AK Sponsor
Posted: 7/2/2007 6:45:20 AM EDT
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* Let me start by saying that I searched for this question before asking, because I am sure it has been asked before. I couldn't find any thread titles from the last 3 months that seemed to be a dupe. So.... Why should I build an AK? I have built several ARs and will probably build several more. I see the advantage in configuring things the way I want and in gaining an overall familiarity with the weapon. But I know it isn't really cheaper. But why build an AK? Is it the cost? Is it cheaper to build an AK than to buy? If I want a cheap AK, why don't I buy a $250 lo-cap WASR and dremel out the magwell? Can I build for cheaper than that? Is it the quality? Is a home-build going to be better than an Arsenal or Vector? I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, and would love to build a few AKs. But I find myself wondering why should I. Educate me, please. Why do YOU build your own? Talk me out of spending my money on tools and kits. |
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#1 reason, you can make yourself a NICE AK for hundreds less then what you might be able to buy from someone. (Ex: Polish Underfolder from Lancaster, $619, you can build your own for about $400, cheapest.) #2 (my favorite) You get to brag to all your friends you built an AK47 in your garage or basement.  #3 When you take it to the range people will ask you where you bought that nice AK. Yes you can build yourself a nice Romy for under $250 if you have all the tools and equipment to build it with. Get a $137 Matching Romy kit from Copes W/ G2 FCG, then a $12 flat. And then buy the rivets. ($15 MAX) This is excluding any paint you might want to throw on the receiver. (Your cheapest option)> |
| It's cheaper and more fun. I could have spent $1100 on two top of the line AKs from the factory. Instead, I built my own and used the money I saved to buy all the tools and refinishing equipment to do a professional quality build. Now every AK I build just costs me parts. |
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I'm not sure the cost savings is there, when you factor in the tools cost, but heh, then you have a lot of cool tools. I am now the proud owner of a 12 ton press an angle grinder, a drill press and a spot welder. I own a friggen spot welder! I also enjoy the learning process, if you're new with guns building one will teach you a lot. learning the mechanical functioning of a rifle, what each part does, why a disconnector spring is so important, etc. but most importantly: 
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i would say cost is not the reason to build any firearm, you can probably purchas one cheaper specially when you factor in the cost of your time. I recently built my first gun, an ak yugo m92, and i loved every second of it. It sure didnt save me money, but then again it didnt cost me much more than my dad paid for his arsenal sam 7. Plus as others have said, its a great excuse to buy some cool tools. . .20 ton press, drill press, sweet work bench and the list goes on and on. YOu get the pride of doing it yourself, plus you know its right. Again you get compliments on a nice build and people are interested to hear your story. I say its well worth it. Pat |
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Me and my 18 year old son build them together. I get to spend time doing "manly" things with him before he starts his own life. He gets to learn how to use tools. And, after he has tossed me into the clay, he will have a physical reminder of the time we spent building it. Also, I have a really sweet Yugo fixed stock for $300.00 and he has a twin Yugo underfolder for just a little more... |
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From one AR builder to another. Agreed you build an AR so you can customize it how you like. But also I would argue that the knowledge you have obtained by doing so is invaluable. We are sitting here with a strong likelihood that our gun rights will be stripped away, that is not the question. The question is to what extent. Why did someone like me who has built everything from 1911s to the AR even want to turn to a foreign weapon? The answer is pretty simple, despite all my knowledge of firearms not matter what I do (unless I were to start milling my own parts) all my guns have an ID (serial number). The AK offers something unique. Thanks to the gun grabbers paranoia we have a loophole the size of Texas for building a completely undocumented firearm. It is that fact that first turned me to AK builds (rather than buying a serial numbered one). Since starting however I have realized that AKs are just as customizable as ARs (or perhaps more so since there are a variety of AKs out there to start with). One other piece of invaluable knowledge I have gotten is the same when building an AR, you learn that baby inside and out. You become familiar with what it likes and does not like all the while learning how to fix it whenever (if ever with these AKs) you need. I still say ARs are not combat weapons because of their dislike for things like dirt and moisture, the AK is a good little combat weapon that likes all that and more. Still say my M-14 is the best combat weapon, but if you can afford a M-14 get/build an AK and use your AR for CMP competitions or varmint hunting. One word or warning, I can build an AR or I can do something else. But I would imagine most would agree, there is something addictive about building an AK. I have been doing AKs none stop now for 4 months and it seems I'm only tempted to get more and more kits so I can build them. ARs on the other hand I can go months without building and not feel like I'm missing something. So consider yourself warned, AK builds are addictive. 
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What finish is that on the metal parts? It looks amazing. |
Undocumented? Boy do I wish!! I really really wish I could agree with you. But consider this. If BATF, CIA, FBI, you name it, shows up to Copes, DPH, Centerfire, or even Sportsman Guide and demands records of who's buying kits, they are gonna give it up. And I'd betcha 10 to 1 (though I COULD be wrong,) that the distributers record every factory serial number with every transaction. Use a crecdit card to purchase? There's yer adress for em. Easy as pie. (on the other hand, whos to say you didn't sell it since then, right? Or maybe lost it in a boating accident and it's at the bottom of a lake? Or for that matter, ya never built the kit, sold it as a kit to jo blow) Problem with the above is, that our posts here on the web is ample documentation that we build em, shoot em and like em. If THEY decide they want us, we aint hard to find. And that's the truth. Hell, if they got serious about an individual they could probably show you picture of you or I taking delivery from UPS. Remember, only half that crap on 24 is sci fi. They really DO have satalites that can tell what color your pubes are just from you taking a piss on tree in the back yard. The obvious discalimer is, theoryeticaly, they would never want us THAT bad to expend that kind of resources on us. Not just for building a gun that was legal at the time, and then later became banned. Still, If they want em, they could find most of. Specially those of us that are active on the web. That's my two cents. But to answer the original question, I build em cause I love to tinker with guns. It's a hobby. Built a 1911 for the same reason. Wanna build an ar, just gotta quit spending all my dough on aks long enough to save up! (yup it's addictive!) But my NEXT project is to try to build a match grade ak. In 223 I think. Or is .308 possible? PCm |
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If you will indulge me, I'll give you my reasons for building. To start off with, my first AK was a WASR 1 that was a POS. You could just about pull a mag out of battery without manipulating the magazine release. The trigger slap was very annoying and slightly painful after a morning of shooting. I never even took it apart as I was afraid it wouldn't go back together and function ever again. For the first step, I bought a Romie kit for less than $90 from a member on the boards. Next, I got invited to a local build party. That was a year ago. I learned a ton about the theory, operation, and finer points of AK's. We started with bent blanks with no holes in them at all. This has its advantages as we now could tailor the dimensions and holes to the existing kit. The results are rock solid builds that feed reliably with zero failures and unbelievably smooth triggers. Besides the fun and pride of ownership, I have made some great friends. We meet every other Friday or so in the evening for a few hours to work on the builds. Since we started, our group has built just about every style and type of AK out there except for a couple of the rare variants. Our goals have always been authenticity, safety, and legality. We do not condone anything illegal, and accept all rules as part of the challenge of playing within the law--regardless if the laws seem trivial or stupid. You're right though. You could just by a single stack WASR and hog out the mag well. What you'll have after that is a POS that you're not going to be excited about. It will still function, but thats about it. Also, I won't dog the AR's as I enjoyed assembling them in the past, but thats all you really do is assemble them. 99% of everything fits with no hassles and thats fine, but its not building unless you're manufacturing a receiver. Nothing anyone states here is going to be a revelation and "convince" you to start a build. You just got to want to do it. I'll shut up now and get off the soap box. Groovin61 |
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Let me say I'm glad I built an AK before I assembled an AR. I might have stopped on the AK after how easy an AR is from all parts. I mean starting with a barrel in the white and stripped upper and lower, it's still assemble them yes I need a vise and torque wrench and so on. The AK is more work than an AR but you will feel more pride in your build. I like my ARs but I could build 4 or 5 AKs for what one AR cost me to build, that's the Romys. I do now have a 12ton press and the other jigs to go along with this hobby. I built 2, a pistol and rifle before I went to a build party. I did them by reading everyhting I could find on-line. The build party did help me tweak a few things better and I don't use the barrel jig anymore after the build party. I had read about a couple of how to's before I went to the build party but didn't understand them, it's nice to see them in person. |
Looks like you've read enough.  be sure to get your 5 US compliant parts and rivet set when you order from copes, to save on shipping. I was also able to get a "deal" on the transfer fee for 2 receivers (10 bucks off) from my FFL. Also, be sure to buy your parts in disproportionate numbers (i.e. 2 receivers, 3 kits) that way you always have 1 more reason to build another
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"Undocumented? Boy do I wish!!" I really really wish I could agree with you. But consider this. If BATF, CIA, FBI, you name it, shows up to Copes, DPH, Centerfire, or even Sportsman Guide and demands records of who's buying kits, they are gonna give it up. And I'd betcha 10 to 1 (though I COULD be wrong,) that the distributers record every factory serial number with every transaction. Use a crecdit card to purchase? There's yer adress for em. Easy as pie. The above agencies are welcome to ask me (I worked indirectly for them anyways and they have my record on file along with finger prints), but as a builder I build several firearms and sell kits. These kits aren't regulated so I don't have to keep track of who I sold them to or anything like I do with any with a serial number on it. So my claim that they are undocumented is true so long as the person builds their own receiver. Or gets the "kit" from one of our several returning soldiers who got their hands on them (also my case). As for them (above agencies) wanting me/us currently they are not going to spend what it takes to catch us so I say get all you can while the climate is good. Because even if you didn't sell it who's to say you didn't or did (are you confused yet?).
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"These kits aren't regulated so I don't have to keep track of who I sold them to or anything like I do with any with a serial number on it. So my claim that they are undocumented is true so long as the person builds their own receiver." That's respectable of course. I'm wondering if the other higher profile distributers (you know the ones) keep records. I don't claim to know, but suspect that they do. And what with the NRA sending out notice of emminant banns from the Dems and stating that we can count on our homes being searched in the near future (no shit, got mine yesterday in the mail!) it gets me thinking. Of course it could be argued that any future banns would be grandfathered, but I'm almost afraid to count on it. To my way of thinking, any bann that suddenly made my legaly built firearms unlawful would be unconstitutional, treasonous and---------well, I could really go a tirade. But I guess the question is, how far would they go if all of our kit builds became unlawful after the fact of legaly building them? And do they realisticly have any way to track them?
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You guys covered some great reasons. Fun and job satisfaction included. But I think you neglected one of the best reasons. You can build stuff yourself that you just CAN NOT find in a typical gunshop! For example:     As a builder you can discover the joys of doing your own hot bluing and wood refinishing!   You just don't get that kind of satisfaction and fun from handing over your VISA card at a gunshop! |
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The number of these kits that have gone through me and those in my build groups would require additional jobs for the BATFE to follow-up on (and I'm sure we're not the only ones). I'm not at all worried about the kits I have made, it is the documented firearms that concern me when the gun grabbers get their legislation passed. I am on a first name basis with my FFL guy and he has started giving me discounts (eventhough normally I only pay $10 for a transfer which in and of itself is better than anywhere else). What about when serial numbers collide? Another thing about AKs is they have serial numbers on nearly every part, and unless you pay extra even the finished receivers you buy don't match those already on it making it very easy to swap out or remove all parts from the receiver and claim it was never actually assembled. I'm not suggesting people try to do anything illegal but the possibilities are endless. As for me, the reason I build AKs is purely for the joy it gives (much greater than all my AR builds combined).
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AK Sponsor