DRACO Question

[Skinsanity]

I am thinking of getting one of the DRACO ak-47 romanian pistols...My question is...If I Weld on a "muzzle brake" that brings the barrel to 16inches, can I add a buttstock to it? Im not sure since this is classifed as a pistol...I know you cant have a barrel shortaer than 16 on a rifle and you cant put a stock on a pistol...so effectively I want to turn the pistol into a rifle...please advise

 

[Rail Driver]

It would be cheaper to buy a 16" Romy Cugir AK than to buy a Draco, a 5" brake and have it welded on (properly and straight so as to avoid the bullets striking the brake and causing injury or death).

 

[Girodin]

It would be cheaper to buy a 16" Romy Cugir AK than to buy a Draco, a 5" brake and have it welded on (properly and straight so as to avoid the bullets striking the brake and causing injury or death).

That depends on the brake and who does the install. Some folks can easily tackle that themselves. A draco can be had for 325 ish. The rifles that I've seen are more like 375 ish. Also the OP may have a draco and or brake on hand already. While if I was starting from scratch I would simply buy a rifle you do not know enough facts to advise if that is the cheapest route for the OP.

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[Sam1911]

If you can find the proper brake, then absolutely you can do what you're wanting to do. The brake will have to be permanently installed (according to the ATF's guidelines) but then you could add your buttstock so long as the total length of the barrel was now 16"+.

From the BATFE's point of view, once you add that butt stock, your pistol is now a rifle. You cannot go back to the previous configuration without making a "firearm made from a rifle" which is one of the definitions of a Title II SBR, but if you're welding on a flash hider, you couldn't anyway.

 

[Skinsanity]

Thanks Gentlemen, thats what I needed to know...I do have the Draco on hand...Just need to find a 4-5" flash hider for it..The install is easy, barrel is threaded, I have a brake on it now but its only a standard one... I just thought this would make a great little rifle

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

You are forgetting 922(r).

A draco pistol is not subject to 922(r) when it is imported since it is a pistol. However, if you convert one into a rifle you need to watch your parts count and make sure you are compliant.

 

[Skinsanity]

Well, I figured since the break wouldnt count as it will be welded on...It has a tapco trigger group already, if I add a U.S. made stock and pistol grip I should be well within compliance

 

[zoom6zoom]

Not sure how you'd attach a buttstock without changing the rear trunnion.

 

[Rail Driver]

The rear trunion could be drilled and tapped for the Tromix modular stock mount, I think.

you do not know enough facts to advise if that is the cheapest route for the OP.

I simply advised based on what the op posted, not on possible situations. To answer the question specifically since I didn't answer directly before: Yes, if you weld a brake on that makes the length of the barrel 16" or greater, you can mount a stock (as long as the overall length of the firearm exceeds 26") on a draco pistol. However, if you are starting from scratch and do not already have a draco pistol, it is cheaper to buy an ak instead unless you can find a 5"+ AK brake for less than $30. The relevant part of the original post is quoted below:

I am thinking of getting one of the DRACO ak-47 romanian pistols...

That implies that the OP didn't have one at the time of posting, at least with my understanding of American English grammar.

 

[Skinsanity]

Rail...yes I worded that wrong and I didnt....I have one that I can get from a friend for real damn cheap...200 bucks...which I am going to get, cant pass it up...so I dont OWN it...but its mine...LOL

 

[Rail Driver]

In that case go for it. If it were my project I'd make sure there are plenty of vents along the length of the brake. I'm not sure how dwell time would affect the operation of the short pistol length gas system with a long brake/barrel, but I've heard of similar issues.

 

[mark16443]

another option is to just get the $200 forms and make it an sbr

 

[nalioth]

It would be cheaper to buy a 16" Romy Cugir AK than to buy a Draco, a 5" brake and have it welded on (properly and straight so as to avoid the bullets striking the brake and causing injury or death).

If the muzzle device was machined correctly, I don't see any issues with "bullet strikes".
The muzzle is threaded by the factory, and any muzzle device would simply be threaded on and permanently attached.

 

[Ian]

Before you put any money into a buttstock, take a look at what rear trunnion is actually in the Draco. I've seen some that actually had an underfolder rear trunnion - you could drill a hole for the main pivot and add an underfolder stock to one of those with very little trouble.

 

[wally]

I've seen some that actually had an underfolder rear trunnion - you could drill a hole for the main pivot and add an underfolder stock to one of those with very little trouble.

All that I've looked at had the underfolder trunnion. Changing the trunnion looks to be a PITA, but in addition to drilling the holes for the pivot, you'd have to mill the "ears" for the locking tabs for the underfolder.

I've submitted my SBR paperwork and am debating the best rear stock setup. I've already cut down an Ultimak gas tube rail and am re-finishing the lower hand guard today. I looked at a fair number of Draco to find one with decent wood up front.

Easiest looks like using a CZ-58 side folder and drilling & tapping the rear trunnion and filing the index notch. Using a slightly longer bolt and a lock nut should help.

My preference would be to put in a standard trunnion and use the Tantal/Romanian side folder as I get the best fit with these of all the AK stocks.

Underfolders are my least favorite, but it'd probably be the second easiest option.