US AK Barrels

[Andrew@armsofamerica.com]

Just wanted to make a posting on US AK Barrels. Montana Rifleman has teamed up to help us put out a premium US barrel specifically for the Polish UF/Fixed stock kits, Romanian G kits, and the Bulgarian 74 kits. I have setup a contract with Superior Plating in CT to handle all of the Chrome line work. They currently chrome barrels for DPMS and all of the higher end AR-15 companies in the US. I am desperately seeking input from builders on these barrels (we have already sent the barrels to a Master Gunsmith and incorporated his ideas into these barrels we are getting). But I am more concerned with what the average builder has to say about these and I will take all of your input into serious consideration and MT Rifleman can adjust tooling on future batches.

We have got the costs down to 69.99 retail for non chromed barrels and 89.99 retail for chrome lined barrels. I will have them all in stock in a few weeks after they are chromed(I already have the 74 non chrome lined and chrome lined in but these were done by US Chrome not Superior Plating). Shortly after I get these barrels I am going to offer all of my kits in the pre-import barrel ban configuration with a new us Chrome barrel completely setup for the amateur builder. We are even going to offer the option to have barrel trunions pressed on and head space checked. I am only going to be charged about 25.00 per kit from the gunsmith and we aren't going to tack on any extra charges so that should mean kits ready to go out the door for under 300.00 with everything shipped.

Also if there is any experienced builders that are comfortable drilling the gas port hole and building from scratch I would like to offer some barrels up at a heavily discounted price in return for a review of the barrel. I would be even more thrilled if you could pump some serious lead through it and let us know as well as MT Rifleman how these compare to the original. I am thrilled as well that I have finally found a US barrel manufacture that is willing to take serious steps towards creating an excellent AK barrel.

[69Mach1]

Wow, great prices.

[nick]

Oh well, since ordering from Lancaster isn't working out too well, this might be a better alternative.

[CSACANNONEER]

Awesome. I've wanted to see how well an AK can shoot with an excellent barrel.

[lbc710]

if this happens count me in

[Andrew@armsofamerica.com]

The technology is here in the US to make excellent quality AK barrels. The problem is the premier barrel company's in the US have not taken the AK barrel market serious and none of them have been willing to invest in the proper tooling. That's why the US barrels have earned a bad reputation in the past year and people are paying ridiculous amounts for Romanian barrels. Montana Rifleman which is known for excellent quality 50 bmg barrels has gone above and beyond every other company I have contacted so I strongly believe they will be the pioneer of a quality US AK barrel. It is going to take time and lots of input to come up with the perfect barrel but what we have on the way is better then any other US barrel we as well as Horns Custom Rifles has used thus far. Its important that the builder understands how to drill the correct sized gas port though and we are going to have someone lined up that can handle that task if need be.

[69Mach1]

Maybe I should pick up another Egyptian kit just to try one of the new barrels out. Hmmm.....

[Andrew@armsofamerica.com]

69Mach1 I was admiring your 5.45 conversion before I posted this. If you are interested in one just contact me in a few weeks and I will offer you up a discounted barrel in return for some of your pro's and con's feedback. If you can convert that Saiga in an hour I don't think drilling the gas port hole will even phase you. I really need to spend some more time on this forum I had no idea there was this much interest in builds until another member of this site contacted me.

[nick]

Given that the AK parts kits with original barrels are drying up, the demand for US-made barrels can only grow.

[69Mach1]

Given that the AK parts kits with original barrels are drying up, the demand for US-made barrels can only grow.

That is a given. Anything that makes the barrel installation and headspacing easier will sell. If there's a service that does that stuff for you for a small fee, then it will be great. I was concerned about future build parties because of the lack of original, uncut barrel parts kit for the new builders.

69Mach1 I was admiring your 5.45 conversion before I posted this. If you are interested in one just contact me in a few weeks and I will offer you up a discounted barrel in return for some of your pro's and con's feedback. If you can convert that Saiga in an hour I don't think drilling the gas port hole will even phase you. I really need to spend some more time on this forum I had no idea there was this much interest in builds until another member of this site contacted me.

Thank you. I have a gas port drill bit, but I do need to learn how to drill one. I'll be in touch.

[SeanO]

If you are going to produce chromed AK barrels on a large scale, please make sure you include the original AK 47 pattern not just the AKM and AK 74.

And... possibly chromed chamber/bore barrel blanks in 7.62x39, 5.45x39, and 5.56x45 that we could turn down into custom profiles. Example: AK heavy barrels, RPK 47/74, etc...

[Andrew@armsofamerica.com]

I just need an original barrel to compare and we can get any type of barrel made up if I order a large enough number. The majority of the US Milled receivers are setup for press and pin AKM barrels at this time I believe. I have an original milled Bulgarian barrel and a few original milled threaded barrels we could use create one if there is a demand.

The one major difference I forgot to mention that we made to the US AKM-47 barrels we did on this run is we added a small ramp to the chamber so the shooter can use any type of ammo. Not sure how many 7.62x39 shooters are using hollow points but Horns Custom Rifles urged us to add that feature so they will cycle anything flawlessly. If people prefer not to have that option which I'm not sure why anyone wouldn't want it we can leave it off the next run. We also added 1/1000th to the gas block area larger then the original because sometimes after pressing off that gas block people find it might not fit as secure when you press it on a new barrel. This alleviates that problem and assures the most important part of the barrel is secure. Time for me to get to work now

[SeanO]

Hi Andrew,

I actually meant the original press and pin AK 47 type barrel not the screw in barrel AK 47 as you said. Sorry for not being clear. Bulgarian barrel will do as a pattern. Got any pics??? And thanks for doing this... I have been looking for barrels for a long time.

[woodey]

Welcome aboard, I'll be interested in trying out your chrome line.

[Gowking]

This is good news indeed!

I have to second what SeanO said. Of course having been a Mechanical Engineer in a previous life I fully understand the cost of small runs as opposed to what would be accepted and purchased by a broader audience As for the feed ramp mod to the barrel this is similar to what was done to the PAR series of rifles, at least the 3 I have had that done to them.

I would be interested in testing your product as I have the requisite firearms, tools to install, time and ability to throw a lot of 7.62x39 and 5.56x45 down the pipe since I reload both those calibers extensively. My stocks of 5.45x39 is a bit limited since Century ran out of it but I still have about 1000 rounds left I go to the range every week and pretty much spend the whole day there PM sent on that.

-G