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Posted: 3/22/2005 9:11:07 AM EDT
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Hello All, Been lurking awhile gathering info and am finally considering building an AK-74 off one of the Bulgarian kits being offered. Any advice on the least problematic or most user friendly receiver would be appreciated. By that I mean the one that requires the least amount of tinkering to make functional. Unless someone has a better suggestion, right now I'm looking at the OOW receiver. Also, are there any pitfalls a newbie to AK construction should look out for? I've already compiled a list of "How-To" build sites but would be interested in any personal input. It appears one of these weapons can be assembled, barring major screw-ups, for about $400.00 or less. Is that accurate? I've been around, fired, and cleaned AK's before but never attempted something like this. Hopefully, if CAI can do it so can I. Any and all input is welcome. Thanks in Advance, fiream29 |
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Thanks to both of you for your replies. Ya'll seem to be 180 degrees apart. Gary-G23, I'm not interested in investing even half that amount in a build. What ate up so much cash? How expensive was your parts kit? The ones I'm seeing advertised for ~$200.00 claim to be unissued. Did you have to replace parts in your kit(other than compliance)? I'm ok at building, measuring, fitting, etc. but not so at fabrication. At least not neatly. Have you run into fabrication issues? 1Gunner, those are two excellent looking weapons. I can't see any difference between the two except for one having an unfinished? receiver. Is the only difference that one is "commercially" built and the other was assembled by you? Besides the parts kit and receiver what parts were required to finish your weapon. How many hours do you estimate you have in the build not including any finish related time? I would like to add one of these to my collection but I don't want to start my own personal Money Pit either. If it's going to cost over $500.00 then I could probably settle on one of the $260.00 Romanian AK's. I doubt if it will see that much actual use it would just be nice to have one I actually assembled. Thanks Guys, fiream29 |
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I'm admitedly a little biased here, but the Arsenal Inc. receivers are Bulgarian, and built to strict controls on the same line that they make the ones for the military, and they are built by people who have been building them for the Bulgarian military and export for over 30 years. The Bulgarian receivers are built using the blueprints that they received from Izmash in Russia. The OOW receivers are reverse engineered and not properly heat treated. The pin holes are also not exactly where they ought to be. Now, I know that there have been probably a thousand AK's built using the Ohio Ordnance receivers, and plenty of people are happy with them, but........................ If the Russians, Poles, Bulgarians, East Germans, Romanians, Hungarians, Yugoslavs, Egyptians, Chinese, North Koreans thought that they could get away with using a soft receiver and only heat treating the pin holes and the rails................................................................. They Would Have Ok.........getting off of my "stepping on toes" mode.  *Edited to Add* I'm honestly not trying to come across as an elitist asshole here although I'm probably doing a good job at it, I just wish someone here in the USA could/would come out with a properly dimensioned, properly heat treated stamped receiver for these things. That's all I'm asking for. |
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I started out with a milled receiver, new Bulgarian kit, Red Star Arms FCG, Arsenal Inc gas piston, and a K-Var stock set. I wanted a quality rifle and thought this would be the hot ticket. I had it assembled by a reputable AK smith. When it arrived the damn thing would lock the bolt back after every round. I contacted the builder and they said to put in a shock buffer. I did so and this helped some but still I didn't have near the reliability I have with an AR shooting Russian ammo. I figured they didn't know what they were doing so I then sent the rifle to another reputable AK smith (or so I thought). After a couple of weeks and more money spent it came back no better than before. I then sent it to AK smith #3 in December and haven't got it back yet. I have a milled Arsenal Inc SA M-7 that I have less than $600 invested in and it is a great gun. From now on I won't buy an AK unless it is an Arsenal Inc. |
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Templar is right though, the fire control pin holes on the OOW are not in the right location requiring modification of the new US hammer top profile, no biggie though just make the same profile as with the foreign hammer in your kit. The biggest thing is to get the countersink at the correct four trunnion holes right and get some swell head rivets. There is a group buy at Gunsnet for these rivets from 1-Patriot and it's good stuff. To countersink you will need like Plinker762's jig or something to that fashion. Global at Globaltrades.com has some good receivers too, jnewt uses them sometimes, I haven't tried them but I will sometime this year. I may invest in a flat bending jig seeing as how a OOW or global receiver for me would cost about $65 plus a $35 tranfer fee for each group you buy. Cheaper to make your own receivers for multiple builds. My personal opinion as an engineer is that a flat you build yourself or one of the aftermarkets is good enough for semi-autos. There is no way to 'heat treat' an entire receiver. The tempering process, or in other words the heating to 600-800F for a period of time to relieve stress and soften your FGC pin hole case hardening does nothing for the rest of the receiver anyway. Does anyone have the former soviet union manufacturing process specifications for the receivers anywhere? I may have access to this somewhere, I will look. |
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1Gunner, I was handling the transfer for one of the older 1.6mm Global receivers..........and the damn thing came in severly warped. In their "defence", they took the man's receiver back and gave him a full refund. I'm hoping their 1mm receiver is better. fiream29, you can expect to pay top end $625.00 for a fully decked out AK-74 (SLR-105A1R) from Arsenal Inc, but usually they are less than that. The rifle 1Gunner got was about $575.00 without the scope rail. Arsenal Inc. has no plans to offer their receiver for sale as a unit.........they can't keep up with demand for built rifles. |
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Thanks to all for the great info. I guess I might hold off on trying to do a build. I have found a couple of the Arsenal weapons on-line for a little less than $500.00 used. Arsenal is apparently moving to a stamped receiver to bring costs down so maybe a new one won't be too bad. I'm not too concerned about stamped versus milled as I like light weapons anyway and it probably wouldn't get enough use to ever hurt a stamped receiver. Thanks Again, fiream29 |
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Well here's a thought, I see there's some nice looking AK-74 Blugy's kits. Is it ok to post the link??? Well heres two... akronarmory.com (nice fellow I believe). The other gunthings.com. So anyway I'm saying to myself 1. I want this gun 2. Do I build it (and spend a fortune in TIME and money messing it up as I slowly learn)? 3. Or do I buy the kit and have it professionally built? 4. Or - buy a commerical built ARSENAL rifle? I'm not crazy about this option. Your comments please... Is building it a real challenge since I Don't have a press or welder? Use Screws? Or... Buy the parts kit and ship it off to Ohio Rapid Fire or Someone else (who?? any ideas). I'm inclinded to think I better pay a professional to do it RIGHT - you guys want to make any comments/recommendations? THE AK BUG HAS BITE ME hard. I should spend more time web surfing porno sites instead of Gun sites - a whole lot cheaper! Sorry for being such a puss on this one, but unless it's a fairly easy project, I don't feel like screwing up and making a mess of the project. h.gif |
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There's a good chance I'll try building one. There's some pretty neat kits at www.akronarmory.com I'm probably going to regret doing this but hey, I'm over 40, got plenty of tools and nice work bench so ... Two questions... Bolt down 80% reciever ok? Who's ya think is best. Ak-47.org has some 0.05 thickness units. They have my attention but guys I am TOTALLY a Newbee on building something. That darn AK-74 bug is causing this! That weapon just looks too sexy with the flash suppressor and bayonet. Ok, what do you guys advise? Bolts or rivets? Both ok? Who's receiver ya like. Thanks.hug.gif |
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Hey Progunvoter, You can always sell the 105 if you get tired of it. A kit build cannot offer you the real deal that the 105 can. The Arsenal gun will bring more money than the kit build in my opinion. Ok Gang, Lord help me (& members of the forum) I took the plunge today.... ordered the parts kit from Akronarmory.com - Bob. Now well see how many weeks, months,.... years it takes me to do this little project and NOT "F" it up. LOL Hey, it's not too much money at risk here. Any suggestions on the BEST quality receiver to purchase for this thing? I'm thinking a prebent 80% unit (and avoid the FFL sales commission.) Regards |
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Progunvoter, You are a brave soul. Post back and keep us updated on condition of kit and progress. I think you should try to find the best quality, most complete receiver you can particularly if this is your first build. It's already a pretty steep learning curve without adding any extra variables. If you have ever tried to fit a "95% inletted" stock you will understand my reasoning. That last 5% can drive you to mayhem. I certainly wish you all the luck and hope I get the fortitude to make the plunge myself. First though, I decided to pick up one of the CAI Romanian AK's to get a feel for the construction. I figure I can always sell it if I manage to successfully complete a build. fiream29 |
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i build ak's because i like to and its a great hobby some people build little model ships i build assult rifles  to answer a few of your questions first the rec you have 1 of 2 options buy an oow good idia for your first build (i say first cause if you build 1 you will build more) or you can get borrow a flat jig and bend your own 80% as you can see a prebent 80% is not 1 of your options its just a bad idia for someone whos new ahh hell its just a bad idia second rivet or screw rivet is the only way to go takes more effort but its worth it you want to show off your build and say to your friend look at this i built this if you use screws they will look at you and say I KNOW (pls ignore all leetest undertones) if you get stuck anywhwre just im/email me ill walk you threw any probs you have |
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The Fex X delivery truck stopped at my house today. A White box was left at the door. Wife, "you didn't buy another gun did you?" me, "no, dear, I didn't" Wife, "its a gun in that box isn't it - you bought another gun didn't you?" me, "no dear, it isn't a gun" then under my breath ("not yet"). I'm going to lean on all you to help walk me through this one. My next move is to order receiver - I'm going with your advice and ordering from Ohio Ordnance Works the assembled unit $71.95 with shipping, plus another $25.00 to my local FFL for processing the transfer of this scrap of metal the BATF calls a 'firearm'. Ok, gang, anyone want to chime in on the Fire Control Group? I'm looking at two: Red Star Arms $85.00 Tapco Single Hook $40 Double Hook $40 Your opinions? I'm think the tapco single hook. Also plan to use an US part Piston so that my parts count will allow me to keep the original wood furniture. Tapco has pistons $18.00 - are they any good? I'm open to idea's and recommendations based on experience. Thanks. |
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I spoke with Global Trades today. They build a 1mm stamped receiver, fully hardened. The gave me a price quote of 89.99 for what they call a "type 3" receiver that has the rails installed and the trigger guard - magazine Clasp riveted into place. Parkerizing is an extra 8.00 Any suggestions on the tool or method I can use for installing the Rivets for the Trunions? Global trades said that could do that for $35.00 for rear and another $35.00 for the front/barrel. What do you think?.... Buy/make/improvise a rivet tool and do it myself? Does anyone have Suggestions for getting/making the tool? At this point, I'm planning on getting the Global Arms receiver and of course paying the FFL for the transfer as well as the background check. Thanks. |
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Thanks to Arsenal i saved over 400.00 dollars by just ordering the SLR105A1 no ban version than spending 1000.00 plus on some saiga convertion job issued by kreb or AKUSA. Granted both these custom shops deliver the top end product but having the real licenced copy for under six bills is just to good to be true. The 105A1 is one sweet looking AK74, A dream come true on having something really special is the biggest bonus of all. |
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Progunvoter, I had my FFL special order the gun threw Lew Horton. I guess this company is the ony exclusive wholesale company that sells these Arsenal Inc Ak varients. The dealer i deal with charges eight percent over his cost for a realistic price 580.00 Yesterday i ordered the new no ban version of the Arsenal SAM-7 Carbine with threaded barrel, muzzle nut, Bayonet lug, and the standard size warsaw buttstock. Out of all the new models being released this would be my favorite Arsenal AK. Back to basic AK47 design with some modern updates to inhance this already tight package. Paid $ 679.00 I would realy have a hard time paying 8-1000.00 dollars for a Krebs M3 over this new carbine. Arsenal has finely turned the right direction and making the guns we all want. Good to go.... |
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