goatman54
Member
I would appreciate any opinions on using the TAPCO retainer wire vs retainer plate sold by Midway. Advantages or disadvantages ? Which is easier to install ? On my Yugo M-70, AK-47.
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ak-Tapco retaining wire vs plate.
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Flyincedar
Member
The wires get difficult to install correctly. The plates are super easy, and hold as well as anything. We use the plates in all shop builds, to include full auto builds. No issues ever
I prefer the plates over the wires. In fact, I stock the plates and replace the wires in all AK type rifles when we do a refinish at no charge to the customer. The wires have been called "Shepherds Hooks" but in my shop, they were called many other things.....all unprintable and usually preceeded by a scream of pain or rage or both. I either stab myself or scratch the new finish or both. The plates are so much easier. Keep yer powder dry, Mac.
Tuff-Gun Finishes. The Name Says It All.
Mac's Shootin' Irons
http://www.shootiniron.com
Tuff-Gun Finishes. The Name Says It All.
Mac's Shootin' Irons
http://www.shootiniron.com
dfariswheel
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- Dec 26, 2002
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The plates are easy to use, but there are some questions and cautions.
Question is, why would you need the plate unless you plan on constantly disassembling the trigger unit, which is totally unnecessary.
The caution is that many of the plates will allow the pins to rotate, and this can wear receiver holes egg-shaped.
The wire is an "elegant solution" to the problem of retaining the pins and preventing them from rotating.
The wire is simple, foolproof and inexpensive. Once installed it gives no trouble for the life of the rifle.
Question is, why would you need the plate unless you plan on constantly disassembling the trigger unit, which is totally unnecessary.
The caution is that many of the plates will allow the pins to rotate, and this can wear receiver holes egg-shaped.
The wire is an "elegant solution" to the problem of retaining the pins and preventing them from rotating.
The wire is simple, foolproof and inexpensive. Once installed it gives no trouble for the life of the rifle.
The shepards hook came with my Bulgarian AK74, but I used the Tapco plate. I found a webpage with diagrams of of how to install the various versions of shepards hooks, it seemed that the 74 required the third pin that is used in the FA trigger group. Is that right? The long end was anchored by I think the rate reducer? Not sure about the terms, not a whole lot of info about FA triggers, at least that I've found.
Flyincedar
Member
. Your 74 should not have a third pin. If it even has the hole, it is legally a machine gun, and needs destroyed. Unless of course you are licensed to manufacture NFA firearms. Even a hole that is plugged, is still a hole. Once a machine gun, always a machine gun until destroyed. You dont even need any FA parts. If it has the hole, thats all it takes.
A 74 should be no different than a 47 using that plate. If you are looking at the coiled spring with a long tail, that is the auto sear spring, and the tail functions as the wire to lock in the pins. That is not the one that you use in your 74, unless it is full auto.
A 74 should be no different than a 47 using that plate. If you are looking at the coiled spring with a long tail, that is the auto sear spring, and the tail functions as the wire to lock in the pins. That is not the one that you use in your 74, unless it is full auto.
Unistat
Member
All I can say is that after struggling for 20-30 minutes with my "Shepherds' Hook" on my Saiga conversion, I began to wish I had spent the $8 on the plate.
Finally got the sucker in though.
Finally got the sucker in though.
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