Questions about making AK-47 Receivers

[bigalexe]

Ok this is a few questions regarding building AK-47 receivers with the intent of sales.

1.) Would it be a profitable venture to mill my own receiver blanks, and buy parts kits. Then sell the assembled receiver.

2.) Assuming the above, at what point does it become a weapon and need to be registered with the ATF as such? I would like to avoid becoming a licensed manufacturer right off the top.

3.) Assuming I can produce some prototype blanks of serviceable/decent quality what are the chances I could work with a manufacturer producing just blanks for them. So I'm not doing any assembling or selling directly, just milling?

4.) Assuming I can get into manufacturing some of these, would any THR members volunteer to test the first few for me at no cost to you unless you really like them and decide to pay me. The catch being if the first few work out you may be asked to write about your experience. Also if they really suck I'll find something else to get into.

The reason I want to do this is because I just purchased a small manual vertical mill machine and according to what I've read AK-47 receivers are ridiculously easy to mill. So I'm trying to come up with some easy projects that I can use to payback the cost of my purchase.

 

[Walkalong]

I would like to avoid becoming a licensed manufacturer right off the top.

That could get you in trouble. As to the rest, I have no clue.

 

[Nugilum]

I would like to avoid becoming a licensed manufacturer right off the top.

That's going to limit what you can do.

 

[rcmodel]

1. If you make working receivers, you are a manufacture and need all the ATF blessings & license.

2. People make sheet metal AK receiver flats with no problem. They are not considered receivers until you bend them.

3. If it is a milled receiver with the holes drilled, you just made a firearm receiver that has to have a serial number & a Manufactures name & address on it.

4. There are very few good "parts kits" left, and when they are gone, they are gone.

rc

 

[Sam1911]

Well, the "would it be profitable" question is going to be very hard to answer ... in the affirmative. Many ways to go broke. Not nearly as many routes to success.

Buying parts kits is a "day late and a dollar short" proposition anymore. Time was when they were cheap. Now, they're a lot less cheap. Also, the BATFE no longer allows the barrels to be imported uncut. So you need a US source for barrels. That's going to jack the price up.

Making the receiver shell *IS* making the rifle, in the eyes of the BATFE. So, avoiding becoming a licensed manufacturer is simply a no-go. Any time you complete a receiver, you've made a firearm. There are companies that produce "flats" with all the holes but which need to be bent into final shape. There are companies who produce bent shells which need all the holes drilled and stampings done. Those aren't firearms, legally. Then there are companies (like NODAKSPUD) which build completed receiver shells. They have a serial number and have to be transferred through a dealer.

Why would you "register" any of them with the BATFE? There is no registry of rifles or other Title I firearms. You would need to mark the receivers with your information, a serial number, and your location (I think, anyway). And you would need to pay your manufacturers' taxes. No registration of the guns, though.

I'm sure many here would like to test them for you. Many of us here have built them, both on home-bent receivers we "made" ourselves, and on professionally produced serial-numbered receivers we bought through dealers. It is fun. If it was profitable, a lot more of us would be doing it! Seriously, look at the manufacturers that are offering higher end AKs for sale, and look at the WASRs, and what they're selling for (again) these days.

Try to find a source for enough parts kits to make a go of it. Then find someone to sell you US made barrels. Don't forget your costs to make or buy the other US-made parts you'll need to install on every rifle to avoid 922(r) problems (gas piston, trigger group, PG, stock, flash-hider, or whatever else). Then figure out the costs of the equipment, machinery, shop space, power, labor, licenses (local business license and federal manufacturer's license), advertising, some means of distribution, etc., etc.

I do wish you luck. Some companies HAVE made this work. There is a way. Finding it might be tough, but I'm sure you have the best wishes of all of us here!

-Sam

 

[Sam1911]

3. If it is a milled receiver with the holes drilled, you just made a firearm receiver that has to have a serial number & a Manufactures name & address on it.

Of course, that's if you're intending to sell it. You don't have to serialize your own home-built guns you intend to keep for your own uses.

 

[bigalexe]

Ok thanks, im not super familiar with the construction of the AK-47 as I am with the AR-15 where you can make an Upper that's not a gun. The reason I'd like to do AK-47 stuff is because its easier, and as such can be done in a pinch with a dremel tool if you are adventurous. The AR-15 upper is complicated and I would not attempt one without CNC Machinery.

 

[Trebor]

There is no way around the fact that you will need a manufacturer's FFL to do what you are describing.

Personally, due to the expense of the FFL and the fact that the parts kits have really dried up, I think it would be hard for you to really make any money at this.