Is there any way to rebuild an AK74 or AK47 into 5.56?  

My comander wants to bring back AK's for training, but we know that 7.62 and 5.45 will be hard to find, so he is asking if there are any kits to rebarrel/re-bolt an AK74 into 5.56...

We are willing to spend some money for this and we have qualified armorers back in the states to support us on this...


Vin

Quoted:   Is there any way to rebuild an AK74 or AK47 into 5.56?   My comander wants to bring back AK's for training, but we know that 7.62 and 5.45 will be hard to find, so he is asking if there are any kits to rebarrel/re-bolt an AK74 into 5.56... We are willing to spend some money for this and we have qualified armorers back in the states to support us on this... Vin

5.45 is pretty easy to come by and very cheap now...you might be better off spending the money on ammo... 1080 of 5.45 is only $120 right now...just something to think about.
I don't know about a "kit" to rebarrel an ak into 5.56 but there are 5.56 AKs out there as it is...you could always get some of those...other than that, just about anything is possible...heck people have made 9mm AKs. The real question is if it will be worth the time and money.

Quoted: Quoted:   Is there any way to rebuild an AK74 or AK47 into 5.56?   My comander wants to bring back AK's for training, but we know that 7.62 and 5.45 will be hard to find, so he is asking if there are any kits to rebarrel/re-bolt an AK74 into 5.56... We are willing to spend some money for this and we have qualified armorers back in the states to support us on this... Vin 5.45 is pretty easy to come by and very cheap now...you might be better off spending the money on ammo... 1080 of 5.45 is only $120 right now...just something to think about. ---We cant purchase ammo, all ammo must be issue..5.56, 7.62 or 9mm---- I don't know about a "kit" to rebarrel an ak into 5.56 but there are 5.56 AKs out there as it is...you could always get some of those...other than that, just about anything is possible...heck people have made 9mm AKs. The real question is if it will be worth the time and money.

-----we would like to use captured full auto AK's and "re caliber" them so we can use regular old 5.56 training ammo, to train follow fprces.

Vin

7.62X39 and 5.45X39 isn't hard to find at all. 5.56 AK Mags OTOH aren't so easy to come by. I think converting functional AK's is a bad plan.

If your commander can bring back AK's for training, surely he can bring back a good supply of ammo as well.

you will be able to get 7.62 years after 5.56 is phased out.....stick with the original calibers, there is more 7.62x39 in the u.s. right now than 5.56

to answer ur question......yes it can be done......have done it plenty o times

if u want 5.56 then get a regular ak47, here are the parts u need
bulgy 223 barrel
bulgy 223 bolt
bulgy 223 mags

first u need to swap the barrels and all parts on the barrel..ie gas block,front sight,rsb(do not put barrel pin in yet)
then weld the ejector tip so it is longer(protrudes further in the bolt)
swap bolts...just bolts
open up trunion to accept the 223 bulgy mags, very precise work...take ur time checking where the 223 mag hits the inner part of the trunion
once mag is fitted check that 223 feeds..if not will need to mod the feed ramp til feeds
will have to angle left bolt lug to match the 47 one so it enters the trunion and turns to lock postion....after all this check heafspace and drill for barrel pin   DONE!
                                           <<<< OR >>>>

find some 223 saigas for sale and mod some 30 round mags to feed the 223

  Thanks, Ill start looking for the bulgarian parts.

Do you think a bulgarian AK47 is the right platform to convert, I have a wide range of AK47's to chose from

Vin

as far as i have seen any 47 will work....

bulgy 223 is 47 style
russian 223 is 74 style

these rifles are gonna take some abuse

and welded ejectors wont hold upto that as well

your better off getting a 223 and just making it f/a

a monkey can do it in 15 min

Are most barrels interchangeable with the romy G kits? Can you just strip the barrel and replace with your old stuff, then reassemble? I also am looking for a change to another caliber(7.62 to 5.45). What other makes will interchange with them? This is a kit so I will wait untill I have the right stuff to put it all together.

OK so barrel, bolt, proper ejector....

Old gas piston, carrier,recoil spring setup is no problem?

Why not do a pistol grip conversion on a 5.56 Saiga?

Sounds like BS.  Why would anyone do such a conversion for "training" in a military unit?  There is plenty of captured 7.62  ammo over there.  It's probably cheaper to buy 5.56mm AK's anyway than convert them.  If they approve using my tax money for this it's just ridiculous.  But then govt waste is nothing new...