AK47: Upgrade muzzle brake/flash suppressor & staying 922(r) compliant

[ServiceSoon]

I recently purchased this Vector ARms Classic rifle and I have 2 questions for you AK47 pros. It currently has a slanted muzzle brake.
1) What flash suppressor would you suggest
2) How do I determine the country of origin for the various parts so I can stay 922(r) compliant
Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[Kino74]

Typically US made parts will have US stamped on them althought that is not always the case particularly with flash hiders/muzzle brakes.

Contact Vector Arms and they'll tell you. I hear good things about them and their rifles.

 

[Sam1911]

Well, if it was sold to you in that configuration, the chances are pretty darned good that you already have your compliance parts squared away. 922r applies to commercial builders as well as us home-build types. The receiver can't be drilled for the third axis pin, so that's going to be an American part, no doubt. The FCG will have to be all semi-auto -- probably the G2 trigger/hammer/disconnector arrangement. That's three more parts. You might find that there is a mark on the gas piston as that's another super-easy swap. And maybe the pistol grip (pull it off and look for a mark on the inside/top). At the very least, as long as the muzzle device you buy is USA made, then you won't be making the situation worse!

As to what to put on there? The slant brake, definitely. It's what looks right and functions well. If you want to change to some other muzzle device, at least bubba the gun up first with some plastic stocks and optics rails!

-Sam

 

[nalioth]

Contact Vector Arms and they'll tell you. I hear good things about them and their rifles.

A logical suggestion, but Vector went under several months ago.

 

[-v-]

I would personally recommend the '74 style break. Helps tame the x39 down to a .22lr. Slant break is good, '74 is better.

As others have said, chances are its already 922(r) compliant anyway, so no hassle. Still I like the '74 style break.

 

[RP88]

going from memory, the 74-brake makes a great difference. Had the chance to shoot a converted 103-cloned Saiga. The recoil compared to my basic converted Saiga is much lower. Makes a great difference and looks really cool.

 

[heron]

The compliance part in question is listed in 922r as simply "muzzle attachment." Since the rifle already came with one, you can swap that for anything else you like, but I'd go with US made just to be sure.

 

[zoom6zoom]

You might find that there is a mark on the gas piston

Perhaps, but I've never seen one so marked. US made pistons are normally non-magnetic and also not finished as smoothly as the original pistons. If a magnet sticks to your piston, it's probably original.

 

[jpwilly]

I highy recommend the AK-74 style brake over the slant. You can find these for $9.99 to $14.99 US made. That will keep you 922r compliant. If you would like to see the effectiveness of this brake watch me shoot in this video (I'm bumping from the shoulder at first then fast fire):

 

[Sam1911]

Quote:
You might find that there is a mark on the gas piston

Perhaps, but I've never seen one so marked. US made pistons are normally non-magnetic and also not finished as smoothly as the original pistons. If a magnet sticks to your piston, it's probably original.

Well, you might. The one I used on my -74 build says "Arsenal USA" on it.

But yes, it is not as smooth as the old one. Never checked with a magnet.

Gotta love this stuff. If *we* can't tell for sure where it was made, how is anyone supposed to be convicted under 922r? Can't prove it is. Can't prove is itsn't. Guess that's why no one ever goes to jail for this...

-S

 

[rbernie]

Can you use the standard AK47 bayonet over the AK74 flash hider?

 

[Sam1911]

The compliance part in question is listed in 922r as simply "muzzle attachment." Since the rifle already came with one, you can swap that for anything else you like, but I'd go with US made just to be sure.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your point here, but if the muzzle attachment in question is one of the parts count items you (or the builder) have swapped to stay legal, you could remove it entirely and be fine, or replace it with a USA made part and be fine.

Replacing it with a foreign made part would NOT be fine, however.

-Sam

 

[benEzra]

What flash suppressor would you suggest

Smith Enterprises Vortex is by far the best on the market, but pricey.


http://www.smithenterprise.com/products06.html
http://www.smithenterprise.com/spec/Vortex_AK47AKM.pdf

The YHM Phantom is also pretty good, and cheaper:

http://yankeehillmachine.com/store/muzzle.html

 

[nalioth]

I highy recommend the AK-74 style brake over the slant. You can find these for $9.99 to $14.99 US made. That will keep you 922r compliant. If you would like to see the effectiveness of this brake watch me shoot in this video (I'm bumping from the shoulder at first then fast fire

. . . and if you think that works well, you should get an accurate copy of the AK74 brake (not a high school metal shop project) and a 14x1LH to 24mm adapter.



The brakes referenced by jpwilly are only good for adding weight and a US part to your rifle. If you're happy with it, great, but an accurate copy of a '74 brake (with an expansion chamber, staggered vents, etc) is better by orders of magnitude.

 

[jpwilly]

The brakes referenced by jpwilly are only good for adding weight and a US part to your rifle. If you're happy with it, great, but an accurate copy of a '74 brake (with an expansion chamber, staggered vents, etc) is better by orders of magnitude.

Nalioth, If you think I can't tell the difference between the slant and cheap 74 style I have than you are assuming way to much. I works much better than the slant did and I'm happy with the results. Mine has the expansion chamber and 4 internal jets and two on top for controlling muzzle flip. But your are correct in say this is just an inexpesive copy of the real thing. I wonder how much better the real one is? Too bad when I was shopping for one nobody had any. But your are wrong to say that they just add weight. I've had good results with it.

 

[nalioth]

Nalioth, If you think I can't tell the difference between the slant and 74 style I have than you are assuming way to much. I works much better than the slant did and I'm happy with the results. Mine has the 4 internal jets and two on top for controlling muzzle flip.

No, I'm comparing the "$9.99 to $14.99" "AK74 style" brake you mention with an accurately copied US made AK74 brake.

Top is the "$9.99 to $14.99" "AK74 style" brake. Bottom is a real Ak74 brake.

Left is a real AK74 brake, right is the "$9.99 to $14.99" "AK74 style" brake.

There is a world of difference between them, and as I mentioned before: If you like how the cheapy brake works, you'll absolutely love what an accurate US made copy will do . . .

 

[ServiceSoon]

Ok, I get it. I will just purchase a US part so I won't have to worry about 922. As for which one to get, I will let you guys fight it out a little longer. I will order one Monday.

 

[nalioth]

As for which one to get, I will let you guys fight it out a little longer

Who's fighting? I'm educating, because some folks do not know there is a difference.

The choice is yours, as the accurately copied US made AK74 brakes cost at least 2x what the 'cheapy' does.

Both will get you a part toward 922r, if that's all you're looking for.

 

[jpwilly]

The choice is yours, as the accurately copied US made AK74 brakes cost at least 2x what the 'cheapy' does.

That's my point. If I wanted to spend that much I'd just get the J-Tac47. But I certainly feel for $10 with the ak-74 style you get a much better brake than a slant brake and a US complient part. I even have one on my Mosin project. It's tamed the beast!

 

[pmbiker]

I vote flash hider. The rifle in question doesn't have enough kick to need a muzzle brake IMO.

Nodakspud offers a long "Tabuk style" flash hider and it is very effective. Now I didn't know what a Tabuk was until I looked it up but I didn't care. I needed a long flash hider to have permanently attached to a shortened barrel Bulgarian AK.

The size of the fireball with an AMD-65 brake on there was volleyball to basketball size and very bright. The short barrel doesn't help, but the flash is much dimmer and smaller now and it's eviler too "Flash hiders are baahhdd mmm-kaaayyy"



This one has the proper 14x1 LH threading and slots for the retainer pin. Currently sold out but more being made.

 

[heron]

This might help:

http://thegunwiki.com/Gunwiki/BuildSaigaVerifyCompliance

They wrote this for Saigas but it applies to other makes as well.

No, it doesn't make sense -- my factory Saiga came with 14 of the listed parts, all foreign -- but it's still legal. If I take out the factory mag and put in a US-made mag of higher capacity, it's no longer legal, so I have to swap something (the 10+ capacity kicks in).

So, since your Vector came out of the box with a muzzle attachment, it's legal, even if the factory brake is foreign.