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Posted: 3/27/2026 7:06:05 PM EDT
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Anyone want to weigh in on the IGLIM AK-103 kits that Atlantic has? Anyone built one yet? Most of the talking heads on Flutube are skeptical, mostly of the QC since they apparently got the data packs from the Russians, but that doesn't mean they're built right. I'm hesitating for a couple reasons, the smaller diameter barrel shank (22mm) basically locking you into the rather pricey barrel they have available. The other is the so-called "bump rivet" which is apparently a trick to install correctly. The parts look GTG but looks can be deceiving... |
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Fuller is building out a bunch of these for release soon. Don't quote me but I thought I heard him say something to the likes of they got or had to get something straightened out to get better quality parts. Not sure if they have anything to do with the Atlantic stuff though. I've heard they are a little rough but good parts. For the price I'd expect top notch but I'm sure they will sell just fine. |
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Originally Posted By TX-Zen: Out of curiosity, has anyone compared them to a KUSA 103? Particularly the bump rivet. I was always pretty unimpressed with the KUSA in that regard |
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
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Originally Posted By saigamanTX: I always find it strange that the ak is such a simple design but yet its so hard to duplicate it. Originally Posted By saigamanTX: Originally Posted By TX-Zen: Out of curiosity, has anyone compared them to a KUSA 103? Particularly the bump rivet. I was always pretty unimpressed with the KUSA in that regard I was always under the impression that the bump "rivet" was simply a press fit pin. It's designed to be replaceable. Why is it so hard to replicate? It's not, but many US companies take shortcuts in materials and methods to shave production cost off of the product. Unfortunately the customer has been the beta tester for things such as cast front trunnions and bolts, non-hardened bolt carriers, rivets bucked against barrels, barrel components secured with roll pins, etc. All shortcuts where the manufacturer most likely had access to translated Soviet TDPs, looked at the specs and said "yeah but we really NEED that" and then found out later on why the TDP said to do it that way. As if the Soviets and their client states didn't already do the engineering work to figure this out, and how to make it cost as little as possible - because for the most part a lot of them were fucking broke compared to the West. |
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Originally Posted By mancat: I was always under the impression that the bump "rivet" was simply a press fit pin. It's designed to be replaceable. It's a differential hardened rivet. It's more easily replaceable than the legacy combo bullet guide/bolt cam, as you don't need to remove the barrel/front trunnion. But still requires special tooling to hold the hardened head in place while allowing the tail to be squished. |
AK building addict in recovery. Fell off the wagon.
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Wow, a lot more replies than when I first posed the question! Been a minute since I looked. I'm still debating on building one, mainly because I keep hearing the parts are so-so in quality. I know Atlantic chimed in, and of course they want to sell product, but are they building these out or having someone build them? I'd like to hear the feedback on that... I've asked around and searched the net, very little on pressing the bump rivet. I think one video? Looked like they used some type of arbor press so It looks doable. Not sure if I could do it with my shop press. Tossed up between this and just doing a Romainian kit build. I've done a Polish and two Yugos so I'm getting better. Just don't want to go through the build and figure out it's no better than a store bought WASR.... |
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Originally Posted By MudEagle: I don't know if I grasp the concept of a "beater" that starts with a $1300 parts kit. |
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