Zane Zackerly
02-26-2008, 03:44 PM
The 'Red Dawn' AK
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/reddawnak.jpg
Arsenal SA M7 Carbine
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/CARBINEONGREYLARGER.jpg
The purpose of this conversion was to take a milled Arsenal SA M7 Carbine, and without making any irreversible changes to the rifle, convert the appearance to be more like the AKM style rifle. The "Red Dawn" style refers to the AKM's used in the movie, of course.
Although I know it won't "fool" a trained eye, I wanted the conversion to be authentic enough that, at first glance anyway, the rifle might appear to actually be an AKM. In this I succeeded: while picking up the rifle from the gunsmith, another customer asked to see it. After a few seconds he did a double-take, and exclaimed, "Oh, I just noticed...it's milled."
The reason for doing this conversion was simple: I wanted an AKM, but since I own mostly milled Arsenal AK's, and since my safe is rapidly becoming full to capacity, I didn't really want to get rid of a perfectly good milled rifle in order to acquire a proper stamped AKM.
THE CONVERSION:
Once I acquired a Polish laminated stock set for the milled receiver, and a color-matched Polish AKM lower handguard, I was off to the races! I decided against using the plain laminated handguard that came with the milled stock set. I wanted the "finger swell look" to the AKM handguard. The lower handguard required extensive fitting for the milled receiver and handguard retainer. The upper handguard required minor fitting. I will have to wait until the wood dries out a little before the upper handguard will be loose enough that I can install the little spring clip that goes underneath it.
I substituted a Bulgarian ribbed receiver cover for the original. The ribbed receiver cover required NO hand fitting anywhere, and the selector mated to it perfectly. A Romanian receiver cover that I also test-fitted would have required extensive fitting and probably a new selector. The fit between the selector and the Romanian cover would have allowed the selector too much up and down play while on "safe."
The pistol grip is a red Romanian plastic grip. The gun shop owner and I both agreed that it had the best "look" versus a salmon-colored Bulgarian grip, a light red US-made grip, and the mottled Polish grip that came with the stock set.
I decided not to attempt to complete the AKM look any further. Had I attempted to install a real AKM gas block or front sight, I suspect this conversion would have quickly turned into a bundle of problems. Besides, I wanted my changes to all be reversible.
I did run into a problem with my US parts count, though. The original SA M7 Carbine had US-made hammer, disconnector, receiver, pistol grip, and handguards. To remain legal, I substituted one of K-VAR's new single-hook metal injection molded (MIM) triggers for the original Bulgarian double-hook trigger. I figured that if trigger slap was excessive, I could always find a US-made double hook trigger somewhere. As a matter of fact, the MIM single-hook trigger was buttery smooth. It interacted perfectly with the MIM hammer and disconnector. I see zero problems leaving the single-hook trigger in the rifle.
I also had to install a US-made slant brake. It's a TAPCO brake, made before they started machining two locking detents. It's close to the Bulgarian in appearance. It only lacks the "extra" cut that is parallel to the bore on the underside of the pointy part of the brake. The markings are discreet.
So now my US parts count is: hammer, trigger, disconnector, receiver, and slant brake. I also intend to use magazines with US-made floorplates just in case I "forgot something".
All in all, I'm pleased with the outcome of the conversion. I took a "shooter" and turned it into something I want to take good care of. Now I'm going to have to make something else my "everyday" shooter!
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/leftside-1.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/RIBBEDCOVER.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/buttstock.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/forearm-1.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/RIGHTSIDE-2.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/reddawnak.jpg
Arsenal SA M7 Carbine
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/CARBINEONGREYLARGER.jpg
The purpose of this conversion was to take a milled Arsenal SA M7 Carbine, and without making any irreversible changes to the rifle, convert the appearance to be more like the AKM style rifle. The "Red Dawn" style refers to the AKM's used in the movie, of course.
Although I know it won't "fool" a trained eye, I wanted the conversion to be authentic enough that, at first glance anyway, the rifle might appear to actually be an AKM. In this I succeeded: while picking up the rifle from the gunsmith, another customer asked to see it. After a few seconds he did a double-take, and exclaimed, "Oh, I just noticed...it's milled."
The reason for doing this conversion was simple: I wanted an AKM, but since I own mostly milled Arsenal AK's, and since my safe is rapidly becoming full to capacity, I didn't really want to get rid of a perfectly good milled rifle in order to acquire a proper stamped AKM.
THE CONVERSION:
Once I acquired a Polish laminated stock set for the milled receiver, and a color-matched Polish AKM lower handguard, I was off to the races! I decided against using the plain laminated handguard that came with the milled stock set. I wanted the "finger swell look" to the AKM handguard. The lower handguard required extensive fitting for the milled receiver and handguard retainer. The upper handguard required minor fitting. I will have to wait until the wood dries out a little before the upper handguard will be loose enough that I can install the little spring clip that goes underneath it.
I substituted a Bulgarian ribbed receiver cover for the original. The ribbed receiver cover required NO hand fitting anywhere, and the selector mated to it perfectly. A Romanian receiver cover that I also test-fitted would have required extensive fitting and probably a new selector. The fit between the selector and the Romanian cover would have allowed the selector too much up and down play while on "safe."
The pistol grip is a red Romanian plastic grip. The gun shop owner and I both agreed that it had the best "look" versus a salmon-colored Bulgarian grip, a light red US-made grip, and the mottled Polish grip that came with the stock set.
I decided not to attempt to complete the AKM look any further. Had I attempted to install a real AKM gas block or front sight, I suspect this conversion would have quickly turned into a bundle of problems. Besides, I wanted my changes to all be reversible.
I did run into a problem with my US parts count, though. The original SA M7 Carbine had US-made hammer, disconnector, receiver, pistol grip, and handguards. To remain legal, I substituted one of K-VAR's new single-hook metal injection molded (MIM) triggers for the original Bulgarian double-hook trigger. I figured that if trigger slap was excessive, I could always find a US-made double hook trigger somewhere. As a matter of fact, the MIM single-hook trigger was buttery smooth. It interacted perfectly with the MIM hammer and disconnector. I see zero problems leaving the single-hook trigger in the rifle.
I also had to install a US-made slant brake. It's a TAPCO brake, made before they started machining two locking detents. It's close to the Bulgarian in appearance. It only lacks the "extra" cut that is parallel to the bore on the underside of the pointy part of the brake. The markings are discreet.
So now my US parts count is: hammer, trigger, disconnector, receiver, and slant brake. I also intend to use magazines with US-made floorplates just in case I "forgot something".
All in all, I'm pleased with the outcome of the conversion. I took a "shooter" and turned it into something I want to take good care of. Now I'm going to have to make something else my "everyday" shooter!
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/leftside-1.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/RIBBEDCOVER.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/buttstock.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/forearm-1.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/ak47nut/AKMICIZEDCARBINE/RIGHTSIDE-2.jpg