AKU-94, any experiences?

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Cesiumsponge

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I'm curious if anyone owns, has used, or even heard of the AKU-94 bullpup conversion for AK variants. It looks like a fun little gun to shoot and looks like it'd get some head turns at the range. The only other bullpup I'm aware of that is legal to own is the Bushmaster M17S which doesn't really have any aftermarket parts flexibility.

There's little to no information on it. I've only been able to hunt down the source for the kit (K-Var, ~$200) and most of the internet's images appears to be a duplicate of some B&W image of it. I'm not quite sure which AK variant would be the best base to build off of. I know some will voice out that they hate bullpups for X Y or Z reasons, but try to keep it to unbiased comments, suggestions, and experiences :neener:
 
Not a fan of the bullpup. I guess it would have it's uses. Like building clearing. To my mind, the AK is way too loud to be putting the action that much closer to my head. I have enough hearing problems thanks. Looks cool though.
 
The only bullpup I've seen in person was a Steyr AUG and it wasn't for rental so I have no experiences in terms of shooting one. I'll admit I'm never going to clear a building with anything, but I was considering that it might be one of those fun oddball tickets that might be worth taking to the range every now and then.
 
I've heard that they are good, but I honestly don't know that much about them, so I guess this is another wasted post. Although, if you do find out anything about them or anyone else has any good info about them, please post here so that those of us who do dig the bullpup design can cash in and perhaps buy one. I don't think that the AK design with prove too loud or hot for the bullpup design - actually, I think it will likely work quite well with the 7.62x39 round which packs a good punch without giving too much in terms of recoil. While I have never fired one, I have a feeling firing one of these will be close to firing an AMD 65.

I've fought the battle of the bullpup myself, and I still do not understand why people in this country do not like the modern bullpup design, I guess it is a fear of the fututre. I've had a lustful relationship with the Steyr AUG since I became a shooter, and hence I am open to he bullpup design, but because the AUG is a bit too expensive for me, I have never handled nor fired one - so I don't have too much experiance to back up what I *think* about the bullpup design. I still do think the the bullpup design or a mod of it is going to be the blueprint for the next generation or so of firearms.

One last note- In about a month (I'm collecting my pennies) I'm going to spend some green on a brand new (looow serial #) Norinco 86S Bullpup AK. The 86S isn't exactly a graceful design in the least, but it is a bullpup, and a collectors piece at that. When I get it and fire it I will give full write up here for the curious.
 
That's the generic B&W poorly xerox'ed looking image that has been floating around the Internet for a while. I have about 2-3 actual images of the AKU-94 and I think it looks pretty neato with the gas tube rail system and an AR-type A3 carry handle w/ optics on top or just plain optics on it.

Is there a big difference between AK variants and accuracy/durability/fit/finish? It seems some AK's can be had for a few hundred dollars while some reside around a thousand and change :banghead:

I'm someone torn that, if and only if I decided to do this, I wouldn't want to spend too little or too much on the base gun considering a large percentage of it's components will be swapped out--ie would it be detrimental if its too cheap, or no longer beneficial (overkill).
 
Care to share those images?

The more expensive AK variants will generally be a bit more accurate, smoother finished and fit, and better made- but all will be very reliable and durable
 
Bullpups are neat but they have a big trade off. The trigger and the rest of the fire control group are geographically seperated so to speak. To get them to work together a linkage must be devised. This linkage causes some pretty nasty trigger weight, stacking and general grittiness. Also, many bullpups are designed so that shooting them from the sinister is impossible unless you enjoy the ejection port being where your cheek weld is. I would not suggest a pup as your first venture into the homeland defense weapon realm, but one or half a dozen of the buggers would be cool to have at one point or another.
 
I read up on it and it seems like the trigger pull is mushy because there is a "remote" system using a rather thin wire. I am thinking that something like a milled piece of narrow metal would have more rigidity...or at least a much larger gauge of metal round/square wire. I don't know if the gas port deal would be that big an issue for me. Noisewise, if it's bad, I can double up (plugs and muffs).

Also the safety and mag latch is somewhat in a strange place. Despite that, this type of conversion seems to be tailored more towards fun than something of match-quality. There is a probably a tradeoff for everything, and not one single weapon would excel everywhere (I'd think).

Considering there isn't much information on these, someone is going to have to bite the bullet and start off with one. I just might be that guy.

As far as depending on it as my defensive weapon...I'd never do such a thing!

I've already got that covered with my modified Saiga-12 "home offense" shottie :neener: (see this thread: http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=109895)

Edit: :what:

I just found this while searching google: http://www.rifletech.com/bullpup.htm

Anyone heard or dealt with this company before? I didn't know an SKS bullpup existed

pup1.jpg
 
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Anyone heard or dealt with this company before? I didn't know an SKS bullpup existed
Click to expand...

I saw one being designed a while back, but the guy was making the stock from wood, by hand. It wasn't making much progress...

Too bad they don't list a price.

Considering their "Hi Tech" muzzle brake for the Yugo SKS is $125...
 
I played with one once. Very shoddy construction. Very cheap feeling. Horrid trigger. Crappiest ergos of any bullpup ever.

And for the record, I'm a bullpup fan.
 
I played with one once. Very shoddy construction. Very cheap feeling. Horrid trigger. Crappiest ergos of any bullpup ever.
Click to expand...

No wonder they replied to my e-mail for a price by sending me a phone number to call about it, they don't want anything in writing... :p
 
I had one and hated it. The trigger was beyond crap and the ergonomics just plain sucked. I traded it off for a S&W 457 and I believe I really came out ahead in that deal. Not worth the time or money IMHO.:barf:
 
I've handled a couple of AKU94's now. In most ways I think they're awful, but in some I think they're kind of cool.

First off the bad and there's a lot of bad. The trigger sucks. The linkage for the trigger is a long flexible wire, so you basically have a very spongy AK trigger. The sights are about 2" taller than standard AK sights, so they actually sit about 4" above the barrel. The safety and charging handle sit between your right hand and your shoulder. The pistol grip is very close to the magazine and can interfere with loading a magazine. The length of pull is just about perfect...if you're a center in the NBA.

Now for the good. IMO, they balance very well. You can hold one in your right hand without any additional support and it is very comfortable. From what I could see of them they appeared fairly solid. Now, all I've done is casually look a couple over at the local gunshop, but to me they didn't feel all cheap and crappy like those clamshell bullpups they used to sell back in the 80's and 90's.

If you're a hard core AK buff, then you might want to add one of these to your collection. I can see where one would make a fun plinker or range toy. I wouldn't even consider one as a defensive weapon however unless I had put a few hundred rounds through it first and verified it's reliability and suitability for that purpose.
 
Time stamps aside, the question about the AK bullpup kits from KVAR remains perfectly valid.

I'm a bit of an AK builder myself, and about a year ago I got the urge to build one of these bullpups.

I would never build another one, truthfully. It took a lot of modification to the parts kit to make a functional rifle, and I was ultimately never 100% happy with it.

It shot well, and balanced good, but the trigger is absolutely horrible. A previous poster addressed this, and I have to agree. The thin wire supplied with the kit is barely adequate, and also required some tweaking to actually work as designed. I was not impressed with the kit. I believe a better AK bullpup could be made.

I ended up trading off the rifle to my brother though, who just loves it. He's put hundreds of rounds through it. From time to time I'll call him up to ask "Hows the bullpup...still going?"

His answer is always an enthusiastic "Yeah, it's great, I love that thing.".

It takes all kinds I suppose.

I was not a fan. In fact, I traded him the bullpup for an AR15 lower, and feel I got the better end of the deal!

He would probably tell you the same thing though, so your mileage may vary. :)
 
Here's my AK Bullpup. I happen to love the way it feels and fires. I also own a Mac 11/9, AR15, & AR10. It's up to your comfortability with the design that will determine if this is the rifle for you. A good amount of gunsmithing is requred to get a rail system on it since it wasn't designed with it in mind. BullpupAK47.jpg
 
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