AK47 side rail riveting

[copperhead]

I've recently bought a POSV scope with side mount and rail for my Romanian AK47. But, I'll need to install the rail onto the receiver using rivets. Does anyone know of anywhere around Southern California I could take it to have this done? Or if there's anyone with a riveting tool they would be willing to lend?

I'd prefer not to have to completely disassemble the receiver for this, but does anyone know if I'll have to?

[7,62x39]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpUiDLYA2iU

I'm about to do this in about a week using a slightly different method, we will see how it goes. Ill post back here and post my method if it works

[copperhead]

Cool video, thanks for it! My problem will turn into getting a hold of those tools if I'm to do it all myself. Also, it looks like he has the receiver taken completely apart from the trigger assembly, something else I'd have to learn.

Is there nowhere that can do this for you?

[bigthaiboy]

One process they skipped on the video is, if you are adding this rail to a built receiver, you would need to drill out the front rear trunnion rivet while it is still installed on the receiver. This is slightly easier on an AK-74 or Saiga, but definitely more difficult on a AK-47 rear trunnion (as it is a long rivet), without messing up the finish on your receiver, because the far right rivet hole on the scope rail is fixed on by that rivet. A standard length rear trunnion rivet will work, but ideally you would need a slightly longer trunnion rivet for the rail, as a standard length rear rivet will form a smaller, shallower head on the other side of the receiver, due to the extra width of the rail.

[copperhead]

One process they skipped on the video is, if you are adding this rail to a built receiver, you would need to drill out the front rear trunnion rivet while it is still installed on the receiver. This is slightly easier on an AK-74 or Saiga, but definitely more difficult on a AK-47 rear trunnion (as it is a long rivet), without messing up the finish on your receiver, because the far right rivet hole on the scope rail is fixed on by that rivet. A standard length rear trunnion rivet will work, but ideally you would need a slightly longer trunnion rivet for the rail, as a standard length rear rivet will form a smaller, shallower head on the other side of the receiver, due to the extra width of the rail.

Tell you the truth I'm not too worried about what my receiver looks like....it's an AK and it's already pretty beat up looking!

So in order to drill out the front rear trunnion rivet, would I have to break down the entire receiver assembly? Sorry to sound like a noob, I don't know the first thing about this process

[SamsDX]

So in order to drill out the front rear trunnion rivet, would I have to break down the entire receiver assembly? Sorry to sound like a noob, I don't know the first thing about this process

No project like the current to experience the pleasures of removing a long trunnion rivet. Doing it for the first time with a receiver you want to keep in good condition certainly ups the challenge, but it's not impossible.

You would definitely have to remove the fire control group, but that's pretty easy. Remove safety, compress the hammer spring back and secure in place, remove the retainer plate/shepard's crook, and remove axis pins. Also, if it's feasible, I would recommend removing the buttstock. The barrel pin and barrel is easier to remove with a dedicated tool, so it may not be feasible if you can't get it - I think you can get by without doing so.

I've heard of people hammering the long rivets to create a pancake on the scope rail side, but if you want it to be dead-on, I would recommend using a proper long rivet jig. The same goes for the two short rivets toward the front of the rail. If you don't have the riveting jigs and don't want to invest in them, maybe one option is to go to a build party. They should have all the necessary specialty tools.

I see you're up in Central California - isn't PRK arms or somebody able to do this kind of work?

[bigthaiboy]

Normally, if you were removing rivets from your rear trunnion WITHOUT the receiver, you would grind or cut the rivet heads flat, center punch the middle of the rivet and drill about 3/4 of the way down with a 5/32" drill bit. Then use a punch to push the the rivet out.

But since your trunnion is already riveted to the receiver, this becomes much trickier as the rivet head is countersunk into the the receiver and trunnion, which means you would first need to drill out the countersunk head (likely with a 1/4" drill bit, since this is the bit size used to create the receiver countersink), as the countersunk would prevent you being able to punch the rivet out. The tricky part would be not to over drill the rivet hole, and end up with an enlarged rivet hole on the receiver, too big for the replacement rivet.

Maybe this is something an experienced AK builder such as SJgunguy24 could do for you, or someone at the next Central CA (San Joaquin), or SoCal build party could help you with, since you will likely need a combination long rivet jig a AK builder trunnion rivet jig, and a boltcutter rivet squeezer to install the other two rivets any way.

If going the build party route, buy a packet of AK rivets and a center support rivet (to cut to make a custom length rivet, if needed).

[copperhead]

Ok, at least now I'll know what to do to prepare for this....thanks guys. I'll make sure to remove everything and get my AK all ready for this. I'll definetely try and find a shop that can do this for me, I neither have the tools nor the knowledge to just pull this off myself without really researching the hell outa it....or if I did I might just mess up myself and punch through or something.

I'll contact some builders and PRK arms to see if anyone can help me accomplish this thing, thanks for all the info you guys.

[SamsDX]

I just saw the other thread discussing scope rails and it reminded me - which mount did you end up getting? Isn't the position of the front rear trunnion rivet a little bit more rearward compared to, say, the 74 where its position corresponds to that of the rearmost rail rivet hole? Before drilling anything, be sure to lay out the rail; you may not need to remove any of the rivets at all.

There's nothing wrong with hitting the easy button and having someone else do it, and know that it's been done right. Also, you probably bought the side rail mounted scope for a reason, but there are other options when it comes to mounting optics on an AK like the Ultimak, the USPalm/Midwest Industries handguard, etc.

[copperhead]

I just saw the other thread discussing scope rails and it reminded me - which mount did you end up getting? Isn't the position of the front rear trunnion rivet a little bit more rearward compared to, say, the 74 where its position corresponds to that of the rearmost rail rivet hole? Before drilling anything, be sure to lay out the rail; you may not need to remove any of the rivets at all.

There's nothing wrong with hitting the easy button and having someone else do it, and know that it's been done right. Also, you probably bought the side rail mounted scope for a reason, but there are other options when it comes to mounting optics on an AK like the Ultimak, the USPalm/Midwest Industries handguard, etc.

I got all this from kalinka optics, the AK74 MP side mounting rail, and the POSP 4x24 400 meter rangefinder AK version. Here's the link to the scope and mount:

http://www.kalinkaoptics.com/posp-4x24-w-black-finish-400-meter-rangefinder-rifle-scope-ak-version.html

[copperhead]

Also, you probably bought the side rail mounted scope for a reason, but there are other options when it comes to mounting optics on an AK like the Ultimak, the USPalm/Midwest Industries handguard, etc.

Yeah I've looked up a lot of that stuff, it would be much easier to mount an optic on an Ultimak rail near the front, I guess I was thinking I wanted something that has a little more zoom, and that I could easily remove and still use the iron sight when I wanted.

[SamsDX]

I'm sure someone will come along shortly to correct me, but I'm fairly confident that the position of rearmost rivet hole on that Bulgarian 74 rail will not coincide with the front rear trunnion hole on a Romanian 47 - meaning you wouldn't have to do the most difficult part of this project that is the removal of that rivet without messing up the receiver. There are other challenges with drilling the holes in the correct position and pressing the rivets in a somewhat awkward position, but I don't think that's as bad. There's also a Moond0ggy (buildyourownak) Youtube video for positioning the holes if you want to do that. Nevertheless, you would still need the riveting jig, so come to a build party... There's one in June up by your way, I think: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=402515

[SJgunguy24]

The holes are close enough that rail should just slap right on there. I have a specialized set of jigs I use for rails. I have some rivets that are long enough to get through everything and still form a nice head. Just make sure you get that rail straight and don't press all of the rivets tight unless your 100% sure it lines up.

Check 69mach1's build thread, he has my method of painless long rivet removal in there. I'm not sure who replaced me at PRK, but I'm sure they are competent in the craft.

[copperhead]

Yeah I'll have to get to one of those build parties, the knowledge would be great to have! I might also try to get to a shop and have them do it....I really don't wanna screw this up! Lol, but at the very least, knowing how to completely disassemble the gun would be really nice. I already know how to clean it and everything, but to take it apart and put it all back together would be really awesome.

[antix2]

On my Bulgarian 74 the rearmost rivet hole on the side rail _does_ coincide with the front rear trunnion hole. I don't know the make of the rail but it is steel.