SSR-85C ? > AK Discussions

Posted: 1/4/2008 4:55:18 PM EDT

sorry if this is a dupe

i thought these were armory usa built guns with usa receivers. i got a centerfire systems catalog today that says they have bulgarian receivers. is this just wrong or are they importing true bulgarian ak's and converting them?

www.centerfiresystems.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1623

the website doesn't say who makes the receiver but they are nutered of bayo lug and the fs is welded on.

if these are being imported in thumbhole nuetered condition i want one un-tampered with.

any info?

thanx
2D2C

Posted: 1/4/2008 5:28:12 PM EDT

[#1]

Check out the Lancaster Consulting site as they are most likely the importer. The receiver is manufactured in Bulgaria from the duplicate set of Global Trades receiver die plates that were sent to Bulgaria when they were importing the rifles from a company Bulgaria ISD.

www.lancasterarms.com/

Posted: 1/4/2008 6:12:18 PM EDT

[#2]

thanx for the link mak!

the site doesn't say if these are mil-spec bulgarian receivers.

so from what your saying a us company sent the machinery to bulgaria to make these receivers, and they are not arsenal of bulgaria made?

seems shady

Posted: 1/4/2008 9:26:41 PM EDT

[#3]

No they aren't Arsenal of Bulgaria if they are the 1.6mm receivers from ISD. Global Trades made their own receivers here in the US. They used the 1.6mm receiver because they had a supply of barrels and trunnions from Chinese parts kits.

Originally, Global Trades was using a supply of Hungarian FEG receivers to build up a version of the rifle with Hungarian and Polish parts. They also used OOW/ITM receivers. They also used Bulgarian parts kits when they could get them to build rifles. Arsenal of NV supposedly had an agreement with Arsenal of Bulgaria which closed off supplies of certain previously imported items by Global Trades/Arsenal USA/Armory USA.

Global Trades had supplies of Chinese parts though and they built these up with the 1.6mm receiver they manufactured. They told everyone the 1.6mm receiver was better, but the homebuilder market wanted the 1mm receivers that the European AK kits could be built on without modifying trunnions and parts to correctly work in the thicker receiver.

The receiver flats are stamped out with dies, a set of these dies was later used in to Bulgaria where a separate company began production of rifles on the 1.6mm receiver for Global Trades. Global Trades no longer makes receivers and equipment was bought by Elk River Tool and Die, apparently doesn't import rifles and who knows what exactly they do anymore.

The receivers of Global Trades are apparently going to be produced by Elk River Tool and Die, but with Nodakspud/DCI receivers on the market I don't see Global Trades/AUSA/Elk River Tool and Die receivers ever making a comeback. Limited AK parts kits available and the ever increasing prices for these kits and the barrel ban will put an end to the homebuilder market. The only way this will change is if the barrel ban is overturned.

The rifles from Lancaster are apparently the Bulgarian rifles from ISD with the 1.6mm receivers that were made from the Global Trades dies. This is just my own opinion though.

www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?t=68365

loneeagle-armory.com/

www.elkrivertoolanddie.com/

Posted: 1/4/2008 9:42:39 PM EDT

[#4]

From Jimmy Streetman of Global Trades/AUSA back around 2005:

The SSR-85C-2 project was in response to the knowledge that we could not count long-term on importing barrels and building rifles here. Also behind it was the knowledge that there is a vast pool of under-utilized AK assembly experts in Kazanlak and the surrounding neighborhood in Bulgaria. As a sidebar, there were 18,000 employees at Arsenal when we first started dealing with them, less than 1,000 now.

We set up a new factory in Bulgaria in cooperation with several friendly companies over there to produce receivers, quite a few parts, and to assemble complete "sporting rifles." This was a long slog, actually took over two years from conception to the first import.

We have a second set of the 1.6 mm dies over there for this production. This makes three total sets we have paid for, the 1.6mm over there, and a 1mm and a 1.6mm set here. This is one reason we are not jumping through hoops to make RPK receivers. We are "died out" right now.

We buy pristine Bulgarian AK-47 machineguns from the Ministry of Defense in Bulgaria, dismantle them, and use the parts to build the SSR-85C-2. Most of these rifles are from the early production when the quality control was really tight. Some are screw-in barrels, which we turn down for press fitting, some were later press-in technology.

To do this, we use all new components in our receiver, with new barrel trunnions, rear trunnions, trigger guards, mag catches, and selector stops. This is the only way we can build military spec rifles. Reusing these components requires reliability compromises that our engineer will not tolerate.

As a sidebar, on the thread involving our competition, the real important question is not whether they are "parts rifles," the important question is what parts are they reusing.

So the SSR-85C-2 is built in Bulgaria with a Bulgarian made 1.6mm receiver and Bulgarian military parts. As you are aware, we have to make certain modifications here to adapt it to the US market. The latest versions have the muzzle threaded to 1/2-28 thread, and we are having slant brakes made in that thread for the next batch.

We have a large shipment ready in Bulgaria waiting on procuring a container date to ship. Should be in the distributors late August.

This batch will be available with either the pretty blond wood stocks or the black polymer stock set. The buttstocks will be our new polymer butt, with a much improved cheeking surface. The handguards will be Bulgarian polymer till our new molds are ready.

We have a new distribution arrangement with a group of 12 large distributors, so everyone should be able to find one that their favorite dealer isn't pissed at.

We are suggesting a retail of $599.99 on these. Actual selling price will be out of our hands, but should be pretty negotiable.

I think history will look at this as one of the best imported AKs ever. The heavier receiver makes a tremendous difference in both feel and accuracy. The recoil is much more "straight back". It seems to loose a lot of monkey motion that is probably the 1mm receiver flexing in various dimensions when fired.

The fitting of the parts is quite nice. We have had some teething problems in the early shipments, and have had Ivan over in Bulgaria for the last two months working on details. We are not perfect yet, but as this year goes on, we think we will come as close as anyone ever has in producing Kalashnikovs on a line.

From Jimmy Streetman's quote:
"The receiver is made in Bulgaria using a second set of our 1.6mm dies."

Yeah, Arsenal USA (now Armory USA) had their two stamped AK receiver dies manufactured in Bulgaria (not by the Arsenal Co. of Bulgaria firm). So not only are the Arsenal USA/Armory USA receivers that are labled "Made In Bulgaria" actually and truly made in Bulgaria, they are also actually manufactured on Bulgarian made dies. I believe Arsenal USA's "Ivan Kolev" drew up the blueprints for those dies, and of course made the required specification adjustments for the dies to be used with 1.6mm steel. My understanding is that "Ivan" was the head firearms designer for the Arsenal Co of Bulgaria for about ten years or so. The "shark brake" that one finds on so many of the post ban SLR-95's, SLR-101's, SA M-7's, etc, were designed by "Ivan" when he worked there. Hey, don't blame the guy, he was only trying to design something that at that time would pass muster with the U.S. BATF :)
Anyhows, he is also behind the Arsenal USA/Armory USA milled from barstock fire control group.

I would imagine that having a guy that was the head designer of a company like Arsenal of Bulgaria would be a good thing for an American company specializing in AK based firearms.

All comes from over on gunsnet where Global Trades has a forum.

Posted: 1/5/2008 4:58:43 AM EDT

[#5]

thanks for the info mak

i was just hoping that an all bulgarian rifle was slipping in the country. i hate that i missed the chinese influx, and the egyptian and hungarian hayday aswell. i guess it could be worse but it seems like century and parts guns rule the day.

i did get a saiga during the ban for cheap from cdnn, $179 i think. i sold that rifle for $350.

i will be watching for the next "big deal" in ak's, but i don't think one is coming

2D2C

Posted: 1/5/2008 6:19:21 AM EDT

[#6]

The SSR rifles came in as a small batch , they are Bulgarian with enough US parts to comply with 922 r , the poly stock is provided by K-VAR , nice solid rifles

Posted: 1/5/2008 11:03:44 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:

i was just hoping that an all bulgarian rifle was slipping in the country. 2D2C

You will never get an all Bulgarian rifle as all rifles post 1989 will have US parts in them if they are not thumbhole stocked and in pistol grip configuation and following the 922(r) rules.

Posted: 1/5/2008 2:19:33 PM EDT

[#8]

i would be perfectly happy with an all bulgarian stamped gun with a thumbhole, as long as it wasn't slant cut receiver or non standard like a saiga. oh and for cheap too

i don't want much huh! theres a pawnshop 50 miles north of where i live that had two ban era milled bulgarian ak's. they had a light gray park finish and brown plastic thumbhole. they were asking $999 each

mak 90's and maadi's run between $400 and $500 in my area.

i have had 3 century ak's and just don't trust that company. even though they all functioned.

2D2C

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