Building my own AK

[akbuilder21]

Hey guys. I've been prowling around on these forums for a few weeks but havn't bothered to register till now. I've started my own AK project but there are some things I need to ask first. My local gunsmith is helping me but I figure I may as weel learn a few things now.

Here goes:

1. I know the basics, but let's say I build on a milled reciever. Would it be possible for me to swap in a stamped reciever? Are all parts interchangeable with milled and stamped?

2. Can I use non-chrome lined (for financial reasons) or chrome lined barrels? For instance have a spare and switch the barrels?

3. I noticed another users post about Aks and checked out the C-39 Tactical Sporting Model on Centerfiresystems. Would that be a workable gun? I read that it is USA made - does this mean no eextra parts from other kits would be compatible?

 

[nalioth]

Welcome to THR

1. I know the basics, but let's say I build on a milled reciever. Would it be possible for me to swap in a stamped reciever? Are all parts interchangeable with milled and stamped?

No. Critical parts required for use with the stamped receiver are integral with the milled receiver.

2. Can I use non-chrome lined (for financial reasons) or chrome lined barrels? For instance have a spare and switch the barrels?

You won't be switching barrels willy-nilly. It requires a pretty much complete teardown of the rifle.

3. I noticed another users post about Aks and checked out the C-39 Tactical Sporting Model on Centerfiresystems. Would that be a workable gun? I read that it is USA made - does this mean no eextra parts from other kits would be compatible?

You should look up "Century Arms". In the AK field, "US made" isn't something you should look for.

 

[Sam1911]

Nalioth has it right.

The stamped AKM and its descendants require some solid blocks (trunnions) that get riveted into the sheet-metal shell to support the barrel, stock, etc. In a milled receiver, those parts are all one with the receiver itself.

Pick a barrel. You aren't going to be swapping them.

You seem to be thinking of an AK as a "tinker-toy" gun like an AR where you can easily unscrew just about any part and swap in another in 5 minutes. AKs aren't like that. You can swap grips, stocks (to a degree) and small bits pretty easily, but you really don't want to be stripping it down into its component parts again after you've got it built.

There are some "American made" guns. (Though which parts exactly are truly American made seems to be in dispute.) But there don't seem to be any good reasons to want to buy one.

 

[ElPasoWrangler]

I built one and it was an interesting learning experience but not planning on doing another.

 

[GunTech]

What sort of rivet tool did you use on your build?

 

[Sam1911]

What sort of rivet tool did you use on your build?

I've done them a number of ways. The most fun was a hammer, rivet punch, and bucking block. The cleanest looking were done in a press. Some of them pretty much have to be done with the tried-and-true "rivet-squeezer" made from large bolt-cutters.