 Accomplice1
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Joined: Jun 2004  FL, USA
 Posts: 2465 Feedback: 100% (27) |
Posted: 7/8/2012 2:02:37 PM
[Last Edit: 7/8/2012 2:05:04 PM by Accomplice1]
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT Before I took the range trip, I ordered 40 Tapco 30 round mags I found online for a little over $5 each. A second Krebs adapter, AR style Ace folding mechanism from the EE and used Vltor Modstock are inbound for the second AMD. I took those two to the range today and both ran 100% and grouped fine once the sights were adjusted for civilian defensive distances. But the factory wire folder is garbage. It is truly worthless and the gun is essentially a range toy until it is upgraded. And the rock in mags are awful. It was likely the Tapco mags were needing to be filed to work properly. There is no way that this combination of rifle and mag would make an effective 'go to' gun for any fight that required a mag change. A couple of times it simply couldn't be done with a dozen attempts between two shooters. The magwell was shaving or chipping chunks off of the mags as attempts were made to insert them. Eventually the guns could be rolled upside down on the table and the mags forced in successfully. This is unacceptable in a fighting rifle. After adding up all the enhancements on the guns, they are up from $430 stock to $800+. The Sig 556R on hand had a much better magwell as it took the same mags without issue. That gun is $999 but needs sights. The take away from this is that these AMDs are a good cheap hedge / investment should a ban or fears of a ban come to pass. With a stock swap, they are reliable and accurate trunk guns. But even fully optimized, they require careful mag selection to be considered a viable tool for an extended exchange. Alternatives like used Sig 556s seem to make more sense as fighting rifles at the same price point of the suped up AMDs. |
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ColonelHurtz
Horror and moral terror are your friends.
Team Member
Joined: Apr 2007  KHM
Posts: 25672 Feedback: 100% (25) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/8/2012 4:03:11 PM
I really think that we have reached a tipping point with AK's.
For the prices being asked for rebuilt kits and/or modified factory guns we really should be getting brand new U.S.A. made or pristine imported factory guns. I'm ok with existing guns rising in value on the basis of authenticity, provenance and vintage. Virtually none of us own AK's that are authentic assault rifles. And the AMD is a chopper anyway. Kind of pointless in semi config. |
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sully3acr
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Team Member
Joined: Aug 2008 CO, USA
Posts: 775 Feedback: 100% (59) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/9/2012 1:25:01 AM
I paid $352.00 for my AMD65, I have been to the armpits of the world and I have shot there guns! By far my AMD is one of the smoothest AK variants I have ever shot. I can't keep a muzzle brake on it to save my life, "It wants me to SBR her" you need to get the stock riser. But other than that, I love mine..............Sully
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Posted: 7/9/2012 2:23:54 PM
I absolutely love the wire folder. I have 2 AMD's and have around 4000 rounds combined through both.
Only drawback in my opinion is the short sight radius which i may try to rectify with TWS dogleg rail. My son bought the $5 tapco 30's and had to file to fit them In his AMD also. |
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Posted: 7/10/2012 11:16:42 AM
Why would anyone use TAPCO mags as a "go to" SHTF magazine? They are garbage... there is no nice way to say it. You could have spent a few
dollars more and got a ton of real steel magazines. TAPCO mags are not only plastic but they are brittle plastic and prone to cracking or snapping off the locking tab when dropped. |
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50cal
Useful posts.....13
Team Member
Joined: Nov 2000 TN, USA
Posts: 18151 Feedback: 100% (89) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/10/2012 11:42:18 AM
My AMD65 now wears a Krebs stock adapter, StomWerks folder and a stock from DPH. The fore end is an MI rail and has a Magpul AFG on it. I love the set up. I use steel mags. The rifle runs 100% and mags lock in with out a hitch. Tapco's? Forget that crap!
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Posted: 7/15/2012 1:36:14 PM
Tapco mags are strictly for range. Tested mil surp mags for social engagements. That said, mine is fantastic. MI hand guard, PA microdot and amd65tech cheek riser=fantastic gun. Hornady V-Max ammo Is surprisingly accurate too.
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Posted: 7/20/2012 4:27:30 PM
My recent production AMD is awesome too. Can't believe how much better the simple wire folder feels compared to the "way to short " wire stock on my Tantal.
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Posted: 8/19/2012 5:32:21 PM
Originally Posted By Accomplice1:
I picked up 4 Century AMD65s from Bud's Gun Shop recently. I picked one at random (the wrong one) to start customizing. It got an MI extended univrrsal hand guard, Krebs stock adapter, Ace AKFX 7.5" LOP stock and folding mechanism. A second one got a Hogue grip and forward pistol grip delete. Before I took the range trip, I ordered 40 Tapco 30 round mags I found online for a little over $5 each. A second Krebs adapter, AR style Ace folding mechanism from the EE and used Vltor Modstock are inbound for the second AMD. I took those two to the range today and both ran 100% and grouped fine once the sights were adjusted for civilian defensive distances. But the factory wire folder is garbage. It is truly worthless and the gun is essentially a range toy until it is upgraded. And the rock in mags are awful. It was likely the Tapco mags were needing to be filed to work properly. There is no way that this combination of rifle and mag would make an effective 'go to' gun for any fight that required a mag change. A couple of times it simply couldn't be done with a dozen attempts between two shooters. The magwell was shaving or chipping chunks off of the mags as attempts were made to insert them. Eventually the guns could be rolled upside down on the table and the mags forced in successfully. This is unacceptable in a fighting rifle. After adding up all the enhancements on the guns, they are up from $430 stock to $800+. The Sig 556R on hand had a much better magwell as it took the same mags without issue. That gun is $999 but needs sights. The take away from this is that these AMDs are a good cheap hedge / investment should a ban or fears of a ban come to pass. With a stock swap, they are reliable and accurate trunk guns. But even fully optimized, they require careful mag selection to be considered a viable tool for an extended exchange. Alternatives like used Sig 556s seem to make more sense as fighting rifles at the same price point of the suped up AMDs. Manipulating the 'wire' stock and adjusting it requires just a little mechanical apptitude. The push-button/screw has to be loosened a little on most of them, and packing the screw/spring/latch area with grease aids in smoothness of operation. Don't forget, the stock latches open and closed, so you have to use the release button in both modes. The mag wells may need attention. Not the actual receiver opening, but the magazine guide rails inside the receiver. Usually you can just look in and see where the machine did not fully cut one or the other rail during single-stack to double-stack conversion (on the FEG SA2000M receiver only). You can also see where to look by going by the gouges on the sides of the mag. A small flat file will fix this in a few minutes. With polymer mags, you also may have to file the back corners of the tops for easier locking. Original steel mags are usually not a problem. I fitted five polymer mags to mine, and it takes all steel mags fine. Most guys with a few hand tools can tweak out an AMD65 in an afternoon for free. Absolutely no reason to change anything or buy expensive parts, so that whole line of reasoning is not valid (since you have to spend hundreds to make it work, you're better off buying a more expensive gun to start with). The AMD65 served as an issue weapon in Hungary for decades and is at this time deployed in many areas of the world with real armies or militias. The problems with our 'civvy' versions are entirely with the re-manufacturing process and are easy to fix. |
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Posted: 8/20/2012 6:14:20 PM
I was also having a problem inserting Tapco mags in my AMD and also in my Polish AK. I found a simple solution to the problem was a very light pass on a belt sander on each side of the mag that fits inside the receiver. All my Tapco's now insert easily and lock up. The button release for the stock has loosen up with repeated use and now works easily. The AMD65 wont win any beauty contest but for it's intended use I think it's a winner.
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Posted: 9/28/2012 5:07:36 PM
Originally Posted By Accomplice1:
I picked up 4 Century AMD65s from Bud's Gun Shop recently. Hello Any new info on the amd65s you picked up? |
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Posted: 10/1/2012 11:29:10 AM
I love my AMD after I SBRd it.
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Finslayer83
You're only making it worse for yourself!
Team Member
Joined: Jul 2008 TN, USA
Posts: 6535 Feedback: 100% (24) Link To This Post |
Posted: 10/1/2012 3:02:20 PM
Originally Posted By rlara333:
Originally Posted By Accomplice1:
I picked up 4 Century AMD65s from Bud's Gun Shop recently. Hello Any new info on the amd65s you picked up? this |
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Posted: 10/1/2012 3:27:48 PM
Originally Posted By johnnv:
I was also having a problem inserting Tapco mags in my AMD and also in my Polish AK. I found a simple solution to the problem was a very light pass on a belt sander on each side of the mag that fits inside the receiver. All my Tapco's now insert easily and lock up. The button release for the stock has loosen up with repeated use and now works easily. The AMD65 wont win any beauty contest but for it's intended use I think it's a winner. Just for thr record these work perfect in the AMD's. No wobble, easy to change and fairly cheap. No modification needed. Thermold Master Molder from CDNN are $ 7.99 (sometimes on sale for $5.99) |
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