Draco SBR Review

[plouffedaddy]

When I first saw the Draco AK, I (drooled a little) instantly ordered one. At the time, they were selling for under $300 so it seemed like a no-brainer for me. I took it out to the range in pistol configuration, got annoyed trying to use a sling to stabilize the gun, came home and mailed off my Form 1 to the BAFTE. Approximately 6 months later, it came back and I got to work.

I move a lot for work so the possibility to live in a SBR unfriendly state is real so I didn't want to permanently modify the rifle. That led me to www.usmachinegun.com and their Draco stock adaptor. Slapped one on, added the Midwest Industries rail, Burris Fastfire II, then finally a brake and I was in business. I also re-finished the rifle in Brownells Alumahyde II Flat Black which is holding up extremely well and looks much better than the original Romanian finish.

Here's a quick summary of the pros and cons:

Pros:
-Chrome lined barrel
-Built in a com-bloc factory
-100% reliable
-12'' barrel loses very little velocity vs. 16'' barrel (approximately 150-200fps)
-It's imported as a pistol so it's not subject to 922r
-Common 14x1 thread pattern means there's a lot of aftermarket brakes/comps availible
-It handles very well in SBR configuration (balances well)
-Standard AK handguard size
-Came covered in cosmoline which protects the rifle
-I like the cover on the front site post vs the more standard open top style
-Mag well isn't too loose nor is it too tight
-Price––Even with the inflated prices of Dracos these days, you can still have a quality SBR for under $1,000

Cons:
-Factory finish is garbage
-The factor wood is rough and unfinished
-Shooting it in pistol form is fun but follow ups are slowed the lack of a stock
-US law requires doing the NFA dance to run the rifle in its' optimal form
-Muzzle nut is welded on (easily ground off, but it's something to point out)

Here's a video of some shooting from 15m, 40m, and 75m followed by a quick tabletop review of the rifle and accessories, and a chronograph test:

Draco Review Video Link

Chrono results:

Golden Tiger 124gr FMJ: 2261fps, 1407 ft/lbs energy

 

[Brockak47]

I've seen your draco SBR on the NFA picture thread too I believe, and wow everytime I see it. It makes me really want to do the whole SBR dance. I love how it looks exactly in the configuration. Maybe its the black and white photo, but wow, and I don't even like non traditional AK's so to speak. I am more of a wood on my AK guy. Like I said though something about yours is absolutely awesome looking, I bet it shoots like a fun dream

 

[Mp7]

Pretty neat.

 

[Sam1911]

-It's imported as a pistol so it's not subject to 922r

From a previous post elsewhere:

Fed 922r only applies to imported semi-auto rifles and imported shotguns.
Since the Draco is an imported semi-auto pistol, Fed 922r does ont apply to it.

Just to throw a monkey wrench into that very true statement: ...922(r) does not apply to it UNTIL you spend your $200 and SBR it.

Used to be the BATFE allowed it to be assumed that a Title II registered evil short-barreled rifle was exempt from having to meet any further sporting requirements, but in the last few years that has been changed. At this point you are supposed to make your new SBR 922(r) compliant ... for whatever reason.

 

[Sam1911]

The most recent letter on the matter dates from 2009:

 

[Sam Cade]

How long is the barrel including that gigantic brake?

 

[Girodin]

IIRC the draco is 11.5". Those style of brakes are about 3.25". Which means you are real close to a 16" barrel. Those brakes are very heavy. They tend to shoot a lot of flame out forwards as well. I love the look, but for the above reasons decided against using one on my draco.

 

[plouffedaddy]

Good info Sam. What I meant was that when it's imported it doesn't have to be cut up or have a bunch of parts swapped out like their rifle brethren.

 

[plouffedaddy]

I love the look, but for the above reasons decided against using one on my draco.

You brought up a lot of valid points there. As I stated in the video, I'm currently trying out a bunch of brakes (which is why the video shows it with the phantom brake). I like the way the Bulgy comp directs the sound away from the shooter but the length is the tradeoff... I like the Krebs A2 flash hider I used at the beginning of the video as well but it's certainly a lot louder.


Decisions, decisions.....

 

[Sam1911]

What I meant was that when it's imported it doesn't have to be cut up...

That's because it wasn't ever a full auto weapon, but a semi-auto version created for the US commercial market. (Very much like a Saiga AK rifle.)

... or have a bunch of parts swapped out like their rifle brethren.

Because it is imported as a pistol, exempt from 922(r), as you said.

For whatever reason, in 2009 one ATF technical analyst decided to reverse the previous interpretation to say that SBR-ing the "pistol" is creating a rifle (which it is, by law) and so you're creating a non-importable version. Thus has to be "US-made," meaning swapping bits to meet the "parts count."

I actually don't envy the BATFE tech branch at all in some of this. Interpreting the terribly awkwardly and inaptly written federal firearms laws is a real nightmare -- sort of a textual game of pick-up-sticks where things are interconnected in illogical and counter-productive ways -- and the decisions that strict interpretation forces them to render must leave them feeling like embarrassed apologists for some really artificial and superficial rules that no one would even pretend will make any dent in crime or violence.

Of course, having to put someone in jail for 10 years because their shotgun barrel is 1/4" shorter than it was supposed to be would make it a bit difficult for me to sleep, as well, so I guess 922(r) stuff is probably small potatoes by comparison.

 

[Girodin]

I have an A2 on mine right now. It does a lot for the flash. I do like how the 4 piece and the KX3 style brakes direct blast but they are big and heavy. The two I am going to try are the vortex for a flash hider, I have one on my AR and it is very effective, and a battlecomp. The battle comp gives advantages of a comp with out the dramatic increase in flash and blast that some muzzle devices do.

I also am thinking about getting one of these:

View attachment 629285

Its a Kestrel 7.62. It is cheap enough to give a try, roughly $600 with the stamp.