AK-103K by AK-USA/Chris Butler (pics/review)

[lloydkristmas]

I had Chris at AKUSA in Florida put together this beauty for me over the Christmas holiday. In short, gun starts life as an Arsenal/Saiga import, Chris does the conversion, shortened the barrel to 14 inches, refinished the gun, and dehorned a few edges, etc. I added a few other 'practical' modifications as well. Not a huge fan of the decked out AK's, but this one is very purpose built. Turnaround time was around a month, final price for Chris' work was around $1200. Very satisfied. Anybody looking for a top shelf AK but dont want to pay Krebs prices? Check him out

In case anyone cares, the rail is a Midwest Industries extended AK quad rail. Hogue pistol grip. Surefire G2 in a VTAC offset mount. I traded the original Arsenal stock to a buddy who I owed some $ to. This one will do until I get an ACE sidefolder.

 

[philobeddoe]

Nice looking rifle, congratulations.

 

[WardenWolf]

Looks nice. What caliber?

 

[lloydkristmas]

7.62x39

Alternative AK calibers (5.45/5.56) are usually able to be identified by a magazine with less of a curve to it.

 

[WardenWolf]

Yeah. I knew it was either 7.62x39 or 5.45x39. Curve was much too sharp to be 5.56.

 

[lloydkristmas]

Yessir, the 556 ones definitely have less curve in the mag. Here's a 5.56 Saiga that belongs to my brother for reference

 

[why.kyle]

If you dont mind could you post more pics of how you got that light mounted on there?

Edit.
Oh i think i figured it out.. It looks like its on this side of the frontsight but its not... optical illusion

 

[briansmithwins]

Picture request too: can you show the left side of the rail? How does the front sling loop work with the rail?

BSW

 

[lloydkristmas]

Sure thing guys. Loading a pic, give me a sec.

The front sling hook actually has to be removed in order to install the MIx rail. I hated to take a dremel to a premium AK, but like I said, its a functionally oriented weapon, and the extended rail real estate was worth the loss of the hook. I use a Magpul brand sling swivel at the bottom of the back of the rail. It mates nicely with a two point sling hooked up to the stock/rear swivel.

As for the light mount, yeah it does look kind of funny in the first pic, but its simply a VTAC offset mount fixed to the left side of the quad rail, facing upward.

 

[JustinJ]

Nice looking but must be a little front heavy as the AK is to start with. Do you know if he had to open up the gas port to offset the barrel length reduction?

 

[lloydkristmas]

Its not terribly front heavy. I think the slight lack of barrel mass helps to offset the addition of the (fairly light) rail.

Gas port is unchanged, with 762x39, gas alterations usually dont need to be made until you get down to the 12 inch mark or so.

 

[Rob G]

That looks nice. Is the muzzle brake set all the way back on the barrel or does it sit on there in the normal position? I was just thinking that it might be a pain to clean inside that big open chamber that the '74 style muzzle brakes have.

 

[Adam123]

Nice looking rifle.

 

[lloydkristmas]

That looks nice. Is the muzzle brake set all the way back on the barrel or does it sit on there in the normal position? I was just thinking that it might be a pain to clean inside that big open chamber that the '74 style muzzle brakes have.

Its fixed at the normal position that a 74 brake would sit. I just use a pressurized spray cleaner to hose the thing out every once in a while.