...

[killathrilla]

...

[joemama]

I think its more gratifying building your own. I haven't built an ak yet but I've put together 3 ar type rifles. It was easier on the wallet buying all the parts separately over time and fun putting them all together.

[Cokebottle]

Quality control.

Seriously... A bunch of gun nuts spending a weekend in the mountains of Santa Clarita with $1000 worth of Harbor Freight tools can turn out a better, more reliable product than Century, IOINC, and Lancaster.

IF you decide to buy, I would personally only go with a Henderson "Certified", or one from a local shop that I trust.


Stay away from the Turners/Big-5 garbage.

[WDE91]

different strokes for different folks

[killathrilla]

...

[H2H]

or get an Arsenal AK and be done

[richie3888]

It cost more to build an ak then to just buy one. But you'll have a better story to tell when you build your ak.

[G lock]

some people building and fabricating things

[E-120]

Because how else can you have a Ca legal Egyptian Madi?

not counting RAW

[Cokebottle]

What about Henderson makes them better? Thanks

Henderson, Riflegear, and some other sellers inspect their WASR-10 rifles prior to sale.
They aren't likely to sell you junk.

[pacrimguru]

Seriously... A bunch of gun nuts spending a weekend in the mountains of Santa Clarita with $1000 worth of Harbor Freight tools can turn out a better, more reliable product than Century, IOINC, and Lancaster.

i seriously just laughed out really loud. best quote all week.

[pacrimguru]

question for you builders. does building from a flat constitute as a home build (80% build)?

[nicoroshi]

Some good points above.
+1 on the quality control
+1 on getting stuff that you cannot buy here.

For me is about knowing one's rifle, and the unique thrill of firing something you've personally brought back from the scrap heap coupled with the fact that I love to build things.
No one knows every inch of that rifle like I do.


More expensive than buying one?
Perhaps for some builds but when I started doing milled re-welds my first (M-70AB) I believe it's actually cheaper.
Kit = $250
Repair plates = $74
muzzle nut = $10
Tapco FCG = $35
New green mountain rifle barrel (the one that came with the kit was bad)= $135
Rivets = $9
Add in misc shipping cost, and that's a milled Yugo M-70AB with a brand new chrome lined bore for right around $550.
Show me a milled M-70 from any website for that price (don't forget to add in DROS+fees).
If the barrel had been good it would have been ~$420.

My milled re-weld M-72 RPK was even cheaper.

Kit= $330
FCG= $35
Cut receiver (to make the center repair section out of)= $15
Muzzle device= $20
New bipod= $60
Misc shipping= $50
That's a milled M-72 RPK for $510!

Accuracy out of them I would put against any 'expensive' AK variant.
Durability I would also put against any other AK variant commercially available.
Flawless function, and smooth cycle (since I took my time, and custom fit all the pieces unlike some factory produced rifles) I would say is better.

Building isn't for everyone. Some don't have the patience or mechanical ability to do it.
That's where Build Parties, and the AK Team come in
In the end it really all depends on what you want.

I wanted these:



And wanted them to shoot factory Russian ammo at 100 yards like this(10 shots wolf ammo hand held with the mag on the bench, and iron sighted):



And 10 at 50 yards same ammo,iron sights, and hold:



Do what's right for you.

EDIT:

question for you builders. does building from a flat constitute as a home build (80% build)?

Sure does. A flat is not yet a receiver. Just a a piece of 4130 steel with some holes in it.

[pacrimguru]

^ thanks for the answer... i might have to look into building one.

[Q]

Because how else can you have a Ca legal Egyptian Madi?

not counting RAW

One is a FA bolt carrier that is # matching to the rest of the parts. The early preban maadi and some chinese 56 had FA bolt carriers and they were worth considerably more over those that didn't have one. So I think that parts kits will be worth more. For example a romy kit build compared to a wasr 10 later on, the kit build/ parts will be worth more IMO.

OT I saw one of the maadi used in red dawn up at auction not to long ago..