New AK-74 Clone, Waffen Werks
- Thread starter Cosmoline
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WardenWolf
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It's not as bad as you might think. You can either buy a Valmet buffer or install a piece of door molding on the leading edge of the dust cover. Either works, and keeps the brass reusable. It also helps to temper the insane ejection.
I honestly wouldn't even put the Mini-14 / 30 in the running. Their accuracy is worse than low-end AKs and don't accessorize nearly as well as either the AK or AR. But comparing AKs to ARs, the accuracy difference doesn't really matter anymore, as modern AKs are in the same range as a good AR, and more than accurate enough out to the maximum effective range of the rounds they fire.
I honestly wouldn't even put the Mini-14 / 30 in the running. Their accuracy is worse than low-end AKs and don't accessorize nearly as well as either the AK or AR. But comparing AKs to ARs, the accuracy difference doesn't really matter anymore, as modern AKs are in the same range as a good AR, and more than accurate enough out to the maximum effective range of the rounds they fire.
Thanks Warden, I doubt I'll be reloading x39 any time soon but the option to do so is part of my decision making. If all it takes is a simple mod, no biggie.
It has come down to caliber at this point, and x39 > .223 (cheaper and more effective under 50 yards).
It has come down to caliber at this point, and x39 > .223 (cheaper and more effective under 50 yards).
WardenWolf
member
Check out the PRVI Partizan roundnose soft point in 7.62x39. Just an evil round with a huge amount of exposed lead. It's basically a .30-30 bullet.
Devonai
Member
Get out of here, Stalker. We don't want your kind here.
Devonai
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Oops, that comment was meant for Cosmoline, no offense intended.
Cosmoline
Member
FYI, it's a Ukranian video game (heavy with AK-74's) that has some odd translation issues, so one fellow will tell you "get out of here" and another promptly tells you to come in.
Devonai
Member
Not to mention the fact that some NPCs will spout off dialogue as if you're just standing there, even if you're already having a conversation.
"What are you, a statue? If you've got something, spill the beans, if not, take a hike!"
Still a great series, especially the first and third games.
"What are you, a statue? If you've got something, spill the beans, if not, take a hike!"
Still a great series, especially the first and third games.
Dave Markowitz
Member
Cool rifle, Cosmoline. I picked up a Century NDS-2 AK-74 a couple years ago and it's a nice rifle. The OEM furniture was crap so I replaced it with a fixed stock and handguards from K-Var. I'm using an old USGI GP strap for a sling. The Russians use a sling strictly as a carrying strap AFAIK. Shooting with a sling on a military rifle seems to be an American technique AIUI.
If you want you can get a flash hider to replace the muzzle brake. That'll reduce the muzzle blast. It should take one with 24mm threads.
The NDS-2 makes me wish I'd gotten into '74s back when the surplus mags were ~$5 a pop. I at least managed to get a case of Russian milsurp ammo (2180 rounds) for about $150 shipped from AIM. I haven't tapped into it yet, having only shot some Silver Bear so far.
Re cleaning AKs: If shooting non-corrosive ammo, the easiest way is to field strip it, then hose everything down with WD-40 or M-Pro7, then wipe clean and relube. If shooting corrosive ammo like the milsurp, use M-Pro7, which is water based and will take care of the corrosive residue. As you noted, a Boresnake works OK to clean the bore if you don't have a properly sized cleaning rod. IIRC, I was able to use a regular .22 caliber rod in mine, though.
If you want you can get a flash hider to replace the muzzle brake. That'll reduce the muzzle blast. It should take one with 24mm threads.
The NDS-2 makes me wish I'd gotten into '74s back when the surplus mags were ~$5 a pop. I at least managed to get a case of Russian milsurp ammo (2180 rounds) for about $150 shipped from AIM. I haven't tapped into it yet, having only shot some Silver Bear so far.
Re cleaning AKs: If shooting non-corrosive ammo, the easiest way is to field strip it, then hose everything down with WD-40 or M-Pro7, then wipe clean and relube. If shooting corrosive ammo like the milsurp, use M-Pro7, which is water based and will take care of the corrosive residue. As you noted, a Boresnake works OK to clean the bore if you don't have a properly sized cleaning rod. IIRC, I was able to use a regular .22 caliber rod in mine, though.
Cosmoline
Member
I haven't been lubing this with anything. Are you supposed to lube them?
WardenWolf
member
I use Breakfree CLP on all my guns. Normally I oil the rails where the carrier rides, as well as the bolt shaft. The trigger group contact surfaces can also get a spot of oil.
For a typical cleaning, I'll boresnake the barrel with solvent on the head of the boresnake, and wipe the bolt and piston head. That's really it.
Normally I don't clean the gas tube except when it really needs it; if you don't shoot corrosive, you'll pretty much never need to. Otherwise you'll have to do it for every range trip, and you'll spend more on cleaning supplies than you'll save over buying bulk non-corrosive commercial spam cans. It gets horribly nasty. For cleaning the gas tube, I recommend a 20-gauge boresnake. Put solvent on the head of the snake like normal, and pull it through. Then detail clean with patches.
As I said before, don't shoot corrosive ammo. It's a false savings due to the amount of effort you have to put in cleaning. You burn so many patches and so much solvent that it more than offsets the cost of cleaning supplies. Instead of taking less than 5 minutes, your cleaning job winds up taking over an hour.
For a typical cleaning, I'll boresnake the barrel with solvent on the head of the boresnake, and wipe the bolt and piston head. That's really it.
Normally I don't clean the gas tube except when it really needs it; if you don't shoot corrosive, you'll pretty much never need to. Otherwise you'll have to do it for every range trip, and you'll spend more on cleaning supplies than you'll save over buying bulk non-corrosive commercial spam cans. It gets horribly nasty. For cleaning the gas tube, I recommend a 20-gauge boresnake. Put solvent on the head of the snake like normal, and pull it through. Then detail clean with patches.
As I said before, don't shoot corrosive ammo. It's a false savings due to the amount of effort you have to put in cleaning. You burn so many patches and so much solvent that it more than offsets the cost of cleaning supplies. Instead of taking less than 5 minutes, your cleaning job winds up taking over an hour.
I shoot 7N6 alot. I have for awhile. Prior to regular Hoppes cleaning, I rinse the barrel and bolt assembly with hot water. Doesn't cost any more $ to clean, only a few more minutes. I don't use any special cleaning tools. All my 5.45x39 pieces run well. The cheap ammo was what lead me to this round. There is nothing wrong with spam can 5.45.
Dave Markowitz
Member
It's a machine, it should be lubricated. Even the Russian military says so, and they would know. Any old gun oil will work. Automatic transmission fluid is cheap and makes a very good gun oil.
That's silly. Use a good solvent, let it soak and do a lot of the work for you, and then clean it. Back in the 80s and 90s when I shot a lot of corrosively primed Chicom 7.62x39 I used plain old Hoppe's No.9 with good results. MPro-7 works even better and is odorless, to boot.
Or you could do like one AK-74 shooter at my club: after shooting dunk the rifle in a creek, then hose it down with WD-40.
Cosmoline
Member
What parts are you lubing on yours? With AK's I've long just used CLP, and no heavier grease whatsoever, on the theory that it just attracts crud.
1KPerDay
Member
LOL
I paid 12 cents a pop shipped for 8K 7n6 last winter. IF you can find any Wolf/Silver Bear/Whatever non-corrosive 5.45, it's... what... .30-.40 per now? If you're lucky?
Yeah, I'll take the extra minute or two to spray some windex/water first.
Cosmo, I use Lubriplate on mine. I pretty much run grease on everything now. Just where it needs it.
1KPerDay
Member
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8u5gUem55U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcFKCTfKENc
for those interested, a couple perspectives on cleaning after corrosive ammo.
Rifle Dynamics opinion on lubing AKs... this is what I do.
http://youtu.be/WSjE_nEFa0c?t=1m30s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcFKCTfKENc
for those interested, a couple perspectives on cleaning after corrosive ammo.
Rifle Dynamics opinion on lubing AKs... this is what I do.
http://youtu.be/WSjE_nEFa0c?t=1m30s
FIVETWOSEVEN
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I've never seen any cases being damaged with my Tantal, they are steel cased but still.
InkEd
Member
I think the Saigas with the problems are the ones Century has been slapping together during the panic.
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