld my AK...". The guy, an old hippy who looked like charlie manson, took one look, and concluded he didn't have the proper equipment. He knew the owner of Clevelands largest welding company, and called the guy, who said "bring it over". Charlie took it over himself, and the weld shop owner did the job himself, using a CNC tig weld machine. It came out great. Cost? a six pack of Old Milwaukie for Charlie. Somedays, you're just lucky!
By the way, I love shooting my amd. It is pretty accurate at 100 yards, and so compact--I keep it in a tennis raquet case. Get some 20-rd mags for it---some say thay have a hard time using 30's, but that isn't my experiance. I just like the 20's

[Trueno]

If you weld on the extended muzzle brake it becomes part of the barrel and is not counted as a US part, but it will bring the barrel to a legal length. This would bring the total countable parts down to 15. The 80% receiver can be registered but it will have to have the manufacturers (your) name, city and state on it as well as a serial number. Me personally, I would just buy a complete NDS receiver, extended muzzle brake,US FCG and gas piston and build it, or SBR the thing and not worry about compliance parts or the extended brake and having it welded on.

I am not sure but I think the front pistol grip is counted seperate so the count would be back up to 16. If anyone knows if it is or not please let me know.

There is not enough confusion in this thread, here, I'll be glad to help :rockon:

There is an ATF letter that states the AMD-65 forward grip/lower handguard combo is just that...a lower handguard. So technically, according to the letter, the AMD-65 does not have a forward grip.

go figure!

t