AK Pistol Grip - Problems!!

[The Last Confederate]

Ok, so I finally got the 5 USA parts needed to swap the thumbhole stock on my MAK-90.

I unscrew the stock, go to put the black USA pistol grip on it, and the PROBLEMS begin!

For starters, for some reason the MAK-90 (and maybe other AKs too, but the MAK is all I know) has this little bitty loose piece of T shaped metal inside the reciever that holds the pistol grip. As soon as I take the stock off, this piece comes falling out....now why this piece is loose instead of sodered on the gun is beyond me, it seems like a stupid design. Are all AKs like that?

Anyway, so I have the stock on, and am trying to hold the loose T shaped piece in place with one of my hands, while trying to insert the screw and the pistol grip into the reciever with my other.

Now, the Mak-90 stock was easy to take on and off, it was easy to line the screw up to the T piece because there was only a small hole drilled into the stock, just big enough for the screw. However, the black plastic pistol grip is all hollow inside, and the screw tends to jiggle around in there when I try to push the grip on the gun. Thus making it practically impossible to line up the screw with the T shaped piece. How are you supposed to attach this thing?

To make matters worse, the screw I am using is the one that came with the thumbhole mak-90 stock, and I fear it may be too small for the black pistol grip. Is it? If so, how do I ordered a correct sized screw, and will it be threaded to insert into the Mak-90's T shaped piece? I never thought attaching a pistol grip to a firearm could be this difficult. What is going on here?

Any help would be appreciated, thank you.

 

[AK103K]

Try here:
http://www.globaltrades.com/

Look under the stocks and grips section. They have the grip screws and the nut or "T" part. They show the screws to be 4 1/8" to 4 1/4" long, so if your MAK's screw is shorter, you most likely need a different one. It is a weird set up, but it shouldnt be that hard to get on.

 

[riddleofsteel]

You need a different screw. The MAK90 screw is too short.

Sit with the rifle between your legs, muzzle down. Insert the T-nut into the square hole in the frame. Make sure it goes in so it is angled backwards. Then put the screw and grip on by holding the nut in the reciever with the finger of one hand and inserting the grip/screw using a screw driver with the other.

 

[MAKOwner]

Takes all of 30 seconds normally, your problem is the too short MAK gripscrew as establised...

On of the buttstock end of things, I hope for your sake you have a straight cut on the rear of the receiver and not a neutered MAK angle cut (or I hope you accounted for that and ordered one of the few stock setups that fit that), that would require a specific buttstock...

 

[The Last Confederate]

Ok, so my next question has to be,

Do I need a different screw for the buttstock as well, or will the supplied Mak-90 one for the thumbhole stock work with this one?

http://www.k-var.com/product.asp?0=216&1=228&3=195

Thank you.

 

[Destructo6]

The MAK90 buttstock socket is smaller than Euro-AKs on all sides. You'll almost certainly have to rework the buttstock to make it fit.

 

[The Last Confederate]

Rework it as in sand it a little?