Building an AK

[Jenrick]

Not sure if this is the right forum, so mods please move if I'm wrong.

Myself and a co-worker are interested in building AK's from kits. Now having done some looking around on line, it appears as though substantial cost savings can be had from using an unbent flat, that is then bent into the receiver using a jig/press.

Some of the questions I've got:

1) Is the cost savings worth it to bend the flat? Or is it better to just get a receiver and put the AK together just like an AR at least for the first one?

2) As kits no longer come with barrels, is it possible to get a barrel and already headspaced bolt? I've looked on line and hadn't found one yet.

3) Overall how difficult is this going to be? We're both mechanically inclined and have alot of tools between the two of us. Is this something that after it's done you're probably not going to do again, or is it like building an AR?

-Jenrick

 

[gunlocators1]

Its not going to be as easy as a AR Build and I would recommend buy receivers already bent unless you plan to build several. Just my .02

 

[nalioth]

Myself and a co-worker are interested in building AK's from kits. Now having done some looking around on line, it appears as though substantial cost savings can be had from using an unbent flat, that is then bent into the receiver using a jig/press.

1) Is the cost savings worth it to bend the flat? Or is it better to just get a receiver and put the AK together just like an AR at least for the first one?

How much is your time worth? How long is your homebent receiver gonna last? $55 is pretty inexpensive for a receiver, considering you'll be buying more than one flat, the bending jig, etc.

2) As kits no longer come with barrels, is it possible to get a barrel and already headspaced bolt? I've looked on line and hadn't found one yet.

Nope, you'll need to headspace whatever you manage to gather up, unless you get lucky and buy a kit with it's original barrel.

 

[grsjax]

Unless you are going to bend several flats it isn't worth it to buy a jig. However there is a way to bend a flat without a jig. You can find the writeup on the web. The only real advantage to bending your own is that there is no paper trail and you get the satisfaction of doing it yourself. Now that you have to buy a new barrel the cost of building your own isn't that much lower than buying a finished rifle. Still it can be fun and as I send there is a lot of satisfaction in doing it yourself.

 

[Geneseo1911]

Jenrick, where are you finding kits? I was considering this as well, but all the kits I found were nearly as costly as a built WASR. It didn't seem worth it to me unless I could save a significant amount of money in exchange for my time.

 

[rcmodel]

+1
The good kits are already history.

By the time you buy a poor quality kit, and a U.S. barrel, and the compliance parts, and necessary tools.

You can buy one ready to roll much cheaper & of higher quality.

Those "Kit building" glory days ended a couple three years ago when the real good cheap kits with commie barrels ran out!

rcmodel

 

[Sam1911]

I've built a few with 100% receivers and one I bent from a flat (with the "best" jig available).

You can make a serviceable AK in your garage, starting with a flat. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, though, your chances of it coming out looking professional and "good" are a lot lower than if you start with a finished receiver.

If you are very experienced with sheet metal work and have lots of cool tools, you might be able to do a real slick job. If you are going at this as a novice, you get to prove to yourself just how rough an AK can be and still work! Remember, you'll have to bend it to shape, then bend in the upper rails (which usually get bashed over with a hammer...), install the spacer rivet, cut and file notches for the bolt and carrier, heat treat the axis pin holes, probably ream the holes, too, spot weld the lower rails in (got a spot welder and the custom tongs to snake inside the rails, right?) or rivet (again, ) -- and then bend, twist, and flex the receiver around again to try to get it all straight and parallel. When it's all together you'll probably want to spend a bit of time with a file taking the worst of the hammer dings out of those top rails so the bolt carrier rides smoothly... It is a dishearteningly rough-shod experience if you're trying to produce a gun to be proud of. As an exercise, though, it is quite informative and fun.

Used to be you could get Romanian "G" kits for $80, bang together a flat and have yourself a working beater gun for about $150 (and it only costs that much because of the 922r compliance parts!). Seeing as that is no longer the case, it seems reasonable to skip the bargain basement route -- unless you really care to have an "unpapered" gun. Which is valid, of course.

if you get yourself a nice kit, spend the cash for a Nodakspud receiver (a 1 or a 2...don't scrimp and get the 3).

I actually got most of the way through a build up of an awesome Bulgy AKS-74 kit on a flat and then finally looked at it and said, "NO WAY. This gun should be perfect!" and stripped it all the way back down again. It got rebuilt on a Nodakspud 2 receiver and is just SMOKIN'!

Just my opinion, but I have been there and done that.

This isn't a HARD job, and I've done it in a garage, in a couple of afternoons, with nothing but hand tools. (Those ball-pein hammered rivets look...great. ) I've had a lot more rewarding experience doing it in a shop with a press, drill press, (mill was nice!), and some good vices and jigs ready to go. That AKS-74 went from a pile of parts to functioning in about 2.5 hours. Make sure you've read a few of the tutorials several times and that you have the specialized tools (or modified tools in some cases) that you'll need.

As far as addictiveness, I've built a few, I have some friends who have each built 10-20+. It is a LOT of fun! But you're climbing on the bandwagon a bit after the parade has ended. :banghead: I would still do it if you can, but don't expect to get a truly cheap gun. It is worth it for the experience but not a screaming bargain.

If you do it, post pics!

-Sam

 

[Saabman]

A Big Plus One on the nodakspud reciver. bending is a pain unless you can hook up with some other builder in your area to do the bending on hisd jig and use his spot welder for the rails and his torch for the heat treating of axis pin holes. check th AK forum they have a builders section. good luck it to bad you got into late. The Polish underfolders they were selling were brand new guns just de-milled and for $250 bucks each!! why didnt I buy a few for a rainy day!!!?????