Is building an AK really this easy?

[Henry Hill]

Can you just buy a parts kit and a lower receiver and put it together like legos?


Was looking at this :

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct835.aspx

Would all I need is a lower receiver, and I could simply put it together with virtually no tools?

[audihenry]

If you want it to look good and not have 0 resale value, then no, it's not easy. In any case, you will need some specialized tools and some ability with tools and certainly some common sense.

Many people build it with screws, which is too bad, and others still do rivets but they end up either damaging the receiver of doing a sloppy job.

If you want a serious weapon, have it built by someone who knows their ****.

[Cokebottle]

No.
AR15 goes together like Legos.

The AK is going to be a LOT more involved. Basically, everything you'd do for a Saiga conversion and more.
If the parts kit doesn't include the original barrel or if it is not a matched-numbers kit, then the barrel will have to be properly headspaced.
If it comes with a virgin barrel, then the gas port will need to be drilled.

The simplest way to go is to buy an NDS receiver, but you will still need to press the barrel out to mount the trunnions to the receiver, then press the barrel back in. If the barrel has never been mounted, then it needs to be drilled for the pin. If it has been mounted but headspacing needs adjustment, then it and the trunnion need to be drilled out for a larger pin.

Problem with NDS is their cheapest receiver is around $55, and they have a nicer one that's closer to $100. Add FFL transfer fees to that.

Given that you can pick up a WASR-10 from Century for around $500-$550 (depending on your FFL fees), it really isn't economical to build one from a kit unless you already have the tools and jigs to build from a flat (no FFL needed).
For a flat build, you're still looking at about $100 in parts between the flat, FCG, mag lock, and perhaps a piston to help with 922(r) compliance.

Honestly... you already have a Saiga, and other than not having a threaded barrel, it is a REAL AK... it's as real or more real than the Romy, Yugo, and other parts kits. It was made in the Tula factory that made the original AK47.
If you want a "classic" AK, get the handguard adapter from Dinzag, a new gas tube, and check around for a complete set of furniture (the upper handguard can be hard to find).
Just do the Saiga conversion... it's a LOT easier than building from a parts kit.

[Henry Hill]

No.
AR15 goes together like Legos.

The AK is going to be a LOT more involved. Basically, everything you'd do for a Saiga conversion and more.
If the parts kit doesn't include the original barrel or if it is not a matched-numbers kit, then the barrel will have to be properly headspaced.
If it comes with a virgin barrel, then the gas port will need to be drilled.

The simplest way to go is to buy an NDS receiver, but you will still need to press the barrel out to mount the trunnions to the receiver, then press the barrel back in. If the barrel has never been mounted, then it needs to be drilled for the pin. If it has been mounted but headspacing needs adjustment, then it and the trunnion need to be drilled out for a larger pin.

Problem with NDS is their cheapest receiver is around $55, and they have a nicer one that's closer to $100. Add FFL transfer fees to that.

Given that you can pick up a WASR-10 from Century for around $500-$550 (depending on your FFL fees), it really isn't economical to build one from a kit unless you already have the tools and jigs to build from a flat (no FFL needed).
For a flat build, you're still looking at about $100 in parts between the flat, FCG, mag lock, and perhaps a piston to help with 922(r) compliance.

Honestly... you already have a Saiga, and other than not having a threaded barrel, it is a REAL AK... it's as real or more real than the Romy, Yugo, and other parts kits. It was made in the Tula factory that made the original AK47.
If you want a "classic" AK, get the handguard adapter from Dinzag, a new gas tube, and check around for a complete set of furniture (the upper handguard can be hard to find).
Just do the Saiga conversion... it's a LOT easier than building from a parts kit.

Thanks for the reply CokeBottle, that sounds like a LOT of work and time to build an AK.. Sounds like a lot of knowledge is needed to do it RIGHT. I also recently sold my Saiga to buy a Stag AR. The idea just caught me when I saw how cheap the parts kits were... I know that it couldnt be as easy as buying a 250-300$ parts kit and a 50$ receiver and spending a cpl hours putting it together. Sounded too good to be true... But I noticed you mentioned something about building from a flat and not needing an FFL, wouldn't this be illegal (manufacturing a firearm) w/o proper licensing/etc?

[Cokebottle]

But I noticed you mentioned something about building from a flat and not needing an FFL, wouldn't this be illegal (manufacturing a firearm) w/o proper licensing/etc?

No 07FFL needed if you are building for personal use.
You cannot build with the intent to sell.

[audihenry]

Thanks for the reply CokeBottle, that sounds like a LOT of work and time to build an AK.. Sounds like a lot of knowledge is needed to do it RIGHT. I also recently sold my Saiga to buy a Stag AR. The idea just caught me when I saw how cheap the parts kits were... I know that it couldnt be as easy as buying a 250-300$ parts kit and a 50$ receiver and spending a cpl hours putting it together. Sounded too good to be true... But I noticed you mentioned something about building from a flat and not needing an FFL, wouldn't this be illegal (manufacturing a firearm) w/o proper licensing/etc?

It's beyond your scope to build from a flat. Just buy one built or find a proper builder.

[Cokebottle]

Ditto.

I am extremely mechanically inclined, and could build the jigs needed to build an AK if I had a bent receiver to work from, but I've shelved my immediate plans for a flat build (primarily out of economics).
My first AK-platform rifle (or two) will be commercial units.
I'll be saving the flat build effort for pistols.

[thedrickel]

No.
AR15 goes together like Legos.

The AK is going to be a LOT more involved. Basically, everything you'd do for a Saiga conversion and more.
If the parts kit doesn't include the original barrel or if it is not a matched-numbers kit, then the barrel will have to be properly headspaced.
If it comes with a virgin barrel, then the gas port will need to be drilled.

The simplest way to go is to buy an NDS receiver, but you will still need to press the barrel out to mount the trunnions to the receiver, then press the barrel back in. If the barrel has never been mounted, then it needs to be drilled for the pin. If it has been mounted but headspacing needs adjustment, then it and the trunnion need to be drilled out for a larger pin.

Problem with NDS is their cheapest receiver is around $55, and they have a nicer one that's closer to $100. Add FFL transfer fees to that.

Given that you can pick up a WASR-10 from Century for around $500-$550 (depending on your FFL fees), it really isn't economical to build one from a kit unless you already have the tools and jigs to build from a flat (no FFL needed).
For a flat build, you're still looking at about $100 in parts between the flat, FCG, mag lock, and perhaps a piston to help with 922(r) compliance.

Honestly... you already have a Saiga, and other than not having a threaded barrel, it is a REAL AK... it's as real or more real than the Romy, Yugo, and other parts kits. It was made in the Tula factory that made the original AK47.
If you want a "classic" AK, get the handguard adapter from Dinzag, a new gas tube, and check around for a complete set of furniture (the upper handguard can be hard to find).
Just do the Saiga conversion... it's a LOT easier than building from a parts kit.

I beg to differ . . . Saigas are made w/ inferior commercial parts and methods. I'll take a quality romy-g build over a Saiga any day. Has any military spot-welded gas blocks and front sight bases to their barrels? The rivet work is still better than a WASR though, and WASR parts aren't that great either. REAL MILITARY AK PARTS FTW.

[fal_762x51]

The post and blocks are welded now? My 308 Saiga has pins, must be something on the other calibers then. Remember, military spec equals lowest bidder. Building an AK is not that hard, I've done a lot whether it be Romanian, Yugo or Hungarian. Now trying to build my MSG cut up Bren is hard!

[Cokebottle]

The post and blocks are welded now? My 308 Saiga has pins, must be something on the other calibers then.

Latest I saw on the x39 was that they were staked on the left side, but not welded.
Still requires a 2nd pair of drill-outs on the side of the barrel in addition to the pins.

[thedrickel]

I've converted dozens. The ones w/ spot welds have no pins. Drill out the welds and press the FSB or gas block off. Maybe the newest batch has both . . . but I HIGHLY doubt it.

[audihenry]

Remember, military spec equals lowest bidder.

Not in Communism!

Seriously, the Russians put a lot of effort into their military production, and I am willing to bet that it will hold up better than recent commercial efforts.

[Lancear15]

Remember, military spec equals lowest bidder.

These types of statements are very misleading. Guess what, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hoover Dam were built by the lowest bidder, does that imply inferior quality? Lowest bidder means nothing when you are talking about quality.

The lowest bidder must still build it to the engineers specs in order to get paid. The contractor is not to blame for inferior products (if you think it is inferior), it is the engineers who created the specs that are to blame.

When talking about modern U.S. mil spec items (which I know you aren't), I would say it is foolish to call anything they spec as inferior.

[fal_762x51]

I'm not saying milsurp is inferior. I'm saying no matter what you buy, you have the probability of it being machined wrong, bad metallurgy or down right crappy. I'm just saying because it's commercial, it's not a Jennings/Bryco.

[Ruiner]

Has any military spot-welded gas blocks and front sight bases to their barrels? .

This has been the standard method on Russian military AK's for a while now.