welll, I'm looking at the geometry here, I want to piston to ride in the gas tube the whole time. I am allowing the bolt to travel just past the end of the magazine. maybe a 1/4" at the most. then it hits a buffer, and the trunion.
this keeps the bolt carrier from coming out of the tube. the tube will start where the sight block would normally sit. I already flared the tube to fit, using a correct size socket, driven through it with a rod and hammer. (I think) I used a torch to anneal it first.
it taps throu easier when it's red...
I'm goan hafta stop hijacking this thread....
In theory, the barrel can be as short as
length of travle of the action, plus the length from the piston tip down 45 to the barrle for the gas port, then add the one inch o barrle.
looks for a ruler....
add into that distance, the sight block.... so removing it removes two inches from the total "minimum barrle length. (remember, the piston must ride in the tube the whole time.
So, moving the rear trunion forward 3/4 of an inch lets the barrle be another 3/4" shorter, and OAL 1 1/2" shorter.
The gun will be lighter and shorter than almost any other ak pistol... (maybe) if I Can pull this off...
I'm getting close to assembly time. (promises to take pictures)