AK-47 Compatability?

[Kurt051]

Hey I was thinking of building an AMD-65 and was concerned on whether the parts from another ak-47 will be compatible with it or not. I want to buy an AMD-65 parts kit that doesn't come with a barrel, receiver or magazine. Will the barrel be compatible if i buy just a regular ak-47 barrel from a different website? The receiver I will need should be compatible if I get the NDS-3 AKM receiver right?(I'm not going to use a side folding stock). And does anyone know of some ak-47 parts kit websites? I'm trying to keep the kit to be under $200, with or without the barrel(preferably with though). Thanks

 

[akolleth]

Most parts will interchange, as far as using a AKM barrel, you will need to get a longer gas tube and gas piston but other than that the AMD parts will swap onto the new barrel-

Not trying to dissuade you, but you are really going to have a super had time getting it done for $200 with a barrel.

**You are looking at $130 for a AMD kit, $25 for a standard rear trunnion to replace the folding stock trunnion, $25 for a gas tube, $15 for a new US made piston, $20 for a rear stock (non folding), and around $80-100 for a decent barrel. Thats around $315-335 for a put together kit that will have to be headspaced, and likely need an oversize barrel pin. Not really ideal in my opinion-

My advice is to get one of the Romanian G kits that are floating around the equipment exchange for $300-ish. Its a standard AKM kit, you will have the kit you want with the proper barrel, rear trunnion, non-folding stock, and such. All you need is the kit, a Nodak receiver, your compliance parts, and the tools to build it.

 

[Kurt051]

Oh, I was looking at the Hungarian AMD-65 parts kit on J&G Sales for $170 http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.../2725?osCsid=97484bcb63f8be47317e4efaea11ae4f
It comes with everything but the barrel, receiver and a magazine right? The total according to my math with that kit a barrel and a receiver should be about $370-ish. the kit and shipping should be like $190, the barrel is around $100 with shipping, and the receiver is around $73 with shipping and then the charge from a local ffl for shipping the receiver is like $20-30. Does any of this seem right?
If I got a longer ak-47 barrel I'd have to get a longer gas piston too, correct?

 

[Sam1911]

Re-read what akolleth said. But add a few bucks for a Tapco trigger group.

The good news is that, if you do everything right, you should meet the 922r compliance criteria.

Just be careful with the barrel. If you get a true AMD-length barrel, you will need a long flash-hider pinned and welded to it or the barrel length is below the National Firearms Act limit of 16". A US-made barrel might be able to be ordered long enough. And using an AKM barrel (with longer piston and gas tube) would be o.k.

What are you planning to replace the side-folding stock with? That's not a simple bolt-up. But, again, akolleth has got you covered on that, too.

-Sam

 

[Kurt051]

I was planning on buying just a fixed stock for it but could I get an underfold stock? And I was planning on getting the akm barrel and just buy a new gas tube and piston.

 

[RyanM]

Underfolding stocks require a receiver made (or modified, I guess) specifically for them. Get one of those, and I don't think you'd have any problems.

 

[akolleth]

I am sorry to tell you the days of cheap AK building are way past us--

Like I said it is by far not the cheapest way to go using a AMD kit- here is the breakdown

**JG Sales AMD kit $170
**Replacement barrel (AKM style 16") $80-100
**New longer gas tube $20
**New longer piston $15
**Nodak NDS-3 $60
**Standard rear trunnion $ 20 (AMD rear trunnion is specific to the AMD folding stock, you can't use it with anything else)
** Buttstock $20 and higher (depending on what type, wood/etc...)
** Plus you still need an additional 4 compliance parts (FCG coudl be 3 at $30, pistol grip would be last for an additional $10)
Thats over $450

***Not to mention the biggest issue is that now your headspace can be off kilter since the bolt was not set to that barrel. If you are building it your self you will have to get a go/no go/field set of guages to verify headpsace (around $60 for a set), or if you are having someone build it for you they will typically charge a bit more for the headspacing job on top of build services.

The Rear trunnion and buttstock could be used from the AMD kit, but if so, you will need to purchase the Nodakspud NDS-65 receiver ($80 instead of $60)




OR--- You can get something like this G series kit that the seller was selling for $320 shipped


That plus a $60 Nodak 3 reciever, $30 for the U.S. FCG, $10 for a US made pistol grip, and $10 for the US made muzzle device will get it done for you-- ($430) and since it should be a matching kit you won't have to worry about the headpspace being off

 

[cauberallies]

If you happen to have/get an AK with the standard wooden upper and lower handguards, I have an AMD 65 metal lower handguard with the forward pistol grip that I am looking to trade.

 

[akolleth]

Excuse me if I take liberty here Kurt051, but it appears you may be a new AK builder.
I would respectfully suggest you take a loooong read through the build it yourself sections of these sites for lots and lots of good reading about building an AK

AK Forum
AR15.com
AK Files
[URL="http://www.weaponeer.net/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=402"]Weaponeer[/URL]


Some specific threads for a new builder from these are
AK Files, How to get started Building AK Rifles
AR15.com BIY Tutorials, tools, and supplies
AK Forum- Ak Build it Yourself video

 

[Kurt051]

If rear trunnion is only for a folding stock cant i just not use it and get a wood stock instead? And I understand that this may not be the cheapest way of getting an ak but for me its easier to spread the costs out over a little time. I was reading on another website for checking the headspace you just "hold the gun away from your body, turn your head and pull the trigger" this may seem drastic though.. and what would the advantage to buying a Tapco trigger group? doesn't the kit come with all the trigger assembly already?
Yeah I'm new to building Ak's but I enjoy building things. I have a lot of resources if I have questions. If I had a list of the parts that I need to build an Ak than I should be fine there afterwards. And I will look through the sites, thanks akolleth

 

[Sam1911]

If rear trunnion is only for a folding stock cant i just not use it and get a wood stock instead?

The rear trunion is the solid chunk of steel that's riveted into the back of the sheet metal receiver. It gives it the receiver what rigidity it has and also provides a mounting point for whatever stock the gun is fitted with. You have to have one. The standard trunion is the original AKM design which is cut out to accept the tenoned forward part of the wood butt stock and also has a tang that projects backwards a couple of inches into the top of the butt stock and has holes for the two stock attaching screws. The various folding stocks (side folding and underfolding) use various different trunions.

And I understand that this may not be the cheapest way of getting an ak but for me its easier to spread the costs out over a little time.

Makes sense, to a point. Building these rifles is fun, too. Can't discount that.

I was reading on another website for checking the headspace you just "hold the gun away from your body, turn your head and pull the trigger" this may seem drastic though..

That's a standard (though a bid dangerous) way of IGNORING bothering to check the headspace on a rifle that you've built from a kit that INCLUDED THE BARREL. If you're using the original barrel and front trunion and bolt, chances are that when you press the barrel back in and press the pin back into the original hole, everything will line back up as it did originally. With a completely new barrel, there shouldn't be a barrel-pin hole drilled at all, and you certainly don't want to just wing it. You'll need the headspace kit to figure out exactly where to drill the hole. If you're using a barrel that came from some other kit and is already drilled for the pin, chances are your headspace will be quite a bit off if you just pound the pin in and call it good. That's where the oversized pins can be used. You set the barrel to the correct headspace and then drill (mill, really) a new larger pin hole through the trunion and barrel which obliterates the original mismatched holes. Headspace is pretty important. Too tight and the bolt won't close on a chambered round. Too loose and...WOWIE! Don't try the "turn your head and cough" trick with the build you're planning.

and what would the advantage to buying a Tapco trigger group? doesn't the kit come with all the trigger assembly already?

The trigger parts that come with your kit need to go in the dumpster. They're set up to function in the 3rd-hole-equipped full-auto receiver. Get the Tapco (or similar) semi-auto trigger group. That way you can't reasonably be accused of having a gun that's "readily convertible" to fully automatic. Most I've shot were actually pretty good, too, if a bit creepy. And the G2 Tapco kit is cheap. And it counts as three of your US-built compliance parts.

Yeah I'm new to building Ak's but I enjoy building things. I have a lot of resources if I have questions. If I had a list of the parts that I need to build an Ak than I should be fine there afterwards.

Well, you do need to understand the various laws that apply. You can make some fairly easy mistakes and end up in "club fed." Educate yourself a bit and you won't have any troubles.

Good luck!

-Sam

 

[Moose458]

Something else you need to consider. Tools. Do you have a 10 ton press to press the barrel into the front trunion? How about the jigs needed for riveting the trigger guard to the receiver? You'll also need a tool to mash the rivets through the receiver/trunions. You can't build an AK with your basic tools. Also it takes practice to press rivets to not only funtion but look nice. Before you start this read all you can about building AKs as stated above. It is NOT worth it if you only plan to build 1 or 2 AKs. You will be much further ahead to buy an AK already built. Check out Atlantic Firearms or any number of other outfits. You will be money ahead and probably happier with your rifle. I had this same plan until I looked into it, and it just wasn't practical.