Removing front Hand stock on AK

[JTH]

I have a Norinco MAK 90. I want to replace the original sporster stock with a conventional AK stock w/ pistol grip.

All parts of stock have came off easily except the lower front hand stock covering the barrel. There is and L shaped retaining pin that moves up and down. Since it's small, I don't want to ruin the bluing on the barrel and it is difficult/impossible to get your fingers in to move the retaing pin. Any suggestions on what tool to use to move the the front bracket that the lips of the barrel stock slides into. Hope this makes sense w/o posting pics. Thanks,
JT

 

[dirtymike1]

Maybe a small shepards hook pick?

Like either of the two on the right

 

[gb0399]

I'm not familiar with that model, but on a standard AK, you rotate that pin from facing rearward to facing forward (180 degrees), and then slide the whole bracket forward on the barrel. I just did it with a plastic pen and my fingers, neither of those should leave any marks.

 

[Sam1911]

Any screwdriver-like tool that won't break while you pry it up. As gb0399 said, it rotates up and then you wiggle the whole retainer forward to free up the handguard.

Sometimes those levers are stuck pretty tight.

 

[JTH]

The front braket is on very tight. Any suggestions of a lubricant that may make it loosen up. Thanks for all your suggestion guys. When I get it finished I'll post pics.
JT

 

[Sam1911]

Kroil or Liquid Wrench penetrating oil would be the best guesses but shouldn't be necessary. You don't really want to soak the wood with that stuff.

If you're replacing the buttstock, do you have to pull the handguards too? (Just curious.)

 

[nalioth]

Keep in mind that the pin has to rotate 180°.

I use my leatherman pliers (but any needle nose pliers should do).

You can also put cardboard or something across your barrel so you don't mar it.

 

[gb0399]

This thing is a rusty old POS, but you get the picture. Notice the cut in the barrel that holds it in place, and the full 180 degree turn of the pin.

 

[JTH]

Thanks. The pics really helped.
I planning on putting a Plum color KVAR stock or if I can find a woodstock set in good condition and refinish it. The rifle came with a black composite sportster stock on it. Yes I have thought about just replacing the shoulder stock and pistol grip, since the front stock is black composite. Would be easier!
JT

 

[gb0399]

No problem, thats what this site is for. I bought a full wood set a few years back on line, but I can't remember where from. They were pretty cheap and required a little fitting, but in the end they looked real sharp.

 

[Sam1911]

You can find a very nice wooden furniture set here: http://www.ironwooddesigns.com/IWDsite/IWDAK.html

Pricey, to some folks, but about as nice as you could get.

 

[gunnutery]

Sweet, I've had this question on my mind lately and just haven't had time to open up the fore end. Thanks for posting.

 

[Hizzie]

Brownells sells an armorer's tool that is made of polymer and has a bladed screwdriver like tip on 1 end. That might work so you don't mar your finish.

 

[JTH]

As I tell my high school students "Ask questions because there are probably others that have the same question but are hesitant to ask"

Just don't call a magazine a clip as I was talked down to from a member for not knowing the proper terminology, attempting to embarass me. One needs to check the list of terms and acronyms(abbreviations) list because unless you're really into repairing/customizing weapons, it will confuse the hell out of you!
JT

 

[W.E.G.]

Tap it with a brass punch.

 

[JTH]

W.E.G.,
That's what I need especially for my SKS, to remove the upperhand gaurd is a PITA. I doubt I'll do this on my present mint Norinco SKS. If I come across a beater SKS for a real deal, I may buy it and put a Tapco after market stock set, hard to work on rifles without a good work bench.
JT

 

[Hanzerik]

You didn't say whether it is a stamped or milled receiver.

I just used a nylon brush (Green military type) and a screw driver handle to knock that little release lever out of it's detent.

Just be aware that the stamped MAK-90 is a different size when considering after-market stock kits, so you will have to fit the stock to the gun. The rear trunnion opening is slightly tighter then say a Romanian. I put a Romanian wire folding stock on mine and had to do some filing on the block to get it to fit. Plus the screw holes on the rear trunnion are not spaced the same as on most AKs; the Romanian folder would only accept one screw without modifying the trunnion...which I didn't do. Also the front hand-guard may need a little fitting. The front guards were a used OD green set I got on a gun forum.

The trick to getting the upper front guard off the gas tube is another thing; remove the gas tube assembly, squeeze the wood in the palm of your hand, grip the the tube as best you can (May need a crescent wrench to grip the flats on the rear), and twist it 180 degrees. Be careful when taking off/putting on wooden guards as they can be kind of weak and thin, but usually go on/off easier then a new polymer guard.

 

[JTH]

Hanzerick.
My Norinco MAK is a stamped receiver. It came with a black composite sportster stock. I knew that I would need to do some filing on the new stock set, especially the rear shoulder stock, to make it fit. I'll take some measurements from the original sportster rear stock and make some comparisions first. I just want to take my time so the shoulder will be centered properly. I've heard , I may have to do some adjusting to get the pistol grip to fit. I wish I had a good work bench but I don't, so my dining room table is my bench.
Thanks
JT

 

[Hanzerik]

Forgot about the pistol grip. When you order your stock set, order a longer grip screw. The original screw is about half the length of a standard screw that you will need for an after market grip. The screw block should be OK, but most of the time you can order the screw and block as a set. They are cheap so it wont cost much.

Since yours doesn't have a muzzle break, probably, you only need 5 compliance parts to do the mod to a pistol grip setup 922r leagally. The new stock set will be three. A Tapco trigger kit will cover the rest. Some folks use US made mags as compliance parts, but all i used were Chinese and European mags. Never heard of anyone getting hit up for a 922r compliance violation, but better safe then sorry.

 

[JTH]

It pays to have best friends

My MAK does have a slant muzzle brake on it. Whether it originally came this way I don't know. The rifle was a gift from my best friend from high school. He's a dentist and makes a very good living. He did some dental work on a friend that exchanged the rifle for the work. He also gave me a Remington 870Law Enforcement shotgun. He just wouldn't give me his Krink, which is a collectable and no telling how much it's worth. He has quite an arsenal of high end weapons. He moved to California, so his collection is at his moms, hidden away. We're both 57 so we have know each other since the 10th grade, so that's about 42 years give or take.

As a high school teacher, there are generally several police officers on campus and I asked them both about compliance laws. They said unless you do something illegal, with your weapons, doubtful you'll ever be asked or have your weapons examined for compliance.
JT