Is building an AK really this easy?

[Solidsnake87]

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

NOOOOOOOO. Like others have said, ARs are lego guns. AKs take substantially more metal work and technical skills to build. This is not to say that building them is difficult but the variability of parts can result in unexpected challenges. I've built about 10 AKs, I would not advise it unless you are in it for the learning experience. My primary reason against it is that the cost of tools + parts is more than a new AK these days........

[Chatterbox]

Recent Lancasters have had serious problems in terms of quality - look at AR15.com for discussions of rivets backing out after several hundred rounds fired.

[Trench Broom]

It's price vs. process. If you want to start shooting right away ( and save some $ ), pick up a completed rifle. Building one costs some extra bucks in tools, but can be a very rewarding experience in that you actually put the thing together yourself! If you do go this route, try to check out a build party or two to get an idea of what's involved. Also, research the various building methods several times over to get familiar with everything. Building from a flat and/or using a kit with a new/virgin barrel will be more involved than using a finished receiver and a kit with an original barrel ( matching #'s kits are best, IMO ). This site has a wealth of info:

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=4

[RideIcon]

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct873.aspx

Nice, Might have to start bending up some flats

[MKfan]

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct873.aspx
Nice, Might have to start bending up some flats

That link goes to a picture of a VZ52 which is not an ak, watch out

[Canute]

It's price vs. process. If you want to start shooting right away ( and save some $ ), pick up a completed rifle. Building one costs some extra bucks in tools, but can be a very rewarding experience in that you actually put the thing together yourself! If you do go this route, try to check out a build party or two to get an idea of what's involved. Also, research the various building methods several times over to get familiar with everything. Building from a flat and/or using a kit with a new/virgin barrel will be more involved than using a finished receiver and a kit with an original barrel ( matching #'s kits are best, IMO ). This site has a wealth of info:

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=4

Yeah, when Peach State has new Saigas for about the same price as one of these used parts kits. I have a bit of machinist training and a fair amount of mechanic experience. I may have to do it.

[Cokebottle]

Specifically for the AMD-65 rifle (not the pistol), no the US made extended muzzle brake does not count towards 922r. The reason is that the AMD-65 has a 12.5 inch barrel and must have an extension perm. welded on to not be a short barreled rifle. Once that's done, it's considered part of the barrel in which case is still considered a foreign made barrel.

Well.... yes and no.

Once the brake becomes part of the barrel, it ceases to be a separate counted part, reducing the imported parts count from 16 to 15