AK mods... opinions?

[beerslurpy]

Anyway, since I was sending out the saiga for gunsmithing work finally, I decided to undertake a minor project with the AK and convert it to green furniture. I have olive kvar handguards on the way as well.

Anyone know if it is normal for the stock to point down like that on a milled receiver gun? It doesnt feel uncomfortable or anything, and the fit seems to be good. Note the extra mounting point under the stock that I didnt use.

 

[Kurush]

That's normal, most rifles have the buttstock at an angle (after all, your eyes are higher than your shoulder). The AR-15 has the stock straight in line with the barrel and makes up for it by having the sights higher up (thus the carry handle). An AR-15 stock on an AK looks odd because you're used to seeing AR-15 stocks protrude straight back.

 

[beerslurpy]

But a lot of AKs I have seen with AR type stock have them straight back. I really like the sight picture the bendy stock gives, but everyone who has seen the picture so far says it looks silly.

Oh yeah, the tapco SAW pistol grip is 10x better than the stock one. The first time I picked up the gun with it on I was immediately like "ooooh this is nice. "

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

SAW grip is a winner.


I think that rifle is perfect as is. If it feels right to you, that's all that matters. Make sure everything works well, from mags to optic.

 

[TIMC]

Looks a little strange but if it works well that's all that counts. Mine is pretty straight. I had to put a risor on mine for a good cheek wled and to get the holosight to align properly.

 

[beerslurpy]

Actually, it was your straight receiver pic that got me thinking that mine was broken.

On my gun, it is less of an issue since I mostly use the PKAS instead of the irons. But I can use either if I want.

 

[grimjaw]

beerslurpy, is that a milled Arsenal? Do you like that collapsible stock? I've been afraid to get one, thinking they'd be cheap construction.

jmm

 

[beerslurpy]

It is a milled arsenal yes. It started life as an SLR101S and was later converted to post-ban SAM7 config. It is a 2 tang receiver.

My main complaint is that the stock is made for a 1 tang receiver and I didnt know this until I tried to attach it and the lower tang got in the way. I almost drilled out the rivets to remove the lower tang, but instead dremeled away a bunch of plastic where the tang is, and it fits. You can see the lower tang sticking out in the picture. It doesnt get in the way or anything. I can always remove it later if I want to.

The build quality of the stock doesnt appear especially good or bad. I mean, it is basically your standard synthetic gun stock material like on any AR15. If you are expecting brushed titanium billet or something, you will be diappointed. I will hold off on giving a verdict until I can shoot it a few times and be sure the stock holds its position well. If it ends up being disappointing, I will probably get a stock from ACE to match the saiga. My initial response is positive.

 

[clange]

Its angled down because its a milled receiver. The stamped receivers are more 'straight' at the rear.

Nothing wrong with it, thats just how it goes.

 

[Illuminaughty]

Yaaaaahahahahaahaaa! Those are the ugliest aks I've seen, put them away, put them away! If you want a real ak keep the wood and get a wire folder and some more mags! Not crappy plastic tapco stuff! Those insipid M4 stocks take into effect an essential piece of the gun that's not present in the stock, thus having a collapsable stock is utterly pointless! Folders are the way to! Hell, if you like cheap tapco junk tapco even has a cheap folder you can get.

FRIENDS DONT LET FRIENDS TAPCO THEIR AKS!!!!

 

[Medusa]

Yeah, must join the last one, M4 style stocks at AK are downright ugly and make the whole gun look like a flashlight in horse's arse. I definitely prefer the whole AK design (stocks, front grips etc) over any combo of AK and AR.

 

[chopinbloc]

Yaaaaahahahahaahaaa! Those are the ugliest aks I've seen, put them away, put them away! If you want a real ak keep the wood and get a wire folder and some more mags! Not crappy plastic tapco stuff! Those insipid M4 stocks take into effect an essential piece of the gun that's not present in the stock, thus having a collapsable stock is utterly pointless! Folders are the way to! Hell, if you like cheap tapco junk tapco even has a cheap folder you can get.

FRIENDS DONT LET FRIENDS TAPCO THEIR AKS!!!!

wow, dude. don't hold back, tell us how you really feel. seriously, there are at least two good reasons for a collapsable stock on any rifle. one reason is it is often the simplest way to get a length of pull that fits you well, another is that a collapsable stock is the only way to allow two different size users to shoot the same rifle comfortably. i agree that the aesthetics leave a little to be desired but let's be honest: aks are not the prettiest rifles anyway. the only real concern i had about the stock in question is that it seems it would increase muzzle rise substantially.

 

[trueblue1776]

I never understood a M-4 collapsible stock on a gun that could accept a folder.

 

[TIMC]

I never understood a M-4 collapsible stock on a gun that could accept a folder.

The folder does not adjust in length, the M-4 stock does.
As far as ugly the whole gun is ugly to start with and does not get pretty no matter what you do to it! Mine is a tool and I made it to be as comfortable and user friendly as poossible, that is it's beauty. As soon as my cheek hits the stock I am looking through the holosight with my eye exactly where I want it to be, this would not happen with a wood or folder stock. As far as it's tactical use I would put it up against any standard AK in a tactical shoot.
Think Of it like this...
An AK like mine is made for the type of person that would prefer a hammer with a fiberglass handle and rubber grip for comfort rather than an old fashioned wood handled hammer that slips, breaks and puts splinters in your hand! You guy's can keep your traditional AK's.

 

[beerslurpy]

If it makes you feel any better, I'm going the folder route on the saiga 12ga. Ace skeleton 7.5" w/ 1" recoil pad. Still, cant get enough of the SAW grip, so that will be included as well, only in black for the shotty.

I dont really like wood AKs unless it is that really dark red wood they seem to use on the krinks a lot. I would love to build a red handguard and skeleton sidefolder krink one of these days. Would prefer a full auto one, but that isnt likely as long as the 86 ban is with us.

 

[Crosshair]

Yea, my stock looks that way and it functions fine. I like the collapsible stock on my Saiga because I can change the pull on the rifle depending on what time of the year it is. (Winter, short because of all the bulky clothes. Summer, long because I am wearing just a T-shirt.)

 

[Illuminaughty]

wow, dude. don't hold back, tell us how you really feel. seriously, there are at least two good reasons for a collapsable stock on any rifle. one reason is it is often the simplest way to get a length of pull that fits you well, another is that a collapsable stock is the only way to allow two different size users to shoot the same rifle comfortably. i agree that the aesthetics leave a little to be desired but let's be honest: aks are not the prettiest rifles anyway. the only real concern i had about the stock in question is that it seems it would increase muzzle rise substantially.

Why would someone want their face any closer to the action? Even my mom, tiny as she is, can shoot my ak just fine. I think you're just taking the one thing the stock has differently, and trying to act like its a redeeming quality. You DO realize the only reason m4's have them is because of a piece of the gun extending out the ass, not because they thing collapsing is better than adjustable, right? Its just something to do rather than nothing.

Forcing the same problems on a gun that doesn't have any such part in the stock is just a waste.

 

[chopinbloc]

You DO realize the only reason m4's have them is because of a piece of the gun extending out the ass, not because they thing collapsing is better than adjustable, right?

no, i don't realize that because it's only partially true. if it were than there would be only two positions on the stock - open and closed. this is not the case. have you ever tried to use a rifle with body armor and thick winter clotes on? you say your mom is a small person and can use the ak just fine. hmmm. have you noticed how uncomfortable it looks when she does it?

Why would someone want their face any closer to the action?

an adjustable stock doesn't put your face closer to the action, it allows people with different length arms to comfortably use the same rifle. i suppose you've never heard of somone having a custom stock built for a classic double shotgun or having an inch or two taken off the stock for a lady or noticed that competition shooters and some snipers take advantage of stocks with almost infinite adjustability or seen a juvenile longarm like the .22 chipmunk or the mossberg bantam series. length of pull is critical to good shooting. hell, even when i'm not wearing body armor, i often find it useful to change the lenght of pull when i move to different positions. additionally, you may want a long pull for slow, methodical shooting at distance but if you have a forward mounted optic, you'll want to shorten the stock as much as is practical for indoor work. there are a billion reasons for an adjustable stock besides saving space. maybe you can tell me why the canadians have collapsable stocks on their version of the m16. it has a standard, 20" barrel, flattop upper with elcan sight, extended catch on the charging handle and a collapsable stock. tell him it's ugly, tell him you don't like it. tell me the merits of a collabsable stock don't make up for the disadvantages but don't try to tell me the sky ain't blue.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

Seriously though, the folding stock that TAPCO sells is a POS. I bought my M249 style grip from TAPCO and have been satisfied with it, and unless I hear advice to the contrary, I'll probably be putting a G2 trigger group in mine, but the Galil style folder is crap--that's all there is to it. It is made primarily for asthetics so if you want something functional, you'll probably have to track down a Commie peice or invest in an ACE.

If you do get the ACE, you can have the collapsible stock adjustable for LOP that folds as well--and you can even decide which side you want it to fold on.

Even without the buffer assembly, an adjustable stock has advantages, as already noted. It doesn't surprise me a small person can shoot an AK well--the LOP is typically too short for an adult American male. When I try to shoot the short Commie stock, my nose is up against the receiver. With the M4 style stock, I have 6 positions to choose from. Offhand, sitting, or kneeling I like the 3rd one back. If I have a pack of heavy clothing on, I can drop it down a notch. Or I can shoot it and have it very comfortable for me so that as soon as my cheek hits the stock, I am looking through the Mojo ghost ring. Then I, 6'5" can hand it to a friend of mine, 5'6", and she can pop it down to standard length in a second and it is no less comfortable for her. I can understand your aversion to the AR and I'll be the first to admit it isn't perfect. It has its faults, but ergonomics has never been one of them.

 

[chopinbloc]

now THAT seems like a pretty useful piece of equipment.

 

[Texfire]

Seriously though, the folding stock that TAPCO sells is a POS. I bought my M249 style grip from TAPCO and have been satisfied with it, and unless I hear advice to the contrary, I'll probably be putting a G2 trigger group in mine, but the Galil style folder is crap--that's all there is to it. It is made primarily for asthetics so if you want something functional, you'll probably have to track down a Commie peice or invest in an ACE.

I'm not sure my opinion is quite that harsh, but I agree that the Tapco Galil-style stock looks better than it feels. My rifle came with one, and after I put an recoil pad for an ACE folder on it it works well enough, but if I were purchasing one I'd pony up for the ACE.

FYI, the recoil pad also made the length of pull more comfortable for my arms.

Tex

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I have the described the incident several times before but basically I had a TAPCO Galil style folder go Tango Uniform on the first range outting when it fell about 2 feet and landed stock first. The result was a very cartoony "TWANG" as the locking mechanism exploded. I figured I could send it in and have TAPCO replace it with the same crappy stock or I could count my losses and save for something better. The result was I spent $160 on the ACE and never looked back. But IMO, the TAPCO is a certifiable POS. I can only recommend it to the gangsta wannabes and Hodgies who never use their stocks anyways cause it looks kinda cool but other than that is pretty useless.

 

[chopinbloc]

some tapco stuff sucks and some works well. as for their folding stock i don't even like the way it looks. i bought a couple of their ar-15 collapsing stocks - for my ar15s, btw - and they work great. i've also bought all kinds of other stuff from 'em and everything so far works pretty well. i think i have a talent for looking at a catalog picture comparing the price and determining what i'm likely to get. i got this talent by purchasing several metric tons worth of crap to compare it to quality products.

 

[beerslurpy]

There is a gun store near my workplace that sells Tapcoed out AKs. I handled them a little bit and decided that:
-the TAPCO folder was a complete pile
-the TAPCO AR15 style stock was nice
-the SAW PG is great
-the Galil foreend is like anchovies- either you will like it or hate it. I am sticking with traditional style forend for now, until I can get one of those sweet ventilated krebs handguards