AK or HK rifle build?

[justin22885]

well, ive decided to build another rifle... my choices are that of the AK or HK family of rifles, but im thinking im going to go with another AK, had to sell the last one, and want to do this one even better... so i already know most of what is involved

what id like to do differently if possible, is not rely on used or surplus parts, id prefer to find as many new parts as i can for this build, and want to bend a receiver flat myself

a friend of mine has a machine shop and will build me a jig i can use for bending flats, so having specs would be nice.. as i do have AK-47 receiver blueprints i could use this to come up with my own jig design, i plan to use a 1.5mm flat for this build.. a little more strength, a little more durable, a little more accurate... but im just trying to locate new parts.. like new trunions, if new trunnions and a barrel cannot be found.. does anyone have the schematics or drawings of the trunnions so that i could have these made?... if not, im just going to buy the trunnions seperately from the kit completely clean it up and true it all up and hand fit it to the rifle

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the reason i want an AK for a major part is is much more controllable under heavy fire.. this doesnt neccessarily mean fully automatic fire, just rapid fire in general, and follow up shots on targets are quicker and more accurate without the beating youd take from a G3.. this being said, the semi auto G3 is my other option, again, id buy receiver flats, and send the specs to my friend to have a bending jig made... only downside to this is i do not own a tig welder, and do not have one i can borrow... has anyone had any luck using an arc welder setup for thin metals?

my other option of course is a semi automatic HK53 type, as i can fine HK93 flats as well, and use the same jig to bend these on and make a 5.56mm version of a G3K...

im looking for answers to these questions to help me better decide

some things on my mind about either platform.. the HK platform is more stable, more accurate, and would allow for a top rail to be welded to the receiver for a far more expandable optics platform, whereas the AK isnt so friendly in that nature having a receiver cover that comes off requiring the rear sight to be mounted in front of the action like youd find on many bolt actions

but the AK has cheaper ammo which is less punishing under rapid fire, more accurate follow up shots

 

[Maverick223]

has anyone had any luck using an arc welder setup for thin metals?

I think it would be very difficult to control a standard arc welder in the tight confines using light gauge stock. I have had luck with thin stock using a MIG machine, but no experience using it on a rifle receiver (nor do I plan to try it). A couple things you should keep in mind are: any welding (or heating) is going to anneal the steel making it softer and easier to bend, especially if not carefully controlled (like a TIG machine), and TIG leaves a much cleaner, more professional weld bead (when compared to arc or even MIG).

Good luck on the project.

 

[Kwanger]

You might try www.militaryfirearm.com and ask over there regarding everything HK's....some very very knowledgeable people there to help with your specific questions

 

[jojo200517]

If your friend has a machine shop why not just mill a receiver for the AK? Nothing to press wrong and no jig to make.

 

[Maverick223]

If your friend has a machine shop why not just mill a receiver for the AK? Nothing to press wrong and no jig to make.

I'll second that...why not make a milled G3...now that is something different (and if possible, would be pretty darn cool).

 

[axxxel]

Is it very expensive and time-consuming to make your own AK in a machine shop? What parts do you just have to buy because they're too much of a mess to make yourself? I can think of the barrel...

 

[justin22885]

i like to be authentic, so id only ever go with stampings made on HK tooling, and for the AK, the stamped is more common.. also with the AK if there was ever any damage to the receiver, i could pop out the rivers and install all my parts onto a new receiver... also, lets assume i installed hex head screws on the front trunnion of the AK receiver, i could screw a second trunnion into place.. press in the barrel deep enough where the headspacing is correct, drill for the pin, then remove it and have additional setups

imagine this.. i want to go from a standard AK front end to a very compact 9 inch barrel (pending i had the stamp)... i could just unscrew the trunnion holding the standard equipment, and screw in the second one already set up for the rifle... so this gives me the option of making the AK-47 more scalable and modular than a milled build

sometime in the distant future i will build a PSG1 clone, ive always been in love with that rifle, and since i was very young have always wanted to build one... so thatll probably solve my HK obsession and ill probably go AK for the standard rifle...

right now though im toying with the idea of buying a small manual mill probably from harborfreight because another project on my plate is an 1885 highwall rifle... does anyone know the dimensions of a standard AK-47 front and rear trunnion by any chance? its the one piece i cant seem to find offered new, and it doesnt look all that difficult to mill either

 

[justin22885]

i think i may have found some new US made front and rear trunnions, which means the only part i would need to find new now is the bolt/carrier, and the barrel, and there should be some new barrels out there (i cant wait till i have enough extra to buy the equipment i need to start making my own)

so im going to keep an eye out for new bolts and carriers now