QUestionks re: building from an AK parts kit...

[SteelCore]

Hi, All:

My initial questions on building an AK:

1. Ok, so I get a parts kit, and then order a receiver flat...where do the best flats come from?

1a. What kits produce the best builds, if any diff?

2. What other US compliance parts are commonly available, and from where?

3. Is there a build overview/tutorial somewhere?

4. What are the first steps to cleaning up the parts kit for receivering? Do I need to remove some old receiver parts?

To save folks the typing, andy web refs to an overview or something would be stupendous.

I'm sure I'll be pestering you folks later on all this. I'll prolly leave the gunshow this weekend with an AK parts kit or 2.

I'm gonna build me a RIFLE!

[pjm204]

I'll try to answer the questions I remember. The best flats seem to come from ak-builder.com , he also sells rivets and tooling. www.copesdist.com has kits and compliances parts, so does centerfiresystems.com, dpharms.com and a few other vendors. Tapco makes a good fire control group for 3 US parts, I usually use a mag follower for one more US part, and then a US flash hider from copes or another vendor, they are around 10 bucks. The cheapest kits are romanian kits and they produce nice builds. If you're only building one or have alot of money, maybe buy a polish tantal kit.

AK's are a pretty easy build and you'll have a nice fun gun in the end. oh and if an AK pistol interests you at all, then you won't need any compliance parts, just a pistol rear trunnion.

Remove the receiver stubs from the front trunnion, rear trunnion and trigger guard, on the trigger guard, be sure to save the safety selector stop which is in between the receiver and the trigger guard. Demilling is basically jsut grind rivets and peel off old receiver.

there is a pretty good tutorial on www.gunsgutsandgod.com

[okie shooter]

Just a comment, on the receiver, is there a reason for going with the flats and the additional work required compared to buying a finished receiver. Just a comment on that one.

[Grasshopper]

I love the amd 63, it comes with a 16" Barrell, they are well built and I believe they have chromed barells. AMD 65s need a barrell extension. You may also look for a Bulgarian ak 74, it shoots the 5.54 round, a nasty little weapon. If you want to build a polish, bring some cake, they are nice but expensive. i love em all. If you are going to buy 2 kits, get a beat up Romey to practice on. Bent metal 80%ers are cheap. Keep in mind (mime?) that you'll be needing replacement parts. If you buy these at a gun show look closely at them, some weenies refirbish forign ones and restamp them "US". Be carefull.
Ok, here is an idea. (Sorry Mike). If you are looking to build a franken AK you can search the used parts bin for trunions, under folder parts and barrelled trunions to make a 1 of a kind. :zombie: :ak:

[Grasshopper]

http://www.diyguns.com/product_info.php?products_id=30
Oh ya, this is everything you'll ever need to make an AK for personal use. This covers all the legal stuff as well as tricks. Good investment.

[SteelCore]

"if an AK pistol interests you"

Oh yeah, it does. I really wanna buy 2 kits to make one into a pistola & one into a rifle.

You can buy pre-bent 80% receivers?!?!? Hel, that'd save on flat bengin, and needing a flat bending jig.

Thanks for the links, all....I'm gonnna start reading.

--Steely

[pjm204]

I receiver blank(bent 80%) does not have the magwell cut, has no dimples, and has no holes for trunnions or FCG. SO there is alot of work to be done.

[M1 Tanker]

SC, having recently built from flats and from a 100% receiver....buy the 100% receiver. The flats just aren't worth the headache. With receivers between very inexpensive I would buy it complete. The flats are cheap, but the jig is going to be pricey....making flats more expensive for 2 guns then 100% receivers.

I highly recommend the Tapco G2 FCG, thats 3 US parts. They also have a gas piston and flash hider....copes sells the tapco stuff for cheaper too.

KVar sells some nice furniture if you want to go that route.

[texlurch]

The prebents from Gunsgutsandgod have mag dimples.

The absolute cheapest route to build is an 80% screw build. Little to no investment in tools. And I pretty much go with US FCG, gas piston and FH; that opens up lots of furniture options.

[SteelCore]

More questionson the 100% receivers...if it is a receiver, diesnt; that make it a firearm if it is 100% made? If it is lega, then who supplies 100%receivers?

I'll check on the US parts outlets you folks recommend. Thanks, TXLurch and M-1.:rockon: :thanks:

I'm not looking for necessarily the cheapest route, but if I could build, say a Yugo underfolder (retails for 500-600USD) or a romanain (retails for about 325USD) and save 100USD ro more, that would be cool. I'm trading time for money here, and I think it would be a great experience and a fun thing to do.

[M1 Tanker]

nodakspud.com makes an excellent 100% receiver. Its just like buying a gun...get your dealer to order it, fill out a 4473 and take it home.

[Woodman in MO]

I went with a US 100% reciever, US FCG(3), US Flash Hider and US Followers.

I bought a US Pistol Grip, but the original one was so darn cool, I went with the followers. I only have two mags, so it was easy. If you are gonna end up with dozens of mags, I wouldn't go the follower route

[nalioth]

I like using 100% receivers (I buy Harlans (http://www.nodakspud.com/page2.htm) receivers exclusively) so that if I see a horse trade come up, I can legally and w/o ANY reservations sell the rifle.

If you want to sell an AK built from a flat or an 80% there are legal requirements for markings, plus the fact that if you do follow the marking legalities and sell more than one, you may be considered "a manufacturer". If you are not paying your manufacturers tax, you will be in the big doo-doo. This is why a lot of the home made AKs you see sold on the AK forums for "parts", say "the receiver will be cut up before delivery".