Was wondering just how hard it is to build an Ak at home? Seen plenty of parts kits for sale, and obviously their are american receivers now. But I rarely see anyone posting about their new AK build.

Are they that difficult to put together? As opposed to say a FAL, or AR15? And what kind of tools are required as a minimum?

My biggest concern would be getting the trunnion and barrel in correctly.

Any input appreciated.

Campy's given you alot of good info. If you want to wrench on an AK to some extent without having to do alot of the harder things (riveting trunions, pressing in a barrel, etc.) then may I suggest taking on a Saiga conversion project?  You'll still get your fair share of grinding, cutting, de-riveting (and re-riveting if you want) and come away with the satisfaction of bringing a fine rifle back to its original form.  All you really need is a Dremel and some other basic tools (though a drill press comes in handy) to complete to conversion.

Some of us have had very good results building kits using the Buttonhead Cap Screw method, this could be another option for a first build.

Here is my first AK74 assembled with screws.

AMD65 built on Hesse stripped reciever(I've built 3 of these with one later converted to f/a by a SOT.)

My first AK build, Romanian I/O kit


As Campy said if you want to be authentic, hydraulic press,rivet squeezer or jig ect.

I'm sure I'll get flamed, but the Ak-47.net build it yourself forum is the tree of knowledge here.
Good luck.
P.S. I wish CampyBob was still over there.
no axe to grind here.

Here is a little exploration into my oddesey:
Plinker762 is making riveters you use with a press which will make my WECSOG method a welcome throughaway for me...
If you decide to go the rivet method I suggest you check out Plinker762's threads on his riveting...
Also Xebec is making kits to help with assembly/disassembly, you might want to take a look at them too.....

http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=104367

http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=104433

Riveting idea Dismal failure?
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=106363

Success riveting:
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=106617

Headspace is wacky:
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=106662

All done...RIGHT
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=115896

NOPE!
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=116825

Going oversize:
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=117190

Finally done....
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=118573

***Plinker762's reasonably priced riveter:
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=124615

***Xebec's reasonably priced assembly/disassembly kit:
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=128659

Finally got to shoot it again about 7/17. Put about about 150 rounds through it,the headspace didn't budge
it's at optimum. Bolt won't close on NO GO and closes on GO with slight thumb pressure.
I've found it's twice as accurate as my previous SAR1 which makes no sense to me since they are both Romanian.

Granted if you get a matching numbers kit you won't have to go through most of this ordeal...Taught me a lot though
and probably taught my kids some new words they never heard before.... ;)

Here's my first build.  Did it Tuesday with an AKM kit from Interordnance and a Hesse receiver. Been planning it for a long time, and I owe agreat debt to Campy and Quib and all the other guys that have been generous enough to share their knowledge on this board.

http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data/500/15208P1010085-med.jpg
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data/500/15208P1010086-med.jpg
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data/500/15208P1010088-med.jpg
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data/500/15208P1010090-med.jpg

I build my AK's on the kitchen table. I use, 1 craftsman anvil/vice...couple of wrenches, hammer, dremmel, rivets, flat-head screw driver, various size punches, head-spacing guages & site adjustment tool.

Here's my latest AK...Hungarian KIT  definately 1950's...  built on a "Firing Line" receiver.

Wow, I am both encouraged, and scared, at the possibility of building one myself.

Will it at all be cheaper in the long run?

Two tech questions:

1. Would the barrel and trunnion be the hardest part? And if so, if done incorrectly, could it be corrected? I had assumed not, but want to make sure. Also, how much do most people charge for just that part of it?

2. I've hard riveting isn't THAT hard, but wonder what kind of special tool would be required? I know a friend of mine did something with his trigger guard where he had to mess with the rivets, and I don't remember him having that much trouble with it. Is this something that could be picked up fairly easily? And again, be reversed if done poorly?


Thanks for the input guys!