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I picked up a Bulgarian ak74 kit that was unissued and in prestine condition for a good price and also a 545 ak74 barrel for 70$ on another Forums marketplace. I was lucky enough to have my work recognized and my offer accepted to be a beta tester for a new rear trunnion being designed by meridian defense also from out of California. They deigned a new rear trunnion that isn't an adapter for a m4 style stock, it's a complete riveted in unit. i offered to do a build around their new rear trunnion and then take the rifle to my ranch and do a mini torture test similar to what rob ski does to some of his rifles. End goal to see how much abuse one of these rear trunnion can take before failure. So let's get started !
I started my build off by making a receiver from a akb fixed stock ak74 flat with no trunnion holes drilled( as i wanted to make my own rear trunnion holes for the meridian defense rear trunnion) I use the front and rear trunnions are templates before bending the flat. Simply place the trunnion on the flat exactly where you want it located and lock it down with some vice grips and drill straight thru the trunnion.
After bending my flat, welding my rails in and setting my center support. All fire control group holes were reamed to spec and It was ready to be fully heat treated.
As you can see the new meridian defense rear trunnion lined up very well with the receiver and fit tight. All holes were spot on as well. The piece is made of steel and then nitrided and is much stronger then any bolt on option on the market being that it is riveted into the receiver via three long swell neck rivets. Properly dimpling the reciever into the rear trunnion also adds a lot of extra strength.
Post full heat treat the reciever was dimpled and rear trunnion set into place. Holes were chased to clear out Any burrs and then three akb long rivets set. Please note the beautiful dimples in the receiver that will add much strength. The meridian defense rear trunnion also uses three rivets instead of two to midigate any lateral stresses from the m4 style stock.
I then went ahead and riveted in the front trunnion and trigger guard and tested fitment of the bolt carrier group and safety seector lever.
I started my build off by making a receiver from a akb fixed stock ak74 flat with no trunnion holes drilled( as i wanted to make my own rear trunnion holes for the meridian defense rear trunnion) I use the front and rear trunnions are templates before bending the flat. Simply place the trunnion on the flat exactly where you want it located and lock it down with some vice grips and drill straight thru the trunnion.
After bending my flat, welding my rails in and setting my center support. All fire control group holes were reamed to spec and It was ready to be fully heat treated.
As you can see the new meridian defense rear trunnion lined up very well with the receiver and fit tight. All holes were spot on as well. The piece is made of steel and then nitrided and is much stronger then any bolt on option on the market being that it is riveted into the receiver via three long swell neck rivets. Properly dimpling the reciever into the rear trunnion also adds a lot of extra strength.
Post full heat treat the reciever was dimpled and rear trunnion set into place. Holes were chased to clear out Any burrs and then three akb long rivets set. Please note the beautiful dimples in the receiver that will add much strength. The meridian defense rear trunnion also uses three rivets instead of two to midigate any lateral stresses from the m4 style stock.
I then went ahead and riveted in the front trunnion and trigger guard and tested fitment of the bolt carrier group and safety seector lever.
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