AKS-74U is the best platform for an AKS-74U. I'll post further when not on my phone.
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Hey all, I was wondering what variant is closest to the AKS-74U and can be modified slightly(or greatly, but looking for ease of modification, not extensive measures) that fires 5.45 and can be made to replicate the Russian Spec Ops-type AKS-74U, accept 5.45 AK mags, have AK mount on left side, be able to be modified to be 922C compliant so I can make it into an SBR.
I am getting to be wholly knowledgeable on the Ar platform, but the AK platform is still new to me, any ideas?
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Now that I'm home...How much money do you want to spend? There are a couple different ways to do it.
You can do what I am doing and buy kits, search for parts, and then pay someone to put it together (or do it yourself). I like this route because it uses mostly original parts and I know what's going in the gun. In the pic I posted the top one is a Russian '86 Tula kit and the lower one is a Bulgarian kit.
You will need to get a receiver, barrel (maybe), and other small parts.
Rguns had Tula kits for sale for about $750 up until last year. Now you'll have to find one for sale somewhere. All (as far as I know) of the barrels on the '86 Tula kits are cut as they were imported after the barrel ban. You will have to find an aftermarket barrel and the only person that makes a good chrome lined one is BlueJack. He does runs every once in a while and they sell out quickly. When I got mine he sold out of V5's in like seven minutes. The Bulgarian kits have original chrome lined hammer forged barrels.
As far as receivers most people go with NoDak or 74u LLC. NoDak is nice because there's no / a short wait. They don't serial number match the trunion anymore though. (The receiver in the pic is a NoDak with matching S/N). If you want a receiver as close to the real thing as possible then 74u LLC get's the upper hand. They match the serial numbers, will NFA engrave, match the welds, etc. The downside is they run about $250 and have a long wait time as they are all made to order. (I ordered mine for the Tula kit in November 2013 and am still waiting).
I'm not a lawyer but as far as 922(r) goes I've seen different things. I've seen letters from NFA branch saying that an SBR does not qualify as a sporting weapon and as such does not need to comply with 922(r) and I've seen letters that say that they do. It's kind of a gray area as far as the research I've done. ETA again... 922(r) is six US made parts from the list. Receiver, FCG (counts as 3) Barrel, gas piston, pistol grip, all count
or
You can buy the new Arsenal offering if you can find one.