Painted PKM AND Tripod and self-made Optic Mount with Optic (modified w/ update on page 2)

So, one of the issues I've had with my PKM's Stepanov tripod is that being black its almost impossible to see anything on it.

So, I decided to paint it.



Base coat of sand camouflage Krylon Fusion, followed by brown camouflage Krylon Fusion and OD camouflage Krylon Fusion, using a plasic "fern" branch.

I painted two 200-round ammunition boxes (including the inside of the top).

But, notice something strange about the PKM? Besides it being a striker-fired semi-automatic built for Marcolmar Arms?



This it the only optic-equipped long arm I own without a LaRue mount. Since the worthless B&T mount wouldn't fit the Hungarian feed tray cover (the four rivets just aft of the hinge kept it from fitting). I got a spare feed tray cover from Apex Gun Parts - which had no rear sight mounted.

Using a piece of Falcon picatinny M4 hand guard rail and some JB Weld created the one-of-a-kind mount seen here (there's a bolt and nut too - but there was only one spot to do that, hence the JB Weld). Right now it sports my spare Trijicon Reflex (LaRue doesn't make a mount for that either, so it has GG&G mount).

When I put a Aimpoint T1 on by POF SBR upper, I'll replace the Reflex with a EOTech (the rail was deliberately left long to mount a PVS-14 behind the EOTech later). I'd like to put an ELCAN on it, but that's kind of pricey (though I may have found a deal on a M145).

And then I need to send one barrel to Doc at Henderson Defense to get it cut down to the gas system.

Next I'm going add a BFG M240 sling in MC. And think about painting the PKM...

you put jb weld on your $7000 gun, and are thinking of cutting it down and spray painting it?

No, reading is fundamental.

I used a separate, bought for the purpose, feed tray cover. That cost me $150. So, for $150 for a separate, bought for the purpose, feed tray cover, I now have a railed optic mount for my PKM (which was made with a piece of spare Picatinny rail and, yes, JB Weld). Its like a bought a $150 mount, except I did already (the worthless B&T one) and it was useless.

My original, unblemished, Hungarian feed tray cover is sitting in my transit box, ready to put on when I decide I want to.

And the PKM didn't cost $7K. And I have two (2) barrels. Henderson Defense professionally does this.

Here's an example (not my pictures)





Its not a safe queen. I've already shot it (a bunch). Shooting stuff is fun (and lowers the value of "collector's items").

And paint comes off.

i like it.great job.

As a Russian PKM owner, I say rock the hell on. Looks cool. It's always great to see something unique - it gets boring seeing the standard PKM look sometimes. Wish someone would work on copying the Russian side mount for the PKM. Would like to try it with a 1PN58 optic just to be insane. Well done on you customizing.

Looks like that one leg on your table is just about ready to go.

Funny, some people on this site actually use their firearms. I mean, OMG, Spray paint!?!?! What's next, fouling up the barrel with.....bullets!?!?

To the OP, paint looks great!

Thank you. Fortunately its not my table - or my picture. I borrowed those pictures from another forum (this thread) about the barrel length.

The owner of that PKM lives in Montana (one picture is particularly good).

I just noticed the "not my pictures" blurb. I remember the post now with the member that shortened one of his barrels. At any rate, looks cool. A painted rifle would definately be the bee's knees.

great idea on the scope mount - Although I'd find something better than JB weld. I'll give Apex a call.

here are mine. I did the tripod in baked on moly coat but the krylon ammo can appears to be a similar technique to that which you used.

Looks good. You molycoated the gun too?

I was actually thinking of welding / soldering, but the piece of rail is aluminum and that makes it far beyond my meager skills (Sandia National Labs can do it, but they won't return my calls).

No - Just degreased it really well and painted over the black. Half brown, half green, then lay a bunch of weeds over it and sprayed the desert tan. If I ever have to completely disassemble it, I Might moly coat it then, but as a dealer-sample machinegun, its worth little more than the parts. I kept my other one black. I'm thinking rivets on the rail.

Rivets would work. The problem with recycling the piece of Falcon rail I had was that only one of the three holes (which are designed for a M4 handguard) lined up with a good place to drill the feed tray cover. The one on the forward part was above what looked like a thicker piece of steel so I was going to drill it and tap it for the machine screw, but that piece turned out to be a stamped "u" (its hard to describe).

You obviously have a more complete shop (understatement) - I was shade-tree all the way. Kids in Peshawar would laugh at this, but it works.

well apex was closed so i'll order one tomorrow and maybe sometime this year I'll have time to try it out. I wish there were economy priced steel rails because then I could tig weld or solder it on, but going from aluminum to steel doesn't leave many options - am (brainstorming) thinking of a piece in the empty sput between your rail and the top cover - maybe replacing those rivets with longer ones going through the rail and the spacer.

I've been thinking about that too.

and here's another 9no wrong answers in brainstorming) Rivet to the rear part. So now it's too close to your face, I know, but then use a cantalever mount. Like the opposite of the gooseneck

That's funny! I got several thousand through mine. Kind of expensive just to sit and look at!

So who's got a MarcolMar semi? Has anyone any issues with them?

I got my PKT topcover from Apex (as usual, prompt, efficient service) and have a few more observations. Again, these are just brainstorming ideas as I don't have time right now to experiment.

The ejector appears beefy enough to drill & tap. A mounting piece with a clearance for the two rivet heads will make it unnecessary to un-rivet the ejector. My concern is that the hardness of the ejector will make it difficult to drill and tap. I'd have to pull one and parkerize it and look for a color variation (or just test it in different spots) to find out if it is hardened for the full length or just the front.

This back portion of the top cover would be too close to the eye IMO to mount a red dot or other optic, so it is just a platform to secure a longer rail.

There is a clear spot on middle of the top cover where the feeder-arm goes. Since the arm is bent, a rivet would fit in this crook. without affecting operation - OR tack-weld a nut there. I believe the vibration would be too great to allow for a nut that was not secured some way. Or better yet, a wider threaded plate to distribute the tension over a wider area - I know the top cover is pretty thick, but I am totally into making my stuff gorilla-proof.

I am also considering adaptability and production possibilities. Why make one when I can make 10, sell those and get mine free? So something that would be easy for the novice to install would be nice.

I am also considering the rail to be a height where an off-the-shelf rear sight could be added, such as an AR-15, that would then match the height of the front sight.

The next mounting point I am looking at is the cross-bar about 3/4 of the way forward, where there are already 2 rivets, ground flush on the inside. This looks thick enough to handle a drill and tap. The back two of the square 2/3 forward do not look suitable as the center of the underlying bar support is cut almost all the way through for feeder-arm clearance.

While it is going to be fun experimenting with this "proof of concept" PKT topcover, , it would be even nicer to come up with a unit that could be installed on a PK or PKM topcover, perhaps by only removing the rear sight.

Here are some images that others can use to come up with ideas for mounting optics. I'll post mine when I finish.

LINE DRAWINGS

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/wp/pkmrail01b.jpg

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/wp/pkmrail02b.jpg

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/wp/pkmrail03b.jpg

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/wp/pkmrail04b.jpg


PHOTOGRAPHS OF SAME

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/wp/pkmrail01.jpg

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/wp/pkmrail02.jpg

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/wp/pkmrail03.jpg

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/wp/pkmrail04.jpg

I'm currently tinkering with some ideas in which to facilitate the side mounting of any standard Soviet-style scope onto the PKM in a non-permanent way by using an extra top cover and mounting system.

Hey guys, as a bit of a selfless plug for our products, you may want to view the below video showing our patented ArmaDynamics brand quick-attach/detach M1913 "Picatinny" rail mount for the PK/PKM/PKMS/6P41 guns that we have been manufacturing and delivering to .GOV & .MIL customers for awhile under their requirement order. We are now offering them for commercial sales. If anyone is interested they are available from MarColMar Firearms, or you can contact us directly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD1rCWy86xE

-Tom H. @
Armament Dynamics Industries, LLC
CAGE Code 4V2G6
(720) 377-3900

Hey,
Where did you get the B&T PKM optic mount? Havent been able to find one. Kiesler Defense had them but they will only deal with LE and MIL.

Thanks,
Justin

Now if only someone will re-shoot the video - this time NOT in front of bright window. Then we might be able to see something other than a black smudge.

Seriously, though, in the few frames where I could actually see the unit it looked pretty nice. Doesn't look like it would fit on this PKT cover anyway, and was a little high for my taste. But the QD feature is great!! It sort-of looked see through but I couldn't tell with all the glare.

It's not a B&T mount, it's our own fully patented design and our manufacture. It' s previously been a government-sales-only product since we introduced it, but we are now releasing them commercially, as I said. You can contact MarColMar Firearms, or us, to order. We are pretty well slammed by our .GOV delivery commitments but we do try and get a few pulled off the line as we can for commercial sales. They are $495.00, and fit PK/PKM/PKMS/6P41 Pecheneg guns; not PKT as it requires the standard iron sight base on the top cover to mount. The command height of the rail was a requirement for use of thermal and IR sights from the originating customer, but is still significantly lower than the original Soviet-pattern optics when mounted on the Russian pattern side rail. By design, there is no interference when raising the top cover with any optics mounted.

-Tom H. @
Armament Dynamics Industries, LLC
CAGE Code 4V2G6
(720) 377-3900

The B&T mount will not fit a Hungarian-kit semi-automatic PKM. Kiesler will sell you one (or try BHI). Be warned. They are shit.

here's what I have so far.

I had a generic aluminum rail. I'd prefer steel, but didn't want to spend $80 for a blank. This is a proof of concept.



I made a fixture to make sure that every time I trial-fitted it, I was at the exact same spot. Just a 23mm block with a 5mm hole for the hinge pin, and a 1/4" hole to keep the rail centered.



I was concerned that if the middle section was too thin, then the claws of a scope mount would not clear the receiver cover. I probably could shorten it a little more, but it still might not be enough for the rear part behind the ejector to touch.



I used a feeler gauge to determine how much to remove, and this is where I'm quitting for the day. Will figure out where to attach later. After I have the holes drilled, I'll cut off the front part, but I'm keeping it for now as it controls alignment - at least on the front end.

Ingenuity - got to love it. Good work!

Okay, so after I posted this originally, I got a killer deal on a ELCAN Machine Gun Optic (MGO) on Gunbroker.

Today I took it out and zeroed it.

Then 250 rounds rapid fire. My rail had no issues. My homemade mount appears to be successful.

So then, I painted my PKM.

Helll, yes!

Good looking stuff, there! I think I'd go the extra mile and finish the buttstock, pistol grip, and barrel handle to match.

+1

Get you an extra set to finish to match your gun, and keep your originals, they do look mighty fine too

+1 to that idea.

I don't think I could modify a standard PKM stock for the Wise-Lite semi-automatic striker (that tube in the center of the stock). I may paint the stock after I consider what paint to use.

I didn't paint the pistol grip and carrying handle grip because I used Krylon Fusion, which bonds to plastic, I think I may go with either an Ergo AK grip or the Tapco SAW grip to replace the current AK-type pistol grip.

WOW!!! I think that has got to be one of the best looking rifles i've ever seen! Rock on man, Rock on!!!!!

Bettendorf had a good question: Who has a Marcolmar one and maybe you could share your experiences?

What do you want to know? I got one and absolutely love it.

Mine (pictured above) is a Malcolmar built on a virgin Hungarian parts kit, I also love it.

I'm very jealous of both of you! How do they run?

Accuracy?
Trigger pull?
how many rounds down range?
Build quality?
How do you like the ELCAN MGO on it?

Cheers guys.

See answers in blue above.

have you had any jams, failure to feed, failure to fire, ect?

Its a semi-automatic redesign of a Soviet-belt fed that uses non-disintegrating metal belts. Without an assistant gunner, the weight of the belt is going to cause jams if its not feeding just right (this is pretty much true of all MGs, just as most malfunctions in magazine-fed semiautomatics are magazine related),

I've had failures to feed. 90% are belt related (belt gets caught, whatever). I've had failures to eject where something (me, the belt) gets in front of the ejection port cover (gun feeds from the right and ejects out of a port with a spring-loaded cover on the lower right side of the reciever, behind where it mounts on the tripod),

I've had failures to fire. Most were because of the ammunition (hard primers).

The operating handle is non-reciprocal and isn't meant to be beat on. You can bend it if you try to force it.

However, I usually chug through a 250-round belt like a well-oiled Soviet sewing machine (not pretty, but deadly).

My review is about the same as ODA_564. I got a few thousand down the barrel on mine and like his it was built on a brand new Hungarian. The trigger is a bit stiff though. I am trying to come up with a crank for it, but the trigger pull is a little long. I feel it can be done, but will take a little time to do it. I have only fired mine off of the tripod so the 250 rd box is a the right angle for it to feed. I have not had a FTF or FTE's on mine other than for adjusting to different ammo. I have used Polish, Hungarian, Bulgarian and Albanian ammo in it. With the Albanian I had to adjust the gas system though. Just not quite enough poop to them. Build quality is excellent. Wise Lite did a beautiful job.

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