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Posted: 3/8/2013 7:21:13 AM EDT
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I know right now prices are high but I have a lot of experience as a machinist and I have that "if you can think it I can make it mentality". I also take a lot of pride in my work. With all of this being said I don't really need any help with jigs or fixtures or machining. However I was wondering where I could get the best price on parts kits. For instance I don't have access to a gun drill so I need to purchase the barrel and some of the supporting components. So I ask where is the best places to buy these parts for cheap? Also do you think with todays market I could build one cheaper with higher quality than just buying a complete rifle. I will not need to purchase Jigs/Fixtures as I can make them. I have lathes/mills/presses and welding equipment....etc. Well what do you guys think?
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Yes as a machinist you can build cheaper than you can buy.
The way I know this is I'm a machinist too. The best place to buy a kit would depend on what you are wanting to build. Here are a few links that have kits http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/krinkov-m92-parts-kit-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/east-german-ddr-ak47-parts-kits-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/egyptian-7-62x39mm-ak47-parts-kit-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://www.gunthings.com/galil.htm http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/AK-PARTS-KITS_c2.htm http://whatacountry.com/parts-kits.aspx And some links for new barrels http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/romanian-ak47-barrel-chrome-lined-hammer-forged-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/US-762x39-Romanian-Model-Barrel-AK-BARREL-NEW-NONCHROME.htm http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/US-762x39-Romanian-Model-Barrel-Chrome-Lined-AK-BARREL-NEW-CHROME.htm http://whatacountry.com/barrels.aspx http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/Yugoslavian-AK-47-Barrel-M70AB-M70AB2-AK-135.htm |
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Yes as a machinist you can build cheaper than you can buy. The way I know this is I'm a machinist too. The best place to buy a kit would depend on what you are wanting to build. Here are a few links that have kits http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/krinkov-m92-parts-kit-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/east-german-ddr-ak47-parts-kits-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/egyptian-7-62x39mm-ak47-parts-kit-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://www.gunthings.com/galil.htm http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/AK-PARTS-KITS_c2.htm http://whatacountry.com/parts-kits.aspx And some links for new barrels http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/romanian-ak47-barrel-chrome-lined-hammer-forged-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/US-762x39-Romanian-Model-Barrel-AK-BARREL-NEW-NONCHROME.htm http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/US-762x39-Romanian-Model-Barrel-Chrome-Lined-AK-BARREL-NEW-CHROME.htm http://whatacountry.com/barrels.aspx http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/Yugoslavian-AK-47-Barrel-M70AB-M70AB2-AK-135.htm You are the man. Thanks alot. That answered all my questions. |
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Yes as a machinist you can build cheaper than you can buy. The way I know this is I'm a machinist too. The best place to buy a kit would depend on what you are wanting to build. Here are a few links that have kits http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/krinkov-m92-parts-kit-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/east-german-ddr-ak47-parts-kits-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/egyptian-7-62x39mm-ak47-parts-kit-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://www.gunthings.com/galil.htm http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/AK-PARTS-KITS_c2.htm http://whatacountry.com/parts-kits.aspx And some links for new barrels http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/romanian-ak47-barrel-chrome-lined-hammer-forged-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/US-762x39-Romanian-Model-Barrel-AK-BARREL-NEW-NONCHROME.htm http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/US-762x39-Romanian-Model-Barrel-Chrome-Lined-AK-BARREL-NEW-CHROME.htm http://whatacountry.com/barrels.aspx http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/Yugoslavian-AK-47-Barrel-M70AB-M70AB2-AK-135.htm You are the man. Thanks alot. That answered all my questions. Wait I got two more questions. Does it matter in quality between these egyption/bulgarian/yugo? All I need to make these kits complete is a receiver and a barrel correct? And each kit specifically says a milled receiver is there any reason it has to be milled rather than stamped/bent? Thanks |
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Yes as a machinist you can build cheaper than you can buy. The way I know this is I'm a machinist too. The best place to buy a kit would depend on what you are wanting to build. Here are a few links that have kits http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/krinkov-m92-parts-kit-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/east-german-ddr-ak47-parts-kits-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/egyptian-7-62x39mm-ak47-parts-kit-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://www.gunthings.com/galil.htm http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/AK-PARTS-KITS_c2.htm http://whatacountry.com/parts-kits.aspx And some links for new barrels http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-accessories/romanian-ak47-barrel-chrome-lined-hammer-forged-detail.html?Itemid=0 http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/US-762x39-Romanian-Model-Barrel-AK-BARREL-NEW-NONCHROME.htm http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/US-762x39-Romanian-Model-Barrel-Chrome-Lined-AK-BARREL-NEW-CHROME.htm http://whatacountry.com/barrels.aspx http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/Yugoslavian-AK-47-Barrel-M70AB-M70AB2-AK-135.htm You are the man. Thanks alot. That answered all my questions. Wait I got two more questions. Does it matter in quality between these egyption/bulgarian/yugo? All I need to make these kits complete is a receiver and a barrel correct? And each kit specifically says a milled receiver is there any reason it has to be milled rather than stamped/bent? Thanks You'll get different opinions on quality between different countries of origin. And sometimes with justification. If you look at fire control parts between, say, a Romanian G kit and a Hungarian or East German kit you will see a tremendous difference in the quality of machining, tool marks, etc. But ultimately the AK design is pretty forgiving so keep that in mind. (In any case you'll be using US fire control parts). "Milled" kits and "Stamped" kits are completely different. In most cases, it will be pretty close to impossible to build a milled kit onto a stamped receiver. Barrel journal sizes are wrong, the interface for furniture is different, the location of barrel parts and the way they are populated on the barrel is not the same, etc. You can get milled receivers to build on, but they're rare as hens teeth right now. |
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Like Nag said the milled and the stamped kits are different you may get some parts to swap but most won't or are not in the kit to start with. Like most milled kits don't come with front or rear trunnions & the rear stock is different.
So if you want to build a stamped receiver gun you need a stamped kit, not saying that it can't be done, just saying it will be easier to do a kit the way it is supposed to be done. I have seen machinists rework the milled stubs of the receiver to make trunnions but that is the hard way to go. The Bulgarian AK74 Kits are nice but that is the 5.45 x 39mm round & that is getting hard to find. The underfolder kits can be made as a fixed stock with a new rear trunnion & stock. |
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I have been looking at the links above closely. All the atlantic firearm links dont state whether the parts kit is for milled or stamped. The one link: http://shop.blackmarketarms.com/AK-PARTS-KITS_c2.htm shows milled and the parts kits are way cheaper. Why are they way cheaper? Are milled kits much cheaper than stamped usually?
Sorry for all the questions just learning Thanks |
| Heres what I have noticed, also being somewhat new to AK's. If it is under $250 it is probably a milled kit. If it is over $350 it is probably stamped for the common AK's. I am pretty sure Atlantic's are marked milled and stamped. I bought a Bulgarian AK74 stamped from them for my first and I was very pleased. I paid $249 for it back in January, now I see they are north of $350. They seem to come and go "in stock" so keep checking. |
| I am probably opening up a can of worms but is there any reason to not get the milled kit instead of the stamped? Also when they say milled whats the process for making the milled? Its milled all out of billet? instead of bent? Just confused why the price difference is so big between the two. |
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I am probably opening up a can of worms but is there any reason to not get the milled kit instead of the stamped? Also when they say milled whats the process for making the milled? Its milled all out of billet? instead of bent? Just confused why the price difference is so big between the two. The lower price of the milled kits, in my opinion, reflects the scarcity and expense of milled receivers. They're hard to get and expensive ($260+ last time I checked). Different milled kits interface with different milled receives. Some barrels screw in, others press in. Screw in barrels are harder for a home smith to headspace. Among the press in, there are different sized barrel journals. They make wonderful builds but are going to be more expensive and difficult to complete. I think you ought to look for a stamped kit and use a flat or pre-bent 80% (or even a NDS or other pre-made FFL receiver) for a first build. Just my opinion. |
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are all these kits brand new parts? Or are they old/used from previous wars/countries? Just curious in the description they are talking about markings and military storage and being covered in var-sol. Thanks Again, it varies quite a bit. The Romy G kits are often in "well carried but practically unfired" condition. These were civilian guard ("G") kits and were issued, but obviously not fired in anger - or, it seems, in practice all that much. My Romy G kit had lots of external cosmetic wear and a stock that had been shellacked by a retarded monkey on crack, but the fire control parts showed almost no wear, the bolt and carrier had no wear, and the barrel internally looked virtually unfired. he AMD, Polish, and Bulgarian kits I've seen run the full range from just about shot out to barely used. The Yugos do not have chrome barrels and they used corrosive ammo, and so some of these kits will have dark and, in some cases, sewer pipe bores. There are some kits that have obviously seen action -- a guy I know got a kit wit a bullet hole through the receiver cover. Others have trench art from the soldiers who carried those suckers. You can buy furniture with trench art separately, if that's your thing. In practically every "flavor" folks have seen kits that appear to be brand spanking new unfired guns that were simply cut up for import, as well. Sometimes its the luck of the draw. In some forums (the AR EE or AKFILES marketplace being two examples), sellers will usually post a lot of photos that make clear the condition of the specific kits you might be purchasing. Best of luck. |
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