AK barrel cutting help

[stuntdummy]

I was thinking of shortening the barrel on my (registered) NHM91 because I would like to use it for tactical type shooting and the long barrel often gets in the way. I plan on using a bolt-on front sight from Ace that attaches to the gas block, so I wont have to worry about reinstalling the original front sight post (for now), but I do want to thread the barrel so I can use my muzzle brake. Before I really even consider going ahead with this project I have a few questions.

Can this job be done without removing the barrel?

Will shortening the barrel change the accuracy of the gun?

The NHM91 has a heavy barrel, in order to fit the die for the threads, will the barrel need to be turned somehow on the end to make the diameter smaller? Turning a bit off the end would also give the muzzle brake a clean, square place to snug up against when installed, (so that would be a good thing, I think).

Is this a straight forward job for a good gunsmith?

Any idea how much this job might cost?

Any gunsmith recommendations in the Bay Area?

Here are a couple of pics of the sight and how the barrel would look.

[JagerTroop]

I would think that the barrel would need to be removed. Unless there's a another method (other than a lathe), it needs to come off.

Accuracy shouldn't be affected, as long as it is recrowned.

[joelukehart]

I would personally not cut down a registered NHM91. They seem to hold their value. I saw one on Gunbroker for $1100. I tried the same thing with my regAW Maadi (Ace front sight). It was a pain to fit the sight and it looked like crap. I finally had a Krinkov conv. done and I couldn't be happier. I would suggest maybe buying an OLL AK or swapping out the barrel for a shorter one and keeping the original barrel in case you want to swap it back in.

[scott.cr]

Cutting/threading the barrel is a straightforward job to any reasonable gunsmith with a lathe and cat's head. With the shorter barrel the gas port will probably need to be opened up.... I would only trust this to a smith knowledgable in the AK.

It could probably be done with the barrel mounted to the receiver/trunion. Accuracy shouldn't be negatively affected, but POI will be affected.

BTW, forget threading with a die, it's very difficult to do properly. Single-point threading on a lathe is really the only way to get a true (square/concentric) threading on a barrel. Since the bore might not be concentric with the barrel OD, the smith can indicate the barrel by the bore and then thread the muzzle concentric with the bore. An ideal threading die would thread concentric to the barrel OD, meaning your bore axis could be significantly off-center of the brake axis, which increases the likelihood of a bullet strike.

[JamesY]

Personally, I'd keep it as-is and just use a featureless build for tactical shooting.

[stuntdummy]

I would personally not cut down a registered NHM91. They seem to hold their value.

I have gone back and forth on this several times. I realize the value of the rifle would go down if I cut the barrel, but the reality is, I never plan on selling it, and being that it is the only rifle I have with all evil features available, I figured I should set it up in such a way that it looks cool, and maximize it for running around and shooting cardboard bad guys.

I tried the same thing with my regAW Maadi (Ace front sight). It was a pain to fit the sight and it looked like crap. I finally had a Krinkov conv. done and I couldn't be happier.

I figured using the Ace sight would be much easier then either turning the barrel to fit the current front sight or going the Krinkov route. The sight looked ok to me in the pictures I saw but they are all wide shots so I couldn't see much detail. Do you still have yours or any pictures? My choices seem narrow here so I may be stuck with the clunky Ace. It seems like it should work well enough though, assuming I can get it to fit. Either way, the sight is really there as a backup, as I will be running an Aimpiont on an Ultimak rail.

With the shorter barrel the gas port will probably need to be opened up....

I should be ok there because it actually had way too much pressure when got it. It took a wolf extra strong spring and a shaved piston to fix, reversing those should be no problem.

It could probably be done with the barrel mounted to the receiver/trunion. Accuracy shouldn't be negatively affected, but POI will be affected.

This is what I want to hear. If at all possible I would like to avoid punching pins and having to worry about 10 ton presses or realigning things later. The rifle shoots pretty good right now, so if a gunsmith can get good results crowning and threading the barrel with the receiver chucked up in the lathe, then I think I like that option.

[SJgunguy24]

Have you looked at Krebs front sight gas block combo? Scroll down part #'s 75 and 74

https://www.krebscustom.com/PartsPages/KalashnikovParts.shtml

[bigbob76]

Trying to make a rifle fill different roles usually make it sub standard in some regard. I encourage you to build or buy another rifle that's exactly the way you want it.

[joelukehart]

How long is the barrel? If it's the RPK barrel it could be chucked in a lathe while still in the receiver like Scott.cr stated. You would have to pull the gas block and front sight though. Since it is a reg. AW you will have to find a 'smith with an AW license or be present when your machinist or 'smith works on it. I think I still have my Ace sight in a box somewhere. I'll look for it tomorrow and if it turns up you can have it. I will PM you if I can find it.

[JeffM]

It would be a lot less work and your rifle would retain most of its value if you had an AK smith pop the barrel assy and install a standard front end from another AK kit.

The only complications I can see with it is if the chamber end of the barrel is an odd diameter. And a larger barrel pin might need to be used for headspacing the new barrel, then again if/when you switch it back.

But once you start cutting there is NO going back.

Heck, you could have an AK smith carfully remove all the rivets to dissassemble down to the receiver, then build it back up exactly how you want it set up with another kit. I've seen Mak90 kits pop up from time to time here on the forum.

[stuntdummy]

I think I still have my Ace sight in a box somewhere. I'll look for it tomorrow and if it turns up you can have it.

That is very cool of you, thanks!

It would be a lot less work and your rifle would retain most of its value if you had an AK smith pop the barrel assy and install a standard front end from another AK kit...

But once you start cutting there is NO going back.

I hear you on the no going back once it is cut. The debate in my head continues, but I keep coming back to the fact that I don't care about resale value, what's important to me is a decent shooting rifle that I like. I am also with you on the using a MAC90 barrel idea but all that work to get it right plus finding a kit, seems like more then I want to deal with. That was actually my backup plan if cutting my barrel somehow took a turn for the worst.