AK questions

[rbernie]

Found a neat AK today, but I need some help before I commit to it. First off - I'm an AK neophyte. Don't know much about them other than what I've gleaned by handling them and reading THR.

The rifle in question was labeled as a MAK-90. Thumbhole stock, no bayonet lug, and a MILLED (not stamped) receiver. I was surprised - I didn't think that any MAK-90's were built on a milled receiver. Condition was clean, and the price was less than $350. I was very attracted to that price - this particular rifle seemed a lot nicer than the MAADIs and WASR-10's that I've been seeing in that price range.

I have two questions. First off, if I get an AK I at least want to be able to put on a different set of furniture; I secretly lust for an AK with an underfolder or sidefolder stock. I've been told that the MAK-90 has an odd rear receiver angle and that most folding hardware simply won't fit this rifle. Is this true?

Secondly - the seller tells me that I cannot play the 922(r) game with this rifle, and insists that it has to stay exactly as is for some legal reason or another. I don't (want to) believe this to be true, but I'm not buying the rifle until I verify that I can change it around (even if that means playing the 'ten parts or less' game) to suit me. Has anyone heard of such a thing?

 

[DMK]

I'm not sure specifically what stocks fit Maks, but that is a good price. I'd buy it. I do know most of the folding hardware you see (such as Hungarian, Romanian or EG sidefolders) is made to fit European AKs and won't fit the Chinese AKs. I'm sure you can get some fixed stocks for it though.

As far as 9.22r, I think he's full of it. Basically all you are doing with the parts count is making the rifle into something that has enough U.S. made parts to qualify as "assembled in the U.S." by legal definition. At that point all import laws no longer apply because by legal technicality, it's no longer an imported rifle. It doesn't matter where it came from or who originally made it.

The only reason I can think of why you couldn't play the parts cound game with a Mak is if there aren't enough U.S. made parts made to fit your gun. The SKS is a perfect example of that. You could make it 9.22r exempt if you could find enough of the ATF specified U.S. made parts, but they just aren't available. I doubt that's a problem with Maks though.

 

[whm1974]

If you buy it and then modify the rifle can you prove later that you used the minamime number of american made parts?

You may be better of just buying an AK that already has the feuters you want.

-Bill

 

[DMK]

If you buy it and then modify the rifle can you prove later that you used the minamime number of american made parts?

Most U.S. make parts are designed with 9.22r in mind and will be labeled "made in the USA". Either way, you keep your receipts. FAL and AK builders do it all the time.

 

[benEzra]

$350 is an EXCELLENT price, IMHO.

 

[elokoman]

$350 would be a very fair price for a milled AK. And yes, you can make them 922 compliant, although it seems to me they do have the angled receiver, and there was only one outfit that was making standard style AK buttstocks for the milled angled receiver, so the price may be higher than on a typical stamped receiver buttstock. I'd suggest doing some research before committing to the rifle, and figure out your costs to convert, if that is your goal. You may find you would be money ahead to buy an Arsenal AK with milled receiver. The Chinese is typically a very good rifle as it is, and a fair price.

 

[Steelcore]

$350?Go for it.Seller is full of it when he states that you can't do any thing to it.ironwood Designs has replacement wood stocks that fit this rifle.Much better gun than what is currently on the market.

 

[briang2ad]

The way I figure it...

You will spend about $80-100 on the stock set (3 pieces) and about $30-50 on the fire control group (including shipping). I'd love to run into someone who did this and took pics. Most of what I see on the web is a complete build, with not much on the FCG. So... you are out about $150 at the most. Altogether $470-500 for your 'build'. Probably a little less than a stamped Arsenal, but you don't have a bayonet lig - oh no! Don't quote me on parts numbers required, but I THINK this will do it.

BUT - I have hears the reinstalation of the FCG with the issue shepards crook is tricky. Thus, I have delayed making my Hungarian SA 85 'right'.

Is the FCG install easy??? Instructions?

 

[JA]

Due to the shape of the rear of the receiver you are limited to the wood stock sets made by http://ironwooddesigns.com/2aprod/1zAKproduct.html
As you can see from the pics on their website of the milled MAK-90 receiver and the stock set for it uses a bolt and T-nut to hold it onto the receiver.
The handguards count as 1 part so the stock set counts as 3 parts. With a milled receiver rifle you need 4 US made parts to comply with 922r. So the cheapest/easist way to get the other part needed would be to buy some of these to replace that part in your magazines.
http://www.tapco.com/product_information.asp?number=MAG0605&back=yes&dept=15&last=39

 

[chopinbloc]

get it.

 

[c_yeager]

$350 is an excellent price for a milled mak-90. Before you commit to making it 922 compliant you might consider working with the existing stock a bit. You can shave off a lot of wood and end up with something that is pretty darn comfortable (you need it as a thumbhole stock though I believe). Some Mak-90s have triggers that are superior to aftermarket options, it would be a shame to lose that just for looks.

 

[rbernie]

The trigger was long and creepy, but light; I could easily live with it as-is. Would replacing the furniture with a Ironwood buttstock cause me to have to swap out the FCG for some reason or another? Could I use a SAW-style AK pistol grip with the MAK-90? Can I use a Ultimak gas tube rail on this thing?

Y'all are making me want to buy this thing....

 

[clange]

My MAK-90 had more trigger slap than my SAR-1, so they dont always have good triggers. The G2 gives a very nice trigger pull anyway.

but you don't have a bayonet lig - oh no!

or a threaded muzzle, or a hole in the FSB for a detent pin, or provisions for a cleaning rod, etc.

Theres more missing from a MAK than just a bayo lug.

Some people dont care about that stuff, I did. I had a stamped MAK-90 for a few months and went nuts trying to figure out how to add everything I wanted. I finally just decided to sell it and get something else. I bought it for $365, sold it for $420, and bought a SAR-1 at the same show for $325. So for less money I had an AK already in pistol grip configuration, with an optics rail, cleaning rod, a threadable barrel, and hole for the detent pin to easily add a slant brake.

Now, the MAKs have better fit and finish than many AKs, but it you want one in pre-ban configuration, it can be an expensive road to take.

The trigger was long and creepy, but light; I could easily live with it as-is. Would replacing the furniture with a Ironwood buttstock cause me to have to swap out the FCG for some reason or another?

To change it to a pistol grip configuration, it has to be 'US made'. This means no more than 10 imported parts. If you replace the stock set with an ironwood set that will be three parts. You'll still need more, and most people swap out the FCG.

Could I use a SAW-style AK pistol grip with the MAK-90? Can I use a Ultimak gas tube rail on this thing?

Dunno about the SAW grip, but I would think it would work. The ultimak would have to be the version with the gas holes, and it might be slightly too long (if its like the russians, the milled rifles had gas tubes that were very slightly shorter). If so, all you'd have to do is file the tube down some where it meets the gas block..

 

[georgeduz]

i hate aks because they are cheep junk,and are not worth a damm passed 200 yards,they should bann the sale of them ,and everyone should own a ar15,to all the ak lovers i wish u all to go away,and to all the ar lovers i wish u a merry xmass.

 

[clange]

Are all 69 of your posts AK bashing? I cant remember ever seeing a cognizant thought next to your name..

 

[Onmilo]

I used to sell MAK 90s when I was running my own shop.

Only problem with your desire to add new furniture is that everyone I sold had the rear of the receiver milled at an angle so if someone attempted to replace the thumbhole stock with standard furniture there would be an unsightly gap at the point where the wood and the steel met.

Someone was making a filler block that allowed one to use regular AK furniture but I am not sure if it is still being made and can't remember who exactly was producing the part.

I had the opportunity to shoot a couple of these rifles and they were, and still are, the most accurate AKs I have ever fired, before or since.

They are a great buy in my book, even with the thumbhole stock.