I decided my next gun in a rifle caliber is going to be a Mini Draco. Eventually I plan to SBR it with a folding stock and a form to the gov't, so I figured I should jaw about it a bit here in anticipation first.

As far as I can tell, the easiest way with the least weight and cost added is just to buy a folding stock mechanism (I'm favoring the Stormwerkz product over the ACE one at the moment) without a "boss" and drill & tap holes in the receiver, then just add a stock. Like most I was put off by how AR stocks look on AKs, but then I took a look at the Magpul MOE fixed carbine stock. I really think the looks of that stock might work on a Mini Draco. I think for my needs an AR stock is a better choice. They're more widely available, cheaper, and come in adjustable flavors if needed.

But all I have to go by is my quick Photoshop mockup. Anyone have any pics of a Mini Draco with a folding mechanism and the Magpul fixed carbine stock? Probably a very rare combo, but it can't hurt to ask.

Hopefully someone can do better than this (apologies to the owners of the pics I butchered):

My thread is right above yours  I picked up a Mini-Draco also and am planning on doing the same thing.  I'm leaning on the side folding right now, but we'll see.

Yeah I didn't even really consider an underfolder. Harder mod and I don't like what I read about the stocks. I think I want a Stormwerkz folding mechanism. Another mockup:



How do I make my images show in the thread?

Ah, okay, thanks for the welcome and the info (that is no doubt sitting somewhere in a prominently-displayed location, unread by me ;) ).

I think the two of us are on the same page.  I plan to add a can, one of my closest friends owns ArmsTech so I'll probably try to get one of his.

I thought about a fake can, but decided the paperwork would be worth it.

One concern I have is mounting a red dot. I don't know how well it'll work that far forward, and from what I've read that far forward is the only real option. I guess $80 for a Bushnell isn't too much $ to find out. But if it doesn't work I don't have a backup plan.

I also wish there were more handguard options for the MD. The Midwest HG seems good but I'd rather do something lighter, with just a top rail. Red dot's the only thing I need a rail for.

I still need to read up on everything I'll have to buy to drill & tap the receiver. I want to do it right and buy everything I'll need, since I plan to start teaching myself basic smithing eventually.

i would go with one of the ACE metal folders, think it will look better.

Quake, I gave it a lot of thought before I decided to go with a folding mechanism with an AR-style connection. It offers a lot more versatility. There are many more AR stocks out there than stocks that will fit into a normal ACE style folding mechanism. I agree that the skeleton style stocks look good on AKs. I think most AR stocks look bad on AKs, but the Magpul Fixed Carbine Stock is a pretty good approximation of the skeleton style, IMO, with a similar outline.

The AR-style folding mechanisms cost about the same up-front ($25 more than the regular mechanisms, plus $20-25 more for a castle nut, extension tube, and end plate, vs. about $50 less for a Magpul FCS vs. an ACE skeleton stock), but I think they'll pay off in the long run. Much wider selection, lower stock replacement costs. And the next time somebody comes out with an AR stock that I think would go great on an AK, I can use it.

The only reason I can think of to choose a normal AK folding mechanism is if the user wants to have something heavy to bash with, and I don't.

All of that does leave out the issue of weapon balance, which I don't have a clue about. I've never handled an AK. I'm hoping the lighter stock choices for ARs don't prove to be a problem.

Get both:

I know "Home of The Black Rifle" is the arfcom tag-line, but ^^^^^this should the official motto here on the AK side.